Restaurants in Hayward

The friendly chefs and servers at Red Sea Restaurant & Bar unite families and friends over tasty, shareable meals of East African cuisine. For more than two decades, the family-run enterprise has celebrated the culinary culture of Eritrea and Ethiopia with flavorful lamb and beef stews, sumptuous vegetarian dishes, and regular lectures on ancient Axum. As the exotic aromas of spiced meat and rich veggie stews waft through the restaurant, diners sup on spongy injera flatbread loaves or take in fresh air in the charming sidewalk seating area.

Originally born as a Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles franchise, Home of Chicken and Waffles has since been reimagined as an upscale '60s-themed diner with a full bar of specialty cocktails to complement the menu of hearty comfort fare. As chefs load Southern-style or gravy-smothered chicken onto plates next to signature waffles, Motown grooves fill the dining room—unless it's Sunday, when gospel music reigns. Homestyle sides such as grits, greens, and candied yams trim plates of crispy chicken. The kitchen prides itself on using fresh ingredients—real milk and cheese make the mac 'n' cheese creamy, and real beans prove tastier than holographic beans. Every dish is named after a member of the owner's family, who gaze down on patrons from vibrant portraits behind the counter.

Notes of roasted garlic, pesto, and feta intertwine with fresh pastas, seafood, and veal, launching aromatic dispatches from Zeytini's kitchen. Beneath the steam floating off simmering wine sauces, Mediterranean influences slip onto plates to introduce hummus, meat kebabs, or grilled fezzes. The dining room’s red and gold draperies cinch together against canary-hued walls, and paintings of the Italian countryside preen beneath arched wooden frames. Warm breezes tug at diners lounging beneath periwinkle umbrellas on the outdoor patio, and a clay-tile awning hangs over guests perched at the bar and protects them from Bacchus' efforts to rappel into drinks.