“I’m still going on a tour of the salad menu,” said Maryellen Kaye, a return customer enjoying one of the many lunch options at the recently opened Kendall Kitchen, located at 275 Grove Street, near Riverside Station.
While those looking to eat healthily can choose from an impressive 10 salad options, owner Hratch Adourian said hungry diners can also indulge in a juicy Chicken & Cheese Bomb, fresh pizza, dessert, and more at the restaurant.
Adourian, who already has Kendall Kitchens in Alewife and Kendall Square in Cambridge, decided to open the third branch at the former location of Rebecca’s Café in Newton since it “seemed like a very good fit. … I just felt it was an underserved market.”
“We’re excited to have a restaurant in the building again,” said customer Keith Murphy.
The welcoming, sunny interior features plentiful seating and a colorful, geometric mural by David Teng Olsen, a Wellesley College professor.
Adourian, who describes himself as “an engineer by training, a cook by passion,” decided to switch careers and opened the original Kendall Kitchen more than 15 years ago.
However, the ebullient Waltham resident’s love of food and cooking started much earlier when he first began helping his mother prepare dinner.
Born in Syria to an Armenian family, he came to the U.S. with his parents, who owned a bridal shop where his mother worked as a seamstress. At the end of each day, Adourian’s mom would call home and instruct him how to prepare the evening meal.
“I was the sous chef,” he said, smiling as he recalled his younger days.
Adourian uses several of his mother’s recipes at Kendall Kitchen, including “vartabed shorba,” as it’s called in Armenian – or “Mom’s Split Lentil Soup,” as the vegan dish is known on the menu. He also features his mother’s falafel and homemade hummus.
Even the next generation of his family is involved with the business, as his daughter Samantha, 15, and son Arek, 20, help out during the summer. In addition, Adourian’s other son, Vahn, 19, might want to pursue a career in cooking.
While there’s no shortage of choices at Kendall Kitchen, Adourian said if requested, he also can whip up a special Armenian grilled cheese from the “secret” menu.
Because the restaurant is located at the back of Riverside Center, an office building at 275 Grove Street, Adourian is aiming to reach out to nearby Lasell University and other neighbors. He said he eventually intends to expand and open other Kendall Kitchens. For now, Adourian said his mom is “over the moon” that he followed his dream, opened the restaurants, and is pleased with his interpretation of her recipes.
