Deanna T.
Yelp
We were in the area and decided to get dinner before heading home. My bf pulled up trusty Yelp, discovered Mendo nearby and literally lit up asking if we could go. How could I say no to the guy who looks so jubilant every time he sees Mendocino Farms? Thankfully the drive was only a minute or two away. There was metered parking on the streets, but we also found the parking lot in the back that Mendo shares with Chase and Sidecar Doughnuts! Maybe it is because it's a Monday evening, but there was plenty of parking. Upon strolling in, we were greeted and asked if we were picking up or ordering. We were immediately directed to the front of the store to place our orders. We browsed the menu and it didn't take us long to decide what we wanted. Of course, I had to try at least one of the seasonal menu items!
Smoky Chicken Elote Bowl ($12.45) - first time seeing bowls at Mendo, so definitely had to try one. The chicken elote bowl immediately appealed to me because I love corn! I was surprised at the amount of heat this bowl packed and remembered it had guajillo. The chili broth was pretty overpowering to be honest. I think I was expecting a different kind of flavor though. Kind of bummed that mine was missing a slice of lime as I think that would have helped with the spice. I think this bowl would have to be eaten fairly quickly as there are tortilla strips sprinkled on top unless no one minds soggy tortillas. The crema did aid a bit with the spiciness, but thankfully I also ordered a creamy soup, so that helped too.
The Sophisticated Chicken & Prosciutto Salad ($14.15) - this is my bf's favorite! Every time we've ordered from Mendo, he ALWAYS gets this salad with the basil pesto balsamic vinaigrette on the side. This salad comes with a complimentary whole wheat tortilla, which he uses to make mini wraps. Each time I take a bite of this salad, I can certainly understand why he loves it so much. The prosciutto is so soft (not sure why we expect it to be chewy upon first glance) but eating it with the roasted carrots balances out the salty profile. My favorite ingredient from this salad is most definitely the crushed honey roasted almonds! It just melds so well with the marinated red peppers and roasted chicken! Good job Mendo, on creating such a classy salad.
Thai Curry Squash Soup ($7.50) - we got this in a bowl because the cup looked so small. The other soup, Greek Lemon Chicken & Farro, also sounded amazing too, but I ultimately chose this because I love curry and squash separately and knew this combo would be good. I was not wrong. This soup is so perfect for fall. The curry is such a fantastic addition because it really helps level out the sweetness of the squash.
Togarashi Green Beans & Tofu ($4.95) - ordered a medium size and this was probably my favorite of the four items. So much so that after we polished off our bowls, I went back to place a large side to go! We both love everything about this unassuming dish, from the green beans and edamame with roasted oyster mushrooms to the cashews and tofu and even the black sesame seeds! The togarashi tamari dressing was really the key player though bringing all these delightful ingredients together. So much umami in this side and I'm already looking forward to eating it for lunch tomorrow,
Overall, we had a great experience here. The employees were all very friendly and courteous. I especially appreciated it when the guy ringing our order struck up a conversation with us. He didn't have to, but considering he had about three hours left in his shift, some small talk would not hurt. We opted to dine outdoors because the weather was very nice today. This location is spacious, has lots of seating inside and outside, both in the front and also in the back, and great lighting. The restroom requires a code to enter, which one of the employees will share - just ask nicely. Glad to see this location is just as good as the other locations we've been to. We'll definitely be back especially since Sidecar Doughnut shares the other side of the wall with them!