The long-empty former Sizzler on Veterans Boulevard finally has some life again. Reef Zaman, a new Mediterranean grill from Los Angeles restaurateur Faris Alqabass, has quietly started serving out of the big-box space at 1011 Veterans Blvd, with a soft opening that kicked off June 29. The menu leans heavily on flame and charcoal, including whole grilled branzino, kebabs and lamb chops, all served in a dining room that seats about 280 people. A grand opening is slated for next Sunday, July 19, at 5 PM, and there are plans to add a roughly 2,000-square-foot patio later this summer.
According to Redwood City, the building was cleared earlier this year for interior tenant improvements tied to converting the large chain-restaurant layout into a single Mediterranean kitchen. The permit filings cover the interior remodel and related construction work that paved the way for Reef Zaman to move in.
What to order and when to go
As reported by Palo Alto Online, the kitchen leans hard into open-fire cooking, with whole branzino, shawarma wraps and plates loaded with shawarma or lamb shank in the roughly $22 to $32 range. There is also a falafel veggie platter with hummus and sides at about $24. Owner Faris Alqabass told the outlet that he has eaten in so many places and has never tasted a lamb chop the same as the one he makes, praising chef Mohammed al-Omari’s work on the grill. The same report notes desserts such as baklava and warbat, priced at $5 to $9, and daily hours from 11 AM to 9 PM.
Who’s behind the new spot
Alqabass, who grew up in Yemen and moved to the United States as a teenager, is the restaurateur behind Reef Zaman. He previously opened the Los Angeles Yemeni restaurant Mandi House in 2024, according to the Daily Bruin. For Redwood City, he has put together an experienced kitchen team to run the open grill, and early service has already drawn attention for its high-heat, charcoal-forward style of cooking.
Where it fits locally
Palo Alto Online notes that Reef Zaman joins a growing lineup of Mediterranean restaurants in Redwood City. Alqabass is not treating this as a one-off either, with plans to expand the Reef Zaman concept to Walnut Creek and Sacramento. For now, the team is betting that the combination of big indoor seating and a backyard-style char grill will help the new restaurant stand out along the Veterans Boulevard strip as it ramps up after the soft opening.
