Yelp Top 100 restaurant now grilling in Redwood City

Mazra, a Yelp Top 100-ranked Mediterranean restaurant, now has a second Peninsula location.

The long-planned expansion puts Mazra in the heart of downtown Redwood City with a large, renovated space that allows seating for 120 inside, 50 on the front patio and 40 more on the back patio.

Mazra opened in San Bruno in March 2020, just as pandemic restrictions were hitting the industry. Despite the challenges, the Makableh family decided to forge ahead with their plan to convert the store they’d owned for 12 years, Green Valley Market, into a restaurant. The all-halal Mediterranean menu features traditional family recipes brought to this country by parents Randy and Ahlam Makableh when they emigrated from Jordan.

“We are a family of true foodies. We’ve spent a lot of time in the kitchen together and appreciate how good food brings people together,” son and head chef Saif Makableh, who co-owns Mazra with brother Jordan, told the Mercury News when the restaurant was first honored with a spot on the Yelp Top 100.

Yelpers who gave Mazra five stars raved about the wood-grilled Double Kebab Plate; the 6-Hour Lamb Shank, the Crispy Cauliflower appetizer and the Street-Style Wraps filled with steak or chicken shawarma and “to die for” fries. Saif said the Lamb Chops and the Grilled Salmon Plate are particularly popular.

Coming late this summer will be authentic breakfast dishes. That menu has been a year in the planning, he said.

Now that this large second location is open, the Makablehs have undertaken a major renovation of the San Bruno original. Construction is under way. “We’re hoping to open San Bruno back up in December,” Saif said.

Details: Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday  2021 Broadway in Redwood City; eatmazra.com