Cuisine:

• Mediterranean

The Matahari Cafe Description:
Chef and proprietor Cynthia Klanian reinvented this space as an ode to her years of living in Provence, with soothing limestone floors, French antiques and colorful tablecloths. With her Armenian heritage and down-home cooking skills, chef Klanian brings platters of family-style Mediterranean favorites to hungry Newporters and beach-going tourists. For big groups, start with the mezza platter, which features hummus, tzatziki, roasted vegetables and baba ghanouj-influenced eggplant salad. Also, do not miss the borek appetizer with its layers and layers of buttery phyllo filled with four creamy cheeses. Although the shish kebab meats with rice pilaf are good, we suggest the hot-from-the-oven casseroles, which change daily. Some of our favorite dishes are the stuffed bell peppers, vegetarian Moroccan couscous, and stewed tri tip with okra. The Matarhari Feast includes family-size portions of freshly-prepared cheeses, appetizers, salads, soups, entrées and desserts. Speaking of desserts, Klanian pops out of the kitchen time and again holding just-baked sweets like her signature apple cake, crème caramel and baklava. The wine list is reasonable and features good selections mostly from France and California.


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