Berlin’s vibrant Charlottenburg district is home to the restaurant, 963, which serves Levantine cuisine through a borderless, third-culture perspective. Since opening in early 2023, 963 has achieved 130 percent compound annual growth while maintaining an 18 percent EBITDA margin. These are exceptional figures in an industry where single-digit profits are standard.
Named after Syria’s international dialing code, this restaurant represents more than dining. It embodies a philosophical approach to cultural identity through food.
Other Side Of Culinary Borders
Founder Ribal Sibaee explains the vision behind 963, “I noticed the gastronomy division by country cuisines, which are all included in Levantine cuisine. Israeli cuisine is known for mezze, Syrian people think of stews, Lebanese people think of grilled food, while Arabic cuisine focuses on falafel.“
This observation inspired Sibaee to unite culinary traditions under the broader Levantine umbrella. This celebrates a regional identity spanning Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Jordan and southeastern Turkey. These are areas with deeply intertwined culinary histories often separated by modern political boundaries.
In the numerical area, food costs run at 24 percent, below industry average, despite preference for house-made components and premium ingredients. On busiest nights, 963 achieves 92 percent occupancy rate with average guest spend of €55 per person. The peak daily sales also reach €13,000.
Restaurant operations extend beyond food to create immersive experiences. Music features exclusively third-culture artists who “reinterpret heritage through their craft.” Interior design rejects orientalist clichés in favor of contemporary aesthetics with subtle colors and minimal traditional elements.
What’s On A Levantine Cuisine Plate?
963’s menu bridges Levantine culinary traditions with modern twists, offering dishes that are deeply rooted in heritage yet creatively reimagined. Each dish is crafted from original recipes documented in the restaurant’s official materials, ensuring authenticity while embracing inventive techniques.
To top this off, Executive Chef Mohammad Abdulkareem transforms familiar dishes into unexpected forms while maintaining their essential flavor profiles. Signature menu items include Musakhan Popsicle — a Palestinian roasted chicken dish reinvented as handheld street food. Another is Shrimp Kunafa, which wraps tiger shrimp in crisp kunafa pastry served with mango-habanero sauce.
Molokhiyeh Arancini stands out as a refined take on familiar Levantine flavors, featuring risotto-filled chicken arancini nestled in molokhiyeh sauce and topped with roasted garlic-lemon glaze. The beverage program includes unique options like the Qahwa Martini, blending Saudi qahwa with cardamom vodka for a third-culture twist on the espresso martini. Hummus b’Lahmeh pairs silky hummus with 12-hour marinated lamb finished with tamarind gravy, showcasing 963’s ability to elevate traditional dishes into sophisticated dining experiences.
Abdulkareem ensures that every component is made in-house, adhering to 963’s philosophy of creating “intricately layered flavors that unfold like an evocative perfume.” This meticulous approach highlights the restaurant’s objective to preserve Levantine heritage while pushing boundaries, resulting in dishes that resonate deeply with diners seeking both authenticity and creativity.
963’s Global Recognition
Multiple accolades confirm 963’s impact, including nomination for “Best New Restaurant 2023” in Germany. The restaurant also ranked among Germany’s Top Five New Restaurants by the Leaders Club. Customer reviews describe “outstanding culinary experience” with “creative twists on Levantine classics” and “extra warm hospitality.“
With Berlin success established, 963 announced international expansion plans in July 2024. “We are dedicated to bringing 963 to a country near you, and our team is working tirelessly to make this a reality,” Sibaee stated on LinkedIn.
Restaurant growth trajectory—from €0 to €80,000 monthly revenue in two years—validates Sibaee’s vision. Their ambition is clear, to be part of the third-culture Levantine cooking while establishing themselves as “the Zuma of Levantine dining—refined, influential and culturally vibrant on a global scale.”
Behind these impressive metrics stands a cohesive leadership team. Beyond Sibaee, key figures include Mohammad Abdulkareem (Executive Chef) who combines traditional Arabic techniques with theatrical presentation; Fadi Betraki (Director of Finance) who brings legal and regulatory expertise and Fathi Nabhan (Director of Operations) who focuses on authentic Levantine hospitality.
963’s approach challenges conventional fragmentation of Middle Eastern cuisines along national boundaries. By championing third-culture Levantine cuisine, it provides a framework for understanding how immigrant and diaspora chefs navigate culinary identity in globalized contexts. This idea recognizes that cuisines, like cultures, constantly adapt to changing environments.
For a restaurant concept that began with the idea of connecting people through borderless food, 963‘s remarkable performance demonstrates how cultural authenticity translates to impressive business success. The welcome message states simply, “Ahlan wa sahlan!”— welcome to the future of global cuisine.