The Vegetarian Plates category on the Mediterranean Grill House ordering page lists six plates, from a plain falafel plate to a lentil-and-macaroni dish whose name joins two cuisines. They are easy to scan and hard to compare, because the descriptions are short and the sides change the meal. This guide explains the dishes behind the names, compares the listings using the menu’s own wording, and shows how to put a full vegetarian plate together.
What mujaddara and kushari are
Mujaddara is a dish of cooked lentils and groats, usually rice, topped with sauteed or fried onions, according to Wikipedia. It is popular across the Arab world, especially the Levant, and is typically served with yogurt or salad. Some cooks use bulgur in place of rice.
Kushari is the Egyptian cousin. The same source says it cooks lentils and rice together with macaroni and tomato sauce, where mujaddara has no macaroni and no tomato sauce.
The menu’s Mujaddara Kushari sits between the two. It lists rice, lentils, macaroni and onions, so it has the macaroni of kushari and the onions of mujaddara. The listing does not mention a tomato sauce, so ask the staff if that matters to you.
The vegetarian plates on the menu
The Vegetarian Plates category on the ordering page lists six:
- Falafel Plate: six pieces of falafel, served with your choice of 2 sides.
- Veggie Delight Plate: 2 falafel, 2 dolmas, hummus, baba ghanoush, garlic potatoes and your choice of salad.
- Mujaddara Kushari: seasoned rice, whole lentils, macaroni and sauteed onions, served with your choice of 2 sides.
- Dolma Plate: grape leaves stuffed with rice, served with your choice of 2 sides.
- Feta Cheese Plate: lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onions, olives and feta cheese with a homemade dressing of extra virgin olive oil, vinegar and lemon juice.
- Okra Plate: okra mixed with a tomato base, served with rice and your choice of 2 sides.
The category is named Vegetarian Plates, but the individual listings do not carry dietary labels. If you have a strict requirement, such as vegan or no animal broth, ask the staff before you order.
Mujaddara Kushari: lentils, rice, macaroni and onions
Pick the Mujaddara Kushari if you want a lentil-and-rice plate. The description is plain: seasoned rice, whole lentils, macaroni and sauteed onions, with 2 sides of your choice. Rice, lentils and macaroni make it a starch-forward plate, and the onions are the flavor on top.
Pairing matters. A cool side such as the Cucumber Yogurt Salad (chopped cucumber, yogurt and parsley) gives the same contrast that Wikipedia says mujaddara is traditionally served with: yogurt or salad.
Order the Mujaddara Kushari if:
- You want a lentil dish and have not tried one before.
- You like rice and pasta together.
- You want a vegetarian plate built on rice and lentils.
Menu card — Mujaddara Kushari
Listed under Vegetarian Plates on the Mediterranean Grill House ordering page as seasoned rice, whole lentils, macaroni and sauteed onions, with your choice of 2 sides.
Order on the Mediterranean Grill House menu
Falafel Plate: the simple order
The Falafel Plate is the simple order: six pieces of falafel, which the menu describes as fried garbanzo beans mixed with parsley, onions and spices, with 2 sides of your choice. Because the plate is falafel and sides, the sides do most of the work.
A good build is falafel plus Hummus (garbanzo beans blended with tahini sauce, lemon and garlic) and Tabbouleh Salad (cracked wheat with finely diced parsley, mint, green onion, tomatoes, lemon and virgin olive oil). If you prefer a wrap, the Falafel Wrap adds tomatoes, lettuce, hummus, pickles and tahini sauce, and the Falafel Wrap with Eggplant adds a piece of fried eggplant.
Order the Falafel Plate if:
- You want a familiar vegetarian order.
- You like choosing your own sides.
Veggie Delight Plate: the sampler
The Veggie Delight Plate is the sampler. The menu lists 2 falafel, 2 dolmas, hummus, baba ghanoush, garlic potatoes and your choice of salad (Mediterranean, cucumber yogurt or tabouli). It is the plate to choose when you want a bit of everything and do not want to assemble it from the sides list.
Order the Veggie Delight Plate if:
- This is your first vegetarian order here.
- You want dips, falafel, a stuffed grape leaf and a salad in one box.
Menu card — Veggie Delight Plate
Listed under Vegetarian Plates on the Mediterranean Grill House ordering page as 2 falafel, 2 dolmas, hummus, baba ghanoush, garlic potatoes and your choice of salad.
Order on the Mediterranean Grill House menu
Okra Plate, Dolma Plate and Feta Cheese Plate
The Okra Plate is okra mixed with a tomato base, served with rice and 2 sides. The menu does not list other ingredients, so ask the kitchen if you need them.
The Dolma Plate is grape leaves stuffed with rice, with 2 sides. The blog has a separate post on what dolma is, so this guide leaves the explanation there.
The Feta Cheese Plate is the lightest of the group: lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onions, olives and feta cheese, dressed with olive oil, vinegar and lemon juice. It is the one to pick if you want a salad as the main course.
Choosing your sides
Most vegetarian plates come with 2 sides, so this is where the order is won or lost. The Sides category lists:
- Hummus, Baba Ghanoush (smoked eggplant, tahini sauce, extra virgin olive oil and paprika) and a Bag of Pita Bread for dipping.
- Tabbouleh Salad, Mediterranean Salad and Cucumber Yogurt Salad for freshness.
- Garlic Potatoes, Basmati Rice (16 oz) and French Fries for something starchy.
- Red Lentil Soup (16 oz), Falafel, Dolma and Kibbeh as extras. Check the Kibbeh listing with the staff before you add it to a vegetarian order, because the menu does not describe it.
For the Mujaddara Kushari, choose a cool salad and a dip. For the Falafel Plate, choose a dip and a salad.
Hours, location and how to order
Mediterranean Grill House is at 650 Castro St UNIT 110, Mountain View, CA 94041, phone (650) 625-9990. The website lists Monday to Wednesday and Sunday, 11 AM to 10 PM, with longer hours later in the week. Check the ordering page for the current schedule.
Order through Mediterranean Grill House’s own page rather than a third-party app. The restaurant receives the full order with no app commission.
FAQ
What vegetarian plates does Mediterranean Grill House list?
The Vegetarian Plates category lists the Falafel Plate, Veggie Delight Plate, Mujaddara Kushari, Dolma Plate, Feta Cheese Plate and Okra Plate. The Wraps category also lists a Falafel Wrap and a Falafel Wrap with Eggplant.
What is in the Mujaddara Kushari?
The menu describes seasoned rice, whole lentils, macaroni and sauteed onions, served with your choice of 2 sides.
What comes with the Veggie Delight Plate?
The menu lists 2 falafel, 2 dolmas, hummus, baba ghanoush, garlic potatoes and your choice of salad: Mediterranean, cucumber yogurt or tabouli.
What is the difference between mujaddara and kushari?
According to Wikipedia, mujaddara is lentils and rice, or bulgur, topped with onions. Kushari, from Egypt, cooks lentils and rice together with macaroni and tomato sauce.
Where is Mediterranean Grill House and when is it open?
It is at 650 Castro St UNIT 110, Mountain View, CA 94041, phone (650) 625-9990. The website lists Monday to Wednesday and Sunday, 11 AM to 10 PM, with longer hours later in the week, so check the ordering page for the current schedule.
Order a vegetarian plate at Mediterranean Grill House
Pick a plate, choose two sides, and order straight from the restaurant. Ordering direct means Mediterranean Grill House gets the full order with no third-party commission.
