Cedars Brings Mediterranean Fare to Manassas

Cedars Mediterranean Grille in Manassas is marking its one-year anniversary with a ribbon cutting ceremony this week.

Owner of Cedars, Fouad Abiaad, may not be new to the restaurant business, but he is new to the Manassas area and said his main goal is to educate people on home-style Mediterranean fare.

"It's hard for people to justify spending $10 on a meal they don't know if they are going to like or not in the current economic times," Fouad said. But Fouad knows people will enjoy his food. He's so sure, he's willing to absorb the cost if someone doesn't like their meal.

"I want people to be able to try something different," Fouad said. "Take the risk because chances are they will like it."

The strategy has proven successful so far. Fouad said he is seeing more and more returning visitors.

Cedars focuses on a vast variety of authentic Mediterranean food: Moroccan, Greek, Lebanon, French and Italian. Yes, there is pasta on the menu, as well as a hamburger. But the food is not like anything you will have tried at a corporate restaurant, he said. The menu's offerings are comprised of the finest, healthiest ingredients without losing the "irresistible" taste that people are looking for, according to a message from the chef on the menu.

Everything is made fresh from scratch in the restaurant, including hand-rolled Grape Leaves, fresh Baba Ghannouj, Hummus, Falafel and Kibbeh.

Even the fluffy pita bread, which is served complimentary with a sesame seed and thyme-infused extra virgin olive oil from Lebanon, is made fresh in-house, on the spot when you order.

Fouad owned a similar Mediterranean-style restaurant, located in D.C. blocks from the White House for nearly 40 years, after he and his uncle bought the business eight years ago. The menu is the same, but what you can expect at the Manassas location nestled in the Sudley Manor Square Shopping Center,  is a smaller crowd and better customer service. 

Fouad said he wants to make the dining experience easy for customers. That is why he often visits guests at the table to make sure everything is OK, and even shows them how to eat the food. After all, a Falafel tastes different when it is stuffed in pita bread and paired with Tahini sauce and fresh vegetables.

The menu also caters to the first-time customer who may not know what to order. Cedars Feast is a menu item that allows groups of two to four people to order a recommended three or four-course meal at a discounted price. There's no combing over the menu, just order the chef's recommendation, sit back and enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean.

Cedars is located at 7817 Sudley Road, and offers outdoor seating, catering and special events. For more information, visit their website or friend them on Facebook. Menu selections range in price to $5 to a three-course meal for four people for $85.

Ribbon cutting ceremony with Prince William Chamber of Commerce is taking place Thursday, May 3, at 4 p.m. Fouad said food and wine sampling will be available, and he will also be available to talk with guests about the food.