Grandma’s cooking always hits the spot, leaving you satisfied and smiling.
That’s what the owners of the newest restaurant in Old Town Clovis believe and are banking customers will feel the same way.
Tete’s Kitchen — a family-owned and operated restaurant that has sons, daughters, nieces, nephews and grandchildren all chipping in — offers Mediterranean foods made from recipes dating back to Grandma Leila’s days in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
Tete, after all, means grandmother in Arabic.
And Tete’s Kitchen is all about serving food that Grandma approves.
“She’s quality control,” said daughter Annabelle Gharibeh, who is one of Grandma Leila’s five children and, together with her siblings, owns Tete’s Kitchen. “She tells us what to do. She’ll also tell you right away if something’s off.
“But what’s funny is, if you ask her for the (recipe) measurements, she always says ‘It’s a little bit of love here. A little bit of love there.’ My mom eyeballs everything.”
Skewers of Chicken Kabob are grilled over flame at Tete’s Kitchen serving up Mediterranean food at the corner of Pollasky Avenue and 4th Street in Old Town Clovis. Photographed Thursday, July 10, 2025.
While Mediterranean cuisine often is associated with food from Greece, Tete’s Kitchen takes on a little different twist, with food influences rooted toward the Middle East.
Grandma Leila was born in Bethlehem, spent time in Jerusalem and lived in Kuwait before moving to the United States some 60 years ago.
The restaurant’s take on Mediterranean food can be noticeably tasted with the side dishes, which includes salads centered around refreshing cucumbers, homemade falafel shaped more like french fries, and toum, a favorite for those who enjoy garlic.
Among the popular entries served at Tete’s Kitchen are beef, chicken, lamb and shrimp kabobs, as well as baklava for dessert.
“We try to accommodate everyone’s taste,” Gharibeh said. “We have healthy entries. We have a lot of meat for those who are more about meat and potatoes.
“We have great mac n’ cheese for the kids.”
Chicken Kabob over rice pilaf, served at Tete’s Kitchen in Old Town Clovis. Photographed Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Clovis.
Tete’s Kitchen, located at the northeast corner of Pollasky Avenue and 4th Street in Clovis, has been open for half days since May 28. The restaurant will have a grand opening, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony, on Friday, July 18.
Tete’s Kitchen has opened in a familiar space in Old Town Clovis, serving up Mediterranean food at the corner of Pollasky Avenue and 4th Street. Photographed Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Clovis.
Gharibeh said the family got the idea long ago to venture into the food industry because of the countless compliments their mom would receive from her cooking.
The family, which previously operated the Abe’s Liquor & Food gas station off Barstow Avenue in Clovis, first considered starting smaller and getting a food truck.
But when a prime spot in Old Town Clovis became available following Oishi Sushi & Grill’s abrupt closure less than a year after opening, the Gharibeh family decided to take a chance and go big.
Chicken Kabob over rice pilaf is seen at Tete’s Kitchen which has opened in a familiar space in Old Town Clovis, serving up Mediterranean food at the corner of Pollasky Avenue and 4th Street. Photographed Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Clovis.
The old Oishi Sushi & Grill spot, which before that operated as the Old Town Cafe for five years, is a 2,500 square-foot space with two entrances.
Tete’s Kitchen has since been repainted and redecorated to provide a different feel.
The owners are hoping Grandma Leila’s cooking, along with the restaurant’s family friendly atmosphere, will attract more customers.
“Everybody loves her food,” Gharibeh said. “Family, friends were always asking ‘Can you make this for me?’ Those recipes were winded down to us, children. We want to share our food with everyone.
“Of course, you’re a little scared (at) starting a new restaurant. I don’t mind. It’s been fun. There were no Mediterranean restaurants around here until we came. It’s good to be scared a little bit. Besides, we’re all family here and everyone is backing each other up.”
Tete’s Kitchen is open 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. on Tuesdays, and 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. on Wednesdays through Friday.
Tete’s Kitchen has opened in a familiar space in Old Town Clovis, serving up Mediterranean food at the corner of Pollasky Avenue and 4th Street. Photographed Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Clovis.
The appetizer Labneh is seen, withchopped tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapenos, onion and green olives on a bed of yogurt at Tete’s Kitchen, serving up Mediterranean food at the corner of Pollasky Avenue and 4th Street. Photographed Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Clovis.