A RESTAURANT BUILT AROUND LOOKING AFTER PEOPLE

as much as feeding them.

Marwan Kandeel began his career working in the vegetable markets of Amman at a young age. That early experience shaped his understanding of food, quality, hard work, relationships, and the importance of earning people’s trust.

His career in the food and beverage industry spans nearly three decades, with senior operational and development experience across the Middle East and internationally recognized restaurant brands including Five Guys, Cinnabon, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Carvel, and Zaatar W Zeit.

When Marwan opened De Babel in Scottsdale in 2021, his vision was to bring the food and hospitality he grew up with into a modern, approachable restaurant experience without compromising authenticity.

From the beginning, De Babel has focused on quality ingredients, careful preparation, genuine hospitality, and the discipline to do things properly. The goal was simple: create a restaurant guests could trust and return to.

That approach has built a loyal following and earned De Babel multiple appearances on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in America.

“For me, De Babel has always been about more than the food. It is about building something people can trust, from the quality of what we serve to the way we look after every guest.”

Marwan Kandeel

Founder and CEO​

BUILT ON EXPERIENCE

Marwan’s experience spans multi unit restaurant operations, new restaurant openings, market development, team development, operational systems, and quality control. His career has given him a deep understanding of how restaurant concepts can grow while protecting their identity and the guest experience.

Today, he is focused on building De Babel beyond a single restaurant through strong teams, structured systems, centralized operations, and thoughtful expansion.

BUILT FOR CONSISTENCY

Behind De Babel’s locations is a Central Production Facility that centralizes key preparation processes, supports quality control and training, and provides the infrastructure for future growth. The goal is to allow De Babel to expand while maintaining the standards and character that guests have come to expect.

Our Mission

We are committed to providing our customers with an amazing experience, and we know that it all starts with our team members, which is why we invest so much time and energy in making sure they are well-trained, well-supported and empowered to deliver a WOW experience to our customers.

Our Vision

Our vision is to be the leader in the middle eastern food / fast casual segment focusing on quality and authenticity in every flavor. We want to make sure that our customers have access to delicious, healthy food that will make them feel great.

Our values

Do the right things. Create transparency for customers and staff. Encourage positive energy in everything anytime. Support the front lines. Coach for lasting success. Trust our team.