Sakina Halal Grill – an Oasis of Tranquility in downtown Washington DC
By C. Naseer Ahmad
The moment one heads toward the corner at 11th and K Street NW Washington – near the Downtown Heritage Trail sign about “Civil War to Civil Rights”, there is tranquility in the atmosphere. A few feet near the Asbury Methodist Church is the beautiful restaurant Sakina Halal Grill. A calming ambiance and a very refreshing policy welcome the guests regardless of their ability to pay.
KaziMannan of Sakina Halal is a man on a mission – to feed the homeless. Local and national television programs have featured the restaurant as well as KaziMannan. He is easy to talk to and quite approachable and believes in the duty to help the less fortunate. Kazi aims to set up a foundation for charitable purposes and is working on convincing restaurants to make a commitment to feed the homeless.
The restaurant building is in a prime location, which is walking distance from the Washington Convention Center and the Grand Marquis Marriott and near the offices of major law as well as consulting firms in downtown Washington. Before Sakina Halal came into existence – as a first venture into food business for KaziMannan - a different restaurant named Mayur Kabob House operated quite successfully for seventeen years in the same physical location in busy downtown. Across the street on K Street is the fashionable Brasserie Beck – a fine popular Belgian restaurant.
Before taking over the restaurant, KaziMannan insisted the previous owner to get rid of the alcohol which used to be on sale. According to KaziMannan, he absorbed the additional cost as part of the purchase of the business. Renovations of the inside of the building transformed the restaurant from a so-so décor to a spectacular high ceiling with a beautiful chandelier, especially made furniture from Chiniot, Pakistan and Qur’anic art on the tastefully colored walls.
Apparently on the first day of reopening, homeless people were welcome to the buffet – a langar style setting. Nobody was turned away due to their inability to pay. In talking about the restaurant policy, KaziMannan mentioned in one of the television interviews, that he was once facing hardship himself so he felt an obligation to help those in need. Social media is abuzz with the clips of the interview by Washington’s WJLA Television Station.
Describing his philosophy, KaziMannan talks about the inspiration he received from his Taya – father’s elder brother who was a spiritual man infused by the poetry of Allama Iqbal. Based on his description of his background and how he got to this point in life, KaziMannan’s story is that of what most immigrants bring to this country. Like many other immigrants, he came to the United States with only his will to work hard and to succeed against all odds. He tells us that at times he did three jobs until someone showed him the way to open his limousine business, which he still operates today, in addition to the Sakina Restaurant – named after his beloved mother.
Like many people, he lost a lot of money during the 2008 financial crisis so much so that he had to rebuild his life again. With a steely resolve, KaziMannan rebounded from steep losses and is a successful businessman. Instead of making him a bitter man, the hardships of 2008 made his resolve stronger and he appears committed to projecting a positive image of his home country Pakistan.
Business is brisk at Sakina Halal Grill. Customers from near and a far – from Mexico to Malaysia and places in between keep coming. Some bring their Mac Books and work through the lunch hour. Just recently, Anwar Ibrahim – Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister (PM) and PM in-waiting - visited Sakina Halal Grill. Regardless of their status in life, KaziMannan seems eager to wish the customers good bye as they leave this oasis of tranquility in a city bedeviled by constant drama.
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