Jerusalem Garden Cafe

About the Business

Specialties

Family owned and operated for over 20 years, Jerusalem Garden offers authentic Middle Eastern & Mediterranean cuisine. We serve lunch and dinner daily- with tapas plates, sandwiches/wraps, entrees, and desserts. Enjoy unique and delicious brunch on Saturday and Sunday, or live music and bellydancing on Friday and Saturday nights! We hand-brew specialty Turkish Coffee and Moroccan Mint Tea, and have a nice selection of local and imported craft beers- bottles and on draught. Our wine list is extensive and includes wines from major Mediterranean wine producers as well as Lebanon, Turkey, and Israel. While regular tables are always an option, we also have an exotic "tent" room, with traditional floor seating at low tables. We pride ourselves on quality food and service, and look forward to serving you soon!

History

Established in 1992.

Over twenty years ago, The Badr family started Jerusalem Garden as a small cafe and gift shop- selling Persian rugs out of what is now the back dining room! But it didn't take long for Asheville to fall in love with Frank's cooking, and the food became the focal point of the business. Around 2002, the restaurant became full service. Down came the rugs, and up went the colorful tent room, where diners can enjoy the full experience of traditional floor seating. Live music and bellydancing on Friday and Saturday night add to the effect. We now offer a one-of-a-kind brunch, and an all-day small plate menu as well. Owner Frank Badr and his wife Sonja can still be found tweaking recipes and hand-making our made-from-scratch signature dishes every morning.

Meet the Business Owner

Business owner information

Farouk B.

Business Owner

Farouk (Frank) Badr opened Jerusalem Garden as a cafe and gift shop back in the early 1990s.  It was a small, order-at-the-counter shop that sold oriental rugs out of the back... Asheville fell in love with Farouk's falafel sandwiches and unbelievably smooth hummus, and Farouk's cooking became the main focus of the shop.A little later down the road, the cafe became a full service restaurant, with lunch, dinner, and brunch.  In the back dining room known as "the Tent," customers can opt for traditional floor seating.  On the weekends, we host live music and bellydancing, and it's a true transportation of the senses.  Even after all these years, Farouk can still be found in the kitchen every morning- tweaking recipes, handrolling grapeleaves, preparing made-from-scratch baba ghanoush, etc...  He loves Asheville, and takes great pleasure in providing a unique dining experience for you all!