Maskali: the hottest spot to dine out in Ottawa, today.

OTTAWA - Maskali Restaurant was recently inaugurated in Ottawa at 23 Selkirk Ave, Unit C; at the Corner of Montreal RD & River RD: And it is already seemed to develop a reputation of the most popular healthy-ethnic food and good service among the Djiboutian, Somalia and Middle-Eastern communites in the nation Capital. The two hours that I spent there, last week – explained it all: the flood of Canadian, Middle-Eastern and African customers pouring into the Restaurant were quite breath taking, based on the amount of time Maskali exist: approximately two months.

According to Fatouma Youssouf, the manager and the cook of Maskali Restaurant, ‘ when we first decided to open up a unique Eastern African Restaurant – that serves all people with different backgrounds. We did not anticipated this large turn out, with all praise due to Allah (God); I’m astonished to see even Canadians showing up sooner that I expected.’

Fatouma is one of the hard-working Djiboutian and Somali Canadians, who are engaging entrepreneurial endeavor for the past ten years; such as – Groceries stores, Coffe-shopes, Transportation Companies, Clothing, Electronics stores, and real-estates, etc.

Any ethnic Restaurateur wishes to establish itself into any major Canadian big city; he/she will tell you: ‘how struggle - it’s to stay in business – as a result of a stiff competition in this particular commerce. But, there’s something special about Maskali Restaurant, though that indeed keeps coming every one back in; once they taste.

I also happen to be one of those individuals; ever since, I was introduced to by a friend of mine into this establishment it: its must be definitely the Food.

Needless to say! One might wonder. What’s so special then with this new Restaurant? To begin with, of course, it’s the menu: (This specialty is also known, ‘a la djiboutienne’ in the home Country, The recipes, however are driven from various cultures that made a mark over the centuries ago into the horn of Africa; especially the tiny Republic of Djibouti. “which Djibouti means in the old language of Empress Cleopatra’s of Egypt: ‘the Land of Gods” Africa, India, China, Middle-East and lastly the European’s cuisine) - not to mention the staff’s sincere and friendly smile. And the last but not the least: the reasonable cost of the various meals.

‘I’m single and I eat out a lot, confessed Rashid Awaleh, one of the regular. ‘But… I’m very selective when it comes to food. I have to admit though the first day, I walked in here, I was little bit skeptical about the service - you know – some ethnic owned Restaurants – usually have serious poor customer service; it takes forever to be served; and the Food is bit more greasy’, He paused for seconds to take a bite of his hot meal, and went on, ‘But…here in Maskali; I have to let it out – just for the sake of constructive criticism. ‘ It’s different and the Food is delicious - that’s why you will see me here as long as they are consistant with this fine cuisine.

The Maskali Restaurant also recently got the attention of a local Paper’s Reporter who was taking pictures and Interviewing Miss. Fatoumma – I’m convinced will become a groundbreaking coverage for the coming week or so.

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