Karam's Bakery and Restaurant

Karam’s Middle Eastern Bakery and Restaurant is a family-owned and run establishment that has been serving Utica and the surrounding area since 1975. After years of driving back and forth from Boston to Utica to supply the neighborhood with authentic Mediterranean bread, Segean Karam and his two brothers realized the community’s need for homemade baked goods had outgrown their current method. On one trip, they came back with an oven instead of bread, and thus Karam’s was born.

Under the care of Segean and his wife Mary, Karam’s has grown steadily over the years. It is now a local staple with a wide variety of Lebanese and Middle Eastern fare. In addition to the array of dishes available in-house, such as falafel, gyros, and tabbouleh, patrons can find Karam’s baked goods all across Utica at various restaurants and grocery stores.

When you walk into Karam’s, it truly feels like home. From the delicious smells to the cozy decor, it's easy to see why they’ve been open for so long. On one side is the bakery, regulars sit drinking Turkish coffee and snacking on baklava surrounded by eclectic wall decor. The collection has grown through the contributions of the owners and the patrons alike. This includes a section of the wall covered in foreign (and domestic) currency, which to us, felt representative of this whole project, and what kind of community Utica has become. The two items that Segean treasures most, however, are a t-shirt and a James Bond poster, both with his face on them, which were created by some regulars after a good laugh.

On the other side of the establishment from the bakery is the restaurant, where tables have been pushed together for a large family to sit together and enjoy a meal. It fosters a sense of home and familiarity, which is a great atmosphere and worth the visit.