Our People

Sahra by the River is a family restaurant, built owned and managed by the Alamein family with over 50 years experience in cities including Beirut, Brussels, Baghdad and Sydney.
Talal Alamein

Talal is the creator and driving force behind this establishment. With humble beginnings in management of McDonalds stores to owning and operating numerous restaurants and cafes across Sydney Talal has over 30 years experience in this industry. After many different establishments, including everything from Indian and Mexican cuisine and a Rock style café. Talal felt the market needed a restaurant like Sahra.

Talal always felt the need for a good Lebanese restaurant in Sydney, where the location was pleasant, the atmosphere warm and where that easy going Australian nature was combined with the best Middle Eastern hospitality. This has been achieved at Sahra with a menu rich in variety, taste and nutrition, but we’ll let you be the judge.
Hanied Alamein

Hanied (Talal’s wife) is the perfectionist, the food critic, the designer and the decorator. She is responsible for the variety of dishes and our unique menu. Hanied has been an integral part to every establishment mentioned up. Her taste and style has been reflected in every business venture, and Sahra is no exception. Her tastes are visible throughout the restaurant from the furnishings to the garnishes.
Majed Alamein

Majed (Talal’s brother) is the organizer and manager. With a degree and numerous qualifications in hotel management from both Beirut and Brussels. Majed worked throughout Europe and moved to Baghdad as a consultant to the tourism ministry whre he also established a fine dinning restaurant before migrating to Sydney in the 80’s.
Sam Matar

Sam Matar (Our Head Chef) is a graduate from Beirut Hospitality College where he majored in Middle Eastern Cuisine. After graduation Sam eventually found himself working in the Hyatt in Dubai for several years followed by the Four Seasons Hotel in Qatar. Fortunately for us after much time and effort we managed to obtain approval for his immigration in 2005.