CLEVELAND — Food transcends borders, languages, and in some cases, time.
"It's a chance to explain actually. Everyone comes in and I have Syria on the menu, Syrian fetteh, Syrian cheese, and so they ask if someone doesn't know what's going on they ask and I get to explain," co-owner Yaseen Allaham said.
For the Allaham family, their new restaurant Damas Eatery on West 117th Street in Cleveland brings them back to a time before war. A time when they were living comfortably in Damascus, Syria, before having to flee to Jordan, then arrive as refugees in America.
The Allaham family are now newly minted citizens as well as business owners.
"We're a big population, not comparing to America, but to the Middle East, it's quite a big country. It has a lot of meaning, the food being here shared with others in America," Yaseen Allaham said.
Now settled in their new home with their dream realized, it was time for the Allahams to bring back something to share: The taste of home.
"Since we've been here, we've been looking for a Syrian restaurant with every traditional dish maybe you can think of. And we didn't find it. I mean, this thing really drives back to Syria," Yaseen Allaham said.
The business is a family venture and the Allahams are proud to share their history with customers. Yaseen was on sight to translate for his father Marwan, but a father's love and admiration comes across in every language.
"I'm very, very proud to see them like this. This is my big wish to see them grow up, especially all of my family together," Marwan said.
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