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As soon as we drove by and saw a Shish Kabab sign on the doors of a shiny new establishment on the Autopista del Coral (the highway between La Romana and Bavaro) we knew something great was cooking and decided to meet up with the Giha family, owners of Shish Kabab (also located in La Romana), to find out more!
Opening very soon (at the end of this month), this new and second location of Shish Kabab (La Romana’s iconic Arabic restaurant) will be called “Shish Kabab Autovia” and is located on the Autovia del Coral highway, at the “NEXT” gas station right after the first toll from La Romana to Punta Cana.
UPDATE: We have just heard that Shish Kabab Autovia will be officially open from Tuesday July 14th at 8am for breakfast! See you there?Shish Kabab, is a well-known and beloved restaurant which has been cooking the best of Arabic and Dominican cuisine in La Romana for almost five decades, making every person who steps in their doors feel as if they are part of the Giha family. This restaurant owned by Juan Giha and his family, is an essential stop for anyone cruising by La Romana, and with this new establishment, their famous quipes will be twice as accessible! We encourage you to read more about the history of Shish Kabab by clicking here to get to know how the Giha family started this iconic business and how the legacy that Juan’s father established, still lives on. For details about “Shish Kabab Autovía”, we went right to the source, and just like we did almost exactly a year ago before writing Shish Kabab – a 45 year history, and now as good as ever, we sat down with Juan, Yolanda, Victoria and Elias “Eliita” Giha to sip a cup of coffee and hear from them how this exciting opportunity came about. Without further ado, here’s an exclusive interview with the Giha family. @cdcliving: How did the opportunity to establish a second Shish Kabab come up?
The new highway (Autovía del Coral) created a direct access from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo and the visitors who usually stop at Shish Kabab while on the road now find it a bit more difficult to come into La Romana and join us. Honestly, we worried about not being entirely accessible to our loyal clients and we started to discuss the idea of expansion.
At the same time, the DIPSA company through its network of gas stations “NEXT”, was working in partnership with the Constructora Isidor Fernandez, SA in a new project on the highway. After they approached us we started considering the options together, and we committed to being part of the project.
@cdcliving: Why did you decide to open a second restaurant after so many years in the same place?
A second establishment means growth and that the third generation of our family owned business is ready to grow as well. This new step will push forward and preserve the legacy of my parents Elías Giha and Ernestina Elmufdi Giha.
We also valued our clients request that we be more accessible to them as they travel between Santo Domingo and Punta Cana. Their needs were a big influence, having been faithful to us for nearly forty-six years they are not just our priority, but we consider them to be “part owners” of this business. We believe it’s necessary to provide easier access to the food we offer and which our clients love.
@cdcliving: Will the original La Romana location remain open?Of course! The La Romana restaurant is the main base, the icon and my parents’ holy sacrifice. Therefore, we will keep it active generation after generation, if God and our customers permit.
@cdcliving: What can people expect from the menu of this new restaurant?The menu and our iconic flavor will continue the same. At Shish Kabab Autovía we will have a full menu our clients know and love as well as a new breakfast menu! Our clients can expect authentic, homestyle dishes and recipes that are part of our family’s tradition and that have not made it to the menu until now. We are excited to be sharing a little more of our family with our clients.
@cdcliving: Will the prices remain the same?
Prices at the new restaurant will be the same ones as the main restaurant. We believe it is only fair to increase prices when there is a large increase the cost of our main ingredients.
@cdcliving: How is the new establishment, in terms of size and accessibility?
Although the new restaurant is a bit smaller as compared with the one in La Romana, it is just the perfect size for a new beginning. We can seat 43 people and in the future we will evaluate if an expansion becomes necessary. Currently it consists of 140 square meters with access from either side of the gas station.
@cdcliving: When would the doors open and what are the operating hours when they do?Although we still have no exact date for the inauguration, God willing we will be opening later this month (July 2015) with hours from eight o’clock in the morning, until nine or ten at night as needed. Unlike the restaurant in La Romana that closes on Monday, this restaurant will be open every day of the week.
The following photos were taken during our tasting of Shish Kabab’s menu in their new venue:
Shish Kabab La Romana
Where: #32 Castillo Marquez street, La Romana Cuisine: Arabic Opening times: Daily 10am – 11pm, closed Mondays Tel.: (809) 556-2737Shish Kabab Autovia – COMING SOON
Where: At the “Next” gas station on the Autovia de Coral (right after the first toll from La Romana to Punta Cana) Cuisine: Arabic Opening times: Daily 8am – 10/11pm* Tel.: (809) 556-2737 *Note: Shish Kabab Autovia is not yet open – but will be open from Tuesday July 14th at 8am.