After a long day when you are too lazy to cook, you find yourself browsing the web for a restaurant near school that will fill you up.
As you begin to grow tired of browsing page after page, you will find Aristo Cafe.
From the outside of the restaurant you can smell the herbs that amplify the taste of their dishes. Each entree is served with vegetables, hummus, jasmine rice and the choice of either the house salad or soup.
A small basket with warm, freshly made pita bread is brought to the table along with a small plate of freshly- made hummus.
The lentil soup has a creamy and thick texture that warms you up. On the other hand, the house salad is light and is served with diced tomatoes, lettuce, onions and a citrus dressing that blends in well with the herbs.
Out comes the tender and juicy pollo mediteraneo, a grilled marinated chicken breast. Grilled with herbs and spices, the dish surprises you with a light sensation opposite from heavy and greasy.
The chicken kabob is an option for those who are not big fans of chicken breast. The chicken is cooked in enough seasoning to give flavor but no so much to be salty.
If you want to eat something more hearty, choose the lamb kabob. Its soft and thick texture separates it from the categories of beef, pork, and chicken.
If you prefer softer textures and love seafood, try the other entrees that this restaurant has to offer. Like the grilled salmon bathed in herbs and grilled just enough to offer a moist and fresh texture.
With a mixture of Greek and Lebanese food, the restaurant offers food in a category separate from all of the fast food restaurants in the South Bay area for 14 years.
Rather than offering the already-made food that other restaurants offer on a daily basis, this restaurant serves its customers with food that has just been made.
The cafe is small yet offers a comfortable atmosphere that allows its waitresses and waiters to connect with their customers.
The service is totally different than other restaurants that many may be used to. The waiters and waitresses come to each table often to check on their guests.
Also made directly from the kitchen is the baklava, a delicate dessert that is small yet offers a sweet flavor of maple syrup to help you get that herb flavoring out of your mouth.
Location: 3768 West 242nd St., Torrance, CA 90505, 310-375-1600
Prices: Starters, $5.95 to $9.95; pita sandwiches, $6.25 to $7.75; salads $8.50 to $13.95; soups $4.95; lunch specials, $9.50; entrees $11.75 to $16.95, dessert, $3.00.
Details: Monday to Saturday; lunch, 11 a.m to 3 p.m.; dinner, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Sunday. No alcohol. Credit cards accepted. Private lot and street parking available.
