Mawadda Cafe

Mawadda Cafe serves up big platters of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food with a side of the American dream. The dreamer is owner Rami Al- Jebori, who studied to be a chef in New York City and worked in the food industry for years before buying a dilapidated sandwich shop on South Graham Street a few years ago.

“For a year and a half, I worked 14 hours a day, open to close, just by myself,” he says. “Every penny I made I put back in the place.” He upgraded the kitchen, put in new tile, painted the walls cinnamon and mocha, and bought new furniture. Now he has three employees and nurtures a hope of one day opening a fine-dining restaurant.