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Categories: Middle Eastern, Burgers [Edit]
3900 San Pablo Ave
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[Takeout Review]
This place is truly a hidden treasure.
I waited for 10 mins to get my falafel wrap (FW). The server got me some soup, while I waited. The lentil soup was perfect and just the right starter. He got a tip just for serving me soup, thanks.
Wally comes over and asks if I want the wrap spicy and I said Yes. I am glad I said Yes because the FW is just right (shall I say it was just right). The right amount of spiciness, the right amount of kick. I could taste the falafel, the crunchy salad that is in the wrap and the sauce.
I usually wait awhile before I write a review but this place deserves all the credit in the world. I started writing in real time, while eating.
I went there at the right time, 2:15pm, the lunch crowd had dwindled down. I got some attention from Wally who made my FW.
I went in thinking that this place will be average at best. All I can say is that a part of me became a Mediterranean today. Don't ask which part or how much of me but there has been a change.
Sad that I found this place 5 years after I started working in Emeryville.
Recommend: YES
Will I go back: YES
Romantic: You take two of these sandwiches and jump onto 580/24 and go park on top of North Berkeley and watch the Sunset. Don't forget to buy some Vino from TJs before you get here.
Thank me later.
Note to Wally: Thanks for one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.
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The lentil soup is tasty, and the gyro wrap is too!!! Dessert of baklava is a nice touch. This set me back about 7 not including tip and tax.
I wasn't really a fan of the beef schwarma, but I will definitely be back. I like that they're open late, and are near my work place, so that next time I'm hungry I can go here instead of that other nearby place with a name in the title that consistently fails...
Wally's is really kind of hidden-- get there by going through the Bank Club so you don't have to walk past the dumpster :)
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If you've read the other reviews of Wally's, you know the basics -- tasty Middle Eastern food, semi-hidden location, complimentary lentil soup, friendly staff, good tunes pumping in from the Bank Club's jukebox...it's all true!
What I discovered, though, was that Wally, the owner, may be the inspiration for Wall*E, the adorable little robot from the Pixar movie! Apparently, the Pixar crew started working on the film a few months after they started lunching at Wally's. Highly suspicious, I'd say.
Anyway, Wally's was awesome overall, from the food to the relaxed atmosphere to the Wall*E poster tacked on the wall next to the fridge (not to mention the crazy characters spilling over from the Bank Club). I'll definitely be back!
My friends have been raving about this place. First Susan S. in April, then Mia S. in July and then Catherine B. in September. I bookmarked it in April and have intended to go since. I'm almost fully recovered from my dental drama, so when Alan suggested lunch here I was definitely up for it.
It's just down the block from Marsh Interiors and we found a parking spot directly in front, so we stopped in to say hi to Ed Marsh and to chat w/ him before lunch. Then we walked down to the Bank Club and walked through to Wally's. The Bank Club has a great jukebox. A jazz standard whose name eludes me at the moment was playing when we walked in and "Song for My Father" was playing when we walked out, w/ something funkier while we were eating.
We seated ourselves at Woody's counter and we greeted warmly by Angelique. We indicated we were first timers. She waited patiently while we sorted out what we were going to order, giving us bowls of one of the tastiest lentil soups I've had while we did so. We'd been prepared for their generous portions, but their generosity surpassed even those descriptions. Alan ordered a beef shwarma and I ordered a gyros. We were debating between hummus and baba ganouj and Angelique delighted us by offering half portions of each. Well, when they arrived each one was the size I had expected the whole to be! Needless to say, we brought lots of both home.
It's hard to decide which I liked better, the shwarma or the gyros. Both were really good. The gyros had lots of lettuce and tomatoes and we liked that. They were both good. We don't have to choose a favorite. When we were finished and had packed up the dips, they brought us a lovely little gold edged dish w/ two pieces of baklava. I was too full to even think about it, so I took some napkins and wrapped up the baklava to take home for later. Grandma Sandy would have been proud.
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Wally's Cafe is obscurely located in the ally between a bar and black fences. The restaurant is homey and mainly composed of a sit down counter and tables outside. I came on a Saturday evening and it wasn't too busy.
Since it was a bit chilly that night, the lentil soup definitely hit the spot. I ordered the falafel plate and really enjoyed it because it had a kick of spice. The pita was warm and delicious. My friend had the beef kabab and it was pretty much amazing too because it was tender. Wally was sweet because he asked us if we enjoyed the food and gave us complimentary baklava. How can you not love him?!
Overall, it is a good restaurant to try when you are in the mood for a more family like, hidden establishment.
Everything I had here was excellent. I tried the lamb kebab plate, the falafel wrap and the baklava. The baklava at Wally's is probably the best baklava I've ever had in my life-and it's not because it was free. The rice that went with the kebab plate was the most buttery-coma inducing-rice I've ever had. The kebabs were perfectly seasoned and was cooked to perfection and the salad had some really great herbs and spices in it. I thought the falafel was great, too, but I don't think it was better than some other falafels I've had.
If you decide to come to Wally's, come starving, because coming in a less hungry state will definitely make you feel guilty for polishing off that buttered rice.
I would have given it five stars, but it was a little difficult to enjoy lunch with loud music blaring from the bar next door and the occasional homeless person soliciting me for money. Maybe I'll get food to-go next time. Wally's leftovers are delicious.
Our wedding date is TBA, mainly because Wally doesn't know I exist yet. But even with that minor detail to be ironed out, I can already tell you what will be on the menu at our reception: warm spicy falafel, hummus, peppery lentil soup, shawarma and dolmas. Not just any dolmas, but warm dolmas that taste like something out of a dream. There will be a huge baklava instead of a wedding cake. It will be crispy and delicate and won't be smothered with sticky syrup. Wally will serve it to you at exactly the right moment, without you even having to ask.... just because.
***Big Sigh***
I think I can already hear the pitter-patter of little gyros!
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Totally lived up to it's expectations. Ordered the Gyro with Fries. The pita tasted like it was *just* baked, and damn near everything was exceedingly fresh. When I'm in the area, totally coming back here, and bringing friends :)
How could I *not* love this place? What with Mediterranean being my favorite, Wally's being bike-able from my office, me not being all that picky with food to begin with? But after two tries, I doubt I'll be coming back. Salads were far too salty and falafel far too pepper-y. And my friend thought the falafel tasted, ahem, "like dirt." Ouch. Two (and a half) stars for the uber-friendly and attentive service, complimentary lentil soup and outdoor seating. Sara's Delicatessen in the E-Ville Public Market is a tastier choice, IMO.
This place has the best falafal and baklava (made with cashews), I've had in a while.
Pommegranite Chicken and Mediteranean burger are also very good.
Delicious, complimentary lentil soup. At first, we thought it was a fertility soup because he gave it to all the women first, but quickly realized, he was just very well mannered and polite.
Great U-Shaped bar to eat at. Even when it's sunny out, we choose to eat at the bar.
There should be spell check on YELP. I feel like I've made a million spelling errors in this review.
i can't emphasize how much i love wally's. the kind woman bringing us all the most delicious lentil soup, on the house, soon after we sat down is worth nothing less than 7 stars.
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03/20/2008
after a couple laps up and down san pablo, i finally found wally's. there was a small sign on the… Read more »
Dude, this place is amazing.
I've been coming here for the past few months and I've never had a bad experience here. Wally is the NICEST person ever and very generous. One time, my greedy appetite caused me to order more food than I had money for. Wally told me not to worry about it and gave me an unsolicited discount! That, ladies and gentlemen, will build fierce customer loyalty in even the most skeptical restaurant-goer.
The restaurant is kind of like a truck stop diner, connected to a bar. The fact that you can order drinks from the bar and bring it over to the diner is a neat concept. The baklava here is unbelievable. I don't know how Wally does it but you will never have a flakier, tastier baklava. There are crushed nuts sprinkled over layers of buttery heaven. The salad is wonderful. Fresh chunks of tomatoes and cucumbers tossed with crisp lettuce. The falafel is crunchy on the outside and moist inside. Yum!
Warning: Do not immediately speak to anybody but your loved ones after you dine here. Only those who really love you will let you get away with the reek of garlic coming from your breath. The smell will stay with you for hours! But, it's so worth it!
*3.5 Stars*
Let me start by saying that my husband loves, loves, loves House of Falafel in Cupertino. It is his go-to place for Mediterranean food. Since moving to the East Bay, we've been trying to find a place that serves nearly the same quality of Mediterranean food. Wally's came very close (according to my husband).
The service was top notch. We got complimentary lentil soup. Very tasty but a bit salty.
Service was a bit slow but the food was on par. The chicken kabob plate that my husband ordered was huge. Large pieces of chicken kabob, big portions of rice, yogurt, and salad. My chicken shawarma, although tasty, fell apart. Baklava was light tasting and our server only charged us for one out of the two we ordered.
Minus a star for my shawarma falling apart too quickly.
Minus half a star for only taking cash. (There is an ATM next door in the bar).
Wally's Cafe can be missed so just look out for the bar in the front and then just walk towards the back.
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First time: Tried the falafel wrap. Really salty, and that's from somebody who likes lots of salt. The lentil soup was nice and tasty. Not sure this is worth the hype or another trip there, out of the way for me.
I love this place. It's super close to my work, and very close to my old apartment. When we were moving, we mistakenly packed the kitchen first which meant lots of eating out for us. Wally's to the rescue! I love that you can eat in the bar and hang with the locals watching horse races. It's such a cool family vibe there, it's a place I never want to leave. And if I could have an endless bowl of the lentil soup, I never would.
I am slowly eating my way through the menu: gyro= awesome, falafel= awesome, cheesesteak= very good, chicken panini= good (lower scale here relative to all the awesomeness), Wally burger= the In-N-Out burger of my dreams! Up next: Shwarma!
oh yeah- Lentil Soup!
Wally is the head chef and owner. He serves up a courtesy lentil cumin cilantro tamarind rice soup when you sit down. It's at a level much above that which us mere mortals attain.
We devoured a shared a lamb kabob plate with gusto, and finished off by inhaling the baklava.
Wally and his assistant get high marks for personal relationships with the customers.
For overflow seating, Wally's shares a patio with the Bank Club bar.
3.5 stars
There is sooo much to say about Wallys... I gotta break it down:
Location: hole in the hole in the wall.... if you spot the green garbage bin next to the Bank Club... you've found utopia!, just look up and you'll see the gate to heavenly good food.
Decor & interior: rather interesting, EXTREMELY casual diner look, limited seat
Chef/Staff: always get something free there. Free soup on top of free soup while we wait for takeout... free baklava
Food:
The bf had Wallys before me and told me: if you were there, you would said everything there were to die for. The falafel is to die for, the soup is to die for, the salad is to die for.. and omg to the hummus is to die for... there would be multiple deaths SWEETHEART!!!
And I agree... Everything we tried there were worth dying for.
The bf said Wallys' godsend! And I agree with him. Wallys located right next to the bank club where people get intoxicated. I bet Wallys chose to be there to heal the intoxicated with his lentil soup. The bf and I were sick, and a sip of that lentil soup took away lots of tensions and tingle our brains. The falafel... omg.. I never had vegetarian dish that is as flavorful as meat and light at the same time.... Oh the lamb kabob was grilled to perfection, so tender.. so sweet... so... lamby... baaaaaaaa And the rice underneath the lamb soak up the lamb juice.. ohhh...orgasmic... AND THE SALAD.. so simple yet complement everything soo well and is sooo good for you. AND THE BAKLAVA.... with freshly ground pistachio on top... so delicious and light... and how can baklava be light.. iono.. ask Wally...
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During my undergrad days at Cal State Hayward during the first term Dubya's administration there was this place on campus called the Kampus Korner. The Kampus Korner was the place if you wanted falafel, hummus, or a big salad for not too much money. That place was awesome, it also introduced me to one of my favorite thing in Greek/Mediterranean cuisine, Dolmas.
When the University was expanding its offering to students it was a mixed blessing, the school was destined to be less of a commuter campus with more dorms and more food options on campus, the downside was that they forced out all of the independent food vendors like the Kampus Korner.
I still miss that place. But with the discovery of Wally's, I miss the Kampus Korner less. The food is similar, but with a wider offering and the big difference is that they have hot dishes here. The prices are a bit steep for hole in the wall food but the portions do make up for it.
The shawerma is good but I feel they put too much feta cheese in it. The fries, though pre-frozen and probably bought at Costco, were fried to perfection. The lentil soup, like so many other reviews before me have said, is awesome.
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I'm still a fan. Wally and his family are awesome.
I'm no longer worried about his success, there are a zillion Pixar employees that hang out in the bar next door and order Wally's food.
HOWEVER: set your expectations.
Do not go to Wally's expecting a fast meal. Be patient. Enjoy your soup.
Do not go to Wally's expecting fancy atmosphere.
Do not go to Wally's and plan on eating a small meal.
Think "you're in a family kitchen, with bright lights, and a bunch of drunks next door".
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05/08/2008
Fantastic! The owner truly understands that running a successful small business requires not just… Read more »
WALLYS CAFE IN SHORT: WALLY IS VERY NICE, FOOD IS VERY GOOD, PRICES ARE KINDA HIGH, AMBIANCE IS 1 STAR, TRY THIS PLACE BUT CALL 15 MINUTES AHEAD AND GET YOUR FOOD TO GO! AND DON'T FORGET THE BAKLAVA! THE END.
Wally's Cafe, The Long Version:
So after staring at 'Wally's Cafe' on the front page of Yelp for the past few months i decided i needed to quit putting this visit off and finally taste the experience that is this elusive 'WALLYS'
Like everyone says, this place is hard to find and it's behind a bar. This is correct... but please note that it isn't just behind the bar, but it's CONNECTED to the bar... which means there are drunks walking into Wallys and around you while you dine, lol.
Now the main guy there, which I assume is Wally, was SO friendly and SO kind. He was obviously a very nice guy and i can see why customers like him so much. I ordered the Lamb Shawarma and my girlfriend got the Shrimp and Beef Kabobs... The food was actually very good, and they give you alot! We had so much that we had to get a dogie bag for home...
I gotta say that the salad was outstanding, and you could tell it was FRESH. It looked fresh and tasted fresh. That was a plus... The meat was also very, very good... The rice was ok, not amazing... and the pita bread was just alright, and wasn't warm. The Baklava, however, was the cherry on top... I bought 1 to eat there and 2 more for the road... they were great.
For this meal we paid about $32. Going there i wasn't expecting to pay so much... but when in Rome i guess i had too... (or when Yelpers tell you to go to Wallys)
All in all I'd say the food itself is only sorta worth the high praise that it receives here on yelp, but it shouldn't be number one on the front page everyday... When I left Wallys that day i felt like the Yelpers had cheated me a bit... I was expecting the greatest meal of my life, but instead just got a pretty good meal for a high price in a bad area. I'm giving it 3 stars because i really did like the food, and Wally was nice... but it wasn't what i expected. Don't get your hopes to high, folks!
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OK...one of two things is going on here:
1. We caught them on an off night
-or-
2. Their vegetarian food is just not that great
We had two options for dinner (not sides) falafel plate and falafel wrap. Well...we like falafel so we ordered one of each. I was a bit disappointed by the menu at that point because most middle eastern places we go to have some kind of mixed plate that comes with falafel and baba ganoush and tabbouleh or something like that that's good for vegetarians.
Our friends ordered hummus which was good. My wrap was just OK, the falafel was OK, and the salad was good. They were running out of food, which I guess is fine for a small restaurant in a recession...and they were really really slow (though they did try to give us our meal for free for that).
I think this would be great drunk food if I were chillin' at the attached bar, but I'm not sure it's worth a special trip just for food.
Two things I think they need to do something about:
-The restroom
-The transients walking up to your table while you're eating dinner
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Things to like:
Meat dishes are above average
Food portions are huge
You can get liquor and beer right next door and enjoy them with your meal
The bar next door has atmosphere for days
Not to like:
Food is too salty - and I like salt, the humus and baba ganoush in particular are over the top
Drown salads in cheap oil/ vinegar combination
vegetarian food is just OK - you can get better all around the Bay
Prices are high for the quality of the food.
Slow service
You may want to be drunk some nights to put up with the drunks
This place is OK - I've eaten there a few times, and I would go back because it is in the neighborhood. I do not understand why people think it is so great - they basically use middle-of-the-road ingredients to make middle-of-the-road food. There are much better places that are cheaper in the City - but I guess that is part of the allure - this place is close.
It is great when you have a craving, but not worth getting your shorts in a twist for.
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you let me down, guys. =(.
there were about two other groups in the restaurant, one of which already had food. our meals took about 20 minutes to come out. my falafel wrap was too salty. my boyfriend's kabob was dry and he threatened to break up with me for taking him there.
(no, he didn't).
but still, guys. =(.
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Excellent Middle Eastern food... especially for the price. Wally makes some bad ass hummus and baba ghanoush!
Food glorious food. Charming space NOT (you have to walk past a dumpster to get to the door).
Friendly, generous but slightly inattentive service (once things get busy).
We had the complimentary lentil soup, tasty succulent lamb kebab plate, beef shwarma (sp?) plate, and a mixed plate of sides- hummus, babaganoush, falafel and tabbouleh. Everything comes with tossed mounds of salady bits and tomato chunks.
Go for the food, go again for the "secret menu" specials that change daily.
Grab an outside table in the alley on a sunny day for lunch.
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Lately I tried their falafel wrap (very good, but loaded with garlic so no more for me!) and their chop chop chicken liver sandwich. Wally remembers me now, even only after 3 or 4 visits, so he makes sure there's no garlic or onions in my food.
The chicken liver sandwich is good if you like liver (I do). He doesn't overcook it so it's not hunks of dry crumbly innards, and he puts a little lemon juice on it and although I've never had it this way before, it was a nice flavor addition. I also ordered the fries and though they weren't made in house as far as I know, they were hot and tasted of clean oil so I appreciate that!
The meal is usually preceeded by a bowl with some lentil soup. Just barely spicy enough to make me reach for water, it makes me feel like I'm having a meal at a Lebanese family's home instead of a diner in the back of a bar.
These are good people, and this is good food. OH, and the home made baklava has crack in it, because you can't stop thinking about it.
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05/22/2008
Eat here now!
The food was excellent, even though it started off as a plate of allergens for me.
I…
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Okay, according to the rest of the reviews my experience must have been an anomaly. It took almost 2 hours start to finish and the food was just okay. Service was horrible though I didn't say anything because they were all so nice. The soup at the beginning was good and th hummus was tasty and with warm pita which is always nice. However, the chicken kabob was dry and unseasoned. And each person at the table ordered different things and they were all just okay. The owner came out and apologized for the wait and was extremely nice. But being nice doesn't make up for so-so food. Next time you want good mid-east food, go to Pamir in Emeryville Public Market.
Update: Owner emailed me regarding my visit and they are truly, truly so nice. I have to try them again. Plus, how could so many positive reviews be wrong?
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It's like kickin' it ol'skool style. This place is fun, a bit hard to find, but it's worth the hunt. I was a bit disappointed, because I didn't get to try the lentil soup, they ran out :(. My beef kabob's were so so, but I'm giving it 4 stars because everyone else liked their meals and I honestly loved the rice. Also service was great and the hibiscus tea was awesome. I'm definitely going to go back for the soup!!!!
WARNING- When you go to look for this place, keep "The Bank Club" in mind. Look out for this, and if you think its a club/bar, then head on back and you have found Wally's. It is hidden a bit, but a friendly man directed us to the grub. Another tip, park across the street in the Home Depot lot. It saves circling the block a few times! =)
Now on to the food...
Wow, this place is great. Whats not to like? The huge portions of DELICIOUS food? The friendly service? The laid-back atmosphere? Ability to watch the cook whip up your meal when you watch? Free hummus to munch on when you wait?
Yeah, thats what I thought. ;)
Negatives would include the decor, which is not a 5-star luxury restaurant. But c'mon, they are obviously focusing their energy in the right area!
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Love, thy name is Wally's.
In a locale plagued with mediocre Middle Eastern fare, Wally's is an Oasis.
There's not much to be said that hasn't yet been said. The chicken shawarma is perfect. The garlic sauce tickles every taste bud on your palate. The patrons meandering in from the bar next door add character and watching fodor. The uncomfortable stools and counter create ambiance.
Seriously the best shawarma I've had since moving away from Montreal. Try it.
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FREAKING AMAZING!!! i'm speechless...wow...
not only are the workers here super nice...the food is definitely worth 5 stars...times 10!!! we had the gyro plate, beef schwarma, babah ghanoush(not sure how to spell it)...and the yummy lentil soup. the lady there gave us complimentary extra pieces of pita bread, sample pieces of their baklavah...and she was even trying to give us a sample of their hummus!!! i was absolutely stuffed.
everything...WAS SOOOO GOOD!!! seriously folks, try this place. it was a little hard to find at first, but once you're there...you'll see that it's worth driving around the block 20 times to find it. the place is really small...but i like the entire hole in the wall feels like home feeling. the bathroom was...interesting...use the bathroom elsewhere before you eat there. ha. even the salad was yummy.
love it. thank you yelp.
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What a fun first visit to Wally's, on a friend's recommendation. We got what we came for at this local tiny diner-style joint. Not pretentious, just serves up what they do best - the gyro was yummy. We went around 9pm, so lentil soup was all gone. We asked whether tamales (not on any menu) might be available - they were ... yummy! Will be back for more. The parking is a challenge, as noted. We took the opportunity to park around the block and used the walk to digest some of the huge portions we were served.
I saw it yesterday. The awesome power of Yelp.
As I was circling the block looking for parking, this time confidently armed with data points to help me find this elusive eatery that is the new hot spot on Yelp, I noticed a car in front of me circling the block. It's passenger and the driver were looking around and gesturing like "is that it? do you see it?" I knew that they were Yelpers looking for Wally's and sure enough, as I walked through the gate on the right side of the Bank Club, they were right behind me.
Wally's is a tiny mom and pop cafe hidden behind a bar located near a major intersection in a traffic heavy area. Most people will recognize it as a part of their route to the freeway from IKEA or the Bay Street mall. There is very little parking nearby, absolutely no foot traffic and not even a sign indicating its existence. But walking into this bustling cafe on a Wednesday night, you would think that it's located in the middle of a busy pedestrian area in a hip neighborhood. It was an oasis of wonderful aromas and friendly faces.
Inside the cafe, sitting along the u-shaped counter were the faces of Yelp. I didn't recognize anyone in particular but I could tell. Asians, hipsters, intellectuals, geeks, young and old, they were all there, my fellow Yelpers, enjoying their huge platters of kebabby thingys and working out their reviews in their heads.
I could see the owner in the kitchen area scrambling to fill the orders. I think he's gonna need to hire a cook soon. As I sat waiting for my to-go order, I was disappointed that I wasn't going to experience his famous personable service. Before I could even finish that thought, he sent over a bowl of the most delicious lentil soup, on the house of course. I appreciated that the soup was perfectly seasoned and served piping hot. It will definitely be a part of my meals here.
As the owner noticed my order being wrapped up, he stopped what he was doing to come and ask me how many people this order is for and instructed his son to throw in some baklava. I just have to comment that free or not, it was the BEST baklava I've ever had. And I don't even like baklava.
At home, my family enjoyed the kafta kebab and the chicken schwarma which were both delicious and plentiful. The salad was crisp and the rice fluffy and buttery. The hummus and the babaganoush were tasty but as everyone pointed out very very garlicky. After 15 hours and 3 brushings, I am still breathing fire and ready to try out as the next Buffy. But it was worth it. Worth every tortured soul having to sit through a two hour meeting with me today.
Wally's is a gem and I am glad that I found it before the line around the building becomes another clue to its secret locale. Because as we all know, Yelpers are a bunch of piggies and if you Yelp it, they will come. (and most are drundards too and Wally's is attached to a very cool dive bar - how perfectly Yelptastic is that?)
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100% Pure Awesome.
How Awesome? Awesome enough that to pollute a review with a personal story, a funny anecdote, or quirky dialogue would be to do it a disservice. (And probably good for me, judging by the shitty writing of my recent reviews.)
It's located on San Pablo behind the Bank Club Cafe...there's no sign, so don't drive up and down hoping to see it. There is a small Greek flag flying out front, and it's across the street from the Pac n' Save lot, so use those as directional markers.
It's taqueria/communal eating style, with a big wrap-around counter surrounding the prep and stove areas. It's small enough that you can chat with other customers and the family members that run the place (incidentally, they're Lebanese, even though the owners of the bar are Greek).
We sat down, they gave us menus, and immediately asked, "Is this your first time?" When we answered in the affirmative, they gave us complimentary hummus seasoned with Mediterranean oils and spices and served with fresh warm pita. They followed this up with complimentary bowls of lentil soup - quite possibly the best I've ever had. Spicy, with the lentils cooked evenly and a bit of rice added for substance.
We each had the chicken schwarma - we were told that one order would be enough for both of us for lunch, but somehow it didn't register. Believe me, it is a TON of food. It's easily enough for 2-3 meals. Served with a greek salad, the chicken is amazing and the garlic yogurt takes a bit getting used to but is absolutely phenomenal. And absolutely strong - it renders you unkissable for at least a day!
But really, the thing that Wally's has to be most proud of is its customer service. It's the best service I have EVER had. Friendly chefs with good suggestions, freebies, and a comfortable and welcoming environment. We were so pleased with our meal, we gave a $15 tip to a $25 meal (it's cheap, by the way) - no small compliment from two young struggling teachers.
Do yourself a favor, and go check out Wally's. Again and again and again and again.
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Bill Clinton once said, "There is no subtle way to say that I have sinned." That is EXACTLY how I feel about Wally's. Thanks, Bill, for those insightful words.
This puts most food I've had in my life to shame. Everyone really knows how to make you feel welcome as if you were a guest in their home. Although, it is kind of strange feeling like you're in a Lebonese family's house hearing Sexual Seduction by Snoop blasting from the adjoining bar with random middle-aged black women walking through Wally's headed toward the restroom crying, "Oooh baby, it be smellin' goood in here!" You must experience this for yourself. I particularly loved the Wall-E movie poster on the wall. I get it, I get it :) Nice touch.
The food is outstanding. The salad, lentil soup, baklava, hummus, and kabobs all have incredible amounts of flavor. The lamb kabob is a bit on the tough side, but that Wally sure knows his food. The shrimp kabob is heavenly. I gave a bite to my bf and he wouldn't let me finish asking him if he liked it. While chewing the bite I just gave him he simply puts his hand up to my mouth and said, "Shh! You'll ruin it." I stop talking and let the man eat. Yes, it's that good, people.
Wally is a super nice guy. He didn't say to us, "enjoy your meal," in a matter-of-fact kind of way like most restaurants do. Instead, he humbly said, "I hope you like the food," which really shows he cares about whether people enjoy their meal. His son (it must be his son) is also very warm and nice.
After seeing how large the portions were, my bf said to me, "If you eat that whole thing I won't be sexual attracted to you anymore." Yelpers, if you really want to know, I ate the whole thing. I risked my boyfriend not being attracted to me because I liked the food that much.
For the record, he was joking, but the food really does make you do some sort of bouncy dance in your seat. You feel dumb for doing that dance and looking retardedly giddy, but then you realize everyone else is doing it too!
I'm surprised at how many people there were inside. I assumed we'd be the only ones because there is only one sign on the sidewalk which you'd miss if you aren't walking on the street. It's almost impossible to know that a great place like this exists. For completely selfish reasons I hope it doesn't become too bustlin' because I would hate to start waiting in line, but Wally deserves praise for his awesome food and I only wish good things for this place. But for now, it's still a best kept secret.
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I think three stars means average, even though Yelp says it means "A-OK." The two-star description says "Meh, I've had better" which I think is more accurate for Wally's but two stars just seems too negative. Yeah Wally is nice and the bonus baklava was muy rico but I'm not sure good customer service is enough to brainwash me into giving this place 5 stars and write in all caps with a million exclamation points. The food is only OK and the atmosphere isn't OK. Other restaurants should take note that good customer service obviously goes a long way. I'm actually a little angry that my time was wasted at this place because I once again fell for Yelp's (paid for) tops list.
This one will be short and sweet, and probably not so helpful, but everyone else has it covered.
GREAT. Reminds me a bit of the Lebanese formica table and take out joints in Boston that are so good. Smooth, flavorful hummus; zesty tabbouleh; and excellent plates (3 kebabs, tasty salad, and the rice... OH THE RICE!) They were very generous with their portions (I'm still full 4 hours later...), and even threw in some freebies- some lentil soup, and some of the BEST baklava I've ever had, not too greasy, stuffed with nuts and pistachios.
Its not the best location, adjacent to a dark bar full of interesting characters getting drunk at 2pm. But, that lends to its character. If you can't deal with these elements, don't bother, because you'll be too bothered to concentrate on your meal. Decor is a bare minimum. But, the servers are warm, and Wally is eager to make his customers happy.
