• Syria •
Khalil's
November Showcase
4757 Baum Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: +1 (412) 683-4757 |
For the October trip, we went to Khalil’s for Syrian food. Located on Baum Boulevard, the welcoming restaurant is run by Dalel Khalil, who is carrying on the restaurant's legacy set by her parents. We enjoyed this restaurant visit tremendously and hope you get the chance to visit it as well!
We started with Khalil’s mazza, a traditional sampler, with four spreads: hummus, baba ganoush, medumas, and muhamarra. According to the description on the menu, a mazza is a traditional way of eating in the Mediterranean region. Typically, they are shared among family and friends with some wine or Arak--an anise drink. We enjoyed sampling each dip on pita bread and comparing the various textures and tastes. The baba ganoush had a unique, savory flavor, and the hummus was simple yet distinctly homemade. Later, we tried the Chicken Shish Taouk, marinated chicken which is cut, skewered, and cooked over an open flame in lemon sauce. This came with a buttered rice pilaf topped with toasted almonds and a light, balsamic-dressed salad. Some of us sampled the Samket, a daily fish special baked in lemon and garlic and topped with tahini sauce and almonds.
After we finished the meal, we had a vibrant conversation with the owner, Dalel B. Khalil. Khalil was passionate about telling us the story of the restaurant and her family’s history. Her mother was from Pittsburgh and her father, Mike, was from Syria. Her father was born in a poor family and earned his income as a farmer. The two met when her mother visited Syria. A few years later, they went to the U.S. together and made it their goal to become successful and bring all of their family to the U.S. In 1960, Mike was first employed in a restaurant as a cook; interestingly, this restaurant is the same one that will be bestowed to him many years later. He became an exceptional chef and set up his own business is South Oakland, which became extremely successful. He then bought the restaurant from his former employer in 1972. Over the course of 47 years, they brought Mike’s family from Syria one by one and provided them with housing and employment. Throughout his career, he helped many people and earned a good reputation. Even as an old man, Mike continued to work the restaurant and greet the customers that come in. However, the decision was made to shut the restaurant down for three years so that Mike’s family could take care of him in his old age. The restaurant reopened in 2018.
The decorations, lighting, and panoramic window behind our table added to the relaxing ambiance of the restaurant. The tables were adorned with floral arrangements and placemats with mandala print designs. Furthermore, the colorful geometric designs on the walls, tablecloth, and placemats contributed to the restaurant’s decorative appearance. The Morrocan style lanterns on the walls added to the luxurious feel of the restaurant as well. Overall, the bright lighting and the cool breeze from the panoramic window created an enjoyable atmosphere to dine in.
The restaurant is a family business and they devote themselves to providing customers with really authentic Syrian cuisine. The owner is also a writer, she has published a book - From Veils to Thongs - and she described to us about her personal, internal conflict between her liberal American culture and the conservative Syrian mentality she had been raised with. For example, in Syrian culture there is a belief that women should not pursue a degree or be successful, but they should stay quiet, not have their own thoughts and try to marry a man such as an American male. Khlalil personally did not agree with this mentality, and although she respects the Syrian belief, she would rather exhibit American liberties and be an independent female business owner.
Khalil has many plans for the future. In addition to being featured in an edition Table Magazine in November 2019, she also plans to build a garden with a water fountain in the parking lot and to redecorate part of the interior to make it more Arabic. Her goal is to help patrons feel like they are in Syria when they come to the restaurant. On Friday nights, they will also play Arabic music and perform dances, just has her father did in the past. She is confident that they will continue to offer the food and recipes they she and her family have inherited from her father and to share the Syrian culture with her customers. More importantly, she is very proud of Syrian culture and hopes to introduce it to more people in the US.