Best bites: Scrambled eggs with basterami (like Egyptian pastrami) served atop a slice of hazelnut sourdough was a tasty sweet and savory combo.

• Spiced mousaka (eggplant) and greens on toasted sourdough pieces like bruschetta is a vegan option that anyone would enjoy.
• The large heirloom tomato topped with garlic, oil, microgreens and edible flowers is a light starter that was inspired by one of Bishay's grandfather's favorite dishes.
• The meal ends with a cold, sweet rice pudding topped with candied nuts and a butter cookie.

"It's all about colors and a taste journey into our spice calendar," Bishay told Axios. "Our dream is to be the first backyard restaurant with a Michelin star."

Bishay and her mom do all the cooking using her grandmother's recipes with many fresh, seasonal ingredients from the backyard garden.

• The dishes, featuring traditional Egyptian staples like fava beans, falafel, lamb and more, are meant to tell a story. And guests are treated like family.
• So while the meal is elevated, it feels like you're at a casual dinner party or brunch among family and friends.

The vibe: Once you arrive at their home, you walk through a garden in front of the house and through a gated fence to the backyard.

• You're greeted by Egyptian artwork, lush trees and flowering plants lining a narrow path that opens up to the dining area. It's filled with thrifted decor, a small fish pond, colorful tables, woven rugs and a cozy gazebo with a couch to lounge on before the meal.
• "Come and sit and relax and feel the energy of the space," Bishay said, ushering me to the gazebo she built.

The Hidden Gazebo grew out of casual cooking classes that the women hosted for friends and neighbors.

• Bishay said she found the kitchen to be a place where she could express herself freely and those classes gave her an outlet.
• That led them to open this 30-seat backyard restaurant as a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO). They got financial help from a grant through Cook Alliance, a nonprofit supporting culinary small businesses that helped create MEHKO permits in California.

What's next: The mother-daughter duo are hosting a comedy brunch ($99 per person) on Mother's Day (May 10) and Father's Day (June 21) to kick off brunch service.

• Regular weekend brunches will be twice a month and have live music or comedy, but reservations are available other times for larger groups.
• They're also working on adding 12-course and 24-course dinners in June.

If you go: Dinner reservations are available Friday-Sunday from 3-6pm, and some weekdays for groups of five or more.

• You pay for the experience in advance ($150 per person), fill out a form that personalizes your meal and will get the address after you've booked.