Players_29NAAMAD.jpg
Viewed:
688
Samad Naamad, owner of Tangierino and Koullshi
Samad Naamad’s indie movie, Demon Shadow, recently screened at the Brattle Theatre. It’s about a man confronting his own worst enemy — himself. Luckily, Naamad’s art doesn’t imitate his life. The filmmaker/restaurateur opened Charlestown’s Tangierino 10 years ago and recently thrilled fans with Koullshi, a smoking lounge beloved by hookah devotees citywide. Naamad excavated the downstairs space himself, marrying his two beloved cultures: Morocco and old New England. Festooned with African mahogany and leather seats, the vibe is pure decadence. Of course, there’s no shortage of trendy lounges in this city. But here, the food is luscious too. You’ll find Naamad at the bar most nights (he lives five minutes away), sipping pinot noir and enjoying his favorite dish: tuna tartare. “When I started out, the tartare had only two layers,” he laughs. “Now, it has four layers. It keeps growing.” He pauses. “Like me.”
