Sage Lebanese Cuisine & Cafè

Fairhope, Alabama’s muse acts quickly—at least in the case of Nader and Maritza Salibi, owners of Sage restaurant. Traveling to Fairhope to meet a friend in 2014, Nader heard about an open restaurant space in the center of downtown. His wheels started turning. After some research, he and Maritza moved their family from Brooklyn, New York, and opened Sage Lebanese Cuisine & Café, 30 minutes southeast of Mobile, Alabama.

The tranquil atmosphere has been ideal for the Salibis to live and raise their three children. “It doesn’t take long for someone to fall in love with the environment and people’s hospitality,” says Nader, who emigrated from Beirut, Lebanon, in 2002 to attend Brooklyn College.

Following a slow first year, business picked up, and the 55 seats are now full for lunch and dinner. “The first few months, people weren’t familiar with Lebanese food,” Nader says. “The way we served everything was different from what they were used to. Maritza was on the floor explaining each dish, how it was made, and how to pronounce it. The second year, word got out; we had repeat customers and we kept growing.”

Sage’s menu is peppered with spices and herbs imported from Lebanon. Almost all of Nader’s recipes originate from watching his grandmother cooking at her home in Beirut. Of note are the beef shawarma, marinated for 24 hours, seasoned with cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves, and served with garlic sauce, which can also be bought separately. For vegans or vegetarians, the Lebanese moussaka, an eggplant stew, is served cold with pita bread and is a big hit.

An open kitchen allows patrons to view the dishes prepared fresh daily. All sauces are homemade; the creamy yogurt and garlic sauces are quite popular, and a dozen or more patrons will stop in daily to purchase Salibi’s hummus to go, along with grape leaves, shawarma, kibbeh, and chicken and lamb kebabs.

Mediterranean music and decor, along with art from Fred Nall Hollis, a Fairhope resident, create a rustic, homey feel.

A burgeoning real estate market the past eight years has people moving in from both coasts, and since 2017, Sage has become a destination for locals, vacationers, and a significant number of patrons who make the drive from Nashville, Houston, and New Orleans, as well as Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida—many of whom have Lebanese roots.

Renee Montalbano and her husband, Dr. David Dozer, moved to Gulf Breeze, Florida, in 2018. A year later, he started working the weekend shift twice monthly at Thomas Hospital in
Fairhope, Alabama, a 66-mile drive.

“The first time we went to Sage, we couldn’t believe it,” says Montalbano. “Now, we go there every weekend we’re in Fairhope. We’re always bringing people over from Pensacola. We’ve never had a bad meal. The garbanzo vinaigrette salad with chickpeas and balsamic dressing, there’s nothing like it. Their lamb is phenomenal. The hummus is smooth, creamy, and flavorful. Everything is served beautifully with the right sized portions. You really feel the traditional Lebanese family environment and we love that.”

Walker Luedecke and her husband, Andy, left Atlanta and settled just north of downtown Fairhope 10 years ago.

“I like to go with my girlfriends on Friday for a late afternoon lunch,” Walker says. “Sage has great veggie options. You can taste the freshness and flavors in each dish that you don’t find in other restaurants. I love the curried cauliflower with hummus and the fattoush salad with chicken kebab on top with the garlic dressing.”

In 2021, the Salibis added La Martina lounge next door. Along with a considerable selection of bourbons and more than 70 whiskeys, they have an expansive list of cocktails with components and syrups made in house, along with monthly interactive mixology classes offered by Maritza.

What to Order at Sage Lebanese Cuisine & Cafè

• Falafel Salad: Crispy falafel is generously sprinkled over greens and fresh vegetables, and the house sriracha-hummus dressing packs an abundance of flavor.
• Kebab Supreme: Includes kafta kebab, chicken kebab, shish kebab, and lamb chops. All meats are marinated with homemade sauces and spices and grilled on an open fire.
• Hummus: This creamy, melt-in-your-mouth dish goes well with any entree or by itself.

Drive Time to Sage Lebanese Cuisine & Cafè

• 1 hour from Pensacola, Florida
• 2 hours, 30 minutes from New Orleans
• 4 hours from Birmingham, Alabama