TABLE TALK: Cafe owners booted from 1st location

Hussein Abu-Khdeir knew he was going to be evicted from his Heart of Jerusalem Cafe at 906 Manitou Avenue in Manitou Springs, but he just didn't know the day. That day turned out to be June 27.

"I got a few calls from the good quality people of Manitou around 9 a.m. telling me that my equipment is out in the street," he said. "My rent was paid until June 30 and I was planning to move out over the weekend."

The reason for the eviction stemmed from a row about food odors coming from the cafe. The people who owned the $500,000 loft above the restaurant didn't cotton to the aroma of grilled lamb for gyros and frying falafel. According to The Gazette's Side Streets column about the dispute, the Abu-Khdeir's lease allowed for serving food and drink, but did not permit for cooking that would generate odors.

For the time being, Hussein Abu-Khdeir has his eye on a new location, 4 Ruxton Ave. in Manitou Springs.

"It's a larger space and would allow for tables," he said.

In the meantime, if you get a hunkering for a Heart of Jerusalem Cafe fix, head to the downtown Colorado Springs store at 15 E. Bijou St. He has added some new items to his menu, including a Dolmas Plate ($5.99). Dolmas are hand-rolled grape leaves stuffed with seasoned rice. The meal comes with tabbouleh salad, hummus and warm pita bread. Tabbouleh salad ($3.99) is another new item on the menu. It's made with bulgur wheat and seasoned with onion, tomatoes, cucumber, parsley and other Mediterranean spices.

Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays; and midnight to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Call 477-1777 to place orders for free delivery in the downtown area. Is also caters.

Unwich

The core of Jimmy John's - the latest sandwich chain to arrive in Colorado Springs - is the gourmet sandwich, but if you'd rather not have a carbohydrate overload you can order the JJ Unwich. It's a low-carb lettuce wrap, and a tasty one at that. Here's the deal: Select any sandwich on the menu and you can have it wrapped in several big, crispy leaves of iceberg lettuce and skip the bread.

The price is the same as a regular sandwich. The newest Jimmy John's is at 10 S. Tejon St. The first is at 1035 Garden of the Gods Road. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

More Mexican

The restaurant space near Sparrow Hawk at 16 Bijou St. is gearing up to be yet another Mexican food place. We'll give you more info as we know it.

CONTACT US: Send tips about restaurant openings, closings, menu changes and food specials to Teresa.farney@gazette.com or call 636-0271. Do you manage a restaurant? Send us your e-mail address so we can keep in touch.