Miled Finianos, a former accountant turned restaurateur, is taking the next step in his culinary journey by opening his first brick-and-mortar restaurant after the success of his Philadelphia-based Lebanese supper club.
“We started Habibi [Supper Club] two and a half years ago just for fun—dinner parties with friends. Then I was reached out to by some friends who were opening a space for multi-use to do dinner there. It went from six to eight people to 33,” Finianos told What Now Philadelphia.
With experience cooking for larger crowds and a growing desire to share Lebanese culture through food, Finianos decided to leave his accounting career and focus full time on Habibi Supper Club.
“Last August, we made the jump for me to quit. We increased our events, we increased our collaborations, and we’ve been doing workshops while we’ve looked for a space. The reason why I wanted a space was to be able to grow wider and deepen with the community,” he said.
Habibi Supper Club will open in Philadelphia’s East Passyunk neighborhood at 1515 Passyunk Ave. this fall.
“The charm, the grittiness, the camaraderie of South Philly really appealed to me because that’s what it’s like to grow up in Lebanon. It just felt like I was home in a way,” Finianos said.
The interior design, created with the help of Kylie Creative, will reflect a familiar, home-like atmosphere. The name “Habibi,” which translates to “my love,” further reinforces the sense of warmth and hospitality Finianos hopes to create.
“The space is going to be clean, sleek, but feel familiar. I want it to feel like you’re walking into grandma’s house for a meal,” he said.
Habibi Supper Club will serve breakfast and lunch classics before transitioning into a supper club on weekend evenings, featuring a monthly rotating prix fixe menu.
“Lebanese food has a lot of different cuisines. I’m from the mountains, so a lot of our cooking uses more beef and lamb, warming spices, and very simple recipes that are elevated by technique. I’m excited to go deeper, to where I’m making my own spice blends and sauces,” Finianos said.
Staple dishes will include kibbeh, a fritter made with beef and bulgur wheat; manakish, a popular pastry topped with za’atar, cheese or beef; warm yogurt soup with lamb dumplings; and rolled grape leaves stuffed with lamb or vegetables.
Finianos looks forward to joining the East Passyunk community.
“I think it’s a beautiful corridor of businesses, all small businesses. I’m happy to join. I’m excited to be a part of a passionate community,” he said.
Habibi Supper Club aims to open in October. Visit the website and follow along on Instagram for the latest updates.
