Faz Poursohi's success as a restaurateur is based on his love of food and cooking that he acquired growing up in Tehran. His family took culinary matters seriously and their table was always laid with freshly baked breads, fruits and vegetables from the family farm.

Poursohi moved to the United States in 1974 to pursue a degree in Systems Engineering at the University of Illinois. While in Chicago, he began working for Rich Melman, owner of Lettuce Entertain You, Inc. He quickly became a part of Melman's management team and was instrumental in the opening of several successful restaurants.

In 1981, Poursohi moved to California to join Spectrum Foods, a restaurant company co-founded by Bay Area restaurateur Larry Mindel. The Bay Area and its vast array of fresh produce had always intrigued him. "Food is about freshness and flavor -- not about ingredients buried in complex combinations. Go to a farmers market and smell the fresh herbs, grow or pick vegetables off the vine when you can. This is the inspiration behind cooking," explains Poursohi. In 1984, Poursohi ventured out on his own with the opening of Cafe Latte I, which was an instant success and inspired noted restaurant reviewer Patricia Unterman to write, "There is some kind of magic going on here, and it never seems to fail."

Two years later, Poursohi took over the former Poodle Dog restaurant, a 137-year old landmark in the Crocker Galleria, and created Circolo. Later that same year, Poursohi opened Cafe Latte II located in San Francisco's Embarcadero Four complex, an operation which expanded to include successful corporate and special event catering departments. His next operation was Faz Restaurant & Catering in Danville, which opened in 1991. Faz's signature wood-fired Mediterranean cuisine and al fresco dining made the restaurant an instant success.

1994 saw Faz expand to San Francisco's Bechtel building with Faz Cafe, offering cafeteria-style lunch and off-premise catering. As a result of that success, breakfast and lunch service to Blue Shield employees was also implemented within the Bechtel facility. In September 1994, after a successful 11-year run, Circolo was updated and renamed Faz Restaurant & Catering. The menu now focuses on Mediterranean cuisine with Near-Eastern roots.

Faz Restaurant & Catering, located in Silicon Valley, opened in November 1995. Sunnyvale offers a comprehensive operation with a private 50-seat tearoom, a 200-seat banquet hall and surrounding wedding garden that can accommodate 500 guests. Extensive corporate meeting space and services are available.

The following year, the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Pleasanton asked Poursohi to open Faz Restaurant & Catering on their premises. The cuisine is classic Mediterranean-Near Eastern featuring a wood-fired grill, a smoker and rotisserie. Several spacious banquet rooms are an added attraction to this location, as well as a lovely garden patio and fountain that is available for private parties.

Turning his attention again to San Francisco, Poursohi opened Lavash Mediterranean Bistro (formerly Cafi Latte II) in 1999 In addition to restaurant sales, Lavash became one of the premier caterers in San Francisco before subsequently closing its doors in February of 2004.

In January 2001, Poursohi opened Bollinger Bar & Grill in San Ramon. The freestanding facility encompasses 10,000 square feet and commands a 180-degree view of the valley below. Faz used his Chicago experience to fashion a Contemporary American menu, which offered a variety of wood-grilled meats and seafood. Bollinger Bar & Grill was sold in September of 2004.

In January of 2005, Faz Restaurant in San Francisco moved to a new location becoming Tonno Rosso by FAZ and by Summer 2005, after a renovation which included a sidewalk dining area on the Embarcadero, the property was transformed into Faz Restaurant & Catering. Located across from the Ferry Building at the waterfront, Faz Restaurants Bella Vista Room looks out on the SF Bay Bridge Emanating from the exhibition fireplace grill, the fragrance of Fazs innovative Mediterranean cuisine permeates the dining room.


Lunch:
Mon - Fri:
11:30am - 3:30pm

Dinner:
Sun - Thu:
5:30pm - 10:00pm
Fri - Sat:
5:30pm - 11:00pm