Desert Rose Cafe & Restaurant

Salih Osman fled civil war for Palmerston North with just US$200 in his back pocket.

Now the Sudanese refugee has completed a goal he had seven years ago - his very own middle-eastern cafe and restaurant The Desert Rose opened this week.

"It's been a long journey. It was a dream but now it's true."

The Desert Rose is the latest in a string of businesses to open in what has become the chameleon property of the Palmerston North hospitality scene - the corner of Rangitikei and Cuba streets.

Eric Southee took the space on late last year to resurrect his karaoke pub business Rockz Bar.

But police opposed his liquor licence before a judge lambasted them at a hearing for attempting to use evidence from a transgender sex worker who claimed to have been in a relationship with Mr Southee.

The publican eventually won his battle for a liquor licence, but his business folded when he was admitted to hospital with health problems.

Mr Osman says he has had to put a lot of money into the property to get it to the standard he wanted, including an investment in a feature wall of middle-eastern coffee pots. "It's been pretty challenging to organise it all."

The restaurant opening also marks the rebirth of the brand of the food truck opened by high-profile asylum seeker Ahmed Zaoui in 2010.

Mr Osman took over the caravan when Mr Zaoui moved to Auckland, but says he was forced out when the council proposed a rent hike on the site earlier this year.

"I was one of the people trying to explain to them that, yes, a lease has got to be reviewed from time to time but a 400 per cent increase was for me too much."

With wife Noor "teaching me everything", Mr Osman is preparing Halal traditional middle-eastern cuisine that is more than just kebabs. He also owns Palmy Food City at 77 Cook St, where the caravan is now parked outside.

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The Desert Rose Cafe & Restaurant is based in Palmerston North and is known as the best provider of Halal Food within the Manawatu. The relaxing environment and mouth watering food all comes with friendly service and at a very reasonable price. If you’re feeling like something different for lunch or dinner, head on down to the Desert Rose and try our diverse range of food today!