Kosher kitchen impure experience

The Kitchen Table in downtown Mountain View is one of few restaurants in the area which is kosher, meaning that its food is prepared according to Jewish dietary laws. In other words, the food is blessed, as well as free of any pork or shellfish.

The restaurant has a relaxing vibe, although one may have to request service because “greeters” are not very charismatic. The size of the restaurant is decent and has enough tables for several large parties. There are also tables outside on the patio, which provide a terrific view of Castro Street.

The Kitchen Table offers pastas, salads, sandwiches and burgers, but besides these items the menu does not provide a large variety of foods, which utterly defeats the purpose of spending a lot of money. The most popular plate, the House-Cured Pastrami Sandwich, is served with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, a slice of pickle and freshly cut fries, but the cost of $12 is not worth the meal.

Although the food has been blessed religiously, the pastrami sandwiches are nothing special. Food is not as greasy as some, but it is lacking in juiciness. Its taste is pretty dry and frankly not up to par. A footlong Subway sandwich will taste better and be more filling for the stomach and wallet.

There are no exotic drinks offered besides the Numi teas, which taste just like any other tea. The rest of the beverage selection simply consists of the average fountain drinks.

A diner may choose from a selection of several different strudels with frozen custard for dessert. The “Asian Pear Strudel with Cherry-Cabernet Gastrique and Pistachio Frozen Custard” is as delicious as the name is long. It is a simple strudel but its strong flavor of Cherry-Cabernet Gastrique pairs well with the warm pears inside it.

The pastry tastes somewhat like rich wine and leaves a tangy taste on its consumer’s tongue. The frozen custard cancels out the heat of the warm strudel, allowing its taste to live up to its claim of being “homemade.” It is noteworthy that all the desserts, along with everything else on the menu, are dairy-free.

Unlike the greeters, the waiters are quite attentive and make a customer feel important. They are very good at answering any questions, and they constantly check to see that everything is going well. The speed of service is pretty decent with the longest wait being around 15 minutes.

However, the kitchen staff’s work habits destroy the entire experience. Sitting by the kitchen, a customer may be bombarded with constant vulgar language and conversations. A customer may have to endure conversations about partying and getting drunk and high. A customer may even catch a glimpse of one of them eating out of the plates to be served to customers. The way in which the cooks treat their job defeats the purpose of being kosher because they are not working under sanitary regulations.

A full meal, including dessert, will cost about $24. Although the main trays are not worth their pricy nature, the desserts are. Because the cooks do not work under the “pure” kosher way, the logic in paying so much for it is destroyed.

The restaurant appears nice on the outside but many problems within it are apparent. Its food selection is not broad and there are many other restaurants where people could eat and not have to worry about someone else eating off their plate before it reaches the table.

Taste: 3 out of 5
Price: 1.5 out of 5
Service: 2.5 out of 5
Ambiance: 3 out of 5