Lebanese-born brothers serve family recipes at Afrah Mediterranean Cuisine in Richardson

There is a lot to take in when you walk into Afrah Mediterranean Cuisine. Rows of colorful gelato adorn a glass case, and a traditional Middle Eastern shawarma roasts slowly on a spit behind the counter. Waves of hungry customers make their way into the building.

The restaurant began as a small pastry shop in 2003. At first, it offered only homemade, Mediterranean desserts, but its success prompted Lebanese-born brothers and co-owners Nabil, Ayad and Youssef Elhorrth to expand the restaurant’s menu to include sandwiches.

“One thing led to another, and we started thinking about having a buffet for lunch to bring in a bigger crowd,” General Manager Suzanne Jabar said.

As Afrah’s success continued to increase, so did its need for more space, so the brothers decided to build on the land next door. The larger space includes an expansive dining area, a private party room, an outdoor patio and hookah lounge.

Afrah offers various types of Lebanese food made in-house from family recipes. Dishes includes the chicken shawarma, a pita bread sandwich filled with french fries and pickles drizzled with garlic sauce.

Each day, a stream of customers can be found perusing the lunch buffet. On average, Jabar said, the restaurant serves about 250 people during lunch.

“People bring in their families; they bring in their kids; they enjoy a night out,” she said. “[They are] comfortable here.”