You may think I’m going overboard with this statement, but I may have found the best Mediterranean grill in Orange County.
Kerostena opened in April 2009, it seats about 30, it’s not a fancy sit down restaurant, and it does not serve alcohol, but it’s clean and there’s lots of pride in ownership.
Hatem Nicola hails from Egypt since 1970 and after a life changing event, proudly opened Kerostena, named after two saints from the Coptic Christian belief.
You may think I’m going overboard with this statement, but I may have found the best Mediterranean grill in Orange County.
Kerostena opened in April 2009, it seats about 30, it’s not a fancy sit down restaurant, and it does not serve alcohol, but it’s clean and there’s lots of pride in ownership.
Hatem Nicola hails from Egypt since 1970 and after a life changing event, proudly opened Kerostena, named after two saints from the Coptic Christian belief.
He explained that the food is from Syria, Egypt, Greece and Lebanon and then was quick to let me know that all the meat he serves is halal style. Halal is a particular way of killing the animal so that none of the blood touches the meat. Fit for Kosher eaters. I also learned that he serves lamb from New Zealand and the kabobs are made with white meat for the chicken, filet mignon for the beef and he personally grinds top sirloin for the kofta kabobs.
In order to try a sampling, I ordered the kabob combo plate and the veggie plate. Both included rice, hummus, a Greek salad, pita bread and garlic butter.
Let me just say … everything on the plate tasted homemade, right down to the salad with the salad dressing. When I asked Hatem what ingredients he used, he pulled out a 3×4 spiral notebook with handwritten recipes handed down from his grandmother, explaining that he follows the recipes because he wants the food to always taste as you remembered. He shared his special papaya-based hot sauce with a touch of clove, cinnamon and nutmeg which leaves a lovely spicy taste lingering in your mouth after each bite.
The garlic butter and tahini complements the meal perfectly, and the hummus was creamy and grainless, so full of flavor and a magnificent addition with all the other sides on the plates.
The chicken, beef, and kofta meats were tender and seasoned with complexity. The veggie meal comes with a healthy serving of falafel, stuffed grape leaves, and spanakopita. All handmade and seasoned in such a way it would make Hatem’s grandmother proud. An added note: the grape leaves were at least three inches long and the spanikopita was stacked with flaky filo.
I topped off the delights with a little piece of baklava and rice pudding. The baklava was not overly sweet and Hatem adds almonds not peanuts so it was moist. And, the rice pudding was made with rose water and topped with a sprinkling of pistachio.
I was so enthralled, I took home a gyro and was tickled that Hatem pronounced it correctly (year-ro). Sliced pressed beef and lamb layered in a pita bread with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, garlic butter and served with tzatziki (yogurt sauce with cucumbers, mint and garlic).
I believe if you patron Kerostena you will share my view of the fantastic, healthy, fresh food at an unbeatable price. Let me know what you think!
Kerostena Grill
12546 Valley View St.
Garden Grove, Ca. 92845
714-893-8404
