I first met owner Josh Badwan at a local grocery store in town, he was buying stuff for the restaurant. He was very sweet and told me to come in and do a tasting. It took me quite a long time to try their food, but boy was I happy I did.
When you walk in you feel like you’re at your grandmother’s table; there are no frills in the interior, except fantastic food, which is the star of their show. They have been serving up this great food here in the Inland Empire for over 9 years. He also had a restaurant in San Pedro but decided that Yucaipa was where he wanted to make a name for himself in the culinary world.
It’s really a family business, Josh and his lovely son Rojeh run all of the day-to-day business, which includes to-go orders, delivery, catering and their restaurant orders. He has 3 sons, whom he adores, he is also super in love with his beautiful wife Nehed. When I asked him how long they have been married, he laughed and said, “1000 years”. He says he just can’t be without her; he worships her. His recipes come from his beloved mother Mary, who is watching over her family from heaven, but a huge piece of her heart was left in this wonderful food. Mary had 14 kids, so it’s amazing how she was able to do anything besides raising them. But she loved to cook and now we are all the bearer of her incredible recipes. People who know this kind of food know how lucky they are to have Damasco Mediterranean Cuisine in their immediate town. You just can’t find this quality of Mediterranean food anywhere, except for probably in Syria. And what really sets them apart if the way they use spices that you can only get in Syria. The blending of their spices and ingredients are very specific to their roots, their region where they came from. Josh has not been back to his homeland for 27 years; he says he loves America. He loves his restaurant and wants to keep every customer happy. When he gets customers telling him how delicious his food is, it really makes him happy.
Here’s What I Tried:
Falafel Plate, with falafel, hummus, tomatoes, pickles, and tahini sauce, chili sauce, and pita bread. Their falafel is huge and rich with flavor, a must try.
Hummus, with mashed chickpeas with tahini sauce and lemon juice. A delicious hearty dip that goes great with everything.
Dolma – Grape Leaves, with 6 pieces of dolma with a mixture of rice, chopped vegetables, and spices. This is another fantastic Mediterranean staple, just incredible.
Fattoush Salad, with fried pieces of pita bread, cucumber, tomatoes, lattes, black olive, lemon juice, and parsley. I would order this salad every time, it is tangy and crisp, I ate it with every dish and its adds a nice flavor.
Tabouleh, with minced parsley, tomatoes, wheat, mint, onions, olive oil, and lemon juice. Such a healthy dish, they do a great job with this one as well.
White Cabbage Salad, with white sliced white cabbage, carrots, mint, and tomatoes. This salad is flavorful, crisp, and fresh, just heavenly.
Lamb Chop Plate, with rice. This was by far my favorite dish; the lamb chops are tender and juicy and grilled to perfection.
Combo Plate, with rice. A little bit of beef and a little bit of chicken, both made me very happy.
Kibbeh Plate, with rice. 2 bulgur cracked wheat, minced onions, finely ground lean beef, and allspice. I love this rendition of another Mediterranean staple, just the best.
Josh and Rojeh played and sang some of their songs from their culture, which really made my experience even more enjoyable. There is an instrument table in the main dining room, I would imagine when they get inspired, they entertain their guests while they enjoy their marvelous dining experience. The instrument Rojeh played is called an oud, a short-neck lute-type, pear-shaped, fretless instrument. The oud is very similar to other types of lute, and to Western lutes which developed out of the Medieval Islamic oud. So, I got a quick course in Syrian instruments as part of my overall review, how nice!
I really loved my meal and having some fun moments with Josh and Rojeh. Next time you’re on your way to the desert and need a nice lunch stop try Damasco Mediterranean Cuisine, like me you will be glad you did!
Damasco Mediterranean Cuisine
35045 Ave D
Yucaipa, CA 92399
(909) 372-1727
