A storefront in Santa Rosa's Montgomery Village that sat empty for more than a year has new life, and it smells like sumac and za'atar. Olives And Agave, a Middle Eastern maza restaurant, opened in early October at 909 Village Court, taking over the space once occupied by Cascabel Mexican Bar and Grill.
A Longtime Restaurateur Opens A New Restaurant
The plans for the restaurant first surfaced earlier this year, when the Press Democrat reported Montgomery Village had signed on what it described as a first location for Olives And Agave.
A Kitchen Led By A Cook Who Grew Up In Syria
The kitchen itself is run by Amal Dahdal, who grew up in Syria and has final say over recipes and food quality, according to the Sonoma Magazine report. Dahdal learned her craft by working alongside chefs, cooking with Fakhouri, and traveling, the outlet reported. She described her own role bluntly, saying she is the picky one and has final say on shared recipes.
A Menu Built For Sharing Across Several Cuisines
Olives And Agave's menu draws on cuisine from the Levant and Mediterranean regions, spanning Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Spain, Greece, Turkey and Morocco, according to Sonoma Magazine's reporting. On its own website, the restaurant describes its maza menu as a love letter to the flavors of the Levant and lists dishes including hummus, kibbeh and fattoush.
The menu also includes a lamb shank tagine and a Spanish seafood stew called zarzuela, with entrées beginning at 5 p.m.
The restaurant describes its hummus as made fresh daily and its dishes as carrying memories passed down through generations. On its website, Olives And Agave says it opened its doors in Santa Rosa to bring the warmth of Middle Eastern hospitality to Northern California.
Filling A Long-Vacant Corner Of Montgomery Village
The space had sat empty for more than a year before Olives And Agave moved in, according to Sonoma Magazine's reporting. The shopping center itself confirmed the opening, posting on its tenant page that Montgomery Village now counts Olives And Agave among its now-open tenants.
Olives And Agave is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
