Yesterday, Neomonde officially began construction at its first Durham location right underneath the Unscripted Hotel downtown.
Growing up in the family business, Chris Saleh, Neomonde’s vice president of retail, says he’s excited about the latest iteration of the deli and bakery.
“This one’s my baby,” he says.
If all goes according to plan, the newest Neomonde could open by early April. It’s smaller than the other shops (located in Raleigh and Morrisville) at just three thousand square feet. Which means there won’t be a market, but there will be a pita bread oven with packages of pita for sale and, of course, the menu’s famous flat breads, or manoushe.
Saleh says the Durham location will be open from ten a.m. to nine p.m. Neomonde’s deli case will face customers as they design their own plates based on the Lebanese menu, which offers everything from grilled meats to tabouleh and hummus.
“These are family recipes we grew up on,” says Saleh, whose father, uncles, and grandparents opened Neomonde Bakery in 1977, expanding into the market and deli on Beryl Road in the 1980s.
“We brought our home kitchen to the restaurant,” says Saleh. “The idea is to create an authentic experience from our little region of north Lebanon. A home-cooked meal that you don’t have to cook.”
Earlier this year, all Neomonde locations switched to serving all-natural meats, Saleh says.
“We’re trying to find a balance of the best quality. We took it very seriously, offering a better piece of meat to families. You fight to give the best meal you can to people while keeping it affordable.”
Neomonde also offers a full catering menu. For more, visit the website: www.neomondebakery.com
