Grill House Mediterranean (San Francisco)

[Melanie Wong]

When I posted about getting take-out at Chef Vahit's new place,
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/799512 , I forgot to mention the menu of day of the week specials posted on the wall.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniew...

I haven't had a chance to return yet. Really want to try the stuffed eggplant (karni yarik). Please report in if you try 'em.

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Grill House Mediterranean
533 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94102

[Melanie Wong]

Eater reports that it has closed.
http://sf.eater.com/archives/2012/04/...

[bigwheel042]

Now Karachi Chicken, a "Pakistani Fast Food Fusion" joint.

[Melanie Wong]

Please keep an eye on it for us. I'd love to find chicken charga, a Pakistani take on fried chicken with many variations. Maybe with all the interest in Korean fried chicken, some enterprising South Asian will ride the wave to the next new thing. Chicken charga was one of my favorite dishes at the dear departed Sultan.

[bigwheel042]

I spotted it while having a the curry at Kare-Ken across the street (yup, in Eden's old space) but forgot to peer in afterward. Will take a look next time I'm on the block.

[Fig Newton]

Damn, according to Jonathan Kauffman's post today it looks like Chef Vahit is gone.
http://blogs.sfweekly.com/foodie/2011...

[vulber]

i went within the last 4 weeks and was very impressed with the lamb skewer, although the sides were a bit weak and was very disappointed they only had some watery store-brand tea and not turkish coffee. nonetheless, definitely better than a la turca, the closest competitor

[Kristine]

My husband and I were just there last Friday. We had the combination appitizer platter and the lamb schwarma. The spreads were all very good and you could taste how fresh they were, but the lamb in the schwarma was very tough, almost inedible.

[L C]

No stuffed eggplant. I asked the staff for "karni yarik", and they had no clue what I was talking about. They told me the lamb shank special always comes with eggplant. But that's not the stuffed one. The weekly specials change often.

I saw several items that weren't listed on the regular menu or the specials board, like a pair of fried whole bream fish (unless they're staff meals). So I have no idea how customers would know to order that.

I had a roasted chicken special for $6.99. The meat was very moist and crispy skin, don't know if it was brined. Generous portions, enough for 2 people. The menu said just leg and thigh. But my container had half a chicken. Plus a container with rice, bulgur wheat, salads, bread, yogurt and garlic dipping sauces. Seems like they were trying too hard to get more business.

The kunafe/kunafa dessert on the menu says $7, but that's for a mini tray. They make smaller ones for $3.50 - about medium size, in my opinion. Good baklava too. 3 types: pistachio, walnuts, ($1.75 each) and rolled fingers filled with ground cashews ($1.25 each). I bought a ton of food that day.

[bigwheel042]

At least one of the guys behind the counter is Pakistani, not Turkish, which probably explains the language confusion.

Thanks for the tip on the chicken special. $7 would be fair enough for a quarter chicken, so worth rolling the dice to see if they go all out. I thought it was a little weird that my adana came with only rice and no bread (until I asked for some)...didn't everything used to come with bread too at Eden's?

[Windy]

We had to ask for bread too when we ate in, with an appetizer platter. The bread wasn't anything special, though, not like the meats.

I suspect it's more a matter of disorganized service than bonuses to drum up business.