THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Yaya Cuisine

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Yaya Cuisine Restaurant Review:

After nearly 20 years wowing diners with his authentic Middle Eastern fare, Yahya Salih is back to start a different trend---Mesopotamian-California cuisine. Once diners duck inside, the bustle of Van Ness Avenue disappears into the tranquility of a romantic room with deep blue carpets and dark wood beams. Colorful murals of Babylon and Sun City cover the walls while cobalt-shaded bulbs bathe the tables in soft, flattering light. Wonderful aromas of exotic spices waft up from each and every dish---Salih is a master at balancing the intense flavors of his homeland, which could easily overpower one another in less experienced hands. Presentation is impressive, especially the colorful vegetarian yabragh, a large dolma of tomato, eggplant, zucchini and Swiss chard stuffed with cracked wheat, red bell pepper, parsley and coriander. There are a number of vegetarian selections, but there also are dishes like the maskoof, a delicate whole fish marinated in allspice, curry, tomato and lip-puckering sun-dried lime, served with some of the brightest, freshest vegetables we've seen. Don't miss the perdaplow---golden, flaky phyllo filled with tender chicken, saffron rice, almonds, golden raisins and a strong essence of cardamom. After a cup of Turkish coffee, let Salih read your fortune from the pattern of the grinds.