by Anthony McDemas

Reem Haddad’s dream of opening a restaurant featuring foods from her cultural upbringing fusing Syrian and Jordanian cuisine finally came true with the opening of The Fez Café last year. The Haddad family converted part of a building on Tehachapi Boulevard – one that had been an auto sales and repair facility for more than 70 years – into a beautiful and inviting dining space with an outside courtyard, landscaping and fountains. The Fez Café serves delicious food and is a stylish and attractive addition to Downtown Tehachapi.

Born in Amman, Jordan, Reem’s mother is Syrian and her father is Jordanian, giving Reem a diversity of culture, influence and cuisine that encompasses both countries and includes some Lebanese nuances as well. Reem’s restaurant, menu, decor and service is deeply rooted in her family’s culture which she proudly shares in her American home. Her father fell in love with California in 1979 while visiting family and friends and after Reem graduated from high school, the entire family emigrated in 1981. Soon after their family’s relocation to the San Fernando Valley, an “arranged” meeting turned into love as she met Ray Haddad on numerous family outings to Magic Mountain, picnics and other gatherings. Within a matter of months Ray and Reem fell in love and were soon married.

The Haddads moved to Tehachapi to raise their family and Ray established several successful businesses, and after 20 years of dreaming of the idea, Reem’s ambition to open a restaurant finally came true last year. Located at the corner of Tehachapi Boulevard and Curry Street in the heart of Tehachapi, The Fez Café is a premier restaurant – from its prime location and outside dining area to its exquisite interior, from its distinctive menu and to the very authentic ingredients. Reem is so meticulous in her preparation that she imports many of her spices fresh from the Middle East, noting that long-dried spices have the color but lack the richness of flavor that she demands.

Reem has recently launched a new menu that is designed to suit the taste of her customers, to please both exotic and more conventional palettes. After getting feedback from her local customers and visitors she has customized a menu to suit her mix of patrons. Reem doesn’t compromise on the quality of her ingredients nor will she take short cuts on the extensive preparation necessary to serve the some of the highest quality fare in Tehachapi. She takes the extra time and effort to clarify her butter, for example, and uses the finest virgin olive oils to create dishes that delight the most demanding and sophisticated tastes. 

The interior of the Fez is tastefully designed with marble floors, tapestry, traditional Fez hats, white linens and matching white china. Reem selected elegant colors and decor that is both soothing and sophisticated. Hanging on the walls are traditional Syrian tapestries that she purchased on her nearly annual trips to visit her mother in Syria. She envisioned the interior herself and created a dining area that is calming, warm and inviting. Her elegant floors were picked to emulate Middle Eastern mosaic designs. 

The quality of her food, the service and beautiful interior has won praise from locals, hotel guests and visitors alike, with The Fez now entertaining appreciative regulars from Bakersfield to the Antelope Valley. The ambiance in the exterior courtyard on a summer evening, with sparkling wine and appetizers, a full meal or just dessert is a truly enjoyable experience. With her family working at her side including her four children, Reem Haddad has created a wonderful and unique dining experience. For exceptional fine dining, plan your next culinary journey to the Middle East by enjoying a lunch or dinner at The Fez Café. 

The Fez Café is located at 160 West Tehachapi Blvd. and you can make reservations by calling them at: 661-822-4085.