Melis Mediterranean Restaurant and Bar in Thatch Leach Lane, Whitefield, will welcome its first diners with a special launch.
“I’m very excited and feel really good about it,” said 25-year-old Mohammad Hamasalih, the enterprising man behind the business.
“All is going well, and we are just waiting for the license application to be approved.”
Previously the site of a bicycle shop, later transformed into Mezzepotamia in 2022 and more recently the Terrace Eatery—Melis aims to breathe new life into the space with a £50,000 investment in furniture, interior décor, a new sound system, and a complete refurb.
Mohammad, who will be the head chef himself, is assembling a team of 10, including four kitchen staff, four front-of-house service staff, and counter staff.
Customers will be able to enjoy a diverse Mediterranean menu, blending Greek, Spanish, and Turkish cuisines.
On some evenings, belly dancers will perform.
“I have been in kitchens since I was seven,” said Mohammad, who grew up in Iraq.
“I learned everything from my mum, who had her own small restaurant.”
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After arriving in the UK in 2019, Mohammad honed his skills in kitchens across Coventry and Manchester, eventually opening his first restaurant in Wigan.
“All dishes will be made from fresh ingredients delivered every three days, with nothing frozen. It’s quality food for quality people,” he said.
And what about his own favourite dish?
“I don’t have one,” he said.
“They are all special to me.”
