about

The Restaurant

Café Suliman is a café that draws inspiration from the many casual cafés and eateries around the Levant, Egypt, North Africa, and The Arabian Gulf. We serve simple and comforting home cooked food that relies heavily on the bounty and beauty of the Arabian pantry. A welcoming and cozy spot tucked inside a corner of Melrose Market in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. We have partnered with Marc Papineau of Cantina Sauvage to offer up expertly curated glass pours and retail bottles to take home. Whether you are looking for a casual lunch spot, a space to have a coffee and a cake while you work, a drink before a show, a cute date, or a long leisurely dinner, we are the spot for you.

The Pantry

Here at Café Suliman we create our menus around seasonality and what we have available for us at our pantry. Tahini, harissa, olive oils, vinegars, jams, spices and more. Arabic cuisine has a rich pantry that we like to showcase in every one of our dishes. Whether it is a sprinkle of sumac or a dollop of harissa or finishing with a nutty olive oil. These simple pantry items make our dishes shine. Come see for your self. Dine with us and on your way out pick up a pantry staple and use it to bring your dishes at home to life.

I am Ahmed Suliman, a Sudanese national who grew up in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Spending the first half of my life immersed in a cosmopolitan culture that attracted people from all over the Middle East to create a unique melting pot. The youngest of three boys I spent most of my time in the kitchen (not allowed to touch anything of course) with my late mother “Afaf”. I have spent hours on the phone as she walked me step by step on how to make Mahshi (stuffed vegetables with rice) or Bamia Bil Lahma (okra with lamb). The smell of garlic and onions is a scent that brings comfort and happiness to me. I hope to share my story as an immigrant to bring you a unique experience written in food, culture and history.

Suli

Thank you

First and foremost, my mother. It is because of her warmth and unique personality that I am the person that I am today. Her love for food, music, and life has shaped my perspective and enlightened me on a daily basis. Even while she is away I am still learning from her. Thank you mama.

I owe so much to my Seattle restaurant family. I have learned so much in my time here, starting at my first true love, Matt Dillon’s Sitka & Spruce, where I fell for the romance of relationships with farmers, fishmongers, ranchers, etc; Matt Dann, who mentored me through hospitality and wine. The Corson Building where Emily Crawford taught me everything I know in a professional kitchen and how to carry it with passion and grace. Restaurant Homer where Logan Cox and Sara Knowles trusted me with their restaurant and let me curate a fine collection of front of house staff and a fun, eclectic beverage program; Bryan Jarr’s Jarrbar where I learned how to tend bar and mix a cocktail or two; and finally, thanks to Jesse Spring, who now owns his own darling of a place Bad Bishop. Thank you guys

and now here we are at Café Suliman. I think you’ll find a little bit of everyplace I spent time at and I hope you enjoy your time with us!