It was an evening filled with excitement as Dexter’s newest restaurant held a special opening party at Dhafer’s Mediterranean Steakhouse.  Area residents experienced the lovely décor and fine foods prepared Friday (June 10) evening as staff, chefs and management welcomed over 100 guests to the invitation-only affair.  

Dhafer and Melissa Al-Makuter are the new owners of one of the area’s premier steakhouses.   You immediately know that quality of food and excellence of service are the first-hand priorities for these business owners.

Melissa and children have been living in the area for the last two years, but Dhafer has only recently made the move to southeast Missouri. Dhafer, a former manager of a high-end steakhouse in Kansas City, was used in reconstruction after Operation Iraqi Freedom as an interpreter.


During her husband’s time overseas, Melissa - with the help of her parents - renovated the facility, which was formerly Diva’s Special Events.

Upon arrival at Dhafer’s, guests are greeted with a friendly, eloquent staff that is eager to serve you. Moving forward, guests quickly notice an extremely tasteful modern décor in the dimly lit dining area, where the wait staff remained eager to serve guests with many delicious dishes throughout the evening.

For those unfamiliar with a Mediterranean diet, it is noted as a very heart-healthy diet according to a Mayo Clinic report.  The Mediterranean diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating — plus a splash of flavorful olive oil and perhaps a glass of red wine — among other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. 

In fact, a recent analysis of more than 1.5 million healthy adults demonstrated that following a Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduced risk of overall and cardiovascular mortality, a reduced incidence of cancer, and a reduced incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

The menu will consist of steak, fish, and vegetable-based dishes, with very little fried offerings. There will be a separate lunch and dinner menu, and even a buffet on Saturdays and Sundays.

Dhafer’s Mediterranean Steakhouse will be officially ‘open to the public’ on Wednesday, June 15.