Dale Z.
Yelp
I was fortunate enough to be invited to sample many of the menu items during the soft opening of Sun Valley Kitchen. Everyone I spoke with was very friendly and enthusiastic about their new endeavor. I was able to meet the owner, Glenn, the head chef, Reuben, and a very nice young woman who was working front of house. For those who do not know, the Sun Valley neighborhood is somewhat lacking in dining options. The addition of Sun Valley Kitchen will have a marked impact on this area.
I was excited to sample several menu items. The hummus was every bit as good as what I am used to. The iced-tea was straightforward and refreshing. The house-made chips were quite good. For me, the salads and sandwiches really shone. The Vietnamese Grilled Beef Salad (with Marinated Cucumbers, Bean Sprouts, & Cilantro Lime Dressing) was very tasty and a good choice for a lighter bite. The Traditional Greek Salad (with Roasted Tomato, Feta, Kalamata Olives, & Oregano Dressing) had some solid flavors. The Seasonal Roasted Vegetables were a welcome addition to my plate. Perhaps my favorite bite was the Vietnamese BBQ Beef Banh Mi (with Spicy BBQ Pork, Marinated Vegetables, Cilantro, & Banh Mi Sauce). I know people who will practically come to blows over how authentic this Banh Mi is versus that one. This one was done as a Panini, and definitely had all the flavors I was looking for. I do not eat Falafel that often, but I did like the Crispy Falafel Pita Sandwich (with House Made Falafel, Tahini Lemon Sauce, & Warm Pita). It had a distinct curry flavor to me, which I am still trying to decide if it was a plus, a minus, or neutral in the grand scheme of things. I had a bite of the Fresh Cut Fries smothered in Green Chile sauce with Cheese. This was comfort food with a kick. I finished off this fine, and reasonably priced, repast with a sweet mini-bite of peanut butter fudge.
Aside from the excellent food, Sun Valley Kitchen has a mission. A portion of their proceeds directly fund the Sun Valley Community Center. Many of the recipes used at this restaurant were contributed by community members. In line with that, each Thursday Sun Valley Kitchen will be featuring specialty food items prepared by local residents. Funding from this will help support the food-based businesses of these same residents.
***Current hours are 10:30am to 1:30pm***