Lebanon Meets the Dominican Republic: The Shish Kabob Restaurant

FROM THE ARCHIVES

July 13, 2017

“My bartender makes the best Mojitos in La Romana,” says the Lebanese owner of the Shish Kabob Restaurant.

Good start.

We’re there with two friends who have roots in La Romana, remember buying food from pushcarts when they walked into the streets in the evening when they were kids. and are frequent customers here. We’re getting personal attention from the outgoing owner,

The small world department gets a full head of steam when Juan Giha Elmufdi asks where I’m from.

“My daughter goes to school at Bentley University!” he says with a big smile.

“That’s a ten minute drive from my home in Watertown,” says I.

What are the chances that you’d eat a dinner in a city not found on most tourists radar on a small island in the middle of the Caribbean and get treated like royalty because the owner’s daughter goes to college ten minutes from where you live.

“My daughter got a masters degree in Culinary Arts in New York City and now works at a Michelin two star restaurant in New York City. She intends to return to home here to help her brother open a bar and restaurant around the corner from my restaurant!"

This is one proud papa talking.

I swap stories with him about the Armenian markets and restaurants in my home town. We talk about the various tastes of hummus and baba ganoush.

“Watertown has the largest populations of Armenians except for a city in California,” says I.

When we said we were not ready for a full meal, Juan Giha Elmufdi said, “I’ll send you some appetizers I think you’ll like.”

An understatement. We feast on small plates of fresh aromatic appetizers and have another round of mojitos.

Desserts appear!

When I ask for the bill he waves me off.

“It was my pleasure to feed you. Come again. And bring your friends!”

Lebanese and Dominican hospitality are a magnificent combination.

The Shish Kabob Restaurant, a popular destination for Middle Eastern food in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

Owner Juan Giha Elmufdi,.Katherine Burton Jones, Arlene Alvarez, PT and Alex Martinez Suárez.

Owner Juan Giha Elmufdi and PT... photos of patrons and restaurant history are on the wall.

Photos by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.

Comments

[Alex Martinez Suárez]

THIS IS GREAT!!

Thanks for sharing it!

[Arlene Alvarez]

Dear Paul!! This is lovely!!!

I will send this to a friend who knows Juan, he will love the article!!! It is just too bad they dont have a website where they can link the article to.

Here is a link to a sort of english version of their menu, that has a bit of their history. It is the oldest restaurant in the town, and it is as good as always. It brings great memories of our lunch there!!

https://www.flipsnack.com/alsard/mobile-sishkabab.html

Arlene

[Arlene Alvarez]

Dear Paul!! This is lovely!!!
I will send this to a friend who knows Juan, he will love the article!!! It is just too bad they don't have a website where they can link the article to.

Here is a link to a sort of english version of their menu, that has a bit of their history. It is the oldest restaurant in the town, and it is as good as always. It brings great memories of our lunch there!!

https://www.flipsnack.com/alsard/mobile-sishkabab.html

Arlene

[Paul A Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large]

Hola Arlene,
Thank you for this!

I didn’t know that it is the oldest restaurant in town, did know that it had to be one of the best. I will a link to a sort of english version of their menu, that has a bit of their history.

Hope to learn what Juan thinks of the story. Some day his daughter might create a web site!

Abrazos
Paul