• Home
  • About
  • Advertising
  • Digital Archives
  • Contact
    • Letter to Editor
  • Find us
Monday, August 8, 2022
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Mission Valley News
  • A&E
    • Art
    • Books
    • Theater
    • Music
  • News & Features
    • News
      • Briefs
    • Politics
      • Elected Official Reports
        • Summer Stephan
        • Mara Elliott
        • Susan Davis
    • Features
    • Community Updates
      • Linda Vista Viewpoints
      • Old Town Tid-bits
      • Serra Mesa Snippets
  • Food & Drink
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • Dining Out
    • Bars & Happy Hours
    • Recipes
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the editor
  • Lifestyle
    • Health & Fitness
    • Pets
    • Gardening
    • Travel
  • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Finance
    • Expert Advice
    • Sponsored links
  • Library/Education
    • K-12
    • College
      • SDSU
      • SDCCD
    • Libraries
  • Calendar
  • Experts
Mission Valley News
  • A&E
    • Art
    • Books
    • Theater
    • Music
  • News & Features
    • News
      • Briefs
    • Politics
      • Elected Official Reports
        • Summer Stephan
        • Mara Elliott
        • Susan Davis
    • Features
    • Community Updates
      • Linda Vista Viewpoints
      • Old Town Tid-bits
      • Serra Mesa Snippets
  • Food & Drink
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • Dining Out
    • Bars & Happy Hours
    • Recipes
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the editor
  • Lifestyle
    • Health & Fitness
    • Pets
    • Gardening
    • Travel
  • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Finance
    • Expert Advice
    • Sponsored links
  • Library/Education
    • K-12
    • College
      • SDSU
      • SDCCD
    • Libraries
  • Calendar
  • Experts
No Result
View All Result
Mission Valley News
No Result
View All Result

‘LUNAtics’ at your service

October 19, 2018
in Featured, Food & Drink, Restaurant Reviews
0
‘LUNAtics’ at your service

Beef kebab

0
VIEWS

By Frank Sabatini Jr. | Restaurant Review

Since opening nearly 15 years ago in San Diego’s Torrey Highland area, Luna Grill has sizzled into more than a dozen locations within the county, including Hillcrest and Mission Valley. Then, in a blink of an eye, the mom-and-pop kebabery became a giant, extending its vaguely defined “near East and Mediterranean” fast-casual cuisine into regions throughout Southern California and Texas.

The food is outstandingly clean and flavorful — a mishmash of Greek-Lebanese-Persian dishes using meat and produce mostly free of hormones, antibiotics, GMOs and preservatives. The icing on the cake is an energized staff of full-thinking employees who defy today’s breezy approach to service.

A place for kebabs in Mission Valley (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.)

Based on visits to the Hillcrest and Mission Valley outlets, the workers pretty much knew what elements go into certain meat marinades (oregano, turmeric, onions and nearly a dozen others), and how the meats essentially cook from the inside out (on metal skewers that turn blistering hot when placed over low flames). Lately it seems that someone in the operation possesses a keen eye for capable, trainable employees of whom the company refers to on its website as “LUNAtics.”

I also learned from them that the long-grain basmati rice undergoes extensive de-starching in a process that takes 24 hours to complete — hence its uber-fluffy consistency. And if you’re wondering about those mini cupcakes and baklava bites sitting prettily in display cases at the order counter, they’re sourced from The Cheesecake Factory and Baklava King.

Arabic-style drop lighting aesthetically matches decorative red chairs that cry for seat cushions. Professional food photograph y adorns the walls, adding a sleek and modern feel to the design, assuring that what you’re about to eat doesn’t fall into the category of junk food. And that’s the real comfort factor here — not to mention that the menu affords you calorie counts for every dish.

Waves of mint, parsley and lemon spring forth in quinoa tabbouleh. It’s a nourishing, wholesome belly filler that subdues your inner wolf toward whatever meat is about to come.

Quinoa tabouleh (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.)

Ditto for velvety organic hummus (spicy or plain), lentil or lemon-chicken soup, or a variety of snazzy salads such as apple-walnut with pomegranate vinaigrette. In a recent visit, an organic spinach salad — easily shareable — came out with liberal measures of crumbled feta.

The organic spinach salad (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.)

Red meat cravings are better sated by the Halal lamb or beef filet kebab. The latter was deeply charred, yet juicy and delicious. Skip the ground-sirloin option unless a train of densely packed ground meat with fewer seasonings is what you prefer.

Beef kebab (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.)

All of the proteins are de-skewered moments before they’re plated, including the bone-in Cornish game kebab, which in two separate encounters left me wishing for more. I’m also a stickler for the chicken because the boneless, skinless breast meat offers above-normal succulence, herby undertones and decent bang for the buck.

Chicken kebab plate (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.)

The kebab plates come with small house salads, basmati rice, warm pita bread, cooling cucumber-yogurt dip, and sliced carrots or a grilled tomato. The latter never disappoints.

Super-strength garlic dip is free for the asking. It’s similar to the Turkish versions I’ve had in Europe that almost burn your tongue if you dab more than a bead of it onto your food.

Other dishes include stuffed grape leaves; gyros, salmon or vegetable kebabs; various wraps; a grass-fed burger; and two different bowls: beet or gyros, layered with feta and veggies.

Luna Grill recently reinstated happy hour after discontinuing it a few years back. It’s held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Beer and wine by the glass are $5, and appetizers are $1 off.

— Frank Sabatini Jr. is the author of ‘Secret San Diego’ (ECW Press) and began his local writing career more than two decades ago as a staffer for the former San Diego Tribune. Reach him at fsabatini@san.rr.com.

Related Posts

  • Dining Out in San Diego: Aug. 17, 2018Dining Out in San Diego: Aug. 17, 2018
  • Quarter pounders from a little burger chainQuarter pounders from a little burger chain
  • Traveling through Texas eatsTraveling through Texas eats
  • The four big promises SDSU now must deliver in Mission ValleyThe four big promises SDSU now must deliver in Mission Valley
  • City approves Old Town Community Plan UpdateCity approves Old Town Community Plan Update
  • Local difference maker: Laura LuxemburgLocal difference maker: Laura Luxemburg
Tags: ‘LUNAtics’ at your serviceFrank Sabatini Jr.HillcrestLUNALuna GrillMediterraneanMission ValleyMission Valley NewsSan Diego’s Torrey HighlandSouthern CaliforniaTexas
Next Post
Mission Valley News Briefs: Oct. 19, 2018

Mission Valley News Briefs: Oct. 19, 2018

Connect with us

Mission Valley News

© 2022 Mission Valley News. San Diego Community Newspaper Group (SDCNG).

Navigate our site

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Follow us on social media

No Result
View All Result
  • Arts & Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Music
    • Theater
  • News & Features
    • News
      • Briefs
    • Features
    • Politics
      • Elected Official Reports
    • Community Updates
      • Linda Vista Viewpoints
      • Old Town Tid-Bits
      • Serra Mesa Snippets
  • Food & Drink
    • Bars & Happy Hours
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • Dining Out
    • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Health & Fitness
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Gardening
  • Business
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Expert Advice
    • Sponsored Links
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the editor
  • Education
    • College
      • SDCCD
      • SDSU
    • K-12
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • Calendar
  • Experts

© 2022 Mission Valley News. San Diego Community Newspaper Group (SDCNG).

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In