Cherylynn N.
Yelp
3.5 STARS
As much as I enjoy outdoor dining, what I don't enjoy are exhaust fumes.
Sure, it may add to the sensory experience but that's not the kind of *smoke* flavoring I want in my food.
So yay for Peninsula cities having streets closed off for outdoor dining! RWC is one of them.
Opening in late June 2024, Nomadic Kitchen took over Kasa Eatery. Same owners as May's Vietnamese Restaurant next door. They're open for takeout, delivery, indoor dining, and dog-friendly outdoor dining (street is closed off).
I've been on a Turkish food kick lately so wanted to give Nomadic Kitchen a try before heading to Stanford Shopping Center. Unfortunately, we had a different dining experience than the current 5 star reviews. Not bad but mid - off day?
We arrived Sunday at lunchtime to a quiet resto with two tables occupied. Their service model is confusing but more on that later.
M E N U
Turkish cuisine: Apps (hummus, ezme, falafel, etc), pide (flatbreads), kebab plates, and dessert (kunefe and rice pudding).
Bottled drinks available. No alcohol.
F O O D
* Complimentary Pide // 3.5 Stars
Good chewy crust with a nice toasty flavor from the sesame seeds. Would have been great if served warm.
* Lamb Kebab: Herb marinated lamb skewer w/ rice, bulgar, and salad ($20) // 3.5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/38wjmc8r
--Requested medium rare
- Lamb Kebab: Well-spiced but on the dry side (cooked medium/medium-well).
- Rice: Fluffy, separated grains but not hot, served room temp.
- Bulgur Pilavi: The tomato bulgar pilaf had savory sweet flavor but mushy.
- Salad: Fresh, crisp lettuce with carrots and cabbage with a delicious olive oil vinaigrette.
* Kofte: Grilled ground lamb and beef w/ onions and herbs ($19) // 3.5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/z2cukx3y
- Kofte: The flattened meat balls were tender but like the lamb kebabs, on the dry side.
- Rice, Bulgur Pilavi, and Salad: Same as above.
S E R V I C E
Fast food service - we received our order in less than 10 minutes. I've never had kebabs cooked so fast before.
Room for Improvement (no bearing on my rating):
Is it fast-casual or full-service?
Upon arrival, I saw number placards on two occupied tables so I asked about the ordering process. I was told you can place your order at the counter or they can come outside to take our order. To make things easier, I ordered at the counter but wasn't asked to pay and was told they'll bring a number placard out.
After receiving our order, we never saw our server again and I had to go inside to pay the bill.
But, a very kind lady from the resto next door (May's) came by to refill our water glasses and offer TT water. I later found out the owners of Nomadic Kitchen also own May's Vietnamese Restaurant next door.
A M B I A N C E
Casual, no frills with about six tables indoors and eight tables in the front patio (only some tables had shade).
P A R K I N G
Street parking. Difficult lot parking on that Sunday. Garage across the street.
Overall, I'm the outlier and thought the food at Nomadic Kitchen was just ok esp when you can get kebabs at a handful of other places within walking distance. 3.5 stars rounded up for a new local small business.