Welcome to the 1st MEHKO (Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation) in Lemon Grove
San Diego’s Best Immersive Dining Experience ✨ A Private Backyard Sanctuary
Step through the garden gates and into an unforgettable experience.
At our reservation-only backyard sanctuary, mother-daughter chefs Samia & Noura invite you into an intimate 7- or 12-course tasting journey where slow-cooked flavors, ancestral recipes, candlelit hospitality, and multisensory storytelling come together.
More than a restaurant, it’s a deeply personal culinary experience, an elegant evening designed to feel less like dining out and more like being welcomed home.
Food Prepared in a Home-Kitchen
Top 10 Chefs
Favorite Chef
Services
Step into The Hidden Gazebo Eatery, where every dinner is an intimate journey through Egyptian culture, storytelling, and exceptional cuisine. Nestled within a hidden backyard garden sanctuary, you'll choose from our signature 7-course experience, the more immersive 12-course culinary journey, or our extraordinary 24-course Hide and Seek Adventure.
Each tasting menu is thoughtfully curated by award-winning designer and Top 10 Chef Noura Bishay in Favorite Chef. In collaboration with Chef Samia Khair, transforming every course into a work of art inspired by ancient traditions, seasonal ingredients, and the healing power of food. Over the course of the evening, the chefs personally share the story behind each dish, creating meaningful connections that linger long after the final bite.
Every tasting menu at The Hidden Gazebo Eatery tells a different story. Our 7-course tasting menu is the perfect introduction to our culinary experience, featuring authentic Egyptian flavors, seasonal ingredients, and Chef Noura's storytelling in an intimate three-hour journey. For adventurous diners, our 12-course tasting menu expands the experience with exclusive specialties rarely found elsewhere, including our signature Banned Soup, succulent duck, and rabbit, offering a deeper exploration of Egypt's rich culinary heritage. For those seeking the extraordinary, our 24-course tasting menu transforms dinner into an immersive adventure. Guests embark on a whimsical hide-and-seek culinary journey, discovering hidden courses tucked throughout our enchanted garden before gathering for a royal feast.
Blending fine dining, storytelling, exploration, and surprise, each tasting menu is thoughtfully designed to create unforgettable memories long after the final course.
Whether you're seeking an unforgettable date night, celebrating a special occasion, or simply looking for a dining experience unlike any restaurant, The Hidden Gazebo Eatery offers a rare opportunity to slow down, reconnect, and savor every moment.
Beyond our public dining experiences, our hidden garden sanctuary is also available for private chef dinners, milestone birthdays, intimate baby showers, bridal celebrations, boutique weddings, and other unforgettable gatherings. Seating is intentionally limited to preserve the intimacy and magic of every experience.
Testimony
Susan Drechsleropen
This experience was like falling down Alice in Wonderland’s rabbit hole and finding yourself in an Egyptian families curated garden with Pharaohs, the largest air plant in San Diego and food that sings of warm spices, citrus, and parsley oil - Oh My! The hospitality was unending by the women run business hosts and quaint discussion about the Nile river, Deep Sea Fishing and genuine interest in who my partner and I were and what made us unique and funny! See, did I tell you - Lovely! The lamb cooked in bone marrow was like meat butter, the 700 year old sourdough starter bread with “blessings” seeds and home grown micro greens were a delight to the palate. FANTASTIC and Michelin Star will come knocking I’m certain! Stop on your way out and pay homage to the “hope” tree
Matthew Alejo
Our experience here was absolutely wonderful. Chef Noura and her mother were incredibly welcoming and made us feel like part of the family from the moment we arrived. The food was exceptional, with every dish beautifully prepared and presented with great care and attention to detail. The atmosphere was charming, cozy, and inviting, making the entire experience feel both special and comfortable. We highly recommend this restaurant and are already looking forward to our next visit!
Jen Cronan Corleyope
We had an amazing dinner at the Hidden Gazebo on 4/25. Our hosts couldn't have been friendlier or more attentive, they made us feel so at home from the minute we walked into the backyard. The food was simply incredible -- beautiful and varied -- I couldn't believe I made it to the end of seven courses devouring everything on my plate! A unique experience well-worth the 30+ minute drive from Del Mar; I felt like I was transported into the home of a family Michelin star chefs. 10/10 recommend
.jpg)
What if the secret to finding your true calling was hiding right outside your back door?
When our beautiful grape vine grew beyond what we could use, Chef Noura began hosting Dolma cooking gatherings, bringing people together to harvest the leaves, cook, share stories, and reconnect with Egyptian traditions.
Those gatherings grew into cooking and baking classes, and eventually led us to discover MEHKO, California’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations program. We realized our backyard could become a real culinary destination.
In January, that dream became reality with the help of Cook Alliance . The Hidden Gazebo Eatery was born from the shared passion of mother-and-daughter duo Samia and Chef Noura. Samia brings her background in the medical field, while Noura brings her eye for design. Together, they transformed their backyard into an intimate culinary destination where Egyptian heritage, wellness, sustainability, and artistry meet.
Their passion for slow cooking became their signature: high-end dishes crafted with patience and presented as edible works of art. Today, The Hidden Gazebo is more than a restaurant. It is a place to slow down, connect, and experience the beauty of Egyptian food and culture.