Today we’d like to introduce you to Charbe, Claude and Sami Salameh.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Charbel, Claude and Sami. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Café Barada has been in the Salameh family since it opened in 1984. In October 2004, my mom (Claude), my dad (Sami) and I purchased the restaurant from my uncle, with the assumption we would try it for one year and see how it goes.
Fourteen years later, we are still going strong. We have put in long hours, altered the menu several times and underwent a major renovation in 2013. Creating fresh tasty food is our passion.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a small business, you run into a lot of challenges. The weather, especially a bad New England winter, can be the most challenging. As a small business, our inability to purchase truckloads of goods to get a better cost is difficult, especially since the price of goods sold can vary so much throughout the year. Being a family run business is challenging as well, especially if you want a night off sometimes and there is no one there to cover for you. It’s an everyday challenge to balance life and work.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Cafe Barada – what should we know?
We are a full-service Lebanese restaurant. If you are a fan of hoummos, falafil or fattouch salad you have come to the right place. OMG did I mention the baklava! Although don’t get me wrong our kebabs and roll ups and all appetizers are great! We pride ourselves on the quality of food you eat. I always tell people if you were at my moms’ house the only difference is you would be at her table rather than sitting in the restaurant. We eat the food that everyone eats.
If we don’t like it for some reason, it doesn’t leave the kitchen! Café Barada is home to us. We have put so much into it and care a lot about everything that happens.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Hard work, fresh ingredients, cooking with love!
Pricing:
- Appetizers $7 to $13
- Soup and Salad $7 to $14
- Entrees $14 to $22
- Roll Ups $12 to $16
Contact Info:
- Address: 2269 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02140 - Website: www.cafebarada.net
- Phone: 617-354-2112
- Email: info@cafebarada.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CafeBarada/
- Twitter: @CafeBarada
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-barada-cambridge
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