Updated: November 7, 2024
Another exciting restaurant has opened at Laurel Street last October. With already two successful locations in Pleasanton and Walnut Creek, Elia Restaurant has opened its third location “here in the heart of Silicon Valley”, as owner and manager Fatih Ulas calls it, where most of their customers travel from to experience the restaurant. “We were getting alot of demands from this area” Faith added, during an interview.
Owner of Elia, Fatih Ulas
For those who are new to the restaurant, Elia creates refined modern Greek cuisines frequently praised by its patrons as “top notch”. “The menu was created by my partner, Memet Duygu, the executive chef of Elia Restaurants. We try to do seasonal menus for winter and summer”, according to Fatih. When asked about the most popular items in the menu, he suggested the following:
- Oysters & Caviar – A new menu, only in San Carlos!
- Octapodaki (Grilled Octopus) – Grilled spanish octopus, carrot, radish, orange, green onion, picled potato, honey mustard dressing
- Saganaki (Flaming Cheese) – Skillet fried flaming kefalothiri cheese, brandy
- Lavraki (Whole Sea Bass Brandino) – Semi-boneless whole Mediterranean seabass, zucchini, cherry tomato, grilled lemon
- Seafood Paella – Maine lobster tail, prawns, salmon, scallops, chicken chorizo, tomato, english peas, bell pepper, chopped clams, chili flakes, clam-saffron broth
- Galaktoboureko (dessert) – Phyllo dough rolled with semolina custard, antep pistachio, mix berry coulis
In addition to great food, Elia has often been noted for its beautiful and unique interior decorations and style, which Fatih designed himself. “I’ve been in the restaurant business since I was a kid,” said Fatih. His father, an amazing chef, started Sultan’s Kebab (named after his father, Sultan) 15 years ago in Pleasanton. Touted as the “best Mediterranean food in East Bay”, the restaurant expanded to two more locations: in Danville and Livermore.
Sultan passed away two years ago, and Fatih, who was then a hair stylist in Menlo Park, continued with his father’s culinary legacy together with Memet, who formerly worked together with his father. Together, they started Elia Restaurants, and it quickly grew popular in the same area.
“I am super-excited to be part of this town” said Fatih, who hopes to break from the traditional restaurant set up and decor. In the past months, while staging the new San Carlos location, Fatih had already opened its doors and welcomed curious onlookers, giving them tours of the place. “We are looking forward to grow with the community”, he said.
As a unique offer found only in Elia San Carlos, Fatih is inviting everyone to try the Oyster and Caviar bar, which is placed in front of the open kitchen. Elia San Carlos also has valet services for those who need assistance finding parking at Laurel Street. “We also have live music: DJs on weekends and jazz on weekdays“, Fatih added, which is perfect for their 40-seat outdoor patio. Elia San Carlos also offers weekday brunch hours with bottomless mimosa.
Elia San Carlos Cocktails
Resources
Official Elia Restaurants Website
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Mark Martinho and Vivienne Kelvin are the hosts of San Carlos Life and have been residents of San Carlos for years. While running San Carlos Life together with an awesome team, Mark and Viv are also in the business of real estate. They are co-owners of Vabrato Real Estate, a luxury real estate brokerage serving the City of Good Living, and the whole of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
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