Tabouli's To Be
If all goes according to plan, Tabouli's--the Greek-and-Italian-flavored Middle Eastern eatery at 2015 Belmont Boulevard--could lift the curtain on its exhaustive overhaul as early as Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Recently rumored to be the future site of either a Subway franchise or a Mexican concept run by Radius10 owner Jason Brumm, the 20-year-old Tabouli's went dormant about three months ago when Amer Massad purchased the business from its founders. (Subway finally popped up its yellow awning around the corner, and Brumm's heralded plan went out with a whimper.) Meanwhile, Massad & Co. began quietly gutting the interior and adding a covered patio, while diners at nearby PM, Bongo Java and International Market looked on with curiosity.
If construction wraps up according to plan, Massad will fling open the doors to a new and improved Tabouli's next week, which will include a hookah bar on the patio. The menu will be tweaked to deliver a more authentic Middle Eastern flavor and a more consistent dining experience, and Tabouli's will now have an extensive bar.
Tabouli's will serve lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the hookah bar will be open 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., with a light late-night menu. As always, if you get to the new and improved Tabouli's before us, please report back on Bites.
Comments
But what about the building next door to Tabouli's. That's being renovated, too. I heard (from a barista at Bongo) that is was going to be the new Mexican joint. Guess that's out though. Any ideas, Carrington?
Oh, and YAY, for a full bar at the *new* Tabouli's.
Posted 09/05/2008 at 10:13:43 AMThe building next door is owned by Arnold Myint of PM on the OTHER side of Tabouli's. It will be called "Cha Cha" and from what I've been told by servers at PM it is going to be a tapas restaurant with a wine and tea bar. They are shooting for an October opening if all goes as planned. Judging from how good PM is, I'm sure it will be a great addition to Belmont and the neighborhood.
Posted 09/05/2008 at 10:44:16 AMHere's a little info on Cha-Chah from the Scene last August:
Arnold Myint, owner of PM restaurant on Belmont Boulevard, plans to expand his nascent culinary empire next year with the opening of Cha-Chah, a tea emporium serving small plates and wine-based cocktails. Slated to open in January, Cha-Chah will occupy the building at 2013 Belmont Blvd. that formerly housed Mad Mod furniture.
Taking its name both from musical theater (a passion of Myint’s) and the Asian etymology for the word “tea,” Cha-Chah will be a departure for the restaurateur. The son of International Market owners Patti and Win Myint, Arnold developed a menu for PM that fuses his French-style culinary education with Asian ingredients. Cha-Chah will focus not on Asian cuisine but on a roster of global tapas, wines and teas. Arnold, who leases the property from Patti, plans to add patios to both the front and back of the building.
While Arnold partnered with Patti to open PM, Cha-Chah will be the first local restaurant project by Arnold’s own company, Arc Inc. An ebullient chef and entrepreneur, he says he has several other projects up his sleeve, but he’s keeping mum on future plans.
Posted 09/05/2008 at 11:00:04 AMWhen we were young impoverished writers, Tabouli's was our favorite place. It was great back then -- I'm expecting a return to good eatin', especially since my carpool takes me past there at least once a week...
Posted 09/06/2008 at 06:17:16 PMI'm so excited that there are more restaurants in my 'hood...but boy when we don't want to walk parking is getting to be even worse over there!
Posted 09/16/2008 at 12:39:16 PMJust to let you guys know, we do serve hookahs after 10PM, but we also continue to operate mainly as a restaurant with a late night menu, full service bar, and live entertainment on the weekends. We just happen to serve hookahs as well. So the doors are open to everyone, please come see us! :-)
Posted 09/25/2008 at 04:25:13 AM