Trusted the yelp review and went with my family after the Michigan UNLV game. Had chicken schwarma and babaganosh side. Very on point and great service. Nice family shop/deli and would highly recommend.
(5)
Sania M.
This place is really good. The tabbouleh, hummus, and baba ghanoush are delish. A must try is the cauliflower salad and kibbeh! I have frequented this place often and plan on continuing to visit
(5)
Sam G.
Pretty wonderful place for those of us who have a buffet personality - their display counters are full of salads and meats and veggie concoctions. For 10 bucks you can get an entree and two sides, plus pita bread, which is always too much for me to eat in one sitting. There are beet salads and pilafs and yogurt dressed things and spiced meats. And you can sample any you'd like before committing to full helpings. Your selections then go onto a plate and that plate goes into the microwave for heating. Which is really the only thing I cringe about. It's efficient, I get it, but a microwave? Sigh. But no worries. The food is still tasty and fresh and relatively healthful. It's a great place to go when people in the group are picky or have different dietary restrictions. If someone has a sweet tooth, there's also a substantial bakery case full of international pastries from baklava to cannoli - I've not sampled those yet. If you're thirsty and need caffeination, go for their Baghdad tea which is spiced black tea (kinda like a chai). Free refills. I could drink it for days. Dining is super informal and the dining space is barebones with a mild cafeteria vibe - doesn't matter because the smells and tastes of the food will fill up the space and your soul.
(4)
Natasha P.
My husband and I used to get carry out from here very often when we lived in Ann Arbor. They have a great selection of meat pies and other Middle Eastern bakery items, and their shawarmas are excellent. They also have some very nice baklava. The nicest part is that they are very reasonably priced, so you can really get a big section without breaking the bank.
(4)
Kendall B.
A great family business, friendly, healthy, positive energy. Great variety of savory and sweet homemade items, really pleasant environment, lovely outdoor seating when the weather is good. A teeny bit on the pricey side, but not so out of line with Ann Arbor averages. My fave combination plate: Oozie, okra salad, beet babaganoosh, and an Aleppo tea.
(5)
Janice L.
First time trying Syrian food. I really like the falafel! Will be coming back for more
(4)
Misuzu T.
Maybe I wasn't hungry enough.... Maybe there's too much good middle eastern food in Astoria, NY. Then again, maybe I just didn't understand what kind of dish I was getting. I thought the combo platter #4 I got was ok. I didn't taste enough meat in the ozee, but maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. The dough was very good though. The desserts were AMAZING when I lived here. This time around not too sure about that semi crusty shell the mocha truffle has. I'll come back again when I'm famished and try something else, just to see if I'm just back to being a stuck up, picky, annoying New Yorker all over again..
(3)
Martin S.
The friendliest owners (Monib and Jinan) and staff (Tamara and Ayla). The best middle eastern restaurant around at reasonable prices. Some of my favorites: Sides: beet salad, eggplant salad, burghul, cauliflower salad, makmoor, tabouli, legume salad, hummus, yogurt, spinach pie, fattoush Sandwiches: shawarma, gyro Dessert: mocha mousse bar, baklava, truffles (raspberry/amaretto) Drinks: house blend tea, and spiced coffee.
(5)
Mia M.
I found myself here after trying to find parking for No Thai, and needing to park a bit further away than anticipated. On my walk over, I ended up in front of this place, and the aroma stopped me dead in my tracks. My partner and I debated for a moment, but ultimately ended up inside. I'm so glad we went! The woman working behind the counter was extremely kind, helpful, and patient. We'd never been before, and were overwhelmed with options. She offered suggestions and samples, and we figured out our meals in no time. One thing that surprised me was the fact that they did microwave the food. It was all precooked and cooled in a deli case, so things were microwaved before being served. I didn't mind much since everything was so delicious! The space was also quite small, and the seating area was a bit cramped, but again, it didn't bother me because the food was just that great. I absolutely can not wait to come back to Syrian Cuisine & Exotic Bakeries. Next time, I'll be sure to grab some hummus to go as well. It was the best hummus I'd ever had!
(5)
Nicole R.
I went there with my extended family who came to visit and it was a great time. Whoever served us was very friendly and accommodating. My favorite items were the beet salad, eggplant hummus, and the spinach pie. I didn't enjoy the meat items as much. But maybe it's a personal thing. I liked being able to see the food that I purchased!
(5)
Corey S.
Sooo good-- unassuming but way better value and quality than many other places in Ann Arbor. I ate here before I had an audition at the music school and I was accepted, no doubt due to the luscious flavors of the beet salad
(5)
Saud A.
It's really unclean food and untasty too. In addition, I got stomach flu after i ate there which made me sick a few days. Wish I can give it less one star.
(1)
Md. Shahnoor A.
Came here before, and service/food was quite good, even though a bit pricey. But this time, there's a new person at the counter ;claims he's married to the owners' daughter (so now HE's the owner). He REALLY needs to improve his manners. He was quite rude.
(3)
Rebecca C.
Friendly staff, delicious food, great experience! My partner and I are vegan and they had plenty of options! Definitely will be returning here.
(5)
N P.
Surprised I haven't reviewed this place yet. I thought I did but anyway I'll keep it brief. The food here is amazing. They have a large amount of nonvegetarian and vegetarian and vegan choices. For vegetarians, they have okra, grape leaves, potato salad, eggplant salad, mushroom salad, legume salad, spinach salad, and so many other choices. They have multiple "pies" such as spinach pie, cheese pie, red pepper pie and other pies. They have falafel and mjadra sandwiches. My friend loves the makmoor (eggplant and mint and garlic). I really like the combo plates. They have about 10 vegetarian combo plates where the above items are combined for about $10. They have a beet baba ganoush which I really liked, and it was interesting how the flavor changed with the beet rather than just the typical eggplant. However, while the flavor is outstanding the portion sizes can be small. For example, for the combo you get three items but you can get nearly half a plate of the salad (tabbouleh) and small amounts of the main dish. It varies with who is holding the spoon and serving! I see a lot of pictures on here that show dishes filled with food. We've rarely gotten that much in our portions and sometimes I've been hungry leaving the place. There is however one woman who works there who is very sweet and she has always given us a lot (maybe she recognizes us for having gone there so much). So I'm docking a star only for portion sizes and value. If it's consistent and we get a lot at each visit then I'll bump it up. The flavor is 5 star worthy. For those from out of town (or new students at the University), Ann Arbor has a lot of interesting sections of the city out of the campus and downtown area. It is surprising how much great world cuisine there is in Ann Arbor. This area of town, closer to North Campus, has many great restaurants and I will review more later.
(4)
Youb G.
The food is good. But when I was there today the owner allowed someone to smoke inside the restaurant. When I mentioned it they basically ignored it. Horrible!
(1)
Marilyn B.
Love the food! Tamara is great and remembers me by name and my usual order. I love the chicken Kefta, Legume Salad, Beet Salad, Eggplant, Spinach Divine, I could go on and on... this is my Thursday go to for lunch. Can't say enough about this Ann Arbor favorite.
(5)
Johanna K.
The best Mediterranean food I've had (and I've been to Turkey and Jordan). It's completely fresh and delicious. The restaurant is casual deli style.
(5)
Andrea G.
Try their cauliflower salad! I can eat a tub of it. The sweet treats looked pretty good, i tried one and it didnt taste as good as it looked.
(4)
S C.
I've had lunch here a few times good food, friendly service. Will continue to repeat!
(4)
Pat D.
Love the chicken schawarma and eggplant baba ghanouj. I have been coming here for years.
(5)
Jared W.
Fantastic food, fast service, decent price... what more could you want out of a lunch?
(4)
Jackie K.
I want to give it 3.99 stars. Here's the deal - it's deli style and all the food is pre-made (which makes it quick) - you tell him what you want and he plates it for you. But, it's just not quite 4 stars in my book because they microwave the food. It all tastes good but something about microwaved meat kinda put me off. I'd come back for a quick bite to eat and I'd recommend it - I just wish they had hot storage for their food instead of microwaving (maybe I'm too picky)? Definitely try it though!!!
(4)
Thomas M.
Pretty good middle eastern food. They have a lot of unique dishes that most places don't have. And their grape leaves are the best I have had. The only problem for me, and it is just a personal problem is that they try to heat up a lot of the food in a microwave right behind a counter. I do not like microwaves. I know many restaurants utilize microwaves, but at least they do it in the back... Oh yes, def. get the rice pudding! Phenomenal!
(4)
Wammy W.
I have tried the chicken schwarma, and the turkey kebbeh, both tasted not bad, but ALL of their food is pre-made. And I love freshly-made food. So would not return.
(3)
Rafa R.
I love this place! Food is always delicious and tasty. I usually get the $10 combo plate with beef and turkey kefta, makmoor, and hummus. Service is good, prices are on the slightly high side, and seating is limited, but taste of the food wins out.
(5)
Cody A.
I love everything at this restaurant, especially their large number of vegetarian options and go out of my way to eat here anytime Im even close to Ann Arbor. I especially love their beet baba, which isnt anything Ive ever seen anywhere else.
(5)
Elaina S.
This is best-kept secret of Ann Arbor's north side, but judging by lunch crowd, enough locals know about this yummy place to keep them plenty busy. I have been eating here for years, and it is always a pleasure when the owner, Jinan Elkhatib, and her family recognize and greet us, and make US feel like family. The lunch special is a great value. I'll bet that you will have food left over to take home. I recommend the green beans and tomato, the zesty lemon potato salad. My son loves the Ozee, a unique and delicious savory pastry filled with rice, peas and ground lamb, spiced with a touch of cinnamon. Homemade rice pudding is delicious. This is THE place to go for variety of vegetarian and vegan, and non-vegetarian options, you just can't go wrong. All the food is made fresh in the kitchen, and all baked good are made there by hand. Jinan also specializes in beautiful wedding cakes, handmade and decorated with fresh fruit and flowers. Take a look at the bulletin board with photos from her past work. We and all our friends love Syrian Cuisine & Exotic Bakeries.
(5)
Sandra S.
I would give it negative stars if I could. Yelp, I'm so dissapointed in you. Great ratings, I thought it would be great! WORST FOOD I HAVE EVER HAD. No question. There was no customers in there, which is always questionable. There were three little kids playing with a tin of sand on one of the customer tables. WHILE I was paying the guy (front counter/cashier) yelled at them to quiet down. Seriously? Your babysitting too?? When I finished paying he sat behind the food display case on a computer. The place was crammed with mismatching furniture, which would have been a problem if there was anyone else in there. The staff member, just one guy, COULD NOT HAVE CARED LESS about me being there, NO customer service skills. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but there. ....Where are the owners? do they care? Now, the food. I made the mistake of ordering a bunch of stuff all at once, then sat down and ate a couple pieces. I should have waited to see how it tasted first. I ordered the pastilla to eat there. HE MICROWAVED IT! It was disgusting, A child could make something better. Gas stations have better food. Trash cans have better food. It was a pastry/bread wrapped item and he microwaved it! Some things, maybe, can be microwaved but not bread/pastry. Otherwise, the flavor was nothing special. I had chocolate covered baklava, which was good, yes. Problem was there was only a sprinking of pistachio inside, a dusting really. Cheapos. A menu I found online said they had nourma, but they had stopped selling it. And the potato salad, which is on their OWN menu, is seasonal, but not listed as such. Bummer. I bought Oozee, chicken cheese round, and spinach pie to go. TERRIBLE. The oozee was almost entirely rice, hardly any meat. Didn't finish it. Taste was not great. The chicken cheese round had something other than chicken in it, it was like shredded pork colored, and hardly any meat, again. Worse of all, the bread was hard and crunchy. THESE ITEMS ARE NOT FRESH and even if they were made that day, they sit in a refrigerated shelf all day...and then are MICROWAVED. The spinach pie was too sour and the bread was dry again. WORST FOOD EVER and TERRIBLE SERVICE. What a waste of time yelp!
(1)
Tricia K.
Absolutely delicious and a must try little hole in the wall around North campus. I recommend anything with eggplant in it either salad or sandwich style. The sandwiches usually come with a very tasty hummus/tahini inside which is super garlicky and delicious. I am also a big fan of their tabbouleh salad as it is mostly parsley and not mostly barley as most are. The food is exceedingly fresh and pretty exotic but worth taking a chance on. The meat pies are just ok but the salads are to die for. If I thought I could cook like this I'd consider being a vegetarian. They also have a bunch of yummy looking pastries and cookies but I have not tried those yet. The prices are very reasonable and this is a good place to buy some bulk food to take home and eat at your leisure.
(5)
Am C.
I've been away from Ann Arbor for about two weeks now and I really miss this place! Everything is tasty, but some of my favorite things are the baba ghanouj, oozee, and red pepper kibbe. The baba ghanouj is so smoky and I could just eat it all day. If I had to choose one "favorite" thing here, it'd probably be the oozee (also known as qoozee), which is almost like a pastilla except it's filled primarily with rice instead of meat. I like to get kibbe when I can because it's time consuming to make at home, and the red pepper sauce that comes with the kibbe here is really good and bold. Not spicy, though. Do yourself a favor and get the rice pudding for dessert. It's not too sweet or heavy, and is very fluffy. It's delicious! Also, if you've never had namoura, you should try some here. The people who own/work here are very nice. If you have questions, just let them know. P.S. They have a good variety of combo plates. Each plate is pretty well-balanced with a few different things, but they also let you substitute things and/or make your own combo.
(5)
Patrick T.
Came in here while I was wandering around the plaza looking for lucky kitchen. Ordered the beef kufteh sandwich to go. The wrap was good, but it wasn't rolled very tightly. The sauce dripped out of the foil and into the paper bag as I was eating, and it bore a hole through it. I also didn't get any napkins in the bag. They have a large selection of baked goods and salads pre-made. Will probably come back to try some of these items. Especially the desserts -- looks like they will satisfy any sweet tooth.
(3)
Tony L.
Exotic Bakeries is conveniently located right across the street from the U-M North Campus. All of their food is pre-prepared and put in the glass display case. You can purchase items individually, or you can follow the more common route and get a "combo plate" ($9.50 with tax) of any 3 dishes (limit of 1 "discrete"/entree item). The advantage of this deli-style setup is that you can see exactly what you're getting, and service is very quick; the downside is that the food is not fresh-made, and if you go late in the day, they may run out of some items. If you don't mind microwaved food (they make no attempt to hide this), it is very tasty. Some of their unique offerings are also among my favorites: red pepper kibbeh, turkey kafta, ajjeh, oozee, and beet babaganouj. While you can get these elsewhere, the bulgur mujaddara and lentil soup are also very good. They have a second display case full of desserts; haven't sampled most, but the blueberry cheese tart was amazing. Their rice pudding is also good, very light and fluffy. Downsides: for "standard" Middle Eastern fare (falafel, hummus, shawarma, etc), you can get better quality/value elsewhere in Ann Arbor/Ypsi. Also, combo plate portions can sometimes be inconsistent.
(4)
S. W.
The service if very friendly and the food is delicious! We love the eggplant salad, and the legume salad. Everything we have had has been excellent.
(5)
Adam S.
Wow. Where to begin? The good is absolutely wonderful, and the pastries are wonderfully decadent! The owner its a very friendly and bubbly person. This place is much like a deli in the way it is set up, with the food pre-made in display cases. You can purchase several items to dine in, in a variety of combos. You can also buy items by the pound, deli style.
(5)
Chris P.
If hand sanitation doesn't bother you then you'll love this place. Unfortunately the owner has never taken a serve safe class nor has he any consideration for hand sanitation. Wearing gloves does not mean that when you take out the trash then touch food your hands are perpetually clean. This is unfortunate because the food without trash cross contamination is great. I was really hoping to make this a staple in my diet but unfortunately can't get over the thought of feces on my pita. Really though, the hummus is great the pies are tasty and the various salads are interesting. Eat at your own risk; I won't be going back.
(2)
Ruth C.
Originally, we planned to go to the Indian place in the next-door building. They were closed on Mondays, so we went to Syrian Cuisine instead. I'm glad we ended up here. Lunch combos are around $9. I got the Gyro, Bulgar, and Cucumber Yogurt plate (also came with pita). It was really tasty. I particularly enjoyed the bulgar pilaf. My partner got the Chicken Cheese Round, Makmoor (an eggplant dish), and Falafel. It was also pretty good. The store is fairly small and gets pretty packed for lunch. Go a little before 12, though, and you're golden.
(4)
Binnan O.
Ambiance: Not much in the way of ambiance, this place just feels like a deli with a large display case but it's filled with dangerously-delicious looking delicacies. The owner was very friendly and explained to us what each thing was. Had to look around but free water is in a mini-cooler in the coner to the right when you walk in and you clean your own tables by putting them in bins also to the right when you walk in. Food: I got the chicke schwaerma and the red pepper beef here. Everything is pre-made so you'll see her nuking and heating things up but this was fine, most restaurants par-cook their dishes anyways. The schwaerma was huge! The chicken was well-seasoned, moist and tender and accomplanied by tomatoes, a tangy potent garlic spread and slightly dry lettuce which was a complaint. Actually my biggest complaint here was the pita they used for the wrapping, it was just really thin and tough like leather. I still enjoyed my schwaerma but that's definitely something they can improve upon. The red pepper beef was suuuper yummy and definitely my favorite thing. It was mild-moderately spicy with a strong red pepper flavor and served on warm crumbly ground beef. I will definitely try getting the sandwich form next time. My fiance got the chicken cheese round pastry which was also very good! It was filled with shredded chicken which was slightly dry but very tasty with a hint of some sweet spice like cinnamon. Overal this place was very tasty and the service was great, our meal came out to $22 for a schwaerma, a chicken cheese round combination, and a side of red pepper beef which is not cheap but not outrageous for a meal that left us stuffed. I would definitely come here again.
(4)
Reed N.
The hummus here is a little thinner than average, but the flavors are so right. The babaganoush was also a little thinner. But smoky and complex. I also had spinach pie, which was wonderful with both of the purees. Finally, I had Makmoor. The eggplant, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and oil all making a symphony of flavor when roasted perfectly as had been done here. I also like the family-run feel of this place.
(5)
Lil L.
I was so excited to try this place and I was so disappointed. $9.50 for 2 pies (meat & spinach) and a 1/2 lb. of mjadra. Service was EXCELLENT!! But the taste of the food I ordered was blak. The spinach pie tasted like frozen spinach, bread was so bland. Meat pie was just gross, threw it out, and the mjadra tasted like it was made w/ rancid oil. More of a cafe style joint. Small. All food is in a case, pre-made. Canned beverages. Takes cash and CC. I read the reviews and really did want to love this place, saddly won't ever go back :(
(2)
Cyril G.
The best middle eastern restaurant in Ann Arbor (and I've tried most of them)!!! The prices are slightly on the high side but well worth it. Great location too within walking distance of North Campus. They have many tasty salads, great hummus and the best spinach pie I know. You really have to try their "spinach divine" salad which is a spinach cooked in olive oil with walnuts or their cauliflower and tahini salad!!
(5)
Briza Y.
I'm beginning to rate a place according to it's rice pudding and they have AMAZING rice pudding. It's not thick and heavy like regular rice pudding. This is like whipped cream with rice. It might sound odd, but just trust me and get some before it sells out! I went there last night just for a container of it and the last container of it had just be purchased! I was disappointed, but glad to see that they make it fresh everyday. I've had the Chicken Shwarma which can easily feed two. The spices were fantastic and the bread was just soft and chewy enough. I also purchased a small container of Tomato Red Bulgur and Makmoor. I had both warm and actually took a small amount of makmoor and bulgur together- yum! Lastly I had some walnut baklava. It was not sickingly sweet like some baklava can be. It will definitely be a treat every once and awhile for me! I had plenty of leftovers from my visit and continued to enjoy the food for the next 2days! You won't be disappointed!
(4)
Bob B.
Always great food! Owners are especially pleasant as well as all the employees! Prices are great and servings are large. Go with several folks and share.
(5)
Michelle H.
Delicious beet salad and the cheese meat pie I have ever had. The portions were huge and the staff friendly and efficient
(5)
Merlin O.
Two words; beet Babajanous. Seriously the best thing that ever happened to beets, and I generally love beets anyway. Fast friendly service, a place were meat lovers and vegetarians can both get a satisfying meal. I haven't dabbled much in the sweets area because I'm usually too full. Definitely a place to return to over and over again!
(5)
Frank C.
Two things really stood out about this place: they microwave their food and they handle money with the gloves they use to prepare food. I ate here twice, and a different person was working behind the counter each time, and neither took off their gloves when handling money. whats the point of wearing gloves if the gloves have touched money?
(2)
Jenny L.
my heart and stomach always leave with a smile after getting served delicious beet salad, chicken shawarma, fattoush, and baklava from the little old man behind the counter. seriously, try the beet salad. you will not be disappointed!
(4)
Clover G.
There are many restaurants in Ann Arbor that have delicious Chicken Shawarma sandwiches, but Syrian Cuisine has several things that make it unique: beet salad, Syrian yogurt, and rice pudding! So far, I haven't been able to find another restaurant with beet salad as delicious, or rice pudding as fluffy. Plus the owners are so nice!
(5)
Lena L.
Did not meet my expectations. Expensive for quality and quantity as well as choice!
(2)
Amir G.
Not sure what all the hype is about. Was very unimpressed with the food here. To each their own...
(3)
M L.
ahhh shucks reading all these reviews makes me wish i had their rice pudding! a solid 4 stars for this restaurant. their tabbouleh is fresh, zesty, and delicious. their okra stew is to die for. the meat koftas are pretty good, hummus is smooth and tasty; i've heard good stuff about their baba ganoush and other dips.. pastries are made with a heavy hand and so are kinda coarse.. as in vs a delicate french pastry.. the baklavas are pretty good, as are their fruit and nut bars. 4 stars cuz.. for the price, i'd wish the food was more freshly prepared.. yes i know most of the dishes are made daily, but it's a little of a letdown to see them nuke everything in the microwave. portions are also inconsistent; i'd definitely recommend eating in rather than taking out-- the take out portions for some reason are significantly smaller. i've heard that they cook everything they sell in the tiny kitchen at the back; the husband does the pastries and desserts while the wife does the savories.. and their daughter is the server and cashier. lovely people who make small talk and enjoy having their customers in their restaurant (ironically you'd think this to be natural, but this is not always the case) between jerusalem garden downtown and here, i'd choose this place because it's less hippy-like and more family. Although jerusalem's lentil soup is quite something... The server remembered me after just 5 visits! and this is pretty awesome since i'm from out of town, so i only go back every two months or so. Not bad for a family-run restaurant.
(4)
Mike B.
The rice pudding is incredible!!!
(4)
Victoria S.
I love their food, and I see a Siti in the back making it sometimes. They're often packed for lunch. The prices are good too. There's one staff member who always smiles when she sees me.
(5)
Brian G.
Called tonight to order two gyro meals and some tabouli to go, never realized he was in the process os closing. I arrived at 6.15 (closing time 6pm on Saturday) and he was waiting for me with a smile - even allowed me time to select a pastry or two for dessert. Great place, the gyro was excellent!
(5)
Mohammad F.
Amazing food. Great atmosphere. Try Makmoor and eggplant salad for sure.
(5)
Nat M.
Most reliable spot in AA. A local gem
(5)
Dora C.
Eggplant Babaganoush! Looooove it. Get it with the tabouli and mjeddara. I'm not entirely sure if I'm making the last word up... but I can't remember the exact name of the dish. I still have leftovers in the fridge because I'm too hesitant to have the dish disappear altogether.Yeah. It's THAT good.
(5)
Linh S.
My family loves this place so much that we had them cater our wedding (despite the fact that we're Vietnamese and Korean Americans) and we even tried to come when I went into labor with our first child. UM-OSU football traffic and super-fast labor prevented me from getting my beloved beet baba before going to the hospital. Priorities, priorities! The owners are really lovely and did an excellent job feeding our guests at an outdoor wedding. Our vegetarian guests were so happy to have such delicious options since we also had Korean-Chinese food catered in from another restaurant. The Asian stuff was very meat-centric. But even our Asian family members liked the Syrian food because of how nicely spiced it was. Jinan made our wedding cake, too. We order the same flavor, lemon mousse, for our anniversaries. The cake just melts in your mouth. Our kids have grown up eating the combos with makmoor, tomato red bulgar, and chicken shawarma. As someone who grew up in Dearborn, it was nice to experience the differences between Lebanese and Syrian food...and have my children appreciate the differences, too. Jinan and her husband are very sweet with them. And now that the place has been renovated, there's more room to sit and keep the kids away from the long line at the counter. One tip is to speak up when ordering since it can be loud behind the counter. I've also called ahead and bought lunch combos for pickup whenever I treat staff. It's always ready to go and I never have to wait around. If you do find yourself in line, read the article on Janin and how she started through WCC's Culinary Arts program. You'll be inspired! We'll be heading over more often now that students have cleared out for the summer, freeing up parking and making the lines shorter. The food is perfect for a picnic at the Arb or Gallup Park. We also like to buy tubs of beet baba and makmoor for potlucks, supplementing with bread from Jerusalem International Market just around the corner. Being lazy never tasted so good.
(5)
Megan M.
This place has never let me down. I've had many delightful summer dinners of the falafel sandwich and a side of delicious, lemony tebooleh, sitting at the tables outside. When I had family and friends coming in from out of town for a graduation, I ordered about $50 worth of tebooleh, bulgur salad, grape leaves, hummus, m'jeddarah, and cheese pies. This repast fed 10 people with leftovers for days. I can't recommend the beet salad enough. If you like beets to begin with, you won't be able to resist it. If you've never been a beet fan, well, the way to start is when they're marinated with onions and feta.
(4)
Brandon H.
Made a visit (my first) to this little restaurant with a friend last week, and overall I was pleased, and will likely go back. My friend and I both got the same dish, which was a meat "combo" that included a Chicken Cheese Round (a pie type thing), Makmoor (baked eggplant w/ tomatoes), 2 Pcs. Falafel (everyone knows what these are, right?!). Right. The cheese round was tasty, soft baked bread filled with seasoned chicken and a mild cheese. The Makmoor was very savory, although a bit oily. The falafel was as dry as English humor. Still, the flavors were all really good. The pies are the way to go, if you ask me, and they also have a beet-hommus that looked intriguing. Give it a try, and check their website for coupons and their full menu, because it can be a bit overwhelming when you see all the pies/dishes presented to you deli style.
(3)
Sarah R.
If you want to find good Middle Eastern deli food or baked goods, there are cheaper places than Syrian Cuisine & Exotic Bakeries. If you want some good stuff on a budget, hit Packard Road and get cold deli food from Aladdin's Market and hot pastries from the Zeidan Bakery a few doors down. However, if you're looking for good Middle Eastern food with some unusual options, and you don't mind paying a little extra, then you should check out this restaurant in the Courtyard shopping complex off Plymouth Road. I thought their prices were a little high- I've gotten huge pieces of herbed bread from Zeidan for $1.50, and from Exotic Bakeries, I got a much smaller piece of bread for $2.50. However, they do have some selections I have not seen anywhere else. I recommend the bread with red pepper and walnuts. The red bell pepper is probably roasted first, then smeared on the bread, sprinkled with sesame seeds and chopped walnuts, drizzled with olive oil and then baked some more. It's quite tasty and a pretty scarlet color as well.
(4)
Ellen L.
Oh so GOOOD! We got different meat-filled pastries, the #4 Combo, rice pudding, and apricot truffle. Everything was yummy. I know I won't be able to find this anywhere else so it's a definite treat for visitors.
(5)
Annette U.
I went for dinner with my friend and we both loved our food. I need to go back for the beet salad as they were out when we arrived. One of the best places I have been to out here!
(5)
Anna D.
A hidden treasure! The best Middle Eastern food I've ever had! This lil' cafe is located in a back corner of the Plymouth Road mall that houses Cafe Marie. The cafe is run by a nice Syrian couple. When I walked in I was greeted by the owner. He explained that I could select a particular combo plate or just pick 3 items from the display case. I opted to pick 3 items, and the owner scooped my food onto a plate and then heated it in the microwave. The owners make all the food ahead of time so you can go in, point at what you want, and get to chowin' right away. It's fast, convenient, and yummy. Unfortunately I can't remember the names of the dishes I had, but one of them was an eggplant-based stew that melts in yer mouth. Heaven! I also had a zesty lentil-lemon salad that was unlike any lentil salad I've had before. I also had some hard-to-find anise tea, which is perfect for a chilly day. This place is worth the trip if you like culinary adventure.
(4)
Chenna V.
"Best Hummus and good middle eastern food". Try their lunch combos, not expensive (less than $10). They have one of the best hummus I ever had. You can find some coupons on their website : exoticbakeries.com/coupo…
(4)
Vivian C.
Best Middle Eastern place in Ann Arbor. It's on North Campus, so it can be a pain to get to if you don't live there or have a car, but it's worth the trip. As others have said, the makmoor is great and the owner is amazing.
(4)
Emilia J.
One of the best places to eat in Ann Arbor. I'm drooling just thinking about it. There are so many delicious things here, it takes a while to choose which to eat. Owners are genuine and friendly. Last time I went there they were baking bread and the whole spot smelled delicious- a perfect thing for a cold winter day. I'm a big fan of the Spinach Divine with hummus and a spinach feta pita. There's a beet hummus thing that's also amazing- forget the name of it at the moment, but truly delicious. The deserts are also fabulous, but most of the time I'm so full after the first meal that it's not possible to fit anything else in. Which is usually a good sign.
(5)
crunchette f.
i've only been in ann arbor for a week and i've been to this place 3 times already. it was the first place my teacher showed me on the tour of ann arbor, and i'm in love. the baba ganoush is lemony, creamy, and extremely smoky. the meat pie was good, though a little greasy. the donne kibbe was also very satisfying, but not as spicy as i thought it would be based on its angry red color. personally, the hummus wasn't as good as the baba ganoush, and i kind of wish there were more types of bread. i can't wait to try all the different types of pie though. i love how tangy most of the items are. the best were the truffles though. sloppy, large, and really creamy. the apricot one stood out for its distinct and cheery flavor,
(5)
Anna B.
Exotic Bakery is unbelievable. Tucked in the back of the Courtyard Shops off Plymouth Road (right next to Kim's Tailoring), this hole in the wall deli is the most authentic Syrian food I have ever tested. They have tons of options as mentioned, and you can either get something to eat there at the few tables, to go, or take enough home for dinner for 4 (something my mother did often). The couple who owns it is incredibly friendly. Over the years my mom has formed a relationship with them, and they are great people. Also as mentioned, they do great catering. We did an event with them in the fall, and we came to pick up the food, and they insisted on carrying it all out to the car, despite our protests. If you want some authentic, and delicious, Syrian and Middle Eastern food, this is the place to go. And if you have some time, strike up a conversation with the owners.
(5)
Kate B.
I love this restaurant...well, actually it's a deli as most dishes are wrap and carry-out salads and sandwiches. I occasionally get homesick for my great-aunty's cooking and this is the place that comes closest (we're Armenian on that side). Delicious, fresh salads: taboulli, lentil, chick-pea, lemon-dressed potato, hummus, baba, feta-redpepper, and all kinds of baked meat, cheese, and veggie pies. There is a sandwich menu for shwarma and kebob take-away: meat, garlic sauce, tomato, lettuce (or taboulli) and pickle wrapped up in a soft pita...mmmmm. There is also a dessert case with many different kinds of mamoul, bakalava, and other phyllo sweets...and some chocolate cakes too. The staff are wonderful - very friendly, the place has a nice homey feel.
(4)
Sara G.
A friend hipped me to this place a few years ago. I had them cater a few events--they're very reasonably priced caterers believe it or not. Also, a TON OF FOOD. You'll have leftovers for days. The combos are great--you can choose up to three items if the ones listed on the menu don't tickle your tongue. They're not as student pocket-friendly as J-Garden, but you get a LOT of food, and I think it's actually better. They have a lot of unusual items (beet baba ganoush, red pepper kibbee) and one of my favorites, Syrian potato salad. If you eat in and find yourself having to use the restroom, you'll walk through the kitchen. There you will find pots and racks overfilled with homemade goodness. Pastries half made, chickens fresh from the roaster, glistening with grillmarks. It smells fantastic. Looking to quash that Middle-Eastern food craving? Save your gas money and stay in town!!
(4)
Christine E.
Ok, so just kidding about their pies. I went in and ordered the spinach pies I'd eaten with some enjoyment last time. They weren't the best, but this is the closest Arabic bakery to me and I just wanted some fatayar bizbanigh that I could pop in the toaster for breakfast. I bought six, and they were AWFUL. Clearly stale, and the spinach was totally flavorless. Major disappointment, I won't be going back.
(1)
LISA C.
Yum. Let me say that again; YUM! Had the beet salad, eggplant salad, beef covered in pepper sauce [I forget the name], hawala, and walnut baklava. All were absolutely delicious. What a hidden little gem this place is. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Sarms J.
they carry some unusual items, various salads and such, all top notch! Friendly staff, they Baghdad tea is quite nice too! I'm not a huge fan of microwaves, but I'm still giving them 5 stars because their food is that good. Try the almond tart for dessert!
(5)
Jessica K.
I used to live across the street from this place while still in college, and get food by the pound from here constantly. I'm Syrian, and not an AA native, so it felt like home. Favorites: b'stilla, mjadara, tabbouleh (well, obv). If you like rice pudding, they have a pretty good version here. Not the best I've ever had, but better than I can make myself, for sure.
(5)
Jules R.
I tried this restaurant last week after seeing all of the great reviews. My friend and I both ordered a combo plate so we could try as much of a variety we could our first time there. All in all, I had a very nice experience. The food was not out of this world but it was still very, very good! For the price you pay you get a ton of food! It's a great deal. Everythign was totally authentic and fresh. There are a few tables outside where you can dine and take-out is also available. I recommend trying one of the truffles, they are only 2$ and a are a small, chocolately rich dessert for after your meal (if you can squeeze a truffle in :) ) I will definitely coming be back soon!
(4)
Heather C.
Exotic is definitely one of my top picks for lunch, especially since I can't make it downtown during this time. Like the previous reviewer, the combos are huge, and still a good deal even though they are up to $8.96, oh well... I always get a plate of beef kefta, syrian yogurt, and the legume salad. Soooo good. I've also tried a some of the other offerings, I like the eggplant baba and the chicken rolls, but not a fan of the spinach roll or the falafel. But there are so many things to choose from, you'll definitely find something you like. I've never gotten a sandwich, but I hear they are good. Also, the people who work here are very nice. This place can be hard to find, but it's worth seeking out if you're on or near Plymouth Road.
(4)
Kmc D.
I had the best tabouli salad in this place. The spinach pastry is warm and filling for a cold day. all the food is fresh and authentic.
(4)
Aaron J.
Amazing amazing amazing. Not to be missed.
(5)
Matthew Z.
Amazing!!! One of my favorites in Ann Arbor
(5)
Vera Y.
Truly the only place to eat lunch near North Campus. I cannot even begin to estimate how many times I've crossed Plymouth Rd to eat at Syrian. I split the combo plate with my husband and we always get the spinach divine, the baba ganoush, and the beet salad. We occasionally try others but those are our go-to dishes. The place is small and it gets hot inside in the summer. However the food is really good and the price is very reasonable for a heaping dish. Syrian is delightful and will always be a top choice for lunch for the North Campus crowd.
(5)
Huong T.
Don't let the shabby appearance deceive you, this place is fabulous. I tried the chicken schwarma, beef sandwich, tabbouleh and beet salad. The chicken was moist, and the garlic sauce superbly tasty. The beef had flavors I didn't expect - cinnamon, cumin and more. I agree with the other yelpers; the beet salad was delicious. It was my husband's favorite, and he doesn't even like beets. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Becky D.
One of Ann Arbor's BEST places to eat! Spinach Divine is about as addictive as crack. Although I no longer live in Ann Arbor, every time I get back there, I will go out of my way to come here. I'll purchase all of my favorites in to-go containers and have enough to last a few days. I know it looks like a dive, but the food is divine!!
(5)
Andrew L.
I love this place. It's close to U of M's North Campus and my apartment. I've tried the falafel, meat pies, veggie pies, sandwiches, and a bunch of sides. They have all been good. Don't forget dessert, I usually don't save room for sweets, but the baklava is good too.
(5)
Nadi T.
If you enjoy Arabic Food, then honestly look no further. This cafe/restaurant has all you need. Everything offered reminds me of Syria and is prepared to perfection. The Shawerma is delicious and the tabouleh is delightful. Everything on the menu is prepared by the Owners who in my opinion make this restaurant amazing.
(5)
Jackie C.
This food is the real deal. Syrian Cuisine and Exotic Bakeries has incredible salads with subtle flavors -- roasted eggplant bathed in a marinade of onions, peppers, vinegar and olive oil; tabbouleh made in a traditional style -- heavy on the parsley, light on the bulgar; the beet salad, a real gem -- beets cooked to a perfect tenderness with feta and spices. And that's just three of the many, many choices! The baked goods were also wonderful. We had the house tea (a fragrant clear chai) with a Date Mamool, a Walnut Mamool and Namoura. The Mamool are generous ball cookies, each with a particular dough to match the texture of the filling. The walnut variety was excellent -- it was fragranced perhaps with rosewater or jasmine and the nut filling managed to be crumbly and light. The dough for the date variety was less sweet, more dusty, perfect texture with the dense dried fruit. The Namoura is an almond, seminola and honey cake -- thick, rich, and sticky. Great with tea. The decor is simple, a little opportunistic, not fancy or premeditated. However, with food this good and with this kind of heart, you're eyes will be closed with delight anyway, so who needs it?
(4)
Bjorn G.
This is my favorite place to eat in Ann Arbor, bar none. It's a Syrian deli with over 30 items to choose from, including typical middle-eastern dishes but also a few Syrian specialties. You can get a three-item combo for $6.50, which is a dinner-sized portion. The combos on the board are really just suggestions: you can mix and match any three items. My favorite combo is chicken kefta, spinach divine and beet babaganouj. You can't get that dish anywhere else! Used to be this was the only place in town that had a sojok sandwich, but nowadays Kebab Palace has it too. (Theirs is better than Exotic Bakeries', in my book.) There are plenty of vegetarian options, in fact most of the items are vegetarian or vegan. Their salads are also quite good. Ironically, their real specialties are the baked goods: they appear to do a big business catering desserts. Try the amaretto cake with some Aleppo tea, that's one of my favorites.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Nate B.
Trusted the yelp review and went with my family after the Michigan UNLV game. Had chicken schwarma and babaganosh side. Very on point and great service. Nice family shop/deli and would highly recommend.
(5)Sania M.
This place is really good. The tabbouleh, hummus, and baba ghanoush are delish. A must try is the cauliflower salad and kibbeh! I have frequented this place often and plan on continuing to visit
(5)Sam G.
Pretty wonderful place for those of us who have a buffet personality - their display counters are full of salads and meats and veggie concoctions. For 10 bucks you can get an entree and two sides, plus pita bread, which is always too much for me to eat in one sitting. There are beet salads and pilafs and yogurt dressed things and spiced meats. And you can sample any you'd like before committing to full helpings. Your selections then go onto a plate and that plate goes into the microwave for heating. Which is really the only thing I cringe about. It's efficient, I get it, but a microwave? Sigh. But no worries. The food is still tasty and fresh and relatively healthful. It's a great place to go when people in the group are picky or have different dietary restrictions. If someone has a sweet tooth, there's also a substantial bakery case full of international pastries from baklava to cannoli - I've not sampled those yet. If you're thirsty and need caffeination, go for their Baghdad tea which is spiced black tea (kinda like a chai). Free refills. I could drink it for days. Dining is super informal and the dining space is barebones with a mild cafeteria vibe - doesn't matter because the smells and tastes of the food will fill up the space and your soul.
(4)Natasha P.
My husband and I used to get carry out from here very often when we lived in Ann Arbor. They have a great selection of meat pies and other Middle Eastern bakery items, and their shawarmas are excellent. They also have some very nice baklava. The nicest part is that they are very reasonably priced, so you can really get a big section without breaking the bank.
(4)Kendall B.
A great family business, friendly, healthy, positive energy. Great variety of savory and sweet homemade items, really pleasant environment, lovely outdoor seating when the weather is good. A teeny bit on the pricey side, but not so out of line with Ann Arbor averages. My fave combination plate: Oozie, okra salad, beet babaganoosh, and an Aleppo tea.
(5)Janice L.
First time trying Syrian food. I really like the falafel! Will be coming back for more
(4)Misuzu T.
Maybe I wasn't hungry enough.... Maybe there's too much good middle eastern food in Astoria, NY. Then again, maybe I just didn't understand what kind of dish I was getting. I thought the combo platter #4 I got was ok. I didn't taste enough meat in the ozee, but maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. The dough was very good though. The desserts were AMAZING when I lived here. This time around not too sure about that semi crusty shell the mocha truffle has. I'll come back again when I'm famished and try something else, just to see if I'm just back to being a stuck up, picky, annoying New Yorker all over again..
(3)Martin S.
The friendliest owners (Monib and Jinan) and staff (Tamara and Ayla). The best middle eastern restaurant around at reasonable prices. Some of my favorites: Sides: beet salad, eggplant salad, burghul, cauliflower salad, makmoor, tabouli, legume salad, hummus, yogurt, spinach pie, fattoush Sandwiches: shawarma, gyro Dessert: mocha mousse bar, baklava, truffles (raspberry/amaretto) Drinks: house blend tea, and spiced coffee.
(5)Mia M.
I found myself here after trying to find parking for No Thai, and needing to park a bit further away than anticipated. On my walk over, I ended up in front of this place, and the aroma stopped me dead in my tracks. My partner and I debated for a moment, but ultimately ended up inside. I'm so glad we went! The woman working behind the counter was extremely kind, helpful, and patient. We'd never been before, and were overwhelmed with options. She offered suggestions and samples, and we figured out our meals in no time. One thing that surprised me was the fact that they did microwave the food. It was all precooked and cooled in a deli case, so things were microwaved before being served. I didn't mind much since everything was so delicious! The space was also quite small, and the seating area was a bit cramped, but again, it didn't bother me because the food was just that great. I absolutely can not wait to come back to Syrian Cuisine & Exotic Bakeries. Next time, I'll be sure to grab some hummus to go as well. It was the best hummus I'd ever had!
(5)Nicole R.
I went there with my extended family who came to visit and it was a great time. Whoever served us was very friendly and accommodating. My favorite items were the beet salad, eggplant hummus, and the spinach pie. I didn't enjoy the meat items as much. But maybe it's a personal thing. I liked being able to see the food that I purchased!
(5)Corey S.
Sooo good-- unassuming but way better value and quality than many other places in Ann Arbor. I ate here before I had an audition at the music school and I was accepted, no doubt due to the luscious flavors of the beet salad
(5)Saud A.
It's really unclean food and untasty too. In addition, I got stomach flu after i ate there which made me sick a few days. Wish I can give it less one star.
(1)Md. Shahnoor A.
Came here before, and service/food was quite good, even though a bit pricey. But this time, there's a new person at the counter ;claims he's married to the owners' daughter (so now HE's the owner). He REALLY needs to improve his manners. He was quite rude.
(3)Rebecca C.
Friendly staff, delicious food, great experience! My partner and I are vegan and they had plenty of options! Definitely will be returning here.
(5)N P.
Surprised I haven't reviewed this place yet. I thought I did but anyway I'll keep it brief. The food here is amazing. They have a large amount of nonvegetarian and vegetarian and vegan choices. For vegetarians, they have okra, grape leaves, potato salad, eggplant salad, mushroom salad, legume salad, spinach salad, and so many other choices. They have multiple "pies" such as spinach pie, cheese pie, red pepper pie and other pies. They have falafel and mjadra sandwiches. My friend loves the makmoor (eggplant and mint and garlic). I really like the combo plates. They have about 10 vegetarian combo plates where the above items are combined for about $10. They have a beet baba ganoush which I really liked, and it was interesting how the flavor changed with the beet rather than just the typical eggplant. However, while the flavor is outstanding the portion sizes can be small. For example, for the combo you get three items but you can get nearly half a plate of the salad (tabbouleh) and small amounts of the main dish. It varies with who is holding the spoon and serving! I see a lot of pictures on here that show dishes filled with food. We've rarely gotten that much in our portions and sometimes I've been hungry leaving the place. There is however one woman who works there who is very sweet and she has always given us a lot (maybe she recognizes us for having gone there so much). So I'm docking a star only for portion sizes and value. If it's consistent and we get a lot at each visit then I'll bump it up. The flavor is 5 star worthy. For those from out of town (or new students at the University), Ann Arbor has a lot of interesting sections of the city out of the campus and downtown area. It is surprising how much great world cuisine there is in Ann Arbor. This area of town, closer to North Campus, has many great restaurants and I will review more later.
(4)Youb G.
The food is good. But when I was there today the owner allowed someone to smoke inside the restaurant. When I mentioned it they basically ignored it. Horrible!
(1)Marilyn B.
Love the food! Tamara is great and remembers me by name and my usual order. I love the chicken Kefta, Legume Salad, Beet Salad, Eggplant, Spinach Divine, I could go on and on... this is my Thursday go to for lunch. Can't say enough about this Ann Arbor favorite.
(5)Johanna K.
The best Mediterranean food I've had (and I've been to Turkey and Jordan). It's completely fresh and delicious. The restaurant is casual deli style.
(5)Andrea G.
Try their cauliflower salad! I can eat a tub of it. The sweet treats looked pretty good, i tried one and it didnt taste as good as it looked.
(4)S C.
I've had lunch here a few times good food, friendly service. Will continue to repeat!
(4)Pat D.
Love the chicken schawarma and eggplant baba ghanouj. I have been coming here for years.
(5)Jared W.
Fantastic food, fast service, decent price... what more could you want out of a lunch?
(4)Jackie K.
I want to give it 3.99 stars. Here's the deal - it's deli style and all the food is pre-made (which makes it quick) - you tell him what you want and he plates it for you. But, it's just not quite 4 stars in my book because they microwave the food. It all tastes good but something about microwaved meat kinda put me off. I'd come back for a quick bite to eat and I'd recommend it - I just wish they had hot storage for their food instead of microwaving (maybe I'm too picky)? Definitely try it though!!!
(4)Thomas M.
Pretty good middle eastern food. They have a lot of unique dishes that most places don't have. And their grape leaves are the best I have had. The only problem for me, and it is just a personal problem is that they try to heat up a lot of the food in a microwave right behind a counter. I do not like microwaves. I know many restaurants utilize microwaves, but at least they do it in the back... Oh yes, def. get the rice pudding! Phenomenal!
(4)Wammy W.
I have tried the chicken schwarma, and the turkey kebbeh, both tasted not bad, but ALL of their food is pre-made. And I love freshly-made food. So would not return.
(3)Rafa R.
I love this place! Food is always delicious and tasty. I usually get the $10 combo plate with beef and turkey kefta, makmoor, and hummus. Service is good, prices are on the slightly high side, and seating is limited, but taste of the food wins out.
(5)Cody A.
I love everything at this restaurant, especially their large number of vegetarian options and go out of my way to eat here anytime Im even close to Ann Arbor. I especially love their beet baba, which isnt anything Ive ever seen anywhere else.
(5)Elaina S.
This is best-kept secret of Ann Arbor's north side, but judging by lunch crowd, enough locals know about this yummy place to keep them plenty busy. I have been eating here for years, and it is always a pleasure when the owner, Jinan Elkhatib, and her family recognize and greet us, and make US feel like family. The lunch special is a great value. I'll bet that you will have food left over to take home. I recommend the green beans and tomato, the zesty lemon potato salad. My son loves the Ozee, a unique and delicious savory pastry filled with rice, peas and ground lamb, spiced with a touch of cinnamon. Homemade rice pudding is delicious. This is THE place to go for variety of vegetarian and vegan, and non-vegetarian options, you just can't go wrong. All the food is made fresh in the kitchen, and all baked good are made there by hand. Jinan also specializes in beautiful wedding cakes, handmade and decorated with fresh fruit and flowers. Take a look at the bulletin board with photos from her past work. We and all our friends love Syrian Cuisine & Exotic Bakeries.
(5)Sandra S.
I would give it negative stars if I could. Yelp, I'm so dissapointed in you. Great ratings, I thought it would be great! WORST FOOD I HAVE EVER HAD. No question. There was no customers in there, which is always questionable. There were three little kids playing with a tin of sand on one of the customer tables. WHILE I was paying the guy (front counter/cashier) yelled at them to quiet down. Seriously? Your babysitting too?? When I finished paying he sat behind the food display case on a computer. The place was crammed with mismatching furniture, which would have been a problem if there was anyone else in there. The staff member, just one guy, COULD NOT HAVE CARED LESS about me being there, NO customer service skills. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but there. ....Where are the owners? do they care? Now, the food. I made the mistake of ordering a bunch of stuff all at once, then sat down and ate a couple pieces. I should have waited to see how it tasted first. I ordered the pastilla to eat there. HE MICROWAVED IT! It was disgusting, A child could make something better. Gas stations have better food. Trash cans have better food. It was a pastry/bread wrapped item and he microwaved it! Some things, maybe, can be microwaved but not bread/pastry. Otherwise, the flavor was nothing special. I had chocolate covered baklava, which was good, yes. Problem was there was only a sprinking of pistachio inside, a dusting really. Cheapos. A menu I found online said they had nourma, but they had stopped selling it. And the potato salad, which is on their OWN menu, is seasonal, but not listed as such. Bummer. I bought Oozee, chicken cheese round, and spinach pie to go. TERRIBLE. The oozee was almost entirely rice, hardly any meat. Didn't finish it. Taste was not great. The chicken cheese round had something other than chicken in it, it was like shredded pork colored, and hardly any meat, again. Worse of all, the bread was hard and crunchy. THESE ITEMS ARE NOT FRESH and even if they were made that day, they sit in a refrigerated shelf all day...and then are MICROWAVED. The spinach pie was too sour and the bread was dry again. WORST FOOD EVER and TERRIBLE SERVICE. What a waste of time yelp!
(1)Tricia K.
Absolutely delicious and a must try little hole in the wall around North campus. I recommend anything with eggplant in it either salad or sandwich style. The sandwiches usually come with a very tasty hummus/tahini inside which is super garlicky and delicious. I am also a big fan of their tabbouleh salad as it is mostly parsley and not mostly barley as most are. The food is exceedingly fresh and pretty exotic but worth taking a chance on. The meat pies are just ok but the salads are to die for. If I thought I could cook like this I'd consider being a vegetarian. They also have a bunch of yummy looking pastries and cookies but I have not tried those yet. The prices are very reasonable and this is a good place to buy some bulk food to take home and eat at your leisure.
(5)Am C.
I've been away from Ann Arbor for about two weeks now and I really miss this place! Everything is tasty, but some of my favorite things are the baba ghanouj, oozee, and red pepper kibbe. The baba ghanouj is so smoky and I could just eat it all day. If I had to choose one "favorite" thing here, it'd probably be the oozee (also known as qoozee), which is almost like a pastilla except it's filled primarily with rice instead of meat. I like to get kibbe when I can because it's time consuming to make at home, and the red pepper sauce that comes with the kibbe here is really good and bold. Not spicy, though. Do yourself a favor and get the rice pudding for dessert. It's not too sweet or heavy, and is very fluffy. It's delicious! Also, if you've never had namoura, you should try some here. The people who own/work here are very nice. If you have questions, just let them know. P.S. They have a good variety of combo plates. Each plate is pretty well-balanced with a few different things, but they also let you substitute things and/or make your own combo.
(5)Patrick T.
Came in here while I was wandering around the plaza looking for lucky kitchen. Ordered the beef kufteh sandwich to go. The wrap was good, but it wasn't rolled very tightly. The sauce dripped out of the foil and into the paper bag as I was eating, and it bore a hole through it. I also didn't get any napkins in the bag. They have a large selection of baked goods and salads pre-made. Will probably come back to try some of these items. Especially the desserts -- looks like they will satisfy any sweet tooth.
(3)Tony L.
Exotic Bakeries is conveniently located right across the street from the U-M North Campus. All of their food is pre-prepared and put in the glass display case. You can purchase items individually, or you can follow the more common route and get a "combo plate" ($9.50 with tax) of any 3 dishes (limit of 1 "discrete"/entree item). The advantage of this deli-style setup is that you can see exactly what you're getting, and service is very quick; the downside is that the food is not fresh-made, and if you go late in the day, they may run out of some items. If you don't mind microwaved food (they make no attempt to hide this), it is very tasty. Some of their unique offerings are also among my favorites: red pepper kibbeh, turkey kafta, ajjeh, oozee, and beet babaganouj. While you can get these elsewhere, the bulgur mujaddara and lentil soup are also very good. They have a second display case full of desserts; haven't sampled most, but the blueberry cheese tart was amazing. Their rice pudding is also good, very light and fluffy. Downsides: for "standard" Middle Eastern fare (falafel, hummus, shawarma, etc), you can get better quality/value elsewhere in Ann Arbor/Ypsi. Also, combo plate portions can sometimes be inconsistent.
(4)S. W.
The service if very friendly and the food is delicious! We love the eggplant salad, and the legume salad. Everything we have had has been excellent.
(5)Adam S.
Wow. Where to begin? The good is absolutely wonderful, and the pastries are wonderfully decadent! The owner its a very friendly and bubbly person. This place is much like a deli in the way it is set up, with the food pre-made in display cases. You can purchase several items to dine in, in a variety of combos. You can also buy items by the pound, deli style.
(5)Chris P.
If hand sanitation doesn't bother you then you'll love this place. Unfortunately the owner has never taken a serve safe class nor has he any consideration for hand sanitation. Wearing gloves does not mean that when you take out the trash then touch food your hands are perpetually clean. This is unfortunate because the food without trash cross contamination is great. I was really hoping to make this a staple in my diet but unfortunately can't get over the thought of feces on my pita. Really though, the hummus is great the pies are tasty and the various salads are interesting. Eat at your own risk; I won't be going back.
(2)Ruth C.
Originally, we planned to go to the Indian place in the next-door building. They were closed on Mondays, so we went to Syrian Cuisine instead. I'm glad we ended up here. Lunch combos are around $9. I got the Gyro, Bulgar, and Cucumber Yogurt plate (also came with pita). It was really tasty. I particularly enjoyed the bulgar pilaf. My partner got the Chicken Cheese Round, Makmoor (an eggplant dish), and Falafel. It was also pretty good. The store is fairly small and gets pretty packed for lunch. Go a little before 12, though, and you're golden.
(4)Binnan O.
Ambiance: Not much in the way of ambiance, this place just feels like a deli with a large display case but it's filled with dangerously-delicious looking delicacies. The owner was very friendly and explained to us what each thing was. Had to look around but free water is in a mini-cooler in the coner to the right when you walk in and you clean your own tables by putting them in bins also to the right when you walk in. Food: I got the chicke schwaerma and the red pepper beef here. Everything is pre-made so you'll see her nuking and heating things up but this was fine, most restaurants par-cook their dishes anyways. The schwaerma was huge! The chicken was well-seasoned, moist and tender and accomplanied by tomatoes, a tangy potent garlic spread and slightly dry lettuce which was a complaint. Actually my biggest complaint here was the pita they used for the wrapping, it was just really thin and tough like leather. I still enjoyed my schwaerma but that's definitely something they can improve upon. The red pepper beef was suuuper yummy and definitely my favorite thing. It was mild-moderately spicy with a strong red pepper flavor and served on warm crumbly ground beef. I will definitely try getting the sandwich form next time. My fiance got the chicken cheese round pastry which was also very good! It was filled with shredded chicken which was slightly dry but very tasty with a hint of some sweet spice like cinnamon. Overal this place was very tasty and the service was great, our meal came out to $22 for a schwaerma, a chicken cheese round combination, and a side of red pepper beef which is not cheap but not outrageous for a meal that left us stuffed. I would definitely come here again.
(4)Reed N.
The hummus here is a little thinner than average, but the flavors are so right. The babaganoush was also a little thinner. But smoky and complex. I also had spinach pie, which was wonderful with both of the purees. Finally, I had Makmoor. The eggplant, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and oil all making a symphony of flavor when roasted perfectly as had been done here. I also like the family-run feel of this place.
(5)Lil L.
I was so excited to try this place and I was so disappointed. $9.50 for 2 pies (meat & spinach) and a 1/2 lb. of mjadra. Service was EXCELLENT!! But the taste of the food I ordered was blak. The spinach pie tasted like frozen spinach, bread was so bland. Meat pie was just gross, threw it out, and the mjadra tasted like it was made w/ rancid oil. More of a cafe style joint. Small. All food is in a case, pre-made. Canned beverages. Takes cash and CC. I read the reviews and really did want to love this place, saddly won't ever go back :(
(2)Cyril G.
The best middle eastern restaurant in Ann Arbor (and I've tried most of them)!!! The prices are slightly on the high side but well worth it. Great location too within walking distance of North Campus. They have many tasty salads, great hummus and the best spinach pie I know. You really have to try their "spinach divine" salad which is a spinach cooked in olive oil with walnuts or their cauliflower and tahini salad!!
(5)Briza Y.
I'm beginning to rate a place according to it's rice pudding and they have AMAZING rice pudding. It's not thick and heavy like regular rice pudding. This is like whipped cream with rice. It might sound odd, but just trust me and get some before it sells out! I went there last night just for a container of it and the last container of it had just be purchased! I was disappointed, but glad to see that they make it fresh everyday. I've had the Chicken Shwarma which can easily feed two. The spices were fantastic and the bread was just soft and chewy enough. I also purchased a small container of Tomato Red Bulgur and Makmoor. I had both warm and actually took a small amount of makmoor and bulgur together- yum! Lastly I had some walnut baklava. It was not sickingly sweet like some baklava can be. It will definitely be a treat every once and awhile for me! I had plenty of leftovers from my visit and continued to enjoy the food for the next 2days! You won't be disappointed!
(4)Bob B.
Always great food! Owners are especially pleasant as well as all the employees! Prices are great and servings are large. Go with several folks and share.
(5)Michelle H.
Delicious beet salad and the cheese meat pie I have ever had. The portions were huge and the staff friendly and efficient
(5)Merlin O.
Two words; beet Babajanous. Seriously the best thing that ever happened to beets, and I generally love beets anyway. Fast friendly service, a place were meat lovers and vegetarians can both get a satisfying meal. I haven't dabbled much in the sweets area because I'm usually too full. Definitely a place to return to over and over again!
(5)Frank C.
Two things really stood out about this place: they microwave their food and they handle money with the gloves they use to prepare food. I ate here twice, and a different person was working behind the counter each time, and neither took off their gloves when handling money. whats the point of wearing gloves if the gloves have touched money?
(2)Jenny L.
my heart and stomach always leave with a smile after getting served delicious beet salad, chicken shawarma, fattoush, and baklava from the little old man behind the counter. seriously, try the beet salad. you will not be disappointed!
(4)Clover G.
There are many restaurants in Ann Arbor that have delicious Chicken Shawarma sandwiches, but Syrian Cuisine has several things that make it unique: beet salad, Syrian yogurt, and rice pudding! So far, I haven't been able to find another restaurant with beet salad as delicious, or rice pudding as fluffy. Plus the owners are so nice!
(5)Lena L.
Did not meet my expectations. Expensive for quality and quantity as well as choice!
(2)Amir G.
Not sure what all the hype is about. Was very unimpressed with the food here. To each their own...
(3)M L.
ahhh shucks reading all these reviews makes me wish i had their rice pudding! a solid 4 stars for this restaurant. their tabbouleh is fresh, zesty, and delicious. their okra stew is to die for. the meat koftas are pretty good, hummus is smooth and tasty; i've heard good stuff about their baba ganoush and other dips.. pastries are made with a heavy hand and so are kinda coarse.. as in vs a delicate french pastry.. the baklavas are pretty good, as are their fruit and nut bars. 4 stars cuz.. for the price, i'd wish the food was more freshly prepared.. yes i know most of the dishes are made daily, but it's a little of a letdown to see them nuke everything in the microwave. portions are also inconsistent; i'd definitely recommend eating in rather than taking out-- the take out portions for some reason are significantly smaller. i've heard that they cook everything they sell in the tiny kitchen at the back; the husband does the pastries and desserts while the wife does the savories.. and their daughter is the server and cashier. lovely people who make small talk and enjoy having their customers in their restaurant (ironically you'd think this to be natural, but this is not always the case) between jerusalem garden downtown and here, i'd choose this place because it's less hippy-like and more family. Although jerusalem's lentil soup is quite something... The server remembered me after just 5 visits! and this is pretty awesome since i'm from out of town, so i only go back every two months or so. Not bad for a family-run restaurant.
(4)Mike B.
The rice pudding is incredible!!!
(4)Victoria S.
I love their food, and I see a Siti in the back making it sometimes. They're often packed for lunch. The prices are good too. There's one staff member who always smiles when she sees me.
(5)Brian G.
Called tonight to order two gyro meals and some tabouli to go, never realized he was in the process os closing. I arrived at 6.15 (closing time 6pm on Saturday) and he was waiting for me with a smile - even allowed me time to select a pastry or two for dessert. Great place, the gyro was excellent!
(5)Mohammad F.
Amazing food. Great atmosphere. Try Makmoor and eggplant salad for sure.
(5)Nat M.
Most reliable spot in AA. A local gem
(5)Dora C.
Eggplant Babaganoush! Looooove it. Get it with the tabouli and mjeddara. I'm not entirely sure if I'm making the last word up... but I can't remember the exact name of the dish. I still have leftovers in the fridge because I'm too hesitant to have the dish disappear altogether.Yeah. It's THAT good.
(5)Linh S.
My family loves this place so much that we had them cater our wedding (despite the fact that we're Vietnamese and Korean Americans) and we even tried to come when I went into labor with our first child. UM-OSU football traffic and super-fast labor prevented me from getting my beloved beet baba before going to the hospital. Priorities, priorities! The owners are really lovely and did an excellent job feeding our guests at an outdoor wedding. Our vegetarian guests were so happy to have such delicious options since we also had Korean-Chinese food catered in from another restaurant. The Asian stuff was very meat-centric. But even our Asian family members liked the Syrian food because of how nicely spiced it was. Jinan made our wedding cake, too. We order the same flavor, lemon mousse, for our anniversaries. The cake just melts in your mouth. Our kids have grown up eating the combos with makmoor, tomato red bulgar, and chicken shawarma. As someone who grew up in Dearborn, it was nice to experience the differences between Lebanese and Syrian food...and have my children appreciate the differences, too. Jinan and her husband are very sweet with them. And now that the place has been renovated, there's more room to sit and keep the kids away from the long line at the counter. One tip is to speak up when ordering since it can be loud behind the counter. I've also called ahead and bought lunch combos for pickup whenever I treat staff. It's always ready to go and I never have to wait around. If you do find yourself in line, read the article on Janin and how she started through WCC's Culinary Arts program. You'll be inspired! We'll be heading over more often now that students have cleared out for the summer, freeing up parking and making the lines shorter. The food is perfect for a picnic at the Arb or Gallup Park. We also like to buy tubs of beet baba and makmoor for potlucks, supplementing with bread from Jerusalem International Market just around the corner. Being lazy never tasted so good.
(5)Megan M.
This place has never let me down. I've had many delightful summer dinners of the falafel sandwich and a side of delicious, lemony tebooleh, sitting at the tables outside. When I had family and friends coming in from out of town for a graduation, I ordered about $50 worth of tebooleh, bulgur salad, grape leaves, hummus, m'jeddarah, and cheese pies. This repast fed 10 people with leftovers for days. I can't recommend the beet salad enough. If you like beets to begin with, you won't be able to resist it. If you've never been a beet fan, well, the way to start is when they're marinated with onions and feta.
(4)Brandon H.
Made a visit (my first) to this little restaurant with a friend last week, and overall I was pleased, and will likely go back. My friend and I both got the same dish, which was a meat "combo" that included a Chicken Cheese Round (a pie type thing), Makmoor (baked eggplant w/ tomatoes), 2 Pcs. Falafel (everyone knows what these are, right?!). Right. The cheese round was tasty, soft baked bread filled with seasoned chicken and a mild cheese. The Makmoor was very savory, although a bit oily. The falafel was as dry as English humor. Still, the flavors were all really good. The pies are the way to go, if you ask me, and they also have a beet-hommus that looked intriguing. Give it a try, and check their website for coupons and their full menu, because it can be a bit overwhelming when you see all the pies/dishes presented to you deli style.
(3)Sarah R.
If you want to find good Middle Eastern deli food or baked goods, there are cheaper places than Syrian Cuisine & Exotic Bakeries. If you want some good stuff on a budget, hit Packard Road and get cold deli food from Aladdin's Market and hot pastries from the Zeidan Bakery a few doors down. However, if you're looking for good Middle Eastern food with some unusual options, and you don't mind paying a little extra, then you should check out this restaurant in the Courtyard shopping complex off Plymouth Road. I thought their prices were a little high- I've gotten huge pieces of herbed bread from Zeidan for $1.50, and from Exotic Bakeries, I got a much smaller piece of bread for $2.50. However, they do have some selections I have not seen anywhere else. I recommend the bread with red pepper and walnuts. The red bell pepper is probably roasted first, then smeared on the bread, sprinkled with sesame seeds and chopped walnuts, drizzled with olive oil and then baked some more. It's quite tasty and a pretty scarlet color as well.
(4)Ellen L.
Oh so GOOOD! We got different meat-filled pastries, the #4 Combo, rice pudding, and apricot truffle. Everything was yummy. I know I won't be able to find this anywhere else so it's a definite treat for visitors.
(5)Annette U.
I went for dinner with my friend and we both loved our food. I need to go back for the beet salad as they were out when we arrived. One of the best places I have been to out here!
(5)Anna D.
A hidden treasure! The best Middle Eastern food I've ever had! This lil' cafe is located in a back corner of the Plymouth Road mall that houses Cafe Marie. The cafe is run by a nice Syrian couple. When I walked in I was greeted by the owner. He explained that I could select a particular combo plate or just pick 3 items from the display case. I opted to pick 3 items, and the owner scooped my food onto a plate and then heated it in the microwave. The owners make all the food ahead of time so you can go in, point at what you want, and get to chowin' right away. It's fast, convenient, and yummy. Unfortunately I can't remember the names of the dishes I had, but one of them was an eggplant-based stew that melts in yer mouth. Heaven! I also had a zesty lentil-lemon salad that was unlike any lentil salad I've had before. I also had some hard-to-find anise tea, which is perfect for a chilly day. This place is worth the trip if you like culinary adventure.
(4)Chenna V.
"Best Hummus and good middle eastern food". Try their lunch combos, not expensive (less than $10). They have one of the best hummus I ever had. You can find some coupons on their website : exoticbakeries.com/coupo…
(4)Vivian C.
Best Middle Eastern place in Ann Arbor. It's on North Campus, so it can be a pain to get to if you don't live there or have a car, but it's worth the trip. As others have said, the makmoor is great and the owner is amazing.
(4)Emilia J.
One of the best places to eat in Ann Arbor. I'm drooling just thinking about it. There are so many delicious things here, it takes a while to choose which to eat. Owners are genuine and friendly. Last time I went there they were baking bread and the whole spot smelled delicious- a perfect thing for a cold winter day. I'm a big fan of the Spinach Divine with hummus and a spinach feta pita. There's a beet hummus thing that's also amazing- forget the name of it at the moment, but truly delicious. The deserts are also fabulous, but most of the time I'm so full after the first meal that it's not possible to fit anything else in. Which is usually a good sign.
(5)crunchette f.
i've only been in ann arbor for a week and i've been to this place 3 times already. it was the first place my teacher showed me on the tour of ann arbor, and i'm in love. the baba ganoush is lemony, creamy, and extremely smoky. the meat pie was good, though a little greasy. the donne kibbe was also very satisfying, but not as spicy as i thought it would be based on its angry red color. personally, the hummus wasn't as good as the baba ganoush, and i kind of wish there were more types of bread. i can't wait to try all the different types of pie though. i love how tangy most of the items are. the best were the truffles though. sloppy, large, and really creamy. the apricot one stood out for its distinct and cheery flavor,
(5)Anna B.
Exotic Bakery is unbelievable. Tucked in the back of the Courtyard Shops off Plymouth Road (right next to Kim's Tailoring), this hole in the wall deli is the most authentic Syrian food I have ever tested. They have tons of options as mentioned, and you can either get something to eat there at the few tables, to go, or take enough home for dinner for 4 (something my mother did often). The couple who owns it is incredibly friendly. Over the years my mom has formed a relationship with them, and they are great people. Also as mentioned, they do great catering. We did an event with them in the fall, and we came to pick up the food, and they insisted on carrying it all out to the car, despite our protests. If you want some authentic, and delicious, Syrian and Middle Eastern food, this is the place to go. And if you have some time, strike up a conversation with the owners.
(5)Kate B.
I love this restaurant...well, actually it's a deli as most dishes are wrap and carry-out salads and sandwiches. I occasionally get homesick for my great-aunty's cooking and this is the place that comes closest (we're Armenian on that side). Delicious, fresh salads: taboulli, lentil, chick-pea, lemon-dressed potato, hummus, baba, feta-redpepper, and all kinds of baked meat, cheese, and veggie pies. There is a sandwich menu for shwarma and kebob take-away: meat, garlic sauce, tomato, lettuce (or taboulli) and pickle wrapped up in a soft pita...mmmmm. There is also a dessert case with many different kinds of mamoul, bakalava, and other phyllo sweets...and some chocolate cakes too. The staff are wonderful - very friendly, the place has a nice homey feel.
(4)Sara G.
A friend hipped me to this place a few years ago. I had them cater a few events--they're very reasonably priced caterers believe it or not. Also, a TON OF FOOD. You'll have leftovers for days. The combos are great--you can choose up to three items if the ones listed on the menu don't tickle your tongue. They're not as student pocket-friendly as J-Garden, but you get a LOT of food, and I think it's actually better. They have a lot of unusual items (beet baba ganoush, red pepper kibbee) and one of my favorites, Syrian potato salad. If you eat in and find yourself having to use the restroom, you'll walk through the kitchen. There you will find pots and racks overfilled with homemade goodness. Pastries half made, chickens fresh from the roaster, glistening with grillmarks. It smells fantastic. Looking to quash that Middle-Eastern food craving? Save your gas money and stay in town!!
(4)Christine E.
Ok, so just kidding about their pies. I went in and ordered the spinach pies I'd eaten with some enjoyment last time. They weren't the best, but this is the closest Arabic bakery to me and I just wanted some fatayar bizbanigh that I could pop in the toaster for breakfast. I bought six, and they were AWFUL. Clearly stale, and the spinach was totally flavorless. Major disappointment, I won't be going back.
(1)LISA C.
Yum. Let me say that again; YUM! Had the beet salad, eggplant salad, beef covered in pepper sauce [I forget the name], hawala, and walnut baklava. All were absolutely delicious. What a hidden little gem this place is. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Sarms J.
they carry some unusual items, various salads and such, all top notch! Friendly staff, they Baghdad tea is quite nice too! I'm not a huge fan of microwaves, but I'm still giving them 5 stars because their food is that good. Try the almond tart for dessert!
(5)Jessica K.
I used to live across the street from this place while still in college, and get food by the pound from here constantly. I'm Syrian, and not an AA native, so it felt like home. Favorites: b'stilla, mjadara, tabbouleh (well, obv). If you like rice pudding, they have a pretty good version here. Not the best I've ever had, but better than I can make myself, for sure.
(5)Jules R.
I tried this restaurant last week after seeing all of the great reviews. My friend and I both ordered a combo plate so we could try as much of a variety we could our first time there. All in all, I had a very nice experience. The food was not out of this world but it was still very, very good! For the price you pay you get a ton of food! It's a great deal. Everythign was totally authentic and fresh. There are a few tables outside where you can dine and take-out is also available. I recommend trying one of the truffles, they are only 2$ and a are a small, chocolately rich dessert for after your meal (if you can squeeze a truffle in :) ) I will definitely coming be back soon!
(4)Heather C.
Exotic is definitely one of my top picks for lunch, especially since I can't make it downtown during this time. Like the previous reviewer, the combos are huge, and still a good deal even though they are up to $8.96, oh well... I always get a plate of beef kefta, syrian yogurt, and the legume salad. Soooo good. I've also tried a some of the other offerings, I like the eggplant baba and the chicken rolls, but not a fan of the spinach roll or the falafel. But there are so many things to choose from, you'll definitely find something you like. I've never gotten a sandwich, but I hear they are good. Also, the people who work here are very nice. This place can be hard to find, but it's worth seeking out if you're on or near Plymouth Road.
(4)Kmc D.
I had the best tabouli salad in this place. The spinach pastry is warm and filling for a cold day. all the food is fresh and authentic.
(4)Aaron J.
Amazing amazing amazing. Not to be missed.
(5)Matthew Z.
Amazing!!! One of my favorites in Ann Arbor
(5)Vera Y.
Truly the only place to eat lunch near North Campus. I cannot even begin to estimate how many times I've crossed Plymouth Rd to eat at Syrian. I split the combo plate with my husband and we always get the spinach divine, the baba ganoush, and the beet salad. We occasionally try others but those are our go-to dishes. The place is small and it gets hot inside in the summer. However the food is really good and the price is very reasonable for a heaping dish. Syrian is delightful and will always be a top choice for lunch for the North Campus crowd.
(5)Huong T.
Don't let the shabby appearance deceive you, this place is fabulous. I tried the chicken schwarma, beef sandwich, tabbouleh and beet salad. The chicken was moist, and the garlic sauce superbly tasty. The beef had flavors I didn't expect - cinnamon, cumin and more. I agree with the other yelpers; the beet salad was delicious. It was my husband's favorite, and he doesn't even like beets. I will definitely be back.
(5)Becky D.
One of Ann Arbor's BEST places to eat! Spinach Divine is about as addictive as crack. Although I no longer live in Ann Arbor, every time I get back there, I will go out of my way to come here. I'll purchase all of my favorites in to-go containers and have enough to last a few days. I know it looks like a dive, but the food is divine!!
(5)Andrew L.
I love this place. It's close to U of M's North Campus and my apartment. I've tried the falafel, meat pies, veggie pies, sandwiches, and a bunch of sides. They have all been good. Don't forget dessert, I usually don't save room for sweets, but the baklava is good too.
(5)Nadi T.
If you enjoy Arabic Food, then honestly look no further. This cafe/restaurant has all you need. Everything offered reminds me of Syria and is prepared to perfection. The Shawerma is delicious and the tabouleh is delightful. Everything on the menu is prepared by the Owners who in my opinion make this restaurant amazing.
(5)Jackie C.
This food is the real deal. Syrian Cuisine and Exotic Bakeries has incredible salads with subtle flavors -- roasted eggplant bathed in a marinade of onions, peppers, vinegar and olive oil; tabbouleh made in a traditional style -- heavy on the parsley, light on the bulgar; the beet salad, a real gem -- beets cooked to a perfect tenderness with feta and spices. And that's just three of the many, many choices! The baked goods were also wonderful. We had the house tea (a fragrant clear chai) with a Date Mamool, a Walnut Mamool and Namoura. The Mamool are generous ball cookies, each with a particular dough to match the texture of the filling. The walnut variety was excellent -- it was fragranced perhaps with rosewater or jasmine and the nut filling managed to be crumbly and light. The dough for the date variety was less sweet, more dusty, perfect texture with the dense dried fruit. The Namoura is an almond, seminola and honey cake -- thick, rich, and sticky. Great with tea. The decor is simple, a little opportunistic, not fancy or premeditated. However, with food this good and with this kind of heart, you're eyes will be closed with delight anyway, so who needs it?
(4)Bjorn G.
This is my favorite place to eat in Ann Arbor, bar none. It's a Syrian deli with over 30 items to choose from, including typical middle-eastern dishes but also a few Syrian specialties. You can get a three-item combo for $6.50, which is a dinner-sized portion. The combos on the board are really just suggestions: you can mix and match any three items. My favorite combo is chicken kefta, spinach divine and beet babaganouj. You can't get that dish anywhere else! Used to be this was the only place in town that had a sojok sandwich, but nowadays Kebab Palace has it too. (Theirs is better than Exotic Bakeries', in my book.) There are plenty of vegetarian options, in fact most of the items are vegetarian or vegan. Their salads are also quite good. Ironically, their real specialties are the baked goods: they appear to do a big business catering desserts. Try the amaretto cake with some Aleppo tea, that's one of my favorites.
(5)