This Lebanese Spot in Maadi is Feeding People, Cats & Dreams

Tucked away in Maadi, Starters is a little slice of Lebanon with a menu full of mezze, a kitchen full of ambition and a neighbourhood full of cats and dogs who know exactly where to show up for dinner.

The Lebanese restaurant was opened by Jordanian-Lebanese chef Raed Bader, whose food had people lining up before Starters had even finished its soft opening. The culprit? The now-famous Vine Leaves Bowl, a thirds situation involving tabbouleh, hummus and waraq einab, topped with a piece of kibbeh. Honestly, a pretty solid introduction.

The menu covers all the Lebanese essentials, from batata harra and muhammara to creamy fatteh, fresh wraps and generous spreads of mezze. The best part is that you can get your Levantine fix in a small bowl, whether you're stopping by for a quick lunch or planning to try a little bit of everything.

But Starters has a bigger purpose than keeping Maadi well-fed. Its name is a nod to both the small plates on the menu and the young careers Bader hopes to kick-start. He trains young Egyptian chefs in the kitchen, teaching them the craft of cooking alongside the practical skills they need to eventually open restaurants of their own. His first trainee, Mohammed, works alongside him, learning the ropes with the hope of one day running a place himself.

Bader's ambitions don't stop at one restaurant, either. His goal is to train 30 young Egyptian men and women, giving them the skills to build something of their own. So, while you're busy deciding between another bowl of fatteh and a side of vine leaves, someone in the kitchen is learning how to build a future.

Then there's Starters' other very loyal clientele: the neighbourhood animals. Cats and dogs are welcome around the restaurant, where Bader helps feed, vaccinate and sterilise strays, with part of the restaurant's profits going towards their care. Some of the regulars even have names, including Captain Jack, Batata and the inseparable Jack and Rose. At Starters, apparently, the neighbourhood gossip travels on four paws.