SHAHRAZAD’S STORY CONTINUES
DESPITE TOUGH TIMES MILWAUKEE’S ONLY PERSIAN RESTAURANT STRUGGLES WITH LOWER REVENUE, HIGH COSTS By David Luhrssen
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An affable, unassuming entrepreneur, Khatibi enjoyed getting to know his customers as he expanded Shahrazad’s already popular Arab menu with dishes from his homeland. Chicago has long enjoyed several Persian restaurants, but in Wisconsin, Shahrazad is unique for its half Arab-half Persian menu. He explains the primary distinction between the two cuisines: “We’re into mild seasoning,” he says. “The way we marinade and season our food is much different.”
hahrazad’s namesake was the legendary Persian woman who staved off death at the hands of a brutal monarch. She saved herself through the power of storytelling. Every night, goes the legend, Shahrazad entranced the king with a story that arrived at a cliffhanging moment at the break of dawn. He spared her life for another night in order to hear how the tale ended—and then, the next night, she began another story… The East Side restaurant called Shahrazad began in 1993 under Palestinian owners. In 2006, one of the legendary storyteller’s countrymen, Mohammad Khatibi, took ownership. Khatibi arrived here in 1984 to attend UW-Milwaukee and later
became a manager at Roundy’s. “I wanted to offer something useful and appreciative for the community,” he says when asked why he purchased Shahrazad.
Shahrazad’s Halal menu includes all major food groups except pork. Options include beef, chicken, lamb, seafood and vegetables. Red meat was traditionally a special occasion feast food through much
