For the current edition of Switch, I wrote about all the new bars, restaurants and clubs that have opened on Congress Street in the last few years. Now there's another one to add to the list. Just this week, Barava opened in the spot that used to house (most recently) Grandes Burritos/Granny's Burritos/Uncle Billy's (and a whole host of restaurants before that).

The restaurant is the work of the Mahamud family of Portland. Originally from Somalia, the family left when conflict broke out, initially moving to Zanzibar, Tanzania before coming to America more than 10 years ago. Barava is the name of the Somali city they hail from.

I met a number of the family members yesterday afternoon when I stopped by to check out the menu and scope out the scene. They include (from left to right) Amal, Abdulkdir and Osman Mahamud.

And here's Ahmed Mahamud, who hooked me up with a delicious cup of traditional Somali tea flavored with cardamom and cinnamon. It's served sweetened or unsweetened, depending on your preference. The restaurant also serves Middle Eastern style coffee, spiced with ginger, and a bunch of fresh squeezed juices, including mango, guava and avocado. Alcoholic beverages are not on the menu.

Along with the tea, Ahmed gave me a primer on Somali cuisine, which calls on a wide-range of influences. These include food traditions from India, other African nations and other Middle Eastern countries, which reflect Somalia's long history as a trading hub. Somali cuisine also contains elements of Italian cooking, picked up during the years of Italian colonization.

Here's an appetizer sampler basket, including sambussa, kachori and nafaquo, which are all bite-sized eats made from various combinations of potatoes, spices and other ingredients. Apps are priced between $.99 and $1.50. Other offerings include goat soup ($2.99), chicken soup ($2.99), falafel sandwiches ($6.99), vegetable biryani ($9.99), chicken pasta ($9.99), beef kabaab ($9.99) and chicken masala ($9.99).

Ahmed says the dish called sport ($15.99) is a popular Somali meal. This large platter feeds two to three people and includes rice, lettuce, pasta, vegetables, chicken and goat. Traditionally this meal is eaten with your hands instead of utensils.

Even though I stopped by before 3 pm (typically an off hour for dining), a steady stream of patrons continued to come through the door. This seems like a good indicator that this family-focused restaurant has a bright future.

Barava is located at 653 Congress St. The restaurant is open Sun.-Thur. noon-10 pm and Fri.-Sat. noon-11 pm. FMI and reservations call 899-0599.