Residents and visitors in Northern Virginia have a unique advantage when it comes to choosing what cuisines to eat. With so many international restaurants, you can truly take a global food tour without ever leaving the area.
But when it comes to expanding your food options, especially with cuisines you might not be so familiar with, looking at the menu can feel just a bit confusing. For those not familiar with Mediterranean food, seeing words like mezze, shawarma, and tzatziki on the menu can make you feel overwhelmed when ordering. You don’t want to order something you might not like and be stuck paying for a dish you don’t actually enjoy.
That’s why, at Cafesano Italian & Mediterranean Bistro, we’ve written this guide to help first-timers decide what to order at our restaurant. We’ll go through some of the more unfamiliar items on our menu, explaining what they are and how they taste. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to order—whether it’s when dining in or ordering takeout from us.
What Exactly Is Mediterranean Food?
Mediterranean cuisine is made up of shared cooking traditions with ingredients found in countries like Italy, Greece, Lebanon, Turkiye, and Spain. You’ll find many dishes containing fresh vegetables, legumes, grains, herbs, and lean protein like fish and chicken.
Some of the more familiar dishes you might see on a Mediterranean restaurant menu include pasta, brick oven pizza, Greek salad, chicken parmesan, and grain bowls. But then some more traditional dishes could take you by surprise. (Don’t worry, we’re diving deeper into those next!)
In fact, year after year, the Mediterranean Diet has been named the best overall diet. That’s thanks to its fresh ingredients, healthy fats, and fiber. So, really, when you’re ordering from Cafesano’s menu, you’re making a very delicious, yet health-first decision!
What to Order at a Mediterranean Restaurant
Not sure exactly what you’re looking at when staring at Cafesano’s menu? Here’s your guide to some of our most traditional items so you know exactly what to order.
Start with the Appetizers
The best way to start a meal at Cafesano is with shared appetizers. This is the best way to open up your taste buds to the earthy Mediterranean flavors and try a little bit of everything.
Tzatziki
Originating from Greece, tzatziki is a creamy dip made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and a touch of fresh dill. Dip a warm piece of pita in it and enjoy the cool, tangy bite balanced by a light garlic flavor.
We make our tzatziki fresh and serve it as more than just an appetizer. It’s a staple ingredient in some of our main dishes, like shawarma, bringing everything into balance.
Baba Ghanoush
If you’re looking for a smoky-flavored dish that is packed with nutrients, look no further than baba ghanoush. It’s made with roasted eggplant, which is then mashed with tahini, garlic, and a squeeze of lemon. What you get is a deeper and earthier flavor profile than hummus, but the same beloved dip that’s perfect for warm pita.
To truly get a full profile of Mediterranean flavors, make sure to order our Dip Sampler. You’ll get to taste our hummus, tzatziki, and baba ghanoush all at once.
Falafel
Falafel is made with mashed chickpeas, herbs, and garlic, formed into small patties and fried until the outside is crisp and golden. You can bite right through the crispy shell to find a soft, green-flecked, fluffy inside.
We make our falafel to order, meaning it’s fresh, warm, and never loses its crunch. It’s the perfect choice for vegetarians and vegans who want a satisfying start to their meal.
Move to the Mains
In addition to well-known dishes like grilled panini, salads, pizza, and pasta, we also offer more adventurous Mediterranean options on our menu.
Kabob Platter
A kabob platter is a good landing spot for a first-timer at a Mediterranean restaurant. It’s a full plate made up of grilled skewers of your choice, like chicken, steak, shrimp, salmon, or veggies, with a side of rice, grilled vegetables, salad, warm pita, and tzatziki.
This platter is a great starting point for those who want to taste traditional Mediterranean flavors and textures without going too far outside of their comfort zone.
Shawarma
Our shawarma is thinly sliced meat, like chicken or beef, with crispy edges and seasoned with warm spices. At Cafesano, we wrap it up in a grilled pita with romaine, tomato, and our iconic garlic sauce. Every bite you take carries a smoky flavor, a bit of tang, and something cool to balance it all out.
Avocado & Lemon Tahini Wrap
When you’re craving a quick and healthy lunch, an avocado and lemon tahini wrap is a smart choice. Our tahini paste is made from toasted sesame seeds, giving it a nutty and slightly bitter taste. But don’t worry, it’s rounded out with lemon juice for brightness. Paired with avocado slices, tomato, lettuce, carrots, and shaved Asiago cheese, this wrap is light and creamy—the perfect lunch.
Greek Salad
You’ve probably heard of Greek salad before with its simple and fresh ingredients, but at Cafesano, we add our own twist. We stay true to the traditional tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, red onion, green peppers, and feta cheese, but lay it all out on a bed of romaine lettuce. Plus, we drizzle our signature Greek vinaigrette, add a stuffed grape leaf, and serve it with a warm grilled ciabatta.
Save Room for Dessert
Sure, the Mediterranean diet is known for being healthy, but you can still find some sweet treats to end your meal with.
Baklava
If you’re craving something super sweet, then baklava delivers. This traditional dessert is built in layers with sheets of phyllo dough brushed with butter and stacked with chopped nuts. Once baked, it’s soaked in a honey syrup for ultimate sweetness. In the end, you get a crispy top with sticky layers underneath and a satisfied sweet tooth.
Try Your First Mediterranean Meal at Cafesano in NoVA
After reading about all the different kinds of Mediterranean food, your stomach must be grumbling. And now that you know how to read our menu and what to order at a Mediterranean restaurant, there’s no better time to stop into Cafesano!
Visit our Reston or Dulles locations in Northern Virginia or order takeout to enjoy a delicious meal in the comfort of your home.
We’re waiting for you at Cafesano Italian & Mediterranean Bistro!