Is Jerusalem Restaurant closed for good?
This sign is taped to the window at Jerusalem Restaurant on Williamson Road in Roanoke. Photo by Amanda Codispoti
A sign hanging in the window of Roanoke’s Jerusalem Restaurant says the restaurant is closed “today and tommorrow [sic].” Problem is, the sign has been up for at least three weeks.
I haven’t been able to get in touch with the restaurant owners or Z & L Investments, which city real estate records lists as the owner of the building in the 4800 block of Williamson Road.
But Wendy Jones, executive director of the Williamson Road Area Business Association, said she noticed the signs go up about three weeks ago, the same time that the large pole sign was removed. She hasn’t talked with the owners either, but she said she doesn’t believe the restaurant will reopen.
Food writer Lindsey Nair reported in September 2011 that Fathi Jadid and his business partner, Neadal Kanan, were opening the restaurant. Jadid hails from Tunisia in northern Africa, and Kanan is originally from Jordan.
Jerusalem’s menu includes Italian fare such as pizza and Mediterranean food such as falafel, gyros and stuffed grape leaves.
If I hear more, I’ll post an update. What did you think of Jerusalem Restaurant?
February 18, 2013 - 12:30 PM
Only ate there twice but both times it was really, really
good food. Kept meaning to go back more but it was on the opposite
side of town as I’m on. Best calzone I’d had in town and their
Mediterranean food was great, too. While it was on a busy part of
Williamson Rd, the location didn’t seem that great to me. Easy to
drive by and miss.
I ate there back in late December. The writing was on the
wall then. We were the only ones in there. They did take one to go
order while I was there. Everytime I drove by there was little to
no activity here. Just like the place that was in that location
before. I got a pizza that was OK. Not bad but nothing to get
excited about either. I think this location with the parking the
way it is has a lot to do with nothing making it here. Neither
restaurant that I have eaten at were horrible by any means. Yet
places I have been to that were flat out nasty still are some who
still in operation. It would have been worth another visit if they
had been remained open.
I really liked it. Great quality of food. Like Dylan – I
kept meaning to go back and never did. Very sad.
I’ve been there several times and great food each time, but, as Mike D states, usually only one or two other tables occupied. Went by a couple of weeks ago to find that sign posted. Location is an issue, lack of ABC license might have been another.
Well, if they had any intention of reopening, a blog post implying that they’re closed for good is the last nail in the coffin.
Spelled emergency wrong.
Sorta like Chaba on Franklin Road.
I ate there quite a few times and the food was always great. As stated above, I/we were usually the only ones in there. Probably the best “Greek” pizza I’ve had, it was awesome. Heard a few months that they had changed ownership or something, haven’t been there in quite a while.
David, is Chaba closed?
If not it should be. The last meal we ate there was atrocious.
Wc if they had any intention of reopening they would have responded to the reporter’s phone calls. A blog with 7 comments would have zero impact on the closing!
Spelled tomorrow wrong as well as emergency.
Just thought to check the Va Department of Health for their inspection.
Jerusalem is no longer listed.
Sad to say but it looks like this place is not reopening.
Glad I got to try them before they closed.
When I spoke with the owner (Kanan ) in December, he said that they were planning on rebranding in January/February and would possibly be closed for awhile. I wouldn’t put the nail in the coffin just yet. Also, I believe that Jadid backed out of the business after a few months and that Kanan is the sole owner now (hence wanting to rebrand). Kanan’s Middle Eastern food was incredible, some of the best I’ve eaten outside of Europe. Hope the restaurant does reopen as originally planned!
The only reason I never tried it was due to parking. Were there spaces other than directly in front of the building? I have heard the food was fantastic, but that is just a lousy place to put a restaurant. The sign said Jerusalem Restaurant #2. Is there another one somewhere, or was this just the second incarnation?
I heard they were moving to the abandoned Ivy Market building. Chris ought to be happy.
@dobbs: There is parking in the back. I saw the “#2″ and wondered the same thing. I don’t know of a second location.
The #2 was due to trademarking–when Jadid left the business, Kanan said they had to rename it. So he just added the #2 to the name & the signs. Part of his rebranding this year was going to be changing the name all together (which is why Jerusalem might no longer be in records with the Health Dept. etc.) as well as expanding the Middle Eastern menu.
Unless there’s been some really recent and drastic changes, Chaba was still open and doing just fine as of last week. And I have to say, my wife and I have eaten at Chaba numerous times over the past few months, and it’s been surprisingly delicious each time. I go there for their take on won ton soup, which is rich and flavorful and comforting.
(When it first changed from Tong’s Thai to Chaba, I swore the place off because of the changes… all of the stuff I liked was gone or altered past the point of comfort. We gave it a few years, and went back when we heard there was a new owner and things had gotten better. So far, so good.)
My family had food from Jerusalem and it was delicious – we stopped in on a whim and ordered “to go”. I had read earlier reviews in this column (which is a wonderful resource!) so we felt confident eating there. We did have to wait a while as it was made fresh to order. Hubbie got steak sub and daughter got pasta with shrimp in marinara sauce. IT was excellently prepared and we put it on our list of places to go to again to try other menu items.
We can’t afford this too often anymore (dare I say it . . . due to the economy) so we didn’t get a chance to eat there again. I hope it does reopen — I would love to try MIddle Eastern food.
I posted a comment yesterday about how I liked the new blog design, but when I clicked “Submit” it just sat there with the “processing” graphic for far too long. Might have been my connection, but I eventually closed the page assuming it would continue “processing” and finally post… guess it didn’t.
@Spiny: Sorry for the trouble posting to the blog yesterday. I know there were some issues with comments as we made the switch to the new website. I think those issues are resolved now. Glad to hear that you like the new look!
I really wanted to like this place, but service and food quality varied wildly from trip to trip. First, I had some of the best pizza I have ever had there and some of the worst. Once we went and had delicious roasted chicken and then the next time it was obvious it had been under the heat lamp for hours. Some times the servers would be friendly and helpful and then other times they acted like they could care less about taking your order and would never check back with you for refills, etc.
The interior was very uncomfortable – strange, dark paint color and no music. If you were eating there while somebody else was there, you could hear everything they were saying.
Also, and I know I’m stepping out on a limb here, but this kind of food screams to be accompanied with a beer or glass of wine. The first time I went, I asked for the beer list and the waitress said, “We don’t sell that. My boss is Muslim. He says it’s a sin.” That’s fine, believe whatever you want, but know there are consequences when mixing your religion and business.
If the co-owner is planning on reopening, I hope he does it with some fresh paint, better staff and a grasp of what his customers want.
I was sad to see the restaurant closed. The Greek spaghetti and pizza were
magnificent. I questioned the parking but there was plenty in back. The sign
on Williamson Road was too tiny for most people to see I guess. They did
offer delivery as well which is unusual in Roanoke. They didn’t seem to have enough staff but when they got it all together they did a great job. I hope they will return some day. The “Foodie Snobs” didn’t highlight this restaurant much since it was located in the Williamson Road area sorry to say!
Don’t think I have driven down Williamson Road since this story was posted.
Any update?