TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla. - Leaving home in Lebanon wasn’t a choice, but it was necessary. But leaving the war back home didn’t mean that Kassen Babha and Lara Altakash wanted to leave behind the foods and flavors they loved.

In that desire, the idea of Phoenix Lebanese Cuisine was born. A little more than a year later, the restaurant has expanded from breakfasts to lunch and dinner menus as well.

What they're saying:

"We actually named the place Phoenix because the Phoenix resembles like rising, rebuilding and holding onto hope," said Babha. "Lebanon throughout the history has gone through lots of hardship."

Everything in the restaurant is inspired by their hometown heritage with the recipes and décor straight from the streets of the Eastern Mediterranean.

"Everything is made with Leban

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