Look Inside Lebanese Market Suraya, Opening in Fishtown

Suraya, the 12,000-square-foot, three-part Middle Eastern eatery in Fishtown, kicks off phase one on November 28 when the market and all-day cafe opens its doors. A restaurant and an outdoor garden, also at 1528 Frankford Avenue, will follow next year.

The Suraya crew is already well established in the neighborhood, with Nathalie Richan of Cafe La Maude, Roland Kassis, Richan’s brother and a Fishtown developer, and Nick Kennedy and Greg Root of Root Restaurant and Wine Bar making up the team behind the “Levant-inspired” venue, which draws from several cultures and cusines. It’s named after Richan and Kassis’ grandmother, Suraya Harouni, who raised the siblings in Beirut.

“Our grandmother was a worldly woman with a big heart — she was known for always feeding those in need, regardless of their religion or background,” Richan said in a statement. “This space is in honor of her strength and bravery that kept our family together during the tumultuous war-torn times we experienced growing up in Lebanon. We hope that her genuine passion for food and family is shown throughout all the details.”

Look for the market/cafe to be open daily from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. (from 9 a.m. on opening day) with Lebanese food, including manoushe (flatbread), salads, and sandwiches, house-made French and Levantine pastries, coffee from Stumptown, cocktails, and a mix of local and imported pantry items like spices and olive oil. Cookbooks, dishes, and kitchenware will also be for sale, like these:

Melissa Alam

Melissa Alam

Richard Stokes Architecture designed the space:

Melissa Alam

Melissa Alam

The restaurant part of Suraya is slated to open early 2018, with the outdoor garden, complete with bar, holding off for warmer weather in the spring.

For now, here’s the market menu:

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