Raeda Elfawair and Devran Cengiz opened theirChester restaurant, Aslan’s Mediterranean Grill, in 2024. This family restaurant offers fresh, traditionally prepared Mediterranean food with a Turkish influence. Now, they’re gearing up to open a second restaurant in the area, offering an all-new menu.
Putting plans into action
Cengiz and his wife were waiting for just the right time to open Aslan’s, their new business in Chester. They had had one other business, he said. Once their children got a little older, they began to put their plan into action. The couple wanted to live in a small town, and got a good vibe from Chester. But they were concerned the size of the community could make it difficult to start this one.
Their worry was needless. The community has been very welcoming and kind, Elfawair said. Aslan’s marketing relies on word of mouth and limited social media posts.
Being different by being traditional
Cengiz and Elfawair believe that offering something different is the key to their business success. In the lead up to starting their business, they visited Mediterranean restaurants, but felt they failed to capture the authentic flavors of meals they cherished. In order to share the real taste of the Mediterranean, all the prep work for Aslan’s is done by members of their family. Elfawair said this is one of the biggest challenges they face in running the restaurant: It is a lot of work, and must be done with the correct technique, she said. They offer dishes such as suflac (rice pudding), karniyarik (stuffed eggplant), and sarma (stuffed grape leaves).
For her, the biggest reward of running the restaurant is watching customers enjoy their meals, leave happy and return with others. Patronage and support, said Elfawair, is the biggest way Plumas County can encourage new businesses and help them to thrive.
If Elfawair were to share advice with a new business owner, she would encourage them not to rush into it. “It will come in the right time. Doing everything with your own hand will make you successful.” She also reminds aspiring business owners that everyone will have a perspective on how things should be done. “Don’t let other people tell you what to do.”
Today, the couple is in the process of opening another restaurant on the Lake Almanor Peninsula. The new restaurant will offer a different menu, with a focus on a fine dining experience and bar. The opening date has not been decided.
Aslan’s Mediterranean Grill is located at 163 Main Street in Chester, and is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.