Ardi, the restaurant and concept store based on Palestinian cuisine and handicrafts

Porte de la Chapelle is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the heart of Palestinian culture, thanks to a hybrid address designed as a living space. Ardi, which means"my land" in Arabic, is currently the only address where you can discover a piece of Palestinian know-how, thanks to Rania, a French-Palestinian who wants to share recipes linked to her origins. In 2020, she and her family opened this concept store, part restaurant, part artisan boutique, with products imported directly from the last workshops in Palestine.

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Here's a good address for gourmets in search of comfort food, and for those who want to acquire beautiful crockery or handmade decorations! Open daily for lunch and from Thursday to Saturday for dinner, Ardi offers a warm welcome, subject to reservation, as demand is particularly high for this unique venue in the capital. You can sit in a small, intimate alcove or in the dining room, amidst a colorful decor of books, paintings and objects linked to Palestine, with a view of the kitchen, which delivers its mouth-watering smells.

On the menu, you'll find a number of dishes from Levantine cuisine, as well as homemade specialties more typical of Palestine, sprinkled with zaatar, an ancient blend of spices appreciated by Levantine peoples. Arayes, hommous, grilled halloumi, cheese pita or fattoush salad, we start with a spicy starter that awakens both stomach and palate, accompanied by the house drink, carcadet, with hibiscus, lemon and cinnamon, very sweet and fruity.

Two of the six vegetarian dishes on the à la carte menu are available on request. For spiced rice, choose the Idreh, a specialty of the city of Hebron with yoghurt and chickpeas. Lovers of chicken or beef are served with Soniyet Kefta or Msakhan, drizzled with olive oil of course, but without appearing greasy.

More vegetable-oriented? You could be tempted by Yakhni sabanegh, a spinach and pomegranate stew. However, for our part, we opted for Fattet betinjan, a particularly melt-in-the-mouth stewed eggplant with tomato and garlic sauce, sprinkled with roasted almonds for a crunchy, balanced and colorful dish.

Even if all this is quite hearty, there was obviously still room for dessert, which is almost the only item on the menu! This was an opportunity to taste the Knafeh, a traditional Levantine dessert made with cheese, angel hair and rosewater syrup, absolutely divine. Despite its surprising texture at first bite, we quickly savor this sweet delight and come back for more!

After the meal, we take a look at the products on display at the entrance, made in Palestine, with floral tableware of all kinds and keffiyehs. Also a cultural and artistic café, Ardi regularly organizes conferences or workshops with artists, to showcase Palestinian culture in the heart of the 18th arrondissement, where people travel from all over the world for the occasion!