Cairo Station Café

“yo crazy goood value for authentic middle eastern food - mixed grill platter is only $16 and could honestly feed two people easily. everything from the hummus to the grilled veggies was fresh and actually flavorful trust me”

“they charge an extra $3 for pita bread on the side which feels kinda ridiculous when most places just throw it in wiht hummus orders”

“perfect late night spot - open til 2am on weekends and the lamb shawarma hits different at midnight you know? the place gets lively with this nice mix of night owls and industry people just getting off work”

“but yeah service really falls apart after 11pm when tehyre clearly understaffed for the late crowd. literally took like 25 minutes just to get someone to take our order on Saturday night which sucked yikes”

“perfect solo dining spot with excellent bar seating, the bartender actually engages in conversation without being pushy which i appreciate. late hours make it ideal for unwinding after work and they remember your order after jsut a few visits lol”

“music gets uncomfortably loud after 10 PM making it hard to have a conversation or just enjoy your meal in peace”

“the bartender Ahmad remembered my order from like my second visit adn actually talked to me about Oakland's food scene - that kind of service makes eating alone way less weird and more fun”

“ok but but teh bar stools are wobbly as hell and theres no back support so if youre sitting there for a while your back gets angry especially when youre flying solo”

“teh draft selection here is absolutely killer honestly - got Pliny the Elder on tap alongside some solid local Oakland brews, and the bartender actually knows how to pour a proper head which is rare. thier late-night burger hit different too, like perfectly seasoned patty that doesn't fall apart after midnight”

“yo getting a seat on weekeeend nights is basically impossible without waiting like 45 minutes minimum, adn teh Telegraph Avenue location means street parking chaos which is a nightmare big time”

“ngl ok their baklava cheesecake is actually incredible - like phyllo pastry layered wiht creamy cheesecake and honey drizzled on top, SO good paired with a glass of their Lebanese red wine. honestly just the dessert alone is worth the trip to Telegraph Ave”

“tbh teh wine glasses were tiny for what you're paying adn i had to ask for dessert forks TWICE which kinda killed the vibe at the end of dinner trust me”

“greaat value for the portions honestly - the kids portions are actually generous enough to satisfy my teenagers and the prices won't break the bank when you gotta feed the whole family”

“late-night hours don't really work for family dining, and the bar atmosphere gets pretty rowdy for bringing kids which is a drag trust me”