Sami’s Mediterranean Street Food opens on Main
High-profile location born out of casual cuisine of the Mediterranean
A new eatery opened Thursday in a high-profile location across from City Hall on Main Street.
Sami’s Mediterranean Street Food is a concept born out of the casual cuisine of the Mediterranean, where owner Sami Saab, 32, has lived in both Lebanon and Southern France. The fare will be influenced by Lebanese, Italian, and southern French recipes delivered as a healthy take on fast food, he said.
“We’ll use fresh food, fresh produce and a lot of different spices,” Saab said. “I think the only thing that will not be made from scratch will be the fries.”
The completely redesigned interior of the space incorporates an industrial/street decor, complete with subway tiles, a mural and seating partially enveloping an open kitchen and order area. A long-row of seating also faces out the window onto Main Street. Outdoor sidewalk tables will line the length of the eatery in warm weather. The space formerly housed Dino’s on Main.
Selections include the Pan Bagnat French sandwich (made of tuna, tomato, radish, candied onion, peppers, egg and anchoivies), as well as various paninis. There’s also Manakish (topped with zaatar, cheese or ground beef), baba ganoush, yogurt dip, batata hara (Sami’s spicy cube potatoes), beef shawarma, chicken taouk and kafta. The full menu can be found here.
Saab was born in Lebanon, lived in the South of France for most of his life and attended college in the United States. His parents, of Lebanese descent, were born and raised in Senegal. His diverse cultural background has inspired his culinary journey to incorporate the flavors of Lebanese, Italian, and Southern French street food into the American fast food pallet.
Saab began high school years at a culinary high school in France, but moved to Monmouth County at the end of high school, graduating from Saint Rose in Belmar.
“I lived in France for most of my life,” Saab said. “I came here for college. I actually went to the Brookdale’s Culinary Education Center in Asbury Park, then to International Culinary Center in New York, and then went back home.”
According to his website, Saab’s customers “will travel around the Mediterranean at a minimal price for a gustative discovery. Customers will be served fresh ingredient, decently priced, at a fast paced…Using modern French culinary techniques, a sous-vide method, and ten years of culinary experience in the best French and Lebanese restaurants, Sami designed a simple and diverse menu, tasty for sophisticated pallet, wholesome for the hungry, nutritious for the healthy, and affordable to all.”
Sami’s will be closed Tuesdays. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday though Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The address is 300 Main Street, and phone is 732-825-8411.
