Gate of Damascus (revisit)

Thanks for returning to read mmm-yoso!!! Again, Cathy is writing while Kirk and His Missus are nearing the end of their vacation.

I wrote about this new El Cajon restaurant in February of 2022.  In that post, the meal was a small sampling of a breakfast item, a cheese flatbread (manakish) and appetizers.  Everything was wonderful and so fresh.   We've returned a few more times.
 You can order 'to go' or find a seat.  The 'to go' menu is on the wall to make it easy for the 'to go' people.

 The 'for here' menu; a bit larger.

 A cheese manakish ($4.99).  A small version of a herby cheese pizza with no sauce.  Excellent fresh bread: thin, slightly crisp, slightly chewy.
 Here's a zaatar manakish (3.99) add cheese ($1.50).  Zaatar is a spice mixture of thyme, oregano, sesame seeds, sumac and salt.  It's herby, nutty, salty, savory and tangy.  Sumac by itself has the 'tang' you get from lemon juice.  In any case, this combination of zaatar and cheese is really good.
 Six tweaks of falafel ($5.99).  A nice version.  Quite crunchy.  The tahini dip is so creamy!

 Kabab Plate ($13.99) Two very large beef kabobs with rice, grilled tomato and raw onion.  Easily shareable.

An order of baba ghannouj (6.99) arrived with pieces of hot-from-the-oven pita. The roasted eggplant based dip is smoky and smooth and has a sesame flavor from the tahini.  Olive oil and lemon juice as well as garlic round out the flavors.  The version here is just lovely.
 The Appetizers plate ($15.99). Choice of four.  Plan on taking some home; the serving platter is deceptively deep. Hommus, fattoush, baba ghannouj and in the center, tabboule.  All the salads are made here daily.  The hommus and baba ghanouj are excellent versions.  The fattoush is primarily a 'bread salad' with the pieces of fried pit toping lettuces, tomato, cucumber and other vegetables.  It's another craving I've had.  The tabboule is parsley, tomato, cucumber, mint, green onion and bulgur-crunchy.  Its dressing (lemon juice, paprika, salt and pepper with olive oil) really showcases an excellent quality olive oil.   
 A single beef kabab ($3) is sometimes quite enough for a nice snack/small meal.  (This kabob is smaller than the two beef kabobs served on the kabab plate).

Quality, fresh food.  Nice people.

Gate of Damascus 1142 East Main El Cajon 92021 (619) 312-0427  Open Monday: 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Tues-Sun 8 a.m.-midnight website
 Free hot tea at the back; serve yourself.