Dametra Café: Mediterranean Fusion at its Finest in Downtown Carmel

Faisal Nimri and Bashar Sneeh own what is currently the most popular restaurant in downtown Carmel: Dametra Café.

Since mid-2009, the restaurant has been booked solid (see above photo of line outside the door) for dinner every night, and after our meal there during our second night in Carmel, I can see why. When Andy and I walked into restaurant, we were greeted by Faisal and seated promptly. I thought that perhaps we were being given special treatment (as I had arranged our dinner with the Carmel Chamber of Commerce as part of our trip). But as I watched from our table, I saw him treating all the incoming customers this way––like welcoming a family member into his home.

The name Dametra Café (which opened in 2008) is a combination of their homelands: Damascus plus Petra (the ancient Jordanian city near the Dead Sea carved of rose-colored stone. By 2010, the Carmel Chamber of Commerce named Dametra Café Business of the Year. The Café’s menu is a delightful amalgamation of Mediterranean foods Nimri (from Jordan) and Sneeh (from Syria) loved during their childhood: spanikopita from Greece, calamari from Italy, smoked salmon from France and hummus from Lebanon.

Why did I want to eat here? I certainly did not know the 14 table restaurant was so popular until we arrived. Andy and I actually found Dametra Café passing by the restaurant on foot while wine tasting during our last visit to Carmel a year ago. I remember someone standing outside and beckoning us to come in for dinner (again, very hospitable). We had already made plans for the evening (Fandango in Pacific Grove), but vowed to return to the Café on our next visit to Carmel. We finally made it!

I kicked off my dinner with a split of cava, and Andy had a glass of Malbec (that’s one of his favorite varietals). 🙂

Love my half-Greek man! 🙂

Then it was on to the meal! Since we had indulged earlier in our hotel’s happy hour, we stuck to wine by the glass instead of choosing a bottle of wine with dinner.I picked the Greek Combination Platter: Gyros, chicken kabab, humus, yogurt sauce, pita bread, rice and Greek salad. This is the quintessential plate to order if you have never eaten Greek food and want to sample what it’s truly supposed to taste like. I was in heaven, and ordered a glass of Tapena Tempranillo (Spain) to enjoy with it.

Andy ordered the Almond Crusted Halibut: a Pan seared wild Halibut filet with Prawns over sautéed spinach, topped with light cream sauce and rice pilaf. I don’t think I have ever eaten a more delicious piece of fish than the bite of halibut (yes, crusted with almond) that Andy shared with me. I kind of had entrée envy, even though I was very happy with my meal. I can still remember how perfectly cooked that fish was! I think Andy gets the prize for choosing the better dish this time… 😉