Tio's Mediterranean Grill — Restaurant in San Leandro

My husband and I have been searching for a new Mediterranean restaurant in the East Bay and stumbled on this one after a quick Google search. Tio's is brand new (just opened last weekend!) and we were excited to give it a try with the hope that it might become our go-to spot when the shawarma and falafel cravings hit. It did not disappoint!

When we entered around 3pm for lunch, we were warmly greeted by the server and a man who appeared to be the owner/manager of the restaurant. We ordered:

Falafel appetizer: Warm and perfectly crunchy on the outside with a nice herbaceous flavor. Served with a side of pita and tahini for dipping

Bademjan appetizer: I had never tried this before and I'm glad I did. It was eggplant (and spinach, I think) dredged in flour, fried, with dollops of yogurt and slightly sweet meat sauce. Extremely flavorful and savory.

Mango Laban: Creamy yogurt-based drink with mango flavor similar to a mango lassi. They said they make it in-house. Delicious!

Greek Salad with Chicken Shawarma: Generous portion of romaine hearts and veggies, smothered with delicious bite-size pieces of chicken shawarma. Not your typical Greek dressing. A bit lighter on the vinegar and heavier on the herbs and olive oil. A unique and nice change of pace

Grilled Chicken and Lamb Combo: Two large skewers of cubed chicken and lamb, marinated in yogurt and spices and grilled perfectly. Served on a bed of basmati rice with a side of delicious mint chutney.

Baklava: Also made in house! They don't skimp on the syrup or the chopped nuts. The perfect sweet ending to an epic meal.

Tip: Ask for a side of their hot sauce with your meal. It is BONKERS good. Spicy with a touch of sweetness.

Everything was top notch and the restaurant staff were so welcoming and gracious. We will definitely be back! If you're looking to get it delivered, they're currently available on DoorDash (hopefully also on...

I was introduced to this place by my neighbor and didn't even know this place existed! What a wonderful food experience!! Didn't recognize some of dish names, therefore asked our food server from what region of the Mediterranean is their food influenced... Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and one other, but it was five in total!

At 6:15p in a Friday, we had a party of three, and the restaurant was half full, and after another 15 minutes it was completely full. The decor is very simple, but the food made up for that. The items that we ordered were all grilled plates... mix seafood (salmon & prawns), lamb kebab, and prawns. Each dish was served with yellow rice and a nice salad. The portion sizes were very generous and everything was cooked perfectly. I tried a bite of the lamb kebab which was asked to be prepared rare, and it was absolutely perfect with wonderful flavor. My prawns were plump and juicy, and the side dipping sauce actually made it complete! We also a dessert which I had never had before (orgot the name), but it is a rice pudding with rose water, coconut, pistachios and date syrup. Another delicious discovery!

Our total for three main entrees, three drinks and a dessert came out to $99 without tax and tip. For the amount of food and quality, thought they were very well priced for the location. I'm excited to go back to try...

I love Mediterranean food. I am accustomed to large open areas with fired grills baking breads, multiple salads and choosing from dishes on display. Elaborate interiors and music in the background, there was none of that. There was printed menu and wine was suggested. The chef a jovial mountain of man came out and welcomed us as if we were family. It was unexpected and immediately put us at ease. The hostess made us feel as if we were family. Attentive to our request and suggesting untried dishes. The arrival of our of our dinner was at first a visual and then a culinary feast. If you love fresh authentic Mediterranean food this place add this place to you list of favorites. The appetizers were fresh and amazingly diverse. The dinners were beyond belief. The presentation of each dish overwhelmed the visual senses. You wondered how this could be possible. Yet the true experience was the vibrant flavors and the generous portions. We happily sampled each others dishes, planning to try them on our next visit. If you love good food and friendly people, get over yourself and your notions of what makes a great dining experience. This secret...