Café Rumi: Come for Coffee, Stay for Dinner

Tiny, cozy and customer friendly: that is Café Rumi.

It opened a couple of months ago on the corner of Heyer Avenue and Center Street. Serving three meals a day, it opens its doors at 6 a.m. and shutters at 8 p.m. During this 14-hour span, patrons can choose from an array of organic coffee drinks and fresh pastries, or lunchtime sandwiches and dinner platters.

Hot Turkish coffee, cold espresso fraps and a-cup-at-a-time brews are a few of the house specialties. A growing number of patrons stop here before and after work for their caffeine fix or some quick and tasty takeout.

About the Restaurateurs

Husband and wife Sal and Sarah Amin own and operate Café Rumi. They share (and juggle) daily tasks, including shopping, cooking, training the staff and communicating with customers to make sure everything is satisfactory. They actively seek patrons' feedback and suggestions.

Always friendly and efficient, the owners pride themselves on providing a high-quality café experience. 

With some tough competition from other local coffeehouses, which are abundant in Castro Valley, Sal made it his goal to deliver the best coffee in town. For his Turkish brand, he traveled to Turkey on a quest that yielded a great find.

The Amins, of Afghan descent, emphasize Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern cuisine, offering their customers the kinds of meals they'd cook at home. 

The café is named after Rumi, a renowned medieval poet and Sufi mystic. His message of love and tolerance toward all races, creeds and nationalities resonates with the restaurateurs.  

On the Menu

For breakfast, you might order a plate of eggs with caramelized tomatoes in olive oil, among other special garnishes. Also worth a try is the egg-and-sausage sandwich on an English muffin, bagel or croissant. And you can't go wrong with a hot Belgian waffle topped with homemade whipped cream.

For lunch, there are tasty and healthy hot sandwiches, nicely complemented by light yogurt sauce. The chicken kabob sandwich in a sesame seed bun contains grilled and marinated chicken breast, grilled onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and fresh mint.    

The beef and lamb in the gyros are slow-cooked and deliciously seasoned. The vegetarian Mediterranean sandwich includes fresh mozzarella along with grilled eggplant and other veggies. The Rumi hot-dog sandwich is uniquely flavored with cilantro jalapeno chutney (homemade) and fresh onions, or any other condiments you desire.

Dinner platters are served with butter saffron basmati rice and a salad. Variations include chicken kabob, sirloin beef kabob and eggplant. Another offering is a salad plate of greens, tomatoes and cucumbers with Caesar or balsamic dressing that can be topped with grilled chicken, beef or lamb.

 French fries, hummus and bread, yogurt and cucumber salad or kids' hot dogs can be added to any meal.

On the Dessert Menu

On any given morning and throughout the day, fresh pastries such as croissants, turnovers, Danish, muffins, brownies, fruit tarts, coffee cakes and mousses grace Rumi's glass counter.

Artfully decorated cakes can be ordered, including Black Forest, Boston cream, carrot, chocolate decadence, chocolate supreme, chocolate truffle, flourless chocolate Kahlua, haupia (coconut) and mango mousse.  

Don't underestimate the dessert drinks at Rumi. The Nutella hot chocolate or cold blended white mocha and caramel espresso can satisfy any sweet tooth.

Café Rumi is open weekdays 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

It offers dine-in and to-go options, catering, and cakes for all occasions.

Reservations are not required and credit cards are accepted.

Café Rumi is at 4799 Heyer Ave. 510-690-1500 or online at www.cafe-rumi.com.