Since this post, the adjoining restaurant has changed. I'll link to it once I have something to say.
Hello and welcome back to mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog written by Kirk, ed(from Yuma), VickyL and Cathy. Kirk is still on vacation. ed (from Yuma) is in Yuma. VickyL is in Northern California and cathy is in East San Diego County, blogging today.
Hello again. Vine Ripe Market was around a few years ago, then closed, then opened again in January 2010. I wrote a post about it back in 2006, when Kirk went on his Hawaii vacation. (It was my 5th post. Ever.)
It seems to be a bit cleaner than before, and the bakery, meat, produce, regular aisles, freezer and deli sections are filled with wonderful well priced items.
All Halal meats.
Household items and accessories are sold here also.
Inside there are steam trays with hot food, sandwiches can be made to order or you can go out front and to the Fletcher Parkway side of the building is the restaurant. (I have never seen a name for the restaurant, not even on the menu..)
We started with a Turkish coffee ($2)on this chilly day (all the seating is outdoors).
The Mister ordered the Ghorme Sabzi-Vegetable stew ($9.99) a baby lamb shank cooked with red beans, lime ad fresh herbs. The meat was tender and flavorful as was the accompanying stew. Really good.
I ordered a chicken Shawerma sandwich ($5.99) served on a warm pita bread. Juicy marinated very flavorful chicken cut from the spit then grilled with lettuce, green pepper and onion in the bread. This is served with salad and house made hummus. A nice olive oil with vinegar and herbs dressing is served also.
On another day, we ordered hot tea…
We decided on a Greek side salad ($4.99)to go with the sandwiches we ordered. Lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion olives, feta and the same house dressing…
A falafel sandwich ($4.99) was OK good. After having the falafel at Mystic Grill , I am spoiled. These were fresh and kind of fried a bit too long. The flavor of the falafel were good. The sandwich had lettuce, tomato, cucumber and onion and a fresh home made (yogurt based) sauce.
My sandwich came wrapped in flatbread…looking like this from the outside.
and was filled with charbroiled boneless chicken. Not Shawerma/marinated, but juicy and good flavored. It must be Halal chicken.
As I said, the prices here are great.
Stop by if you are in the area. Great market, great restaurant.
Vine Ripe Market 8191 Fletcher Parkway (at Jackson-SE corner) La Mesa 91942 (619)462-9900