Basha Mediterranean Eatery

Basha Mediterranean Eatery is a fast-casual restaurant at 2900 Monroe Ave in Rochester, NY, founded in 1983 by Bassam "Sam" Khalil. Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, Khalil immigrated to Rochester in 1981 and drew on his Lebanese upbringing — including growing up on family farmland in southern Lebanon — to build a menu rooted in traditional Mediterranean cooking. The restaurant moved to its current home at Clover Commons in June 2017, occupying the former Halfmoon Creative Salads space at the corner of Monroe Avenue and Clover Street. In 2023, Basha expanded next door into the adjacent storefront to open a café serving smoothies, coffee, and desserts alongside the main eatery.

Basha operates as a counter-service restaurant where staff bring finished meals to your table. The menu spans pita sandwiches, grain bowls, salads, soups, pasta dishes, and what Basha calls "pitza" — personal-sized pizzas with Mediterranean toppings. Specific options include:

• Appetizers such as hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, tabbouleh, spanakopita, and grape leaves
• Pita wraps including lamb and beef shawarma, gyro, salmon, ChickBasha (grilled chicken with tomato, pickles, and garlic sauce), and falafel
• Specialty plates like lamb chops, mashawe kabobs (a four-meat platter), and moussaka
• Baklava for dessert, plus wine and beer

The menu is labeled for dietary needs including gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal, and nut-free options. Dine-in, pickup, delivery, and catering are all available. The café side of the business serves coffee and smoothies starting at 8 AM on weekdays.

Basha is built around Khalil's practice of sourcing ingredients daily from local farmers rather than through a single supplier, a routine he has maintained since the restaurant's early years. His recipes put personal twists on Lebanese staples — using quinoa in the tabbouleh and preparing grape leaves as a vegetarian dish. The restaurant also maintains herb and vegetable gardens along the sidewalk outside, growing basil, thyme, dill, and cilantro for use in the kitchen.

The restaurant sits at Clover Commons, at the intersection of Monroe Avenue and Clover Street in the Town of Brighton, just east of the Rochester city line. This stretch of Monroe Avenue is a busy commercial corridor with shops and restaurants. Outdoor seating is available during warmer months. The eatery is open daily, with hours from 11 AM to 8 PM Monday through Saturday and 11 AM to 7 PM on Sunday; the café opens earlier at 8 AM on weekdays and 10 AM on Sundays.