| Restaranteur Delivers Avant Garde to Playa |
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| Local News Restaurants | |
| Monday, 12 April 2004 | |
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Description
Beachgoers, Bon-Vivants, World Class Divers, Italian Rastamen, Socialites in Mayan Sarapes, and it just got better ……. Welcome to Kartabar - the new avant-garde restaurant and night spot serving Arabic Mediterranean Cuisine in the most exquisite and unique atmosphere Playa has to offer. I was told by some local friends that this is the place to be - that Kartabar offered the freshest most unique food with atmosphere unmatched. My curiosity was stimulated. My expectations raised ……… Would this be the real thing? When I walked in you could feel the love, the care, and atmosphere………it hits you with a “I just love being here” thing. There is something about it – it’s truly enchanting and it fits right here in the land of enchantment. We were shown to our table by a fashionable young man dressed in traditional Mediterranean Arabesque garb. His smile said it all. The very hip and well traveled Jamil Hindi, the resident manager and nephew of the proprietor, Philippe Maatouk, greeted us with a wonderful “Marhaba, Welcome to Kartabar”.. Inside, the music is perfect - just enough to drown out traffic but not conversation. Our waiter mentioned that the volume gets cranked up after nine to accommodate the lovely belly dancer who would later entertain.
We ordered a mezza plate with Hummus, Stuffed Grapes Leaves, Tabouli salad, Kebbe, and we were off…… Kartabar is a play on Kartaba, the hometown of Lebanon-born proprietor Philippe Maatouk. The new Kartabar in Playa is part of the successful Rhode Island, USA original (www.kartabar.com) that was opened by Philippe back in 2001. Kartabar has an extensive wine list, fabulous mixed drinks and nearly a dozen appetizers. With a half-dozen entrées and a couple of daily specials, prices are kept down while assuring freshness. Philippe, a tall imposing gentleman, sat down with us to share his thoughts, hopes, and dreams for his new entree into to our fast changing scene. “The restaurant opened last week to capacity crowds. Our grand opening was a who's who of Playa and it gave us a chance to meet new friends. I am thrilled to be here in Playa and contribute to the community. My wife and son just arrived from Rhode Island to join us in the celebration, so this just magical for all of us in the family.” Philippe said.
Philippe has made good on his word to expand his leading edge Restaurant in Rhode Island. "I feel truly blessed to work in an industry that offers as much opportunity as hospitality does. I came to North America in search of a new life for myself, and thanks to this industry and lovely customers, I am living a enchanted life.”
Kartabar is located on corner of 1st Street and 12th Street once block east of 5th Avenue. It is open 7 days a week from 7pm – 2am The menu is from (50 - $150 pesos) Comments (0)
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By Betty Ontiveros
I thought to myself “What is this place? Are those hookahs for us? Is the food really that good?”.
Kartabar! A Mediterranean nightspot with a Caribe Kasbah slant that says it’s a place where you can sit, eat, enjoy, get entertained by belly dancers, and converse in traditional sook tones with friends and other guests while you enjoy the exotic adventures of smoking on a Narguile, dipping into your Bah-Bah Ga-Noush, and sipping on your cocktail – an unashamed pleasure at Kartabar.
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