Reem’s California Mission

We ordered through Doordash. We got Pali Cali (rolled up), Hummus with slow-roasted lamb, and Damascus Lemonade. Since we picked up right when it was ready and it was piping hot so we found a street to eat immediately. Cali Pali was so juicy. Surprisingly, I liked the pickled onions on the Cali Pali - they were sweet! The hummus with lamb was good but I wish we received more then one pita bread for it... I made sure I ate my fill to the fullest before letting my partner take their bite first!

Fortune smiled on me as I ended up at Reem's California before meeting friends. Quality eats and drinks, starting with a lightly cardamom cold brew. ☕ Then on to the mana'eesh! This Arab flatbread is floppy in the middle, so must be eaten folded, like NYC pizza. I added bastura, an air-dried beef, to this summer special with corn, serrano peppers, and harissa yogurt sauce. One is definitely large enough for two people. 🍕 And the finale, which they are known for: a tahini chocolate chip cookie. Oh, that was divine. Perfect crunch on the outside, softness in the center, almost as big as a side plate, and with lots of delicious sesame and chocolate flavor. 🍪 I definitely will be back to try their small plates in the future.

The menu is vegetarian friendly but lacked flavor in our opinion. The baba ghanoush was very average and only had one pita bread to spread on. The pickled vegetables were average. The flatbreads were large but below average on flavor. I ordered the la gringa which resembled a large pita quesadilla that came with a dip. The cheese added flavor and saved the dish. I usually don’t mind a fixed gratuity charge but our waiter vocalized being stressed and the only one staffed at 6p on a Saturday. He was sassy and annoyed that he forgot to bring us menus (no QR codes at the table). I don’t blame him but management should try to staff comfortably. The cafe is overall cute but we saw someone actively tagging a pole in front of the property and there was high pitched sound persistently coming from the kitchen area. I wanted to like this restaurant but found too many areas lacking.

Came on their 2nd day, got a few items. It’s a little pricey considering everything feels very snacky. But that said everything was tasty and well seasoned. The laughing cow ka’ik was the best thing we tried, it honestly tastes like a bagel I’ve been searching for my whole life. All of the breads had great flavor on their own. I’d love to try it once the menu is more fleshed out. Currently they only serve lunch starting at 11am (otherwise it’s only coffee and a few baked goods), hopefully that will change once they add more hours.

I loved Rheem's!! I'm glad I got to try them when I went back sf. Their Flatbread and dips are delicious (habibi's harvest flatbread pictured with the squash and pomegranate was so good!!) and their sweets are so good too. This is a perfect place for cozy catch-ups for big or small groups. The food was super affordable (especially for sf!) And I liked that they are community focused as well. Highly recommend.