Tarek Albast traded in his mini food-truck empire for a permanent home in northwest Columbus.
Mr. Hummus Grill, which bears the same name as Albast's retired fleet of five food trucks, has opened in the former Shish Kebab location at 1450 Bethel Road.
Owning a restaurant "has always been my dream," Albast said.
The Lebanese menu offers scratch-made fare at competitive prices, he said.
"We try to be close to everyone" in the neighborhood from a price standpoint, Albast said. "The area is not 'high' high-end but, still, you've got a lot of options."
He freshened up the warm, neutral-toned dining room with wood-paneled walls. The space seats 100, with another 25 in a private dining area and 39 on the patio, when it opens for the season.
Among the array of vegetarian dishes, the hummus starts with dried -- not canned -- chickpeas, and the baba ganoush is made from whole roasted eggplant, he said.
Rarer to central Ohio are the soujouk, a spicy sausage, and makanek, a milder version, both made of halal beef, not pork, per Islamic dietary standards.
Most appetizers are $7 to $9.
The menu takes a few detours into Western territory with such dishes as the falafel burger and falafel tacos.
Otherwise, Albast said, customers can expect a Lebanese experience, which includes a fattoush salad, red lentils, bulgur wheat (mujadara hamra) and beef and chicken shawarma.
Grilled meats have a prominent place on the menu.
The grilled lamb chops, a featured dish, are marinated overnight.
"The lamb chops are going to be the bomb because it's my mother's recipe," Albast said.
Meanwhile, the arayes pita platter has seasoned ground beef stuffed inside thin, homemade bread.
Mr. Hummus Grill has a few seafood options, such as the red snapper, fried or baked whole.
Most entrees are $14 to $19; mixed-grill platters, which serve more than one person, are priced higher.
Choices for dessert include muhallabia, a style of pudding, and knafeh, shredded phyllo dough filled with a sweet-cheese blend. Both are topped with ground pistachios.
Mr. Hummus Grill has opened without a liquor license. However, it does have an assortment of teas and coffee, soft drinks, smoothies and fresh-squeezed vegetable and fruit-juice drinks.
Albast, who also is a partner in Midnight Hookah in Columbus' Italian Village, said he sold his food trucks because the business was so weather-dependent.
But he said he plans to hit the road again eventually.
"We will go back," he said.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
For more information, call 614-273-4444.
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Look for homemade naan at Food Hamati: Mediterranean Street Food, which has replaced Ka Ren Market at 5875 Sawmill Road.
The Jordanian restaurant, owned by Ahmed Nababta and Mohammad Qatanani, uses the traditional flatbread to make wrap sandwiches.
The 15-seat restaurant also offers a mix of salads, platters and starters. One of the specialties is the spit-roasted shawarma.
Most entrees cost $8 to $13, and appetizers are $4 to $6.
Nababta said the restaurant is known for its garlic sauce -- a mayonnaise-based mixture that has the right amount of kick -- served with many dishes.
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Passport 196 in Upper Arlington has rolled out an a la carte brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays.
A couple of highlights are the "Passport Benny," a take on eggs Benedict served in a cast-iron skillet, and the "Eggleston" omelet -- smoked pork belly, potatoes, pickled cherry peppers, smoked gouda and green onion, with fresh guacamole and pico de gallo on top.
Troy Bellot, a partner in the restaurant, 2816 Fishinger Road, said the brunch menu soon will be expanded to Saturdays.
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