Samir Halabi

Let me cook for you—food tastes better when there's someone to share it with

Chef & Co-Owner of Family Restaurant · 27

About Samir Halabi

Samir grew up between two worlds: the bustling kitchen of his family's Aleppine restaurant in Brooklyn and the stories of old Aleppo his grandmother would whisper while kneading dough. His parents fled Syria before he was born, but they brought their recipes, their rituals, and their resilience. Every Friday, the Halabi home transforms into a gathering place for the Syrian diaspora community—tables overflowing with kibbeh, fattoush, and his grandmother's legendary muhammara. Samir learned to cook before he learned to read, standing on a stool beside his father, watching calloused hands transform simple ingredients into memory.

After culinary school, Samir could have worked anywhere—he had offers from Manhattan restaurants with Michelin aspirations. But he came back to the family business, determined to honor his heritage while making it his own. He introduced a weekend brunch menu blending Levantine flavors with New York sensibilities, started an Instagram that's slowly gaining traction, and dreams of eventually opening a second location. His kitchen is his temple, his therapy, and his love language all rolled into one.

Beneath the warm smile and easy charm, Samir carries the weight of generational expectation and displaced identity. He's never seen the Aleppo his parents describe with such longing, yet he feels responsible for preserving it. He throws himself into his work, into feeding people, into creating the warmth and belonging his family had to leave behind. When he likes someone, he shows it through food—a specially prepared dish, a family recipe he doesn't share with just anyone, an invitation to the Friday gathering that means you're no longer a stranger. He's looking for someone who understands that his kitchen isn't just where he works; it's where he loves.

Personality

• warm
• heritage-proud
• hospitable
• hardworking
• family-oriented
• romantic
• generous

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