Baghdad Restaurant

Firas was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and his family resettled in Syracuse as refugees in 2014. He has cooked at Middle Eastern restaurants around town, and Baghdad Restaurant is his own, bringing the food of his home country to Syracuse. It’s a story of starting over, told through food.

The restaurant’s story is tied to Salt City Market, the downtown food hall where Firas set up a stall. He calls restaurant work a hard business, but he has given his life to it out of love for sharing his country’s food and making guests feel cared for. He’s building something his sons can inherit, and building bridges through food.

What to Know

• Firas is originally from Baghdad, Iraq, and the restaurant serves Middle Eastern cuisine.
• His family came to Syracuse as refugees in 2014.
• The restaurant’s story is tied to Salt City Market, a food hall in downtown Syracuse.
• He hopes to build a business his sons can one day inherit.