On West Wyoming Avenue in Melrose, a small dining room has become a new neighborhood table. Shawbak Lebanese Kitchen & Bakery, a 32-seat eatery serving shawarma, falafel, man'oushe and handmade pastries, is the work of Maya Jamaleddine, a name many Melrose residents already know from City Hall. The Boston Globe described the restaurant as the first Lebanese, Middle Eastern or halal restaurant in the city, and for Muslim families north of Boston, its arrival is worth celebrating.

A Councilor Who Made History

Jamaleddine's public story began in March 2020. As Patch reported at the time, she was sworn in to the Melrose City Council to a standing ovation, becoming the first Muslim elected official in Melrose and the first elected official in Massachusetts to wear a hijab. She filled the at-large seat left open when Kate Lipper-Garabedian moved to the State House as state representative for the 32nd Middlesex District. According to Patch, Jamaleddine had narrowly missed an at-large seat in the November 2019 election, but her more than 4,000 votes easily met the threshold to take over the vacancy.

Today the City of Melrose still lists her as a councilor-at-large. Hoodline, summarizing the Globe's coverage, describes her as a seven-year councilor-at-large who now has "a second way to serve her neighbors."

Family Recipes, Her Own Twist

Shawbak's menu leans into Lebanese comfort food. Coverage from Hoodline and the Globe lists chicken shawarma, loaded hummus platters, falafel with tahini, shakshuka, sfeeha meat pies, spinach pies, lahm bi ajeen (lamejun) and man'oushe flatbreads, along with pastries Jamaleddine learned from the women in her family. She told the Boston Globe that "everything has my own twist."

The Globe listed prices from $2.50 to $14.95 for flatbreads, pastries, wraps and mezze, with platters running $11.99 to $32.99. That range makes Shawbak just as good for a quick za'atar man'oushe and tea as for a full spread of hummus, shawarma and warm bread shared around the table.

The restaurant's own menu page carries a simple banner: "Handmade, Authentic, HALAL." It also says the food is handcrafted from scratch daily in Melrose.

A Whole Family in the Kitchen

Shawbak is truly a family business. According to Hoodline's account of the Globe report, Jamaleddine's husband, Abdallah, helps out before and after his work at Tufts Medical Center, and their sons Taha, Jad and Yusef pitch in too. Their daughter Sila, a fifth grader, reportedly spends time in the kitchen pretending to be the chef.

The Globe described the space as comfortable and neighborly, filled with locals who have long known Jamaleddine as a community leader who shares food and hospitality. "Food was one of the common things that connected me to a lot of people," she told the paper, calling the restaurant the culmination of a dream: the whole family chipping in, and the community cheering her on.

Why It Matters for Halal Diners

If the Globe is right that Shawbak is the first halal restaurant in Melrose, it fills a real gap for Muslim families here and in nearby towns. It gives families a nearby place for weekend breakfast, a lunch break or a box of pastries for guests. It also gives the wider community an easy, welcoming introduction to Lebanese food. Shawbak's website says it is proud to serve neighbors across Malden, Medford, Wakefield and Stoneham. Early online reviews praise the warm welcome and the falafel fried fresh to order.

Visit Shawbak

Address: 36-40 West Wyoming Ave., Melrose, MA 02176.

Hours: The restaurant's website lists daily hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Tuesdays. Earlier coverage reported 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., so call ahead to confirm.

Contact: call 781-663-0044, email shawbakeatery@gmail.com, or visit https://shawbakeatery.com

Parking: Shawbak does not publish parking details. Plan on street parking nearby and check local signs.

Halal note: Shawbak's menu describes its food as "Handmade, Authentic, HALAL." The Globe also described it as the city's first halal restaurant. We have not independently confirmed a certifying body, so diners with specific requirements should ask staff about meat sourcing. The menu also notes that the kitchen handles common allergens, including sesame, nuts and wheat.

Have a halal spot, community leader or story we should cover? Share your tip with us at https://masshalal.com/contact.