Babieh seeks to repeat Skorpio's Gyros success with Baba's Grill in downtown Newark

NEWARK – Omar Babieh returned to where he started a decade ago, hoping to repeat the success he and his brother created with Skorpios Gyros in a small downtown building.

Babieh opened Baba's Grill on Monday, almost 10 years after Skorpios Gyros opened at the same location, 112 E. Main St., across from Speedway. His brother runs Skorpios Gyros at 56 W. Main St., where it moved in 2017.

The small building has been home to many restaurants through the years, but Skorpios Gyros was certainly one of the most successful and longest survivors there, until it moved to the bigger location with interior seating.

"Certain things people like about small buildings and small restaurants," Babieh said. "You have a good product and they tell other people."

It was 2009 when Skorpio's Gyros opened at the same site, but people still remember.

"Today, we had quite a few people from when Skorpio's opened up," Babieh said. "They (came to the window) and said, 'Oh, it's you. They're waiting for something new; excited to try something different."

As its sign says, Baba's Grill offers Philly steak, corned beef and pastrami sandwiches. There's also the Baba's Reuben, Baba's Hungry, Baba's Healthy and build your own sandwiches The sides include hand-cut fries, hush puppies, sweet corn, macaroni and cheese bites, nuggets, chicken strips and wings.

"It's a simple menu with a lot of options," Babieh said. "Nothing in town like this. Everything is hot, fresh. Made from fresh meat and veggies. Nothing frozen."

Babieh and his wife, Tara, painted the outside of the building and gave it a new look. Although there is no indoor seating, there are picnic tables in front of the building. Orders are taken at the walk-up and drive-through windows, or by phone. Food can also be ordered and delivered through several online delivery companies.

Familiarity with an older building can be an advantage when opening a restaurant, Tara Babieh said.

"It helped him out because he knew everything," she said. "He knew the building top to bottom."

Omar Babieh said he knows a lot more about opening a restaurant than he did a decade ago, when he and brother Alaa opened Skorpios.

"You learn as you go and figure out ways to be better," he said. "It's an adventure. It's just basically patience. Treat customers right, and good, fresh food, and customers will come back."

The brothers have known about making good food since they grew up in Jerusalem, where their mother instilled in them a love of cooking. Omar came to the U.S. almost 20 years ago, graduated from Ohio State, and also ran Taco Bell restaurants in Columbus.

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8545

Twitter: @kmallett1958

If you go

Restaurant: Baba's Grill

Address 112 E. Main St.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed Sunday.

Seating: Picnic tables in front of restaurant; no interior seating; walk-up and drive-through available.

Food: Philly steak, corned beef and pastrami sandwiches; all fresh meat and veggies; fresh-cut fries.

Phone: 740-915-9070; can call in order and pick up.

Delivery: Uber Eats, Grubhub, DoorDash and Postmates available.

Social media: Facebook -- @BabaGrill1; Instagram -- @BabasGrill1