Hana's Cafe

When you walk in to Hana’s Café, you are welcomed by a quaint, cozy ambiance.

A simple board on the wall lists the menu, and around the room are arrangements of flowers to provide warmth and charm.

And then there are the owners. Hana and Razi Saber are as cheerful and appealing as the restaurant and their food.

Hana’s Café features fresh, healthy food. From salads to sandwiches to the signature Mediterranean fare, everything is made fresh daily.

And Hana stresses the health benefits of her food.

“I lost 75 pounds eating my own food,” she said.

It’s hard to imagine an additional 75 pounds on such a small frame, but Hana says she feels much better with her weight down. And she said she is happy to share her knowledge of healthful eating with her customers.

“I’ll help you count calories and eat still eat food that tastes very good,” she said.

Hana offers gyros, kabobs, dolmades (grape leaves), baba ghannoug (eggplant), hummus and falafel. Other favorites include chicken, hamburgers and veggie burgers.

While lunch and dinners are popular, Hana says she wants to build her breakfast business, too. She has breakfast croissants, burritos and omelets, as well as other pastries.

“Everything here is fresh made, including the croissants,” Hana says. “Nothing is made already. When you come in and order, then the food is made. Not before.”

Hana loves cooking. Opening her restaurant was a dream come true.

“For 11 years we dreamed about opening a restaurant,” she says. “And now it is a reality.”

The couple enjoys working together.

“Razi and I work well together because we have our own strengths,” Hana says. “I love cooking.”

Of course she has other strengths that get mentioned, almost in passing.

Such as Hana’s “hobby” is flower arranging. And gift baskets. And teaching. And spending time with her family. When does this woman sleep?

“Of course I sleep,” she says. “I get four or five hours of sleep every night.”

She incorporates her hobby into her restaurant, having decorated the interior with floral arrangements and plants. She also will make gift baskets for customers.

The shop also has a wide variety of beverages, including flavored coffee, teas and fruit smoothies. Soft drinks also are available.

Hana’s has gift cards available, offers catering for 20 to 200 people and has a delivery service on orders of $20 and up. Wireless internet is provided, and credit cards are accepted.

Hana introduces specials regularly, and she offers a different soup each day.

“That way I have a lot of variety,” she says. “People can try a lot of different things.”

While Hana went from a size 18 to size 2, her heart and her passion didn’t shrink at all.

“Everyday is wonderful for us,” she says. “I am so happy we have the restaurant, and I feel very lucky in my life.”

Hana’s Café is located at 10855 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Suite 106, in Scottsdale. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The café is closed Sundays. Call (480) 314-4262, or visit www.hanascafe.com, for additional information.

This story was featured November 2006.