These siblings are opening a cafe in the former home of Nini’s Coffee Shop
WiFi’s Restaurant (pronounced “wee-fees”) was the name of the imaginary childhood restaurant started by my brother and me. Thinking we were culinary geniuses, we would ransack our kitchen, mix a horrendous combination of ingredients together, bake it and taste test (it was always vile).
Brother-sister duo Sarah and Jacob Marotta are making much tastier food than my brother and I ever did at the former site of Nini’s Coffee Shop in San Mateo, a diner that operated for over 50 years. While Kiki’s Coffee Shop is not open quite yet, the Marotta’s are currently offering select afternoon tea sessions on the cafe’s patio. Edwina Dueñas has the story on how the siblings intend on making the space their own while paying homage to Nini’s.
Speaking of coffee, this week I visited a new coffee shop in Palo Alto serving specialty lattes in flavors like burnt honey, pandan, ube and more. If Mediterranean flavors are more your speed, Sophia Markoulakis has the story on Amara, a restaurant coming to Belmont this summer from the owners of Saffron.
Stay tasty,
Adrienne
From Nini’s Coffee Shop to Kiki’s: A new take on a neighborhood institution arrives in San Mateo
Five generations of the Marotta family dined at Nini’s Coffee Shop, a beloved neighborhood institution in San Mateo that closed in 2020. Now, siblings Sarah and Jacob Marotta are making the space their own as Kiki’s Coffee Shop.
A new cafe in Palo Alto, a new Mediterranean restaurant in Belmont and the closure of a longtime diner
- Covour Coffee, a specialty coffee shop carrying local baked goods like ube custard buns, soft opened May 28 in Midtown Palo Alto.
- Amara, a Mediterranean restaurant that aims to transport diners to destinations like Algiers, Mykonos and Ibiza, is coming to Belmont this summer.
- Mike’s Diner Bar in Palo Alto is closing after its final June 16 service and will be replaced by Kirk’s SteakBurgers.
- Comalito, a Salvadorian comfort food restaurant, recently opened in Redwood City.
- A sign reading “Coming soon Varam Indian Cuisine” is posted to the window of what previously was The Dragon Theatre in Redwood City.
- The Peninsula Humane Society is hosting Bark n’ Brewfest on June 22 in Burlingame. Drink beer, bring your dog and raise funds for the Hope Program.
Sausage pide from Cafe Baklava
“Pepperoni pizza but better” is the best way I can describe the sausage pide from Cafe Baklava in downtown Mountain View. A thin and crispy crust added a satisfying crunch, contrasting with the ooey gooey texture of the cheese. The sausage was smoky, meaty and rich, and the fennel added a brightness that offset the fattiness. The flavors of this pide didn’t become monotonous as I worked my way through it, and even though I was full, I still could have gone for one more slice.
Another must try (if you like spice) is Cafe Baklava’s acili reyhani, a dip made of pickled jalapenos, carrots, onion and basil pesto. Bright, acidic, spicy and herbaceous, it’s a dip I didn’t want to stop digging into.
Cafe Baklava, 341 Castro St., Mountain View; 650-969-3835, Instagram: @cafebaklavamv. Open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Monday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.
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From milestone meals to surprise interactions with chefs, here are your stories
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