Winston L.
Yelp
One of my favorite Mediterranean restaurants in the East Bay, Wally's, has also one of the strangest entrance pathways. When we first came here 12 years ago, we walked through was seemed like an alley between a bar and two garbage dumpsters. When we went last week, we walked between a bank and two garbage dumpsters.
The restaurant is small. A counter surrounds the kitchen and is lined by around a dozen or so wooden swivel chairs. Small paintings on the wall show houses from Greek villages (is my guess) and the robot from Wall-E. As we ate, we could watch the kitchen bustling, one person marinating meat, another cutting up baklava.
The food here is simple, but delicious. Our meals started with a complementary lentil soup containing a blend of spices that warmed the soul. Each of our entrees came with a fresh salad (romaine lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion, and a vinaigrette) a bed of saffron rice and some thin pita wedges. The lamb skewers were tender and well seasoned. I absolutely loved the chicken pomegranate - diced pieces of chicken with something like a sweet and savory glaze. Meal finished off with a complementary piece of baklava.
Places like Wally's are why people go to hole in the wall restaurants. Tucked away somewhere inconspicuous, you will get awesome food with really friendly service.