Cafe Suliman
Middle Eastern restaurant · Capitol Hill
1531 Melrose Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Highlights
Arabic flavors, curated wine, cozy ambiance, small plates
Arabic flavors, curated wine, cozy ambiance, small plates
"A perpetually charming counter run by Ahmed Suliman, presented in a small-plates format that can serve anything from a snack to a multi-course meal. The reviewer opted for halloumi with seasonal vegetables: the cheese was snappy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and what really stood out was the combination of dukkah and a quince dressing, which made the dish a little sweet but also deeply savory. If I was a vegetarian I’d eat here even more than I already do." - Harry Cheadle
"An Eater Award–winning lunch and dinner counter that was omitted from the new window coverings' tenant list during the renovation controversy but remains open." - Harry Cheadle
"A market café located in the shared main hall, its owner reports a roughly 50% drop in lunch sales since opaque window coverings and ongoing construction went up beside its storefront; he also says crews sometimes worked at night during peak dinner service, that his own prior renovation was not allowed the same visual disruptions, and that an international chain occupying market space feels like a poor fit for a venue that has historically favored locally owned businesses." - Harry Cheadle
"This cozy spot inside Melrose Market is run by chef Ahmed Suliman and wine maven Marc Papineau, who make you feel like you’ve walked into an ongoing brunch-lunch-dinner party. You can treat it like a wine bar (ask for Papineau’s advice), or assemble yourself a nice meal of small plates. If you’re hungry, don’t miss the seasonal toasts on thick-cut slices of Ben’s Bread or the charred cabbage in yogurt sauce. –Harry Cheadle" - Sophie Grossman
"Tucked away in Capitol Hill’s Melrose Market mini-mall, this spot’s appeal is less about reinvention than about a particular vibe. Owner Ahmed Suliman serves comfort food influenced by Arab cuisines — he will be the first to tell you he’s not reinventing the wheel — but the restaurant’s extensive and eclectic wine list, expertly curated by Marc Panineau of Cantina Sauvage, helps define the experience. Regulars come for mussel toast and a glass of chilled red, to chat with Suli and Marc, and to lounge in what feels like a vaguely pan-European wine shop with good Wi‑Fi — and if you aren’t a regular, you’ll want to be. — HC" - Harry Cheadle
