Karim Kmaiha has been serving Lebanese food in Greenbelt for 14 years, but a twist of fate led him to start his own restaurant.

After running the New Deal Cafe as a contractor for nine years, he and his wife, Maria Almeida, learned that their contract would not be renewed in 2016 just as he won $50,000 on a scratch-off lottery ticket.

The two used the winnings to open Cedars of Lebanon the next year, around the corner from the New Deal Cafe and the mini mart where he bought the winning lottery ticket.

Located in the heart of Greenbelt at 103 Centerway in the historic Roosevelt Center, the Lebanese restaurant serves classic Mediterranean dishes like hummus and pita, shawarma, baba ghanoush, grape leaves, kibbeh, and falafel.

It’s also offers several vegetarian options such as tabbouleh salad, a sandwich made with sautéed vegetables and spinach pizza. For dessert, you can order popular items including baklava, creme de caramel and rice pudding.

Kmaiha learned to cook in his home-country of Lebanon, where he attended culinary school, ran his own restaurant and worked as a private chef.

Cedars of Lebanon offers indoor dining with a few patio seats outside. You can also order for pickup and delivery on GrubHub, DoorDash and Seamless.

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