Slogan Yalla Chef Faisal Nimri Dress code Casual | Established June 2008 Food type GreekMediterranean | |
Current owner(s) Faisal NimriBashar Sneeh | ||
Dametra Cafe is a Mediterranean restaurant in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California in the United States. They have a second, smaller, fast food location in Monterey, California.
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History
Dametra Cafe is co-owned by Bashar Sneeh, who is from Syria, and Faisal Nimri, who is from Jordan. Nimri also serves as executive chef. Nimri moved to the United States in 1994, with his parents, and started working in Monterey as a teenager in the restaurant business. In 1998, he opened Da Giovanni in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Nimri wanted to open a restaurant that served Middle Eastern food similar to what his family made. He met Sneeh, who relocated to the US from Syria in 2004. Sneeh was working in Pebble Beach at a gas station when he met Nimri. Sneeh became involved in the food industry and came to manage three area restaurants. They opened Dametra Cafe in June 2008.
The cafe has live music and belly dancers. The decor includes rose-colored stone signature of Petra. The restaurant was named "Business of the Year" by the Carmel Chamber of Commerce in 2010. Customers can make reservations and walk-up customers wait inline outside. The restaurant serves Greek wine, including Boutrai.
In 2014, they opened a second location in Monterey. The second location, Dametra Fresh Mediterranean, serves mainly Greek fast food.
Cuisine
Dametra Cafe serves food from the Middle East. The menu includes calamari, moussaka, cioppino, smoked salmon, hummus, lamb shank, gyros, kebabs and spanikopita.