RESTAURANT PROVIDES TASTE OF MEDITERRANEAN

Phoenicia, a restaurant featuring Mediterranean cuisine, recently opened at 1000 N. Sprigg.

"We feature `pocket pita' sandwiches and specialty platters," said Emad Salamy, one of the owners. "The bread for the sandwiches is round and pitted (like a pocket) so you can literally stuff the sandwich ingredients into the sandwich."

All of the sandwiches are served with fries, and the platters include two different salads. "We also serve shishkebabs of skewered lamb, chicken breast, or minced meat, complete with green peppers, tomatoes and onions," said Salamy.

"I worked a number of years in a restaurant in West Virginia," said Salamy, who has been in the Cape Girardeau area for about two months. "I also owned a small restaurant. I have relatives in Southeast Missouri, and decided to open a new restaurant here."

Salamy and his brother, Salam Salamy, are owners of the restaurant, which seats 60.

"We hope to double our seating in the future," said Emad Salamy. "We have two upstairs rooms which can be converted into seating and can be used for private parties or meetings."

The restaurant, which is open Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., features a variety of sandwiches, including the "Falafel," a vegetarian patty made of chick peas, parsley, onions and garlic, and topped with lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber sauce.

Other sandwiches feature a lamb and beef combination, chicken breast, steak, and minced meat mixed with onions and parsley.

"We also have hamburgers, steak and cheese sub and a turkey sub," said Salamy.