Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
Joseph Matta recently opened Joseph’s Table Mediterranean Bistro & Bar. Matta previously operated the Pita Hut at the same location.
When Joseph Matta came to the United States from Lebanon 35 years ago, he never thought he would make his home in Alabama.
“I love Alabama, I love everything about it,” he said. “It offers anything anyone wants without the pressure.”
After moving to Birmingham from Texas in 1999, Matta opened the Pita Hut as a sandwich shop in 2005 in Greystone, where he stayed for eight years. In 2013, he moved the location to Chelsea, where he’s been ever since.
The Pita Hut closed, temporarily, in December 2018 to undergo a redesign and name change. Matta has rebranded and seven months later is reopening as Joseph’s Table Mediterranean Bistro & Bar. He wants the name to encompass the entire menu and for people not to assume the food is only Middle Eastern.
“We finished up our five-year lease and intended just to close down for vacation and reopen under a new name,” Matta said. “We chose Joseph’s Table because of its biblical side and that everyone is always welcome at the table.”
Matta said he was not in a rush to reopen but had estimated things would take less time. He had offers to move his location out of Chelsea.
“We had offers asking us to move to places like Mt Laurel, Inverness, downtown and Hoover,” he said. “Although we had tempting offers, we decided to stay here where we are established. It’s been a great place.”
Before closing, the Pita Hut had evolved from being a sandwich shop into a more full-service restaurant. A new menu was introduced, but the name didn’t reflect the change. Upon reopening, the menu will feature many favorite dishes, along with some new ones with an American flair. Some menu items from the previous menu will be incorporated to off-menu specials.
“Our food is farm to table and we even source local meat,” Matta said. “I like to go to the farmers market and get fresh produce. We make everything from scratch, things that are both good for you and delicious.
“A lot of people, especially ladies, like the Mediterranean diet, but men want steak and potatoes, so we want to incorporate options that everyone can enjoy.”
Although the menu offers a variety of healthy options, Matta said fried items will be available as well.
Options will include roasted lamb, chicken rolls, vegetarian options, steak and potatoes, burgers and fries and seafood.
Along with the new name, the inside of the restaurant has also undergone an overhaul. Matta wants it to have a community feel and family atmosphere. He said the new interior features a minimalist style that is both classy and pleasant. Indoor and patio seating will be available, as well as a bar area.
“People are always surprised when they come in, since our only exposure to the outside is our front door, but the small front opens up into a big space,” he said. “It will be more bistro style, a little bit upscale so you can enjoy a nice experience without spending a lot of money. We will treat you like at a five-star restaurant without paying a five-star price. We want everyone to be able to afford it and enjoy the experience.”
While Matta spends much of his time in the kitchen, he enjoys coming out and meeting his customers. He says for him, this business is not about the money, but about making something good and making people happy.
“I’m very excited to open back up,” Matta said. “I love being in the kitchen and I’ve missed my customers. We are local people, our kids go to Shelby County schools. The most important thing is for our customers to know is that I am one of them. This is the reason why we stayed in Chelsea.”
For updates and information, search Pita Hut Chelsea on Facebook.
