MANILA -- Kian Kazemi has added Mediterranean cuisine to the dining options at Makati's Salcedo Village with the recent opening of the second branch of his Poblacion kebab bar Kite.

After 10 years in the restaurant industry, Kite reflects Kazemi’s growing confidence, as he offers Mediterranean cuisine done his way with modern tweaks and flavor combinations.

“Kite is a passion project, a spinoff that I did on my own without my mom and dad," explained Kazemi.

"I got inspiration from a Barcelona trip that I had five years ago. I said that this tapas thing is amazing! But I’m not an expert in Spanish [food], so let me focus on my strong points, which is Persian and Mediterranean, with some twist in the ingredients and the cooking method, and how I present things with alcohol.”

Kebab, which can mean any dish grilled on a spit or skewer, seemed like the perfect translation of a Persian tapas experience. With this unique concept, Kite’s first branch in Poblacion quickly became a favorite in the popular district, thanks to its affordable prices, artsy ambiance, and, of course, the food.

Kite Poblacion definitely appeals to a younger demographic than Kazemi’s other Persian restaurant, Persia Grill, and Kite Salcedo has the same hip appeal as its Poblacion counterpart.

With walls adorned by hand-picked upcycled décor, including carpets from Kazemi’s father’s business, it’s a comfortable space with wooden furniture, warm lighting, and great natural light from big glass windows framed with plants. It still takes on an artsy feel, thanks to murals on its walls, including one of Kazemi’s father, drawn as a king.

And while it does not have an al fresco option, Kite Salcedo has a smoking deck -- a definite draw given Makati’s strict smoking regulations.

Open from lunch until 3 a.m., Kite’s menu may keep on expanding, as Kazemi finds new inspiration from his travels. While the menu still serves the reliable kebabs, he also serves winning combinations beyond the sticks.

Here are some dishes that we highly recommend.

1. Mezze Sampler

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Mezze is one of the best things about Mediterranean cuisine. These appetizers come in many textures and flavors and eaten with pita -- all designed to whet the appetite for what’s to come, or to serve as a quick snack. In the sampler, you get the bestsellers – crispy puck-shaped falafels (chickpeas), earthy and creamy baba ghanoush (eggplant), sour and refreshing Tzatziki (cucumber and yogurt), and the Mediterranean favorite hummus (chickpea paste).

2. Keema Fries + Engkanto Beer

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Lest you forget that this is a bar, Persian bar chow can come in the form of French fries topped with keema, a ground meat dish seasoned with aromatic spices like cumin and cardamom, which pairs perfectly well with some draft Engkanto beer. Want another beer option? Try the Kite Beer, a combination of draft beer and kombucha. It’s good for you!

3. Salpicao and Gambas

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These two bar chow favorites will always get our vote, thanks to those garlic chips, especially when you pair them with a customized gin and tonic.

4. Kebab Sampler

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In a group? The Kebab Sampler has beef or chicken served spicy or classic. But it’s the addition of a grilled lamb chop that makes this platter special, especially when you pair it with the "Persian" chimichurri concoction of Kazemi – which was herby and delicious with acidity and sweetness that paired well with the lamb.

5. Shawarma Turmeric Rice Plates

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Turmeric rice comes with your choice of shawarma (falafel, beef or chicken), or a combination of two or three. This was one of my favorite plates of the evening (we had the chicken and the falafel), douse with liberal amounts of garlic sauce, and enjoy! No rice? They also have a Version 2.0 Beef Shawarma sandwich which adds feta in the mix for a salty, creamy bite.

6. The Shank House Special

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If you’ve never had Mediterranean soup that wasn’t a lentil soup, you must try the Shank House Special. A lamb shank is stewed for three hours with sundried lemons with potatoes and carrots. Think "nilaga" that’s fragrant, not too overly sour, but just earthy and herbaceous. We had this on a rainy day and it was awesome.

7. Dessert

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There’s limited dessert options but you can’t go wrong with Food for the Gods. Kite’s version isn’t overly sweet, a trend that continues with their other dessert -- the leche flan. While the flan is not Persian, it’s Kazemi’s mom’s recipe. This version is affordable (at P99) and checked all the right places — creamy and delicious. Enjoy these two treats with a shot of espresso to end your meal.