Behind the Scenes

Owner : Ramzi Zahr

Born in Lebanon and raised in Boston, Ramzi Zahr learned the restaurant business from family, working his way through the ranks from the ground up. “As a kid, when I told my Uncle I wanted to work in his restaurant, I envisioned something cool, or lucrative, like serving tables. I thought I could just jump in. Well, he had different plans for me,” says Zahr. “He made me wash dishes, clean floors, and take out garbage, and he paid me minimum wage.” he laughs, “but it taught me a lot about hard work, and earning my position.” From then on, Zahr worked his way through almost every restaurant position, providing him invaluable insight into each cog of the intricate machine that is any successful restaurant.

The Zahr family moved to Miami and opened a small crepe shop before launching local favorite “C’est Bon Café” in Merrick Park, Miami in 2001 where Ramzi got his first shot at true restaurant co-ownership, along with his parents. Though he’d already worked many family restaurants with a work-it-like-you-own-it mentality, this felt different. When the opportunity arose for a prime restaurant space on the main floor of Merrick Park, Ramzi launched his own concept “Sawa Restaurant & Lounge” in April 2010. “It was hard. You think opening a restaurant could be glamourous, but for it to work you have to put everything you have into it. You have to be there every day, you have to stay up nights, and you have to care.” Says Zahr. “but when your hard work pays off and you see people coming back, living important life moments, enjoying themselves and forgetting their worries, you know it is all worth it.”.

Ramzi is, by his own admission, a risk-taker. “The more outside the box an idea, the more intrigued I am.” But with a degree in Business Management, no risk Zahr takes is frivolous which lends to his success and outlets his creativity. Ever the hard-working entrepreneur, Zahr has no plans on slowing down any time soon. With a new top secret “eclectic” restaurant project slated to hit Miami soon, Zahr is ready for more late nights, long days, and unforgettable experiences."