Molokhiyeh Arancini reinvents the classic molokhiyeh soup as risotto-filled chicken arancini, nestled in a vibrant mallow leaf sauce and finished with roasted garlic-lemon glaze and coriander oil. This is a dish that seamlessly bridges Levantine and Italian culinary traditions.
This captures what founder Ribal Sibaee and Executive Chef Mohammad Karim of 963 have built since opening in early 2023. It’s a place where third-culture Levantine cuisine honors its heritage while moving across borders through imaginative reinterpretation. Each dish becomes a story of cultural evolution, offering unexpected expressions of familiar flavors — a tribute to both memory and imagination.
Third-culture Levantine Cuisine on a Plate
In 963, Levantine cuisine is a celebration of shared traditions — a culinary language that surpasses borders. The Levant is treated not as a map of nations, but as a unified wonders of memory, flavor and connection. The restaurant’s name, 963 — Syria’s international dialing code — reflects this spirit; it was the number founder Ribal Sibaee dialed to reach his grandparents back home, a lifeline across distance. Today, that same feeling of warmth and belonging is woven into every guest experience at 963 — an invitation to feel at home, wherever you come from.
“963 is not fusion. It is a return through invention — a place where memory meets imagination, and where every dish tells a story that didn’t exist until now,” says Sibaee. “It’s a living tribute to the flavors of my childhood, reimagined for a new generation.”
A Menu That Honors and Reimagines Tradition
Menu items at 963 reimagine Levantine classics through contemporary techniques while preserving their essence. Each dish transforms familiar flavors into unexpected forms.
Shrimp Kunafa repurposes kunafa pastry as a crisp, golden coating for tiger shrimp, served with a mango-habanero sauce that balances sweetness and heat — a vivid example of tradition inspiring evolution.
The Falafel Truffle takes the essence of beloved street food and elevates it to new heights. Chickpea batter is infused with truffle, paired with creamy truffle hummus and topped with delicate slices of truffle carpaccio. This layering of luxury transforms a humble classic into a rich, multi-dimensional dish.
Other highlights include Hummus b’Lahmeh, featuring tamarind-marinated lamb served over silky hummus, Soor-K, dried yogurt balls rolled in za’atar, paprika, sumac served over housemade fig jam and the Cherry Kabab, where grilled kabab meets a sweet-and-sour cherry sauce. This is a bold reinterpretation that offers a vibrant, unexpected finish.
The beverage program reflects the same spirit of reinvention. The Qahwa Martini blends Saudi coffee with cardamom vodka, bridging Middle Eastern traditions with Western cocktail culture. While the Basilico Bianco offers a refreshing twist with green apple liqueur, aquafaba and a pistachio garnish.
“For us, it’s about emotion first,” says Executive Chef Mohammad Karim. “We’re not reinventing to be different; we’re reimagining because these flavors are part of who we are — and because we believe memory deserves creativity, not just preservation.”
Beyond the Stereotypes
Since opening in early 2023, 963 has quickly become one of Germany’s most talked-about dining experiences, earning widespread acclaim from both critics and guests. Named one of the Top Five New Restaurants in Germany by the Leaders Club and winner of OpenTable’s 2024 Diners’ Choice Award, 963 is not just making waves – it’s setting a new standard. With over 500 glowing reviews and an outstanding 4.8-star online rating, the response speaks for itself.
Moreover, the story isn’t just about accolades, it’s about traction. 963 has welcomed over 30,000 guests since opening its doors and continues to experience significant month-over-month growth. These aren’t just restaurant numbers – they’re proof that the appetite for a new Levantine narrative is real and rising.
“We’ve moved past the clichés,” says Sibaee. “This isn’t about hummus and falafel as shorthand for an entire culture — it’s about rewriting the script. We are the voice of third culture, telling stories through food that reflect complexity, creativity, and lived experience. In a world still eager to box Middle Eastern cuisine into narrow definitions, we offer something more: nuance, boldness, and a sense of belonging for those who live between worlds.”
What’s Next for Levantine Cuisine
963 isn’t just a restaurant— it’s part of a growing movement redefining what Levantine cuisine can be in the 21st century. In an increasingly interconnected globe, third-culture voices are carving out new spaces that honor heritage while embracing evolution. 963 stands at the intersection of memory, migration and modernity— where dishes carry stories but aren’t bound by nostalgia.
With its Berlin flagship thriving, 963 is now looking outward. Plans for expansion are underway, with the team actively seeking aligned investors and strategic partners to bring this vision to new cities. At its heart, 963 aspires to become the voice of third-culture Levantine cuisine. It is a platform for reimagining tradition through the lens of diaspora, creativity and lived experience.
Dishes like Shrimp Kunafa and Molokhiyeh Arancini challenge the notion that authenticity must be frozen in time. Instead, 963 celebrates thoughtful reinterpretation— the kind that resonates emotionally while surprising the palate. For diners hungry for both connection and creativity, 963 offers a window into a new culinary identity: rooted, restless and rapidly growing.
