Newest Bedford Restaurant A Dream Come True For Owners

HALIFAX – For Mohammad and Nawal Alsharmani, the opening of Tanoor two weeks ago was a dream that took 20 years to become a reality. The couple immigrated to Halifax from Yemen in 2002, and opening a restaurant has been something they always wanted — especially for Mohammad.

He has worked many jobs over the last 20 years, but none made him happy.

“At the beginning, it was very hard for both of us,” recalls Nawal. “I’m a pharmacist and I struggled until I finished my certification exams and got licensed in Canada. My husband stood with me. He was very supportive.”

“He started with lots of jobs, he worked everything; he drove a taxi, he worked as even as a building cleaner. But he’s goal was to open a restaurant.”

A few years ago, Mohammad tried renting a small place inside a Bedford market, but that restaurant only lasted a few weeks. Now, it is impossible for him not to smile while talking to Huddle inside Tanoor at a prime location on the Bedford Highway.

“It’s been a dream. I’ve always liked to be in the kitchen,” Mohammad. “I was always cooking for my father. And I like connecting with people. I believe we have beautiful dishes and people will like them.”

“I worked almost everything. But owning a restaurant was always on my mind.”

Things came together for Tanoor 9 months ago when the Alsharmanis learned of a Syrian refugee, Mohammad Alhabash, who was looking to open a restaurant as well. So, the three decided to partner up.

Naturally, Tanoor specializes in Yemenis and Syrian cuisine. The three other staff at the restaurant also happen to be Syrian refugees living in Halifax. And Mohammad Alsharmani insists their cuisine is authentic.

“It’s very much similar, if not better,” he said.

On a busy Thursday night inside Tanoor, the customers are excitedly giving feedback to the staff. At one point Alhabash tears off small pieces of shawarma chicken for a few people to try, which causes them to rave with praise.

“Do you know what’s crazy? I’m Polish, but I love your food more than my own country’s food,” one of them said.

At Tanoor you can get popular Middle Eastern dishes like shawarma and falafel. They also have amazing kibbeh, which Alhabash’s wife makes (but only 20 per day, so supplies are limited.)

But the dish Mohammad Alsharmani is most excited to introduce is the traditional Yemenis dish mandi. But first, he has to finish building his wood fire pit so it is cooked authentically. He hopes to have that done by December.

“The way we cook the meat and the rice and the chicken-it’s the old ways. We use wood and we put it underground,” he explained.

As Mohammad talks about his dream, one can hear the excitement in his voice. Every customer that enters Tanoor he greets with a warm smile.

It’s a happiness Nawal says has been with her husband since Tanoor opened.

“I saw my husband when he was working at any other job, he was coming back with low self-esteem. He was so depressed all the time,” she recalled. But the last week he was so excited.”

“He was working long hours and he didn’t even feel it. It’s a contrast to when he was working as an Uber driver — he would go for three, four hours, and he was tired. But now you can see he works long hours with the restaurant, but he’s happy.”

Derek Montague is a Huddle reporter in Halifax. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].