Five-course Interview: Olive Café delivers Lebanese fare with American twist

It may be blasphemous to say this in Portland, but there’s much more to the food scene here than just lobster. While the Old Port is known for its plethora of seafood options, Olive Café, located at 127 Commercial St., is perfect for those looking for something different. The restaurant features about 10 tables in a homey, DIY-feeling space. Pictures of Beirut, Lebanon through the years line the cheerful yellow walls. And, in the back, owner Rayan Elkhatib cooks up authentic Lebanese Mediterranean fare, which consists of everything from falafel and kabobs to salads and shawarmas (traditional meat dishes). Between the restaurant space itself, the exotic menu offerings and the genuine hospitality of the small, tight-knit staff, Olive Café is a dining experience like no other in Portland.

Elkhatib chatted with The Phoenix (while cooking, mind you) about his seven years of success with shawarma pizzas in a seafood-oriented city.