After deciding to open a restaurant, geologist George Haddadin chose to name the establishment Mrah Salameh, which translates to “Happiness of Tranquility.” Unlike most other restaurants that boast of calmness, his restaurant's ambience stems from being underground, in a cave dating to the Neolithic era. Haddadin turned the Stone Age cavern into a restaurant after initial protests by members of the local community in Madaba, 20 miles south of Amman, who thought it would represent the destruction of their heritage. Instead, Haddadin has transformed the cave into a historical and culinary destination.
“It is an archaeological attraction that provides food, not a restaurant,” Haddadin told Al-Monitor. Haddadin also describes the space, with dim lighting and a touch of humidity, as the perfect place to meditate.
