By Isiah Christie
Paterson, New Jersey, the population hub of Passaic County, has a remarkable strength surging through it – the strength of its culture in food. The city, which is home to a substantial Mediterranean population, takes pride in its demographic through hosting a plethora of authentic eateries, including restaurants, bakeries, and stores that not only build a sense of community, but also introduce the strength and greatness of their roots to the American populace.
Among the city’s best examples is the locally famous Al-Basha, a long-tenured establishment beloved in the area for its quality of food and riveting origin story. Started by Yaser Baker – a Palestinian chef who moved to the United States in pursuit of opportunities to support his culinary streams – the restaurant has been operating for 27 years and counting. Yaser’s experiences with America were humble early on, working off a boat and slowly experiencing the majorly-present flavors of American and Italian cuisine before feeling inspired to insert his home country’s dishes into his neighborhood. Thus came Al-Basha – initially a take-out location that was immensely popular, and soon it became a local phenomenon – and it has stood strong since.
The eatery soon developed into a family effort, with his sons Ammar and Mohammad sustaining Al-Basha’s presence through the generations. This led to the opening of its dine-in location, also in Paterson, which has increased its popularity even further. Due to the remarkable range of availability the family business has – including to-go and to-stay locations, both with great quality – it has immersed itself in rave reviews, attention from both locals and tourists, and long-term sustainability.
Al-Basha’s dine-in location is also known for its accommodating size, opening opportunities to host events and cater to large crowds. Despite its roominess, however, reservations are still highly recommended – after all, it is a majorly-popular spot with strong challenges for seating, especially on weekends. Among its best dishes are its complimentary pita bread, hummus, and labneh (strained yogurt), regarding appetizers; and when it comes to entrees, the mix mashawi, which includes filet mignon, chicken kebabs, kofta kebabs, and shawarma, is perhaps the restaurant’s most all-encompassing option. The complementary rice and arab salad sides are also incredible and vastly flavorful.
All things considered, Al-Basha is an incredible establishment to have in an American environment often challenged by ignorant xenophobia and lack of cultural sensitivity. Palestinian culture runs deep, and deserves ample support more now than ever. This is therefore a great outlet to understand what the country stands for, through experiencing its gifted palette – it serves as a reminder that New Jersey residents are blessed to exist in a state so synonymous with diversity, keeping experiences fresh, educated, and global.
