FOLSOM, Calif — A Lebanese and Mediterranean restaurant in Folsom made Yelp’s top 100 U.S. restaurants in 2024, Tuesday.
Zest Mediterranean Cuisine on Riley Street placed 24th on the list, which Yelp said was determined by their data team through user submissions of restaurants’ ratings, number of reviews and volume of submissions.
The restaurant offers lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, vegan and gluten free options and a kids menu, the restaurant said.
Its most popular and most photographed dishes include the baklava, the gyro wraps with house tzatziki, shawarma and the lamb and chicken kabob plates, according to Yelp.
Zest’s owner, Wally Matar, opened the restaurant in 2022, Yelp reported. He said he drew from his Lebanese roots to produce authentic Mediterranean dishes.
“We’re really happy, we’re really excited,” Matar said. “The hard work that was done and the love we show our customers pays off.”
Matar said he is the owner but is being assisted by family members.
“Most of my family members are in the business,” Matar told ABC10. “I have a couple of cousins (who) have a similar business in the area. I worked with them in the past and wanted to change the concept a little bit.”
Other Sacramento-area restaurants made Yelp’s list, including Guy’s for Lunch, a sandwich spot in Roseville that placed 18th, and Pizzeria Luba in Auburn that placed 30th.
