Elie’s
263 Pierce St, Birmingham, MI, 48009
Elie’s Menu
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Diabetics at Jason's Deli
Diabetics must not get carried away at Jason's Deli as there are several tempting items on their menu to easily spike your blood sugar. You can try the salads at Jason Deli's or start your meal with hot soup to ensure that you don't stuff too much while at Jason's Deli. You can also pick the right kind of sandwiches to complete your meal.
Foods to Avoid at Jason's Deli for Diabetics:
You must skip all kinds of sandwiches, wraps, and paninis at Jason's Deli for their high sodium content. Even among the salads, avoid the regular ones such as Chicken Club Salad, The Big Chef, Mesa Chicken Salad and go for the lighter versions. In addition, it is also recommended to avoid desserts totally while dining at Jason's Deli.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Jason's Deli:
Breakfast Sammy
Nutritional Facts: 250 calories, 12g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3g), 370mg sodium, 23g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 12g Protein
Chicken Club Salad (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 540 calories, 44g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 8g), 900mg sodium, 11g carbs, 3g sugar, 3g fiber, 24g Protein
Mesa Chicken Salad (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 460 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 850mg sodium, 26g carbs, 4g sugar, 7g fiber, 22g Protein
Spinach Veggie Wrap
Nutritional Facts: 350 calories, 14g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 830mg sodium, 51g carbs, 5g sugar, 12g fiber, 16g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Black Currant Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Organic Green Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Unsweetened Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
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High Blood Pressure at Jason's Deli
Blood pressure patients mustn't indulge in sandwiches offered on Jason Deli's menu. Most sandwiches, whether Muffalettas or Po'boys, are high in sodium and could easily spike your blood pressure. Be careful while you order at Jason's Deli and opt for healthy food options such as salads, soups, or soups to ease your cravings.
Foods to Avoid at Jason's Deli for High Blood Pressure
Sandwiches must be avoided at all costs at Jason's Deli as they are loaded with sodium. You must also skip the paninis and wraps if possible and stick to healthy salads and soups while dining at Jason's Deli. Skip adding any kinds of salad dressing, extra cheese, croutons, etc. in your order to limit your sodium intake for the day.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Jason's Deli
Banana Nut Muffin
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 170mg sodium, 25g carbs, 14g sugar, 1g fiber, 5g Protein
A bowl of Fresh Fruits
Nutritional Facts: 390 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 45mg sodium, 23g carbs, 62g sugar, 9g fiber, 6g Protein
Pollo Mexicano (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 800 calories, 22g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 12g), 550mg sodium, 121g carbs, 14g sugar, 11g fiber, 30g Protein
Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Cookie
Nutritional Facts: 210 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 150mg sodium, 34g carbs, 17g sugar, 0g fiber, 1g Protein
Wild Berry Hibiscus Tea with Pure Cane Sugar
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 26g carbs, 26g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Black Currant Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Organic Green Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Unsweetened Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
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High Cholesterol at Jason's Deli
If you are concerned about your cholesterol, then you got to be very cautious at Jason's Deli. Most sandwiches available on Jason's Deli's menu are high in cholesterol and sodium content. You must choose wisely and opt for salads or soups to please your appetite.
Foods to Avoid at Jason's Deli for High Cholesterol
Avoiding foods at Jason's Deli can be trickier if you are a foodie. It is recommended to skip the heavy sandwiches which are both high in cholesterol and sodium at Jason's Deli. You must also avoid paninis and wraps at Jason Deli's or order the lighter version to reduce your calorie intake.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Jason's Deli
Blueberry Muffin
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 180mg sodium, 34g carbs, 19g sugar, 1g fiber, 3g Protein
Nutty Mixed Up Salad (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 430 calories, 21g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 810mg sodium, 41g carbs, 33g sugar, 3g fiber, 21g Protein
Texas Style Spud (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 830 calories, 22g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 11g), 740mg sodium, 139g carbs, 27g sugar, 14g fiber, 29g Protein
Jason's Deli Bottled Ginger Ale
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 36g carbs, 36g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Black Currant Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Organic Green Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Unsweetened Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Birmingham for healthy meals suggestion.
Q & A on Jason's Deli
When did Jason's Deli open?
First Jason's Deli was started on 30th November 1976 at Beaumont, Texas, United States.
Where's the nearby Jason's Deli?
There are around 275 delis in 28 states of the United States. You can locate a nearby Jason's Deli by using our Restaurant Listings Directory.
When does Jason's Deli open and close?
Jason's Deli opens early in the morning daily at 6 AM and closes at 6 PM on weekdays and 3 PM on weekends.
Does Jason's Deli have a drive through?
Yes, Jason's Deli has a drive-through. Besides the drive-thru, Jason's Deli also set up Jason's Express especially for on-the-go families to make things faster. Drive-thru and take-out options help individuals and families to order and pick their meal quickly while on a busy schedule.
Does Jason's Deli serve gluten-free items on the menu?
Jason's Deli isn't entirely a gluten-free environment, but it does offer a gluten-sensitive menu. You can order food from the gluten-sensitive menu to ensure your food is gluten-free.
Does Jason's Deli serve vegan items on the menu?
Yes, they do. The vegan options are limited at Jason's Deli. You can try the organic vegetable soup, spinach veggie wraps w/o cheese, hummus, salsa, guacamole, and many other options from the salad menu.
Does Jason's Deli Cater?
Yes, it does. You can use Jason's Deli's catering service to serve hot and fresh foods to your guests. Whether you want to feed 5 or 5000, Jason's Deli's experienced team can handle your catering order and ensure timely delivery.
What's on Jason's Deli breakfast menu?
Jason's Deli serves a variety of different items on their breakfast menu. You can try the breakfast sandwiches or wraps prepared with fresh-cracked eggs. You can pick up breakfast as early as 6 AM at any Jason's Deli nearby.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Jason's Deli
Jason's Deli is a popular bakery restaurant in the United States. Jason's Deli started its operation in Beaumont, Texas on 30th November 1976. The bakery restaurant was started by four partners: Joe Tortorice Jr., Rusty Coco, Pete Verde, and Pat Broussard. Currently, the delicatessen restaurant chain operates in more than 268 locations across 26 states in the United States. Jason's Deli is one of the most successful restaurant chains with under 300 locations.
Deli Management Inc. owns Jason's Deli along with several other deli restaurants in the United States. Jason's Deli is famous for its standard deli style menu where the customers can order from traditional sandwiches to salads, baked potatoes, and pasta. After initiating a health drive in 2000, Jason's Deli successfully eliminated added trans-fat from its food in 2005, later got rid of high fructose syrup in 2008, and finally removed MSG from its food. Today, Jason's Deli offers a wide range of food items including vegan and gluten-free dishes.
Healthy Food Options at Jason's Deli
Jason's Deli offers a standard deli style menu which consists of traditional sandwiches, soups, pasta, baked potatoes, wraps, and salads. If you choose wisely and skip the extra sides or dressings as you order at Jason's Deli, you can find a good variety of healthy food options at Jason's Deli.
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Address :
263 Pierce St
Birmingham, MI, 48009 - Phone (248) 647-2420
- Website https://eliesgrill.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual, Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Kathie E.
First visit last night. The waitress came over and didn't check on me once in the 15 minutes I waited for my friend. We ordered veggies and hummus as an appetizer and several of the carrots had gone bad. We had to ask for drink refills. The Falafel was good. Beautiful interior, horrible service.
(2)Erik M.
Elie's is excellent Middle Eastern food in the heart of Birmingham. The menu is creative and expands beyond the traditional fare. The ribs are the best in town or that I've eaten in Michigan. I've traveled the world and Elie's ribs are the superlative. Daily specials are creative and the remodeled dining room is great for all occasions. I highly recommend this restaurant!!
(4)Wisdom H.
I ended up here by sheer mistake, or fate. You decide: I had intentions to go to Toast and had to park down the street. I put money in the meter and realized the car's beside me had expired. So I took a few minutes and put it in their meter. I walked down the street. I should have made a left for Toast, but saw the Seafood Restaurant to the right. I went right. I saw two doors and went through the one on the left since I saw the greeter. She sat me in my preferred seat outside. I waited for a while for my my server, but she was nice so I didn't mind. When she brought me my water, I realized I was not at the Seafood restaurant, but at Elie's Mediterranean, which shares a doorway and the same navy blue bricks making it look like one restaurant. Oops! I decided to stay and tried the White Wine Sangria I saw on another table. The fruit looked so good! It was tasty and well steeped. I also ordered the clam chowder, which I am normally not a fan of, and the Jeffrey's Chicken, since I'm a sucker for a cream based dish. All were progressively better than the item before, culminating in the Jeffrey's Chicken being addictively delicious. I am not a fan of linguine noodles either, as I only tend to eat Angel Hair pasta, but I ate every noodle. Very good. But the icing on the proverbial cake was not only the intense people watching session I was able to enjoy, but this charming non-profit team, the Kenya Relief Project, that sat beside me going back and forth about an issue they were having. The settings are close together, and I felt I was led to this place because I had been searching for a cause to lend my services to, and they kept stating that they needed my exact expertise. So we made a connection right then and there, and it made my meal all the more sweet. The experience, the food, the ambience -- all played into my overall opinion of this place. I will most certainly return.
(4)Jenna C.
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon when Bham faves like Toast and Social Kitchen were packed, Elie's was able to seat us at a cozy table for two right away. It wasn't on the sidewalk, but they have an inside/outside layout so it still has the open air effect. Our server, Trina, was um....AWESOME! From her upbeat personality to her food recommendations, she made our dining experience very enjoyable. I was treating my mom to a (much) belated Mothers Day lunch so we naturally started with mimosas. Fresh squeezed OJ and they did NOT skimp on the champagne :) We also ordered hummus with pita - and while I've had better pita bread before, the hummus was delectable. I was hesitant about the lettuce wraps per Trina's recommendation due to the "overdone" factor of pf chang's popular dish. But I ended up ordering the shrimp one while the Madre had chicken. We were not sorry. The cilantro hummus sauce was On. Point. At the end of the meal, the check didn't break the bank either. Will have to come back and try Elie's for dinner!
(4)Gina S.
Just wanted to sit on the patio and get a glass of wine. It was a nice Monday night in August. When we told the hostess this, she said, "oh, umm, you mean, you want a table so you can order? or you just want a drink? Because, ummm, yeah." That was her way of trying to tell us no, I suppose? We said we'd look at a menu so that she would seat us. Shmeh. Ordered our wine, and the waitress at least pretended to be okay with us just ordering two measly glasses of wine. They get one star for the annoying and rude hostess. I couldn't tell you much about their food or actual service, since we got very little.
(1)Steve S.
Jeez this is a tough one. I like this place sometimes and sometimes not. Place is very pricey and some of the items are pretty good. I do love the shawarma sandwiches. There really isn't much good middle eastern in the area so we did carry out sandwiches from here a few times. They only serve shawarmas for lunch though which is kinda annoying. My wife and I got carry out from here and we asked for an extra side of garlic with the shawarma sandwiches. They actually charged me $4 for it. That was almost the price of one of the sandwiches. I was in disbelief and when I mentioned it the bartender who rang it up she was apologetic they had to charge me for it. Thought I learned my lesson. Next time we ordered and my wife still wanted to get the side of garlic despite them nickel and dining us on it. Since we were ordering for a few ppl I thought it was ok since everyone could share. When I went to pay they had a large side of garlic which they charged us $8 (I believe that was the price) for. This was without anyone asking her if she wanted the large one. Being in a rush, I just paid and moved on. Was kinda disappointed with this. Haven't carried out from here since. Otherwise, for dining in it had nice outdoor seating in a good area of downtown Birmingham and good food if you stick to the middle eastern stuff. Did not like the sliders though. Def over priced for what you get though.
(3)Naomi D.
The food is great and fresh. Chicken pot pie is delicious, the bread and garlic is to die for and vegetarian kibbeh is amazing! Great place if you haven't been here you have to check it out.
(5)Steven L.
Great staff but the food was a tad on the bland side. However, the fries were quite tasty. I had the shwarma sandwich and my wife had the burger. Both were good and cook perfectly but just lacked flavor. Nice atmosphere and again solid staff, even from the waiter that was new.
(3)Alexandre M.
Very bad service. Everything was slow, we wait more than 25 minutes for a glass of wine and a glass of water and after asking 3 times for that and after waiting 25 minutes, they only brought the glass of wine. We waited more 10 minutes to receive the so expected glass of water. Simple as that. The food is OK but the service is terrible. Sign: Alex Moreira
(1)Megan B.
I love their chicken and hummus, the perfect blend of mediterranean spices make this great anytime. I highly recommend their chicken shawarma as well!
(4)Elizabeth M.
Good: On a vibrant street in birmingham - good for people watching. Patio Seating Bad: I would never pay to eat here. The Chicken Shawarma was $20 (plate of grilled chicken, rice and hummus). The fattoush that our table ordered had to be sent back twice and was finally taken off of the bill. The portabella mushroom app is good, but has WAY too much cheese and WAY too little mushroom. Drinks are outrageously priced. Overall, there are better restaurants in Birmingham. Mediterranean food is, in my opinion, like Mexican food - very similar ingredients all served differently. There is no reason to pay $20 a plate for something you can get for $4 in a pita around the corner.
(2)Kim L.
Took advantage of a warm April afternoon to eat at here so we could enjoy the indoor/outdor seating. That part was great. When I sat down I noticed some debris (or something) on the plate in front of me. I pointed it out to our waiter and asked for a clean plate. He picked up my plate, dumped the debris off, got me a plate off another table & put my plate on that table! REALLY! The menu's are tablets which I didn't really care for. I like to peruse the whole menu, but this required clicking from section to section and going back to look at the different options. Gimmicky & not really helpful in my opinion. I ordered the crushed lentil soup & a chicken kafta. The soup was just not good. It was too thick and tasted too chickeny. It had large chunks of something in it that I thought was perhaps barley because that's what it tasted like to me, but our waiter said it wasn't. I couldn't taste any spices. All in all, just yuk, but the waiter took it away and took it off my bill. My kafta was ok, put the pita was crispy which made it dry. For $5 it was a good price point, but don't expect to be wowed. My friend got a veggie sandwhich, she ended up eating it open faced because she wasn't impressed with the bread which was plain white bread with scorched toast marks on it. We both had a Sauvignon Blanc which was the highlight of our meal, crisp, dry & chilled just right. Come for the outdoor dining & stick to the basics & a glass of wine.
(2)Assaf Z.
Its very choosy and hot place in cold wether like that. The staff is great , especially Rami! That always smiled to us and recommended the best dishes! We had a great! Clam cheddar soup and wonderful salad. Mist recommended.
(5)Lynne S.
I only ordered a carry out, but the service was outstanding. And the kibbeh nayeh, hands down the best I've ever had. Might be going back tonight.
(5)Stephen T.
My friends and I stopped in here for lunch on the way out of Detroit. It was very nice on the outside and inside; clean and comfortable. Modern decor and comfortable booths, which we selected. The menu is Mediterranean. That being said, I made a miscalculation. They have a number of wraps on the menu and one of those appeared to be a hamburger wrap. So, at the suggestion of my friend, who used to live in Detroit, I selected the hamburger. Turns out it was just a regular hamburger. A delicious one - but just a regular hamburger. I usually try to get whatever specialty the restaurant supports. So, yes, this spot is definitely A-OK in my book. You should try it out.
(3)Emily M.
Pleasantly surprised! I was a bit worried after reading some of the reviews. We walked in on a Friday with no problem! nice ambience...perfect setting for a special occasion or date. Warning...drinks are extremely strong but the sangria is fantastic! I recommend the lamb shawarma over the chicken one! And definitely ask about the Lebanese desserts! We had a Lebanese bread pudding with pistachios that was to die for! Anita's kitchen in ferndale is just as good but the ambience at Eli's is definitely more romantic and nicer.
(5)Regina B.
Always a great choice for Middle Eastern cuisine right in the heart of downtown Birmingham.
(5)Meena M.
Food is amazinggggg. Hummus and pita are so fresh and obviously I would recommend any of the dishes. Good service as well
(5)Megan C.
I like to visit Elie's when I'm in town for business, as it's a good spot for me to connect with some of my local colleagues while here. The location is nice and parking is easy in one of the area parking decks. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and the complimentary puffy bread is super-delicious and comes out of a wood-burning oven. I find the service to be uninspired; our waiters and waitresses regularly are not knowledgeable about the menu items nor are they able to tell us specifics about certain menu items without "checking with the kitchen." The food is fine and will please most Mediterranean-seeking palates, however I find the hummus to be too drowned in olive oil and the grape leaves to be too dry and too thick with leaves (not enough filling). A bit pricey of course since it's in Birmingham. Likely to return just out of familiarity and for the fairly wide variety of item on the menu, but not a favorite spot.
(3)Bunny K.
Pretty little Mediterrean restaurant in downtown Birmingham. I had the lamb shwarma platter. This was a platter of small pieces of lamb that had been over-cooked, hummus which was creamy and very tasty, red onions and couscous. It would have been a really great meal had the lamb not been over-cooked. A friend had the lamb meatballs which were excellent...kind of lemony and delicious. Everyone else was happy with their meal...waiter was very friendly and attentive. They do have outside seating. I will try it one more time...lamb may have been a fluke.....hope so:)
(3)zarmala m.
Amazing food. Awesome bartenders. Have the Spanish coffee. Have the lebneh. Oh and the lemon herb chicken kabob. Have it all. Gah. Also gluten free options are great.
(5)Libby T.
A Birmingham staple for as long as I can remember with solid middle eastern options. Better quality middle eastern can be found elsewhere, but if you're looking for a sidewalk lunch spot in the Birmingham area, Elie's can't be beat
(3)Kelly C.
Solid option in Birmingham, with a range of fish options and other Mediterranean favorites. The special fish, a type of sea bass, was very flavorful with the herbs stuffed in the fish, however there were several bones left after the deboning. Entrees are accompanied by soup or salad to start which is a nice touch. Decor is simple but cozy for a casual meal out.
(3)Chad C.
Nice upscale (though not formal) Middle Eastern restaurant that has a number of other traditional entrees as well, some with a slight Middle Eastern twist to them. This would have been a 4 were it not for the prices. A bottle of wine that's less than $20, for example, was $52. I understand there's a typical and sizable upcharge in a restaurant, but more than double is a bit much.
(3)Dave F.
Excellent lunch spot! This is true Middle Eastern food with a nice ambiance. There's a lot of competition in this suburb, so great food, ambiance, pricing and service are Elle's differentiator. I had a salad and a cup of lentil soup and really enjoyed the meal.
(4)Jaime S.
Really tasty lebanese food. The tabouleh, hummus and chicken and lamb schwarma are SO freaking good. Also, the portion sizes are enormous. Both times I've been, I have split a meal with someone and it was PLENTY. PS: Doug the bartender makes great sangria and drinks in general, and he is quite the character to make any dinner memorable.
(4)Torrie M.
Do you like fresh salads? Do you enjoy hummus with beef, seasoned to perfection? Do you love a good Stoli Doli or white wine Sangria? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then this is the place for you! Elie's sits in beautiful downtown Birmingham and offers both patio and indoor seating. The food is divine and the drinks are refreshing. Yes, it's a little pricey but you get what you pay for people. Love this place!
(4)Deborah C.
I'm surprised at some of the lower reviews. We have been going to Elies for years, and have always loved it. Never have had a bad meal. Top notch middle eastern food. Only downside, it's a bit pricier then some other similar places. Love the Tenderloin hummus, Fattoush salad and the Pita Bread -pipping hot, with some garlic sauce - yum!
(4)Scott L.
Best Lebanese food around. A little pricy as mentioned by others, but the food is worth it. Great hummus and try the sangria!
(5)Seoung L.
This is a nice place for middle eastern food. A good place to bring a guest from out of town. However, if you want real arabic food, I wouldn't recommend this place. It's over priced and not that delicious. I ordered Hummus with chicken, fattoush salad, & rice... it came to $35. I could go down the street to Pita Cafe and feed 4 to 5 people for $35 and get better tasting middle eastern meals. Trust my reviews because I might be Middle Eastern food connoisseur since I grew up around Dearborn and lived in East Dearborn before. I ate real authentic arabic and Elie's doesn't compare to any of the restaurants in Dearborn or even Pita Cafe few blocks away. Like I said, a good place to impress people since it's got a nice decor, and good outside dining. Speaking of outside dining, It was nice to be outside eating but the service for the outside dining customers isn't too great. We had to wait awhile during lunch time to get refills on water and also made mistakes on what we ordered. Good - nice atmosphere for dining. Bad - overpriced mediocre food, mediocre service.
(2)Tarick S.
One of if not the best tasting middle eastern food in the entire Detroit metro area. Love this place. Owner Elie is good peeps as well
(5)Yakov F.
This is a very popular and unfortunately a noisy Birmingham destination. Food is good overall, lamb chops are excellent.
(4)Sarah L.
Carefully prepared Middle Eastern fare in a beautiful, comfortable setting--a very pleasant surprise! We had sautéed calamari and octopus with fresh hot pita bread and then stuffed grape leaves and pistachio encrusted whitefish with tomato and artichoke risotto. Each dish was delicious and beautifully plated. The booths are comfortable for 2-4 and a group looked comfortable at a larger table. Service was attentive. Bonus: the special desserts!
(5)Elie's M.
The Best Mediterranean food in the Birmingham area. Must try Clam chowder. The Lamb chops are the best I ever had. For dessert we split a Chocolate Lava cake. As for the drinks, try the White wine Sangria, with Fresh fruit. Seating outside as well, I will be coming here again
(5)Gray M.
Although Phoenicia is the more "upscale" experience between the two, Elie's is sure to satisfy both socialites and foodies alike. Great value for lunch and dinner, Elie's staff is sure to impress. Solos should definitely grab a bite at the lounge - the bartenders are some of the friendliest in town.
(4)Joseph R.
Great food, amazing chef and owners. I met Fadwa, the chef/owner my very first day in town when I was walking around the neighborhood getting to know everyone. I went back to visit the next day and was remembered by name, overwhelmed with hospitality and a few special plates from the kitchen. The food is absolutely incredible. I eat mostly vegan, so I haven't tried a lot of the items on the menu, but what I have had (and the few cheat items I allowed myself) were as near to perfection as could be. The only room for improvement that I see is that the serving staff aren't quite as over-the-top awesome as the ownership. They aren't bad, by any means, but they could be a little more engaged, etc.
(4)Rob H.
Had lunch here today. It was fantastic! I suggest doing an early lunch as I heard it gets packed. Must be something in the water on pierce street, the bread here and and streetside = top notch! 2 orders of Tips with hummus and raw Kibe fed four of us, although I would have added one more order of tips. They weren't very liberal with the bread distribution, but whenever we asked they brought more and it was very fresh every time. Maybe that's why! Would go back for sure.
(4)D J.
Two trips in three weeks tells the story! One of the best new work trip dining discoveries - well technically I owe the outings to my meat loving set of coworkers who made a generous Mediterranean exception! A hearty appetizer platter is a perfect way to start the culinary adventure - the good old falafel was amazing, the bulgur and majadra were refreshing inclusions. Loved both so much that I doubled up on each as an entree on separate trips - the majadra trumped but the bulgur motivated me to give middle eastern cooking a try at home! Another simple but astonishingly delicious variation of the caziki had me hooked - strained Greek yoghurt with mint, cucumber,olive and a hint of pine nuts- go Greek! All that delicious food with some incredibly good wine and bonding - made for not one but two great dining outings. One can ponder how to classify elie's- Lebanese/ medit/ generic middle eastern- regardless, such a great assortment of ethnic food in the heart of very Midwestern, very suburban Birmingham is the biggest surprise of them all. A few more occupied tables would have been heartening but hopefully these yelps and more provide fodder to those on the fence - Elie's is worth way more than a single try!
(4)James R.
I was baffled that my waiter didn't permit me to order shawarma sandwiches during dinner hours. In the past, they have always permitted me to order special items not printed in the menu. I was told sandwiches can only be served during lunch hours because they want to rake in higher profits during the evening, even though I usually order about 3 for myself. When I decided to order drinks, I was told that beer is served only in bottles, not on tap, which offended me greatly. I then proceeded to consume 3 to 4 baskets of bread, and every loaf I tasted was overcooked to a crisp. In the past, it's been superior. This may quite possibly be my ultimate foray to Elie's.
(2)Chelsea A.
I do enjoy trying new places. But here in Michigan I have run out of finer dining spots that I haven't tried. I've been to Ellie's in the past but it's been so long that I forgot how the food was and my bf was complaining about being tired of our usual choices. Ellie's it was. The restaurant was about a 1/4 full, closer to half if you count the patio tables. Usually we can see that Ellie's and Streetside are fully packed from our semi permanent perch at the Townhouse across the street so the staff is well accustomed to busy nights. We were seated in a cozy spot near the patio but still indoors. Then we waited. And waited. And waited. I'm rather impatient but I have a high level of dining etiquette so I waited some time before turning in my seat to get the attention of someone- anyone! A waiter did eventually come by but at this point we felt compelled to place out entire order on the chance that he would again not return for an extended period. Rushed and annoying is how I describe that type of order. I don't like having to explain how to course out my meal and that's what happens when apps salads and entrees are ordered in one shot. Ten minutes- literally- after placing our order, the young man returned to inform me that the grilled sausage and pepper entree couldn't be served because they were out of one of the two styles of sausages served. I asked if a half order of the available type could be offered, a fair question considering the restaurant was the one who had an issue, not me. ANOTHER ten minutes and he returned with a "no we can't". So..... Ok give me a full order of the same type then. And does this mean twenty minutes plus later my food has STILL not begun to be prepared??????!!!!!????!!!!!! The answer was obviously yes, as it took another twenty minutes or more to show up. I'm NOT exaggerating. We could have had a 5 course meal at this point somewhere else. WTF. All of this irritation would dissolve however, if the food served to us was enjoyable. No such luck. Offensive is the only appropriate descriptor for the quality. Grilled chicken was nearly inedible. Dry. Over cooked. Chicken has one correct temperature. One. Any more or less is unacceptable unless requested. The seasoning and sauce were also subpar. I make some mean tikka and if I can do it, surely a chef at a busy restaurant can also. The sausages were the funniest part. I can understand why a kitchen wouldn't want to slice up a half order as I had requested. These weren't sliced. They were little party sized sausages. The flavor was ok, nothing I'd eat again. There was no reason they couldn't serve me a half order and what a bummer - more than half were thrown out. The bread is awful. The salad dressing is awful. The rice is awful. The bill was insanely large for such a bad experience. I am the type who will miss a rent payment in order to splurge on a very good meal and it takes a combo of bad service and bad food to make me feel ripped off. They succeeded in accomplishing that feeling for me. DO NOT waste your time and money here. Try The Phoenicia, Sahara or even Mezza. All are awesome, and will leave you feeling that your money was well spent. Uhg. Never again. Never.
(1)Sebastien
I stopped here for dinner while on a business trip. The food was excellent and the meat cooked to perfection. Service was quick and friendly. I will return the next time I'm in the area.
(4)Genevieve P.
If you have not tried this place yet, you definitely should. I love the Loubyee, it is so flavorful! I have pretty much tried many items and it is all very good. I am a bit bummed about the price increases over the past 3 years as I used to get a chicken fatoosh salad at least 3 times each week for lunch for $10 and now it is $16.50. Although, most people in this area can likely afford to pay whatever. I just stopped buying their salads as I am more frugal.
(4)Corky L.
So many great Middle eastern restaurants in the area and this is not one of them. Over priced and poor service. Go to Palm Palace, Mezza or Phoenician which are all superb and owners make you feel very welcome!
(2)Lindsey B.
Holy crap this was good food! WHATEVER YOU DO- YOU MUST ORDER: Hummus with sauteed tenderloin tips, onions and pine nuts. Seriously. This is GENIUS! And with their pita bread. OMG! I DIE! Everything is delicious and complements each other so well! We also had the Portabella Mushroom. This was good. But the Hummus stole the show and also my heart. The pita bread is light and fluffy and soooo good! Our waiter was super nice! I can't wait to go back for the hummus and pita!
(5)Lisa T.
Good food, good service, great atmosphere. This is a venue I choose more so for a fun dinner night out, not necessarily for the food. In the summertime, there's a great patio, and even some of the indoor seating offers open-air dining. The food is pretty standard Lebanese fare, and it's pretty decent. A little overpriced in my opinion (of course, my choice restaurant for Lebanese food is a hole-in-the-wall on Woodward, with quite inexpensive menu options). There are a number of great vegetarian choices, from the mjadra, bulgar, grape leaves, marinated mushroom appetizer, hummos, etc. Some of the portion sizes were a little small. My favorite dish is the chargrilled falafal -- a little dry, but dipped in tahini sauce, it's delicious (and a healthier option that deep fried falafal). I definitely recommend Elie's for the food, atmosphere and bar.
(3)Gigi M.
This remains one of my favorite spots in Birmingham. Consistently. Elie of Elie's is such a great host. His menu is outstanding. The atmosphere is so inviting. I love the fire baked bread, too. I am highly recommending the BEST middle eastern food around town..it's at Elie's. (I'm salivating now!) LOL
(5)Elle F.
Upscale Lebanese at its best. I have been dining here since they opened and I can say that without a doubt this is the best Lebanese in town. We use them for all our at home parties and get take out from there at least twice a week. This is our default restaurant and it doesn't get old. Elie's has stepped it up significantly since the remodel--very stylish. It isn't dirt cheap, but you can tell that the food is healthy, tasty and good quality. You eat well and still look good in your jeans. Plus, the owner is very sweet and goes out of his way to make you feel at home. Not to pass up: vegetarian grape leaves, mjadara, and shish kebab wrapped in homemade brick oven pita. Yum.
(5)James B.
Elie's was one of the first Middle Eastern (more specifically Lebanese) restaurants that I tried when I first moved to the area 6 years back. At that time I felt it was OK, but I always came away with the feeling that the dishes were unbalanced in regard to flavors. The grilled sweetbreads, for example, were almost always too acidic...one could not really detect the subtle livery taste of the sweetbreads at all. As another example, the baba ganoush suffered from an overpowering acrid taste of charred vegetable. I would have to give the Mk. 1 Elie's only 2 stars. When Elie's began their renovations, I all but forgot about the place. I would get my fix of the cuisine at any of other Middle Eastern restaurants in the area, with generally mediocre results. When I finally went back this summer, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the food at Elie's has, like the restaurant, been renovated for the better. The aforementioned sweetbreads are now a balance of lemon, garlic, and parsley that accentuate the taste of the sweetbreads. One can now easily discern the flavors of olive oil, garlic, tahini, and eggplant in the baba ganoush. The service is usually spot on and the restaurant has a modern Mediterranean feel to it. You can imagine this restaurant could be transplanted to a locale next to the sea, especially during the summer when there is outdoor seating. An overall good experience. Elie's is a place that merits multiple visits.
(3)Tiffany D.
Love to come here when I'm feeling healthy, and when I can sit and stay awhile. Like the atmosphere here as much as I like the fresh juices and the pita bread. Good middle eastern fare, great salads and the seasoning on the lamb is delish. You can't go wrong anywhere on the menu really, unless you order kibbee nyi.
(4)myrrisa h.
Came here last night with my girlfriends. We only had drinks and appetizers. Service was not good. We sat at our table where the vents from above were leaking water due to the moisture outside. The water literally dripped on my head so i had to scoot over a seat to not get dripped on. When we asked the hostess to move she said sorry the other table was reserved for someone else and then ignored the situation instead of trying to find a better seat for us. So I had to sit where a vent was leaking on the chair next to me . That is unsanitary, unprofessional, and down right rude to your customers. It was hard for me to enjoy my meal because of it. The appetizer that did come out was pretty good. They have excellent Baba Ganoush. It had a rich smoky flavor. I also really liked their Grape Leaves. They were done just the way I like them and I am picky. Good Grape leaves are hard to find. I did not like the way we were treated despite the food being pretty good, so i will not be back.
(2)Jason L.
I visited the cute/cozy downtown of Birmingham on a business trip with all the intentions of eating at Elie's next door neighbor (Streetside Seafood) but since their bar was full I ventured next door and found this great middle eastern (pardon me, Lebanese) restaurant. I settled up at the bar and entrusted the friendly barkeep Casey for guidance--and she didn't disappoint. I had the hummus (fantastic) to start and the latke salmon as my entree. The main course came with soup or salad and Casey didn't hesitate to pick the soup which she described as lobster bisque meets chowder...it was by far the best soup I've had since the lobster bisque at Eddie Martinis (and I am a conniseuer of lobster bisque). The latke was good, the salmon okay and the whole dish only slightly above average because of the addition of applesauce. I'll be back to try it again...next time to tackle their lamb!
(4)andrew S.
Came here yesterday for a bloody mary with a few friends- Bartender was obnoxious and they were charging $10.60 for a bloody mary. What a waste of our time !! (and money)
(1)Keith M.
Been here a few times for drinks in the summer months when it is very busy...finally stopped in last night with some great friends and had dinner. The dining room was perhaps 2/3 full and the bar was lively as usual. We were sat at our booth quickly and experienced very good service the entire evening. The Wine selection was very good with decent prices for Birmingham. The bread...amazing, Apps....very good...but the Lamb Chops were OUTSTANDING! Best I have had in the Detroit area! The wait staff was super friendly and professional and the owner came back a couple times to greet us and spend some time telling us about the restaurant and some of the interesting décor that was personally made by him. Elie's is a Gem in this town. It's quaint, comfortable upscale feel is all Bham! The Service and Food is very, very good! Definitely a place I would recommend as well as frequent more often in the future!
(5)paul s.
This is very cool. A middle eastern place here in the midwest. Before I came to visit Detroit, I never thought that any place between the two coasts of our country had anything of interest except camping and out doorsie stuff. It shows my ignorance. Yesterday we headed to Birmingham and tried this restaurant. The pita bread was great, as a person before me mentioned. Problably the best pita bread I have ever had. We had a little tabuleh, babaghanoush, raddishes, etc. Then, kabob and some lamb dolmba, with a little cous cous. It was all very good. The place itself is decorated with a middle-east meets west decor. The only problem of the night which my sister and mom both duely felt agitated about was the fact that they were blaring number one hits music of the 70's. It was pretty loud, and I felt like my stomach was dancing to the beat of the disco. They should have had some middle-eastern music playing. Anyway, still a great place I think. The midwest needs some mountain ranges. How can you tell where you are here without a point of reference?
(4)Mrs. Hyman R.
Did you know that Elies has the best ribs ever? They are outstanding. I'm impressed with their food ... the kibbee nayee is really delicious - I order is spicy and with no onions and jalapenos on the side. Great shish tawook sandwiches - which I don't like but my husband does. I like their falafel, the lettuce wraps, .... yummy fresh bread.
(5)Susan G.
$112 for three people, only two people had a glass of wine. Food is good but very pricey and wine pour is very short. I think the only reason they have survived is because they pick up the overflow from Streetside Seafood next door which is a much better restaurant !
(2)Todd W.
The most delicious, succulent Middle Eastern food I have ever had. His white wine sangria is addictive. Try the bruschetta old style and then the Chicken Diane.
(4)Jj s.
So delicious! Best clam chowder I've ever had! Lettece wraps to die for, go figure;) best of all our waiter was sweet and knowledgable! Go there, it's awesome!
(5)Stephen T.
It was decent at best. The outdoor seating is the best thing going for it. The food was mediocre, but way overpriced. Anita's Kitchen is far better tasting and half the price.
(2)Melanie S.
Elie's has changed over the years it has occupied a home in Birmingham. Today it is more upbeat vs. the family friendly past. Their mid eastern dishes are very good as well as good for you. I do wish they could block the cold air that rushes into the restaurant on the cold days in Michigan, especially if you have a seat across from the door. Don't bother to get the cappuccino-it will disappoint. They prepare it as if they were making a spanish coffee. The rim is sugared and bites at the lip and the cup is clear glass. The coffee sits below the foam which is caught by the sides of the cup. There is no merging of the foam and the expresso, no blending of the creamy with the bite of expresso. When I spoke to the waitress regarding this odd preparation it was clear she had never had a good cup of cappuccino. I suggest they remove it from the menu or learn how to prepare and serve it.
(3)Kimberly B.
Husband and I and a former student met at Elie's last night for dinner at 6:15pm and had our choice of seating, which was very nice. We chose to eat outside in the covered patio. Hummus and tabouleh appetizer came with flat bread fresh from the oven. The loubiye was delicious, the smashed lentil soup was divine, and the service was excellent -- not hovering but not absent. A little problem with the wine list, which is fairly large, by the way. I like a vognier but they didn't have it. Second choice from the wine list was vouvray, but they were out. If you love chardonnay, you'll have a full choice. This is not a budget restaurant, but it isn't too bad. Appetizer dish for four was $16 and the loubiye entree was priced at $22. People claim this restaurant is pretentious, but c'mon guys -- do you know of a non-pretentious restaurant in downtown Birmingham? Four stars - would have been five if the wine list weren't so frustrating.
(4)J M.
Just there today. I ordered a Fatoush Salad and Babaganoush to go. 20.00 and so small it would have barley served a small child. When I brought this to the attention of the Bartender some woman came from the kitchen and tried to tell me how much salad it would be if it was on a plate! I mean really? I then told some old guy i wanted a refund and as if to shame he says to the bartender "here this will be your lunch". First time there and the last time.I will tell everyone I know to avoid this place. Zero stars! Oops can't indicate zero stars so i'm giving it one star :(
(1)Williams C.
$21.00 for 2 mixed drinks and an owner who would rather take up prime seating for his own purposes than for paying Customers - forget this place!!!!!! There are too many other restaurants in B'ham where ownership "cares" about their Customers, I will never go back to this arrogant place.
(1)marisa s.
they make their own PITA BREAD! (that's probably enough info you need to come check out Elie's). it pops out of their stone oven and gets placed on your table ::hot:: so you can get some hummus on that thing before it gets cold. the middle eastern food here is amazzzzzze. i love the hummus, tabbouleh, baked kafta, shish kafta, lamb with hummus, grape leaves, house salad, even the pickled radish that they throw on the table for free (or maybe decoration, haha!)...i could go on and on. they have some great outdoor seating/birmingham people watching (we know how exciting that is) in the summertime. theire fresh juices are great...but they don't have alcohol...but who cares, you go there for the pita and hummus anyways.
(4)Deborah D.
like outdoor seating, pleasant, food is average
(3)Nina B.
Went here with some co-workers for dinner and socializing on a week night. I thought the place has a great atmosphere, especially the outdoor dining on a sunny day. However, everything seemed to be overpriced, given the fact that most Middle Eastern places I have been to in this area (e.g. Anita's Kitchen in Ferndale and LaPita in Dearborn) charge a LOT less and the food is a LOT more authentic. I tried the hummus (not flavorful enough for my liking), the small Greek salad (I've had better at a Coney island!), and the fried calamari, which was actually quite good, and served with green onions, pepperoncinni, capers, and a few other seasonings. I would've had some alcohol if they had a wider range of choices in different price ranges. The service was pretty good, especially since we told them a larger group was coming, and then we had to downsize at the last minute. They didn't seem to sweat it too much. If you're looking for a hip place to see and be seen, try Elie's...but don't expect to get the most authentic food out there.
(3)Dane K.
It's easy to pass by this quaint little place in downtown Birmingham. I did many times... I recently did finally visit... It was good. At $8 total, it was also probably the cheapest meal I had the entire week. I really wanted the lamb shawarma, but the waitress talked me into the kebab, saying "it's very special" ... It was indeed good... But now I'm craving lamb shawarma ever since! The lamb was nicely flavored... it was accompanied by the fairly standard onions and tomatoes that were grilled with a nice char flavor... And a fairly standard rice. Also it came with lentil soup. Not the best lentil soup I've had, but good (a little lemon would kick it up!) ...while you wait for your food they give you pickled turnips and pita chips, which were tasty. With the food came the best part....freshly baked pita bread, piping hot. That really was what made this meal a good one... The service was just kinda "ehh" .. I didn't order a drink (partly why it was so cheap) because I was really dehydrated and just wanted water... They brought me water without having to ask, but then the glass sat empty after I finished it. Then after my food was brought out, she brought the check to me a few minutes later, without me really asking for it... or offering dessert.
(4)Jillian K.
This is a great little restaurant...especially with their recent renovation and the fact that I can now have a glass of wine! The staff is super friendly and the food is really good...but the atomosphere of this place is what is really amazing! Little crystals hanging, all sparkly...the draping of fabric on the ceiling and the really cool pictures that hang on the walls. Just sit back, chill out and enjoy!
(4)Rob H.
Had lunch here today. It was fantastic! I suggest doing an early lunch as I heard it gets packed. Must be something in the water on pierce street, the bread here and and streetside = top notch! 2 orders of Tips with hummus and raw Kibe fed four of us, although I would have added one more order of tips. They weren't very liberal with the bread distribution, but whenever we asked they brought more and it was very fresh every time. Maybe that's why! Would go back for sure.
(4)Jenna C.
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon when Bham faves like Toast and Social Kitchen were packed, Elie's was able to seat us at a cozy table for two right away. It wasn't on the sidewalk, but they have an inside/outside layout so it still has the open air effect. Our server, Trina, was um....AWESOME! From her upbeat personality to her food recommendations, she made our dining experience very enjoyable. I was treating my mom to a (much) belated Mothers Day lunch so we naturally started with mimosas. Fresh squeezed OJ and they did NOT skimp on the champagne :) We also ordered hummus with pita - and while I've had better pita bread before, the hummus was delectable. I was hesitant about the lettuce wraps per Trina's recommendation due to the "overdone" factor of pf chang's popular dish. But I ended up ordering the shrimp one while the Madre had chicken. We were not sorry. The cilantro hummus sauce was On. Point. At the end of the meal, the check didn't break the bank either. Will have to come back and try Elie's for dinner!
(4)Wisdom H.
I ended up here by sheer mistake, or fate. You decide: I had intentions to go to Toast and had to park down the street. I put money in the meter and realized the car's beside me had expired. So I took a few minutes and put it in their meter. I walked down the street. I should have made a left for Toast, but saw the Seafood Restaurant to the right. I went right. I saw two doors and went through the one on the left since I saw the greeter. She sat me in my preferred seat outside. I waited for a while for my my server, but she was nice so I didn't mind. When she brought me my water, I realized I was not at the Seafood restaurant, but at Elie's Mediterranean, which shares a doorway and the same navy blue bricks making it look like one restaurant. Oops! I decided to stay and tried the White Wine Sangria I saw on another table. The fruit looked so good! It was tasty and well steeped. I also ordered the clam chowder, which I am normally not a fan of, and the Jeffrey's Chicken, since I'm a sucker for a cream based dish. All were progressively better than the item before, culminating in the Jeffrey's Chicken being addictively delicious. I am not a fan of linguine noodles either, as I only tend to eat Angel Hair pasta, but I ate every noodle. Very good. But the icing on the proverbial cake was not only the intense people watching session I was able to enjoy, but this charming non-profit team, the Kenya Relief Project, that sat beside me going back and forth about an issue they were having. The settings are close together, and I felt I was led to this place because I had been searching for a cause to lend my services to, and they kept stating that they needed my exact expertise. So we made a connection right then and there, and it made my meal all the more sweet. The experience, the food, the ambience -- all played into my overall opinion of this place. I will most certainly return.
(4)Gina S.
Just wanted to sit on the patio and get a glass of wine. It was a nice Monday night in August. When we told the hostess this, she said, "oh, umm, you mean, you want a table so you can order? or you just want a drink? Because, ummm, yeah." That was her way of trying to tell us no, I suppose? We said we'd look at a menu so that she would seat us. Shmeh. Ordered our wine, and the waitress at least pretended to be okay with us just ordering two measly glasses of wine. They get one star for the annoying and rude hostess. I couldn't tell you much about their food or actual service, since we got very little.
(1)Steve S.
Jeez this is a tough one. I like this place sometimes and sometimes not. Place is very pricey and some of the items are pretty good. I do love the shawarma sandwiches. There really isn't much good middle eastern in the area so we did carry out sandwiches from here a few times. They only serve shawarmas for lunch though which is kinda annoying. My wife and I got carry out from here and we asked for an extra side of garlic with the shawarma sandwiches. They actually charged me $4 for it. That was almost the price of one of the sandwiches. I was in disbelief and when I mentioned it the bartender who rang it up she was apologetic they had to charge me for it. Thought I learned my lesson. Next time we ordered and my wife still wanted to get the side of garlic despite them nickel and dining us on it. Since we were ordering for a few ppl I thought it was ok since everyone could share. When I went to pay they had a large side of garlic which they charged us $8 (I believe that was the price) for. This was without anyone asking her if she wanted the large one. Being in a rush, I just paid and moved on. Was kinda disappointed with this. Haven't carried out from here since. Otherwise, for dining in it had nice outdoor seating in a good area of downtown Birmingham and good food if you stick to the middle eastern stuff. Did not like the sliders though. Def over priced for what you get though.
(3)Naomi D.
The food is great and fresh. Chicken pot pie is delicious, the bread and garlic is to die for and vegetarian kibbeh is amazing! Great place if you haven't been here you have to check it out.
(5)Steven L.
Great staff but the food was a tad on the bland side. However, the fries were quite tasty. I had the shwarma sandwich and my wife had the burger. Both were good and cook perfectly but just lacked flavor. Nice atmosphere and again solid staff, even from the waiter that was new.
(3)Alexandre M.
Very bad service. Everything was slow, we wait more than 25 minutes for a glass of wine and a glass of water and after asking 3 times for that and after waiting 25 minutes, they only brought the glass of wine. We waited more 10 minutes to receive the so expected glass of water. Simple as that. The food is OK but the service is terrible. Sign: Alex Moreira
(1)Megan B.
I love their chicken and hummus, the perfect blend of mediterranean spices make this great anytime. I highly recommend their chicken shawarma as well!
(4)Kathie E.
First visit last night. The waitress came over and didn't check on me once in the 15 minutes I waited for my friend. We ordered veggies and hummus as an appetizer and several of the carrots had gone bad. We had to ask for drink refills. The Falafel was good. Beautiful interior, horrible service.
(2)Erik M.
Elie's is excellent Middle Eastern food in the heart of Birmingham. The menu is creative and expands beyond the traditional fare. The ribs are the best in town or that I've eaten in Michigan. I've traveled the world and Elie's ribs are the superlative. Daily specials are creative and the remodeled dining room is great for all occasions. I highly recommend this restaurant!!
(4)Kim L.
Took advantage of a warm April afternoon to eat at here so we could enjoy the indoor/outdor seating. That part was great. When I sat down I noticed some debris (or something) on the plate in front of me. I pointed it out to our waiter and asked for a clean plate. He picked up my plate, dumped the debris off, got me a plate off another table & put my plate on that table! REALLY! The menu's are tablets which I didn't really care for. I like to peruse the whole menu, but this required clicking from section to section and going back to look at the different options. Gimmicky & not really helpful in my opinion. I ordered the crushed lentil soup & a chicken kafta. The soup was just not good. It was too thick and tasted too chickeny. It had large chunks of something in it that I thought was perhaps barley because that's what it tasted like to me, but our waiter said it wasn't. I couldn't taste any spices. All in all, just yuk, but the waiter took it away and took it off my bill. My kafta was ok, put the pita was crispy which made it dry. For $5 it was a good price point, but don't expect to be wowed. My friend got a veggie sandwhich, she ended up eating it open faced because she wasn't impressed with the bread which was plain white bread with scorched toast marks on it. We both had a Sauvignon Blanc which was the highlight of our meal, crisp, dry & chilled just right. Come for the outdoor dining & stick to the basics & a glass of wine.
(2)Assaf Z.
Its very choosy and hot place in cold wether like that. The staff is great , especially Rami! That always smiled to us and recommended the best dishes! We had a great! Clam cheddar soup and wonderful salad. Mist recommended.
(5)Lynne S.
I only ordered a carry out, but the service was outstanding. And the kibbeh nayeh, hands down the best I've ever had. Might be going back tonight.
(5)Stephen T.
My friends and I stopped in here for lunch on the way out of Detroit. It was very nice on the outside and inside; clean and comfortable. Modern decor and comfortable booths, which we selected. The menu is Mediterranean. That being said, I made a miscalculation. They have a number of wraps on the menu and one of those appeared to be a hamburger wrap. So, at the suggestion of my friend, who used to live in Detroit, I selected the hamburger. Turns out it was just a regular hamburger. A delicious one - but just a regular hamburger. I usually try to get whatever specialty the restaurant supports. So, yes, this spot is definitely A-OK in my book. You should try it out.
(3)Emily M.
Pleasantly surprised! I was a bit worried after reading some of the reviews. We walked in on a Friday with no problem! nice ambience...perfect setting for a special occasion or date. Warning...drinks are extremely strong but the sangria is fantastic! I recommend the lamb shawarma over the chicken one! And definitely ask about the Lebanese desserts! We had a Lebanese bread pudding with pistachios that was to die for! Anita's kitchen in ferndale is just as good but the ambience at Eli's is definitely more romantic and nicer.
(5)Regina B.
Always a great choice for Middle Eastern cuisine right in the heart of downtown Birmingham.
(5)Meena M.
Food is amazinggggg. Hummus and pita are so fresh and obviously I would recommend any of the dishes. Good service as well
(5)Megan C.
I like to visit Elie's when I'm in town for business, as it's a good spot for me to connect with some of my local colleagues while here. The location is nice and parking is easy in one of the area parking decks. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and the complimentary puffy bread is super-delicious and comes out of a wood-burning oven. I find the service to be uninspired; our waiters and waitresses regularly are not knowledgeable about the menu items nor are they able to tell us specifics about certain menu items without "checking with the kitchen." The food is fine and will please most Mediterranean-seeking palates, however I find the hummus to be too drowned in olive oil and the grape leaves to be too dry and too thick with leaves (not enough filling). A bit pricey of course since it's in Birmingham. Likely to return just out of familiarity and for the fairly wide variety of item on the menu, but not a favorite spot.
(3)Bunny K.
Pretty little Mediterrean restaurant in downtown Birmingham. I had the lamb shwarma platter. This was a platter of small pieces of lamb that had been over-cooked, hummus which was creamy and very tasty, red onions and couscous. It would have been a really great meal had the lamb not been over-cooked. A friend had the lamb meatballs which were excellent...kind of lemony and delicious. Everyone else was happy with their meal...waiter was very friendly and attentive. They do have outside seating. I will try it one more time...lamb may have been a fluke.....hope so:)
(3)zarmala m.
Amazing food. Awesome bartenders. Have the Spanish coffee. Have the lebneh. Oh and the lemon herb chicken kabob. Have it all. Gah. Also gluten free options are great.
(5)Libby T.
A Birmingham staple for as long as I can remember with solid middle eastern options. Better quality middle eastern can be found elsewhere, but if you're looking for a sidewalk lunch spot in the Birmingham area, Elie's can't be beat
(3)Kelly C.
Solid option in Birmingham, with a range of fish options and other Mediterranean favorites. The special fish, a type of sea bass, was very flavorful with the herbs stuffed in the fish, however there were several bones left after the deboning. Entrees are accompanied by soup or salad to start which is a nice touch. Decor is simple but cozy for a casual meal out.
(3)Chelsea A.
I do enjoy trying new places. But here in Michigan I have run out of finer dining spots that I haven't tried. I've been to Ellie's in the past but it's been so long that I forgot how the food was and my bf was complaining about being tired of our usual choices. Ellie's it was. The restaurant was about a 1/4 full, closer to half if you count the patio tables. Usually we can see that Ellie's and Streetside are fully packed from our semi permanent perch at the Townhouse across the street so the staff is well accustomed to busy nights. We were seated in a cozy spot near the patio but still indoors. Then we waited. And waited. And waited. I'm rather impatient but I have a high level of dining etiquette so I waited some time before turning in my seat to get the attention of someone- anyone! A waiter did eventually come by but at this point we felt compelled to place out entire order on the chance that he would again not return for an extended period. Rushed and annoying is how I describe that type of order. I don't like having to explain how to course out my meal and that's what happens when apps salads and entrees are ordered in one shot. Ten minutes- literally- after placing our order, the young man returned to inform me that the grilled sausage and pepper entree couldn't be served because they were out of one of the two styles of sausages served. I asked if a half order of the available type could be offered, a fair question considering the restaurant was the one who had an issue, not me. ANOTHER ten minutes and he returned with a "no we can't". So..... Ok give me a full order of the same type then. And does this mean twenty minutes plus later my food has STILL not begun to be prepared??????!!!!!????!!!!!! The answer was obviously yes, as it took another twenty minutes or more to show up. I'm NOT exaggerating. We could have had a 5 course meal at this point somewhere else. WTF. All of this irritation would dissolve however, if the food served to us was enjoyable. No such luck. Offensive is the only appropriate descriptor for the quality. Grilled chicken was nearly inedible. Dry. Over cooked. Chicken has one correct temperature. One. Any more or less is unacceptable unless requested. The seasoning and sauce were also subpar. I make some mean tikka and if I can do it, surely a chef at a busy restaurant can also. The sausages were the funniest part. I can understand why a kitchen wouldn't want to slice up a half order as I had requested. These weren't sliced. They were little party sized sausages. The flavor was ok, nothing I'd eat again. There was no reason they couldn't serve me a half order and what a bummer - more than half were thrown out. The bread is awful. The salad dressing is awful. The rice is awful. The bill was insanely large for such a bad experience. I am the type who will miss a rent payment in order to splurge on a very good meal and it takes a combo of bad service and bad food to make me feel ripped off. They succeeded in accomplishing that feeling for me. DO NOT waste your time and money here. Try The Phoenicia, Sahara or even Mezza. All are awesome, and will leave you feeling that your money was well spent. Uhg. Never again. Never.
(1)Jaime S.
Really tasty lebanese food. The tabouleh, hummus and chicken and lamb schwarma are SO freaking good. Also, the portion sizes are enormous. Both times I've been, I have split a meal with someone and it was PLENTY. PS: Doug the bartender makes great sangria and drinks in general, and he is quite the character to make any dinner memorable.
(4)Torrie M.
Do you like fresh salads? Do you enjoy hummus with beef, seasoned to perfection? Do you love a good Stoli Doli or white wine Sangria? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then this is the place for you! Elie's sits in beautiful downtown Birmingham and offers both patio and indoor seating. The food is divine and the drinks are refreshing. Yes, it's a little pricey but you get what you pay for people. Love this place!
(4)Deborah C.
I'm surprised at some of the lower reviews. We have been going to Elies for years, and have always loved it. Never have had a bad meal. Top notch middle eastern food. Only downside, it's a bit pricier then some other similar places. Love the Tenderloin hummus, Fattoush salad and the Pita Bread -pipping hot, with some garlic sauce - yum!
(4)Scott L.
Best Lebanese food around. A little pricy as mentioned by others, but the food is worth it. Great hummus and try the sangria!
(5)Seoung L.
This is a nice place for middle eastern food. A good place to bring a guest from out of town. However, if you want real arabic food, I wouldn't recommend this place. It's over priced and not that delicious. I ordered Hummus with chicken, fattoush salad, & rice... it came to $35. I could go down the street to Pita Cafe and feed 4 to 5 people for $35 and get better tasting middle eastern meals. Trust my reviews because I might be Middle Eastern food connoisseur since I grew up around Dearborn and lived in East Dearborn before. I ate real authentic arabic and Elie's doesn't compare to any of the restaurants in Dearborn or even Pita Cafe few blocks away. Like I said, a good place to impress people since it's got a nice decor, and good outside dining. Speaking of outside dining, It was nice to be outside eating but the service for the outside dining customers isn't too great. We had to wait awhile during lunch time to get refills on water and also made mistakes on what we ordered. Good - nice atmosphere for dining. Bad - overpriced mediocre food, mediocre service.
(2)Tarick S.
One of if not the best tasting middle eastern food in the entire Detroit metro area. Love this place. Owner Elie is good peeps as well
(5)Yakov F.
This is a very popular and unfortunately a noisy Birmingham destination. Food is good overall, lamb chops are excellent.
(4)Gray M.
Although Phoenicia is the more "upscale" experience between the two, Elie's is sure to satisfy both socialites and foodies alike. Great value for lunch and dinner, Elie's staff is sure to impress. Solos should definitely grab a bite at the lounge - the bartenders are some of the friendliest in town.
(4)Deborah D.
like outdoor seating, pleasant, food is average
(3)Chad C.
Nice upscale (though not formal) Middle Eastern restaurant that has a number of other traditional entrees as well, some with a slight Middle Eastern twist to them. This would have been a 4 were it not for the prices. A bottle of wine that's less than $20, for example, was $52. I understand there's a typical and sizable upcharge in a restaurant, but more than double is a bit much.
(3)Dave F.
Excellent lunch spot! This is true Middle Eastern food with a nice ambiance. There's a lot of competition in this suburb, so great food, ambiance, pricing and service are Elle's differentiator. I had a salad and a cup of lentil soup and really enjoyed the meal.
(4)Elizabeth M.
Good: On a vibrant street in birmingham - good for people watching. Patio Seating Bad: I would never pay to eat here. The Chicken Shawarma was $20 (plate of grilled chicken, rice and hummus). The fattoush that our table ordered had to be sent back twice and was finally taken off of the bill. The portabella mushroom app is good, but has WAY too much cheese and WAY too little mushroom. Drinks are outrageously priced. Overall, there are better restaurants in Birmingham. Mediterranean food is, in my opinion, like Mexican food - very similar ingredients all served differently. There is no reason to pay $20 a plate for something you can get for $4 in a pita around the corner.
(2)Sarah L.
Carefully prepared Middle Eastern fare in a beautiful, comfortable setting--a very pleasant surprise! We had sautéed calamari and octopus with fresh hot pita bread and then stuffed grape leaves and pistachio encrusted whitefish with tomato and artichoke risotto. Each dish was delicious and beautifully plated. The booths are comfortable for 2-4 and a group looked comfortable at a larger table. Service was attentive. Bonus: the special desserts!
(5)Elie's M.
The Best Mediterranean food in the Birmingham area. Must try Clam chowder. The Lamb chops are the best I ever had. For dessert we split a Chocolate Lava cake. As for the drinks, try the White wine Sangria, with Fresh fruit. Seating outside as well, I will be coming here again
(5)Joseph R.
Great food, amazing chef and owners. I met Fadwa, the chef/owner my very first day in town when I was walking around the neighborhood getting to know everyone. I went back to visit the next day and was remembered by name, overwhelmed with hospitality and a few special plates from the kitchen. The food is absolutely incredible. I eat mostly vegan, so I haven't tried a lot of the items on the menu, but what I have had (and the few cheat items I allowed myself) were as near to perfection as could be. The only room for improvement that I see is that the serving staff aren't quite as over-the-top awesome as the ownership. They aren't bad, by any means, but they could be a little more engaged, etc.
(4)D J.
Two trips in three weeks tells the story! One of the best new work trip dining discoveries - well technically I owe the outings to my meat loving set of coworkers who made a generous Mediterranean exception! A hearty appetizer platter is a perfect way to start the culinary adventure - the good old falafel was amazing, the bulgur and majadra were refreshing inclusions. Loved both so much that I doubled up on each as an entree on separate trips - the majadra trumped but the bulgur motivated me to give middle eastern cooking a try at home! Another simple but astonishingly delicious variation of the caziki had me hooked - strained Greek yoghurt with mint, cucumber,olive and a hint of pine nuts- go Greek! All that delicious food with some incredibly good wine and bonding - made for not one but two great dining outings. One can ponder how to classify elie's- Lebanese/ medit/ generic middle eastern- regardless, such a great assortment of ethnic food in the heart of very Midwestern, very suburban Birmingham is the biggest surprise of them all. A few more occupied tables would have been heartening but hopefully these yelps and more provide fodder to those on the fence - Elie's is worth way more than a single try!
(4)James R.
I was baffled that my waiter didn't permit me to order shawarma sandwiches during dinner hours. In the past, they have always permitted me to order special items not printed in the menu. I was told sandwiches can only be served during lunch hours because they want to rake in higher profits during the evening, even though I usually order about 3 for myself. When I decided to order drinks, I was told that beer is served only in bottles, not on tap, which offended me greatly. I then proceeded to consume 3 to 4 baskets of bread, and every loaf I tasted was overcooked to a crisp. In the past, it's been superior. This may quite possibly be my ultimate foray to Elie's.
(2)Genevieve P.
If you have not tried this place yet, you definitely should. I love the Loubyee, it is so flavorful! I have pretty much tried many items and it is all very good. I am a bit bummed about the price increases over the past 3 years as I used to get a chicken fatoosh salad at least 3 times each week for lunch for $10 and now it is $16.50. Although, most people in this area can likely afford to pay whatever. I just stopped buying their salads as I am more frugal.
(4)Corky L.
So many great Middle eastern restaurants in the area and this is not one of them. Over priced and poor service. Go to Palm Palace, Mezza or Phoenician which are all superb and owners make you feel very welcome!
(2)Lindsey B.
Holy crap this was good food! WHATEVER YOU DO- YOU MUST ORDER: Hummus with sauteed tenderloin tips, onions and pine nuts. Seriously. This is GENIUS! And with their pita bread. OMG! I DIE! Everything is delicious and complements each other so well! We also had the Portabella Mushroom. This was good. But the Hummus stole the show and also my heart. The pita bread is light and fluffy and soooo good! Our waiter was super nice! I can't wait to go back for the hummus and pita!
(5)Lisa T.
Good food, good service, great atmosphere. This is a venue I choose more so for a fun dinner night out, not necessarily for the food. In the summertime, there's a great patio, and even some of the indoor seating offers open-air dining. The food is pretty standard Lebanese fare, and it's pretty decent. A little overpriced in my opinion (of course, my choice restaurant for Lebanese food is a hole-in-the-wall on Woodward, with quite inexpensive menu options). There are a number of great vegetarian choices, from the mjadra, bulgar, grape leaves, marinated mushroom appetizer, hummos, etc. Some of the portion sizes were a little small. My favorite dish is the chargrilled falafal -- a little dry, but dipped in tahini sauce, it's delicious (and a healthier option that deep fried falafal). I definitely recommend Elie's for the food, atmosphere and bar.
(3)Gigi M.
This remains one of my favorite spots in Birmingham. Consistently. Elie of Elie's is such a great host. His menu is outstanding. The atmosphere is so inviting. I love the fire baked bread, too. I am highly recommending the BEST middle eastern food around town..it's at Elie's. (I'm salivating now!) LOL
(5)Sebastien
I stopped here for dinner while on a business trip. The food was excellent and the meat cooked to perfection. Service was quick and friendly. I will return the next time I'm in the area.
(4)Elle F.
Upscale Lebanese at its best. I have been dining here since they opened and I can say that without a doubt this is the best Lebanese in town. We use them for all our at home parties and get take out from there at least twice a week. This is our default restaurant and it doesn't get old. Elie's has stepped it up significantly since the remodel--very stylish. It isn't dirt cheap, but you can tell that the food is healthy, tasty and good quality. You eat well and still look good in your jeans. Plus, the owner is very sweet and goes out of his way to make you feel at home. Not to pass up: vegetarian grape leaves, mjadara, and shish kebab wrapped in homemade brick oven pita. Yum.
(5)James B.
Elie's was one of the first Middle Eastern (more specifically Lebanese) restaurants that I tried when I first moved to the area 6 years back. At that time I felt it was OK, but I always came away with the feeling that the dishes were unbalanced in regard to flavors. The grilled sweetbreads, for example, were almost always too acidic...one could not really detect the subtle livery taste of the sweetbreads at all. As another example, the baba ganoush suffered from an overpowering acrid taste of charred vegetable. I would have to give the Mk. 1 Elie's only 2 stars. When Elie's began their renovations, I all but forgot about the place. I would get my fix of the cuisine at any of other Middle Eastern restaurants in the area, with generally mediocre results. When I finally went back this summer, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the food at Elie's has, like the restaurant, been renovated for the better. The aforementioned sweetbreads are now a balance of lemon, garlic, and parsley that accentuate the taste of the sweetbreads. One can now easily discern the flavors of olive oil, garlic, tahini, and eggplant in the baba ganoush. The service is usually spot on and the restaurant has a modern Mediterranean feel to it. You can imagine this restaurant could be transplanted to a locale next to the sea, especially during the summer when there is outdoor seating. An overall good experience. Elie's is a place that merits multiple visits.
(3)Tiffany D.
Love to come here when I'm feeling healthy, and when I can sit and stay awhile. Like the atmosphere here as much as I like the fresh juices and the pita bread. Good middle eastern fare, great salads and the seasoning on the lamb is delish. You can't go wrong anywhere on the menu really, unless you order kibbee nyi.
(4)myrrisa h.
Came here last night with my girlfriends. We only had drinks and appetizers. Service was not good. We sat at our table where the vents from above were leaking water due to the moisture outside. The water literally dripped on my head so i had to scoot over a seat to not get dripped on. When we asked the hostess to move she said sorry the other table was reserved for someone else and then ignored the situation instead of trying to find a better seat for us. So I had to sit where a vent was leaking on the chair next to me . That is unsanitary, unprofessional, and down right rude to your customers. It was hard for me to enjoy my meal because of it. The appetizer that did come out was pretty good. They have excellent Baba Ganoush. It had a rich smoky flavor. I also really liked their Grape Leaves. They were done just the way I like them and I am picky. Good Grape leaves are hard to find. I did not like the way we were treated despite the food being pretty good, so i will not be back.
(2)Jason L.
I visited the cute/cozy downtown of Birmingham on a business trip with all the intentions of eating at Elie's next door neighbor (Streetside Seafood) but since their bar was full I ventured next door and found this great middle eastern (pardon me, Lebanese) restaurant. I settled up at the bar and entrusted the friendly barkeep Casey for guidance--and she didn't disappoint. I had the hummus (fantastic) to start and the latke salmon as my entree. The main course came with soup or salad and Casey didn't hesitate to pick the soup which she described as lobster bisque meets chowder...it was by far the best soup I've had since the lobster bisque at Eddie Martinis (and I am a conniseuer of lobster bisque). The latke was good, the salmon okay and the whole dish only slightly above average because of the addition of applesauce. I'll be back to try it again...next time to tackle their lamb!
(4)andrew S.
Came here yesterday for a bloody mary with a few friends- Bartender was obnoxious and they were charging $10.60 for a bloody mary. What a waste of our time !! (and money)
(1)Keith M.
Been here a few times for drinks in the summer months when it is very busy...finally stopped in last night with some great friends and had dinner. The dining room was perhaps 2/3 full and the bar was lively as usual. We were sat at our booth quickly and experienced very good service the entire evening. The Wine selection was very good with decent prices for Birmingham. The bread...amazing, Apps....very good...but the Lamb Chops were OUTSTANDING! Best I have had in the Detroit area! The wait staff was super friendly and professional and the owner came back a couple times to greet us and spend some time telling us about the restaurant and some of the interesting décor that was personally made by him. Elie's is a Gem in this town. It's quaint, comfortable upscale feel is all Bham! The Service and Food is very, very good! Definitely a place I would recommend as well as frequent more often in the future!
(5)paul s.
This is very cool. A middle eastern place here in the midwest. Before I came to visit Detroit, I never thought that any place between the two coasts of our country had anything of interest except camping and out doorsie stuff. It shows my ignorance. Yesterday we headed to Birmingham and tried this restaurant. The pita bread was great, as a person before me mentioned. Problably the best pita bread I have ever had. We had a little tabuleh, babaghanoush, raddishes, etc. Then, kabob and some lamb dolmba, with a little cous cous. It was all very good. The place itself is decorated with a middle-east meets west decor. The only problem of the night which my sister and mom both duely felt agitated about was the fact that they were blaring number one hits music of the 70's. It was pretty loud, and I felt like my stomach was dancing to the beat of the disco. They should have had some middle-eastern music playing. Anyway, still a great place I think. The midwest needs some mountain ranges. How can you tell where you are here without a point of reference?
(4)Mrs. Hyman R.
Did you know that Elies has the best ribs ever? They are outstanding. I'm impressed with their food ... the kibbee nayee is really delicious - I order is spicy and with no onions and jalapenos on the side. Great shish tawook sandwiches - which I don't like but my husband does. I like their falafel, the lettuce wraps, .... yummy fresh bread.
(5)Susan G.
$112 for three people, only two people had a glass of wine. Food is good but very pricey and wine pour is very short. I think the only reason they have survived is because they pick up the overflow from Streetside Seafood next door which is a much better restaurant !
(2)Todd W.
The most delicious, succulent Middle Eastern food I have ever had. His white wine sangria is addictive. Try the bruschetta old style and then the Chicken Diane.
(4)Jj s.
So delicious! Best clam chowder I've ever had! Lettece wraps to die for, go figure;) best of all our waiter was sweet and knowledgable! Go there, it's awesome!
(5)Stephen T.
It was decent at best. The outdoor seating is the best thing going for it. The food was mediocre, but way overpriced. Anita's Kitchen is far better tasting and half the price.
(2)Melanie S.
Elie's has changed over the years it has occupied a home in Birmingham. Today it is more upbeat vs. the family friendly past. Their mid eastern dishes are very good as well as good for you. I do wish they could block the cold air that rushes into the restaurant on the cold days in Michigan, especially if you have a seat across from the door. Don't bother to get the cappuccino-it will disappoint. They prepare it as if they were making a spanish coffee. The rim is sugared and bites at the lip and the cup is clear glass. The coffee sits below the foam which is caught by the sides of the cup. There is no merging of the foam and the expresso, no blending of the creamy with the bite of expresso. When I spoke to the waitress regarding this odd preparation it was clear she had never had a good cup of cappuccino. I suggest they remove it from the menu or learn how to prepare and serve it.
(3)Nina B.
Went here with some co-workers for dinner and socializing on a week night. I thought the place has a great atmosphere, especially the outdoor dining on a sunny day. However, everything seemed to be overpriced, given the fact that most Middle Eastern places I have been to in this area (e.g. Anita's Kitchen in Ferndale and LaPita in Dearborn) charge a LOT less and the food is a LOT more authentic. I tried the hummus (not flavorful enough for my liking), the small Greek salad (I've had better at a Coney island!), and the fried calamari, which was actually quite good, and served with green onions, pepperoncinni, capers, and a few other seasonings. I would've had some alcohol if they had a wider range of choices in different price ranges. The service was pretty good, especially since we told them a larger group was coming, and then we had to downsize at the last minute. They didn't seem to sweat it too much. If you're looking for a hip place to see and be seen, try Elie's...but don't expect to get the most authentic food out there.
(3)Dane K.
It's easy to pass by this quaint little place in downtown Birmingham. I did many times... I recently did finally visit... It was good. At $8 total, it was also probably the cheapest meal I had the entire week. I really wanted the lamb shawarma, but the waitress talked me into the kebab, saying "it's very special" ... It was indeed good... But now I'm craving lamb shawarma ever since! The lamb was nicely flavored... it was accompanied by the fairly standard onions and tomatoes that were grilled with a nice char flavor... And a fairly standard rice. Also it came with lentil soup. Not the best lentil soup I've had, but good (a little lemon would kick it up!) ...while you wait for your food they give you pickled turnips and pita chips, which were tasty. With the food came the best part....freshly baked pita bread, piping hot. That really was what made this meal a good one... The service was just kinda "ehh" .. I didn't order a drink (partly why it was so cheap) because I was really dehydrated and just wanted water... They brought me water without having to ask, but then the glass sat empty after I finished it. Then after my food was brought out, she brought the check to me a few minutes later, without me really asking for it... or offering dessert.
(4)Jillian K.
This is a great little restaurant...especially with their recent renovation and the fact that I can now have a glass of wine! The staff is super friendly and the food is really good...but the atomosphere of this place is what is really amazing! Little crystals hanging, all sparkly...the draping of fabric on the ceiling and the really cool pictures that hang on the walls. Just sit back, chill out and enjoy!
(4)Kimberly B.
Husband and I and a former student met at Elie's last night for dinner at 6:15pm and had our choice of seating, which was very nice. We chose to eat outside in the covered patio. Hummus and tabouleh appetizer came with flat bread fresh from the oven. The loubiye was delicious, the smashed lentil soup was divine, and the service was excellent -- not hovering but not absent. A little problem with the wine list, which is fairly large, by the way. I like a vognier but they didn't have it. Second choice from the wine list was vouvray, but they were out. If you love chardonnay, you'll have a full choice. This is not a budget restaurant, but it isn't too bad. Appetizer dish for four was $16 and the loubiye entree was priced at $22. People claim this restaurant is pretentious, but c'mon guys -- do you know of a non-pretentious restaurant in downtown Birmingham? Four stars - would have been five if the wine list weren't so frustrating.
(4)J M.
Just there today. I ordered a Fatoush Salad and Babaganoush to go. 20.00 and so small it would have barley served a small child. When I brought this to the attention of the Bartender some woman came from the kitchen and tried to tell me how much salad it would be if it was on a plate! I mean really? I then told some old guy i wanted a refund and as if to shame he says to the bartender "here this will be your lunch". First time there and the last time.I will tell everyone I know to avoid this place. Zero stars! Oops can't indicate zero stars so i'm giving it one star :(
(1)Williams C.
$21.00 for 2 mixed drinks and an owner who would rather take up prime seating for his own purposes than for paying Customers - forget this place!!!!!! There are too many other restaurants in B'ham where ownership "cares" about their Customers, I will never go back to this arrogant place.
(1)marisa s.
they make their own PITA BREAD! (that's probably enough info you need to come check out Elie's). it pops out of their stone oven and gets placed on your table ::hot:: so you can get some hummus on that thing before it gets cold. the middle eastern food here is amazzzzzze. i love the hummus, tabbouleh, baked kafta, shish kafta, lamb with hummus, grape leaves, house salad, even the pickled radish that they throw on the table for free (or maybe decoration, haha!)...i could go on and on. they have some great outdoor seating/birmingham people watching (we know how exciting that is) in the summertime. theire fresh juices are great...but they don't have alcohol...but who cares, you go there for the pita and hummus anyways.
(4)Rob H.
Had lunch here today. It was fantastic! I suggest doing an early lunch as I heard it gets packed. Must be something in the water on pierce street, the bread here and and streetside = top notch! 2 orders of Tips with hummus and raw Kibe fed four of us, although I would have added one more order of tips. They weren't very liberal with the bread distribution, but whenever we asked they brought more and it was very fresh every time. Maybe that's why! Would go back for sure.
(4)Stephen T.
My friends and I stopped in here for lunch on the way out of Detroit. It was very nice on the outside and inside; clean and comfortable. Modern decor and comfortable booths, which we selected. The menu is Mediterranean. That being said, I made a miscalculation. They have a number of wraps on the menu and one of those appeared to be a hamburger wrap. So, at the suggestion of my friend, who used to live in Detroit, I selected the hamburger. Turns out it was just a regular hamburger. A delicious one - but just a regular hamburger. I usually try to get whatever specialty the restaurant supports. So, yes, this spot is definitely A-OK in my book. You should try it out.
(3)Emily M.
Pleasantly surprised! I was a bit worried after reading some of the reviews. We walked in on a Friday with no problem! nice ambience...perfect setting for a special occasion or date. Warning...drinks are extremely strong but the sangria is fantastic! I recommend the lamb shawarma over the chicken one! And definitely ask about the Lebanese desserts! We had a Lebanese bread pudding with pistachios that was to die for! Anita's kitchen in ferndale is just as good but the ambience at Eli's is definitely more romantic and nicer.
(5)Regina B.
Always a great choice for Middle Eastern cuisine right in the heart of downtown Birmingham.
(5)Meena M.
Food is amazinggggg. Hummus and pita are so fresh and obviously I would recommend any of the dishes. Good service as well
(5)Megan C.
I like to visit Elie's when I'm in town for business, as it's a good spot for me to connect with some of my local colleagues while here. The location is nice and parking is easy in one of the area parking decks. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and the complimentary puffy bread is super-delicious and comes out of a wood-burning oven. I find the service to be uninspired; our waiters and waitresses regularly are not knowledgeable about the menu items nor are they able to tell us specifics about certain menu items without "checking with the kitchen." The food is fine and will please most Mediterranean-seeking palates, however I find the hummus to be too drowned in olive oil and the grape leaves to be too dry and too thick with leaves (not enough filling). A bit pricey of course since it's in Birmingham. Likely to return just out of familiarity and for the fairly wide variety of item on the menu, but not a favorite spot.
(3)Bunny K.
Pretty little Mediterrean restaurant in downtown Birmingham. I had the lamb shwarma platter. This was a platter of small pieces of lamb that had been over-cooked, hummus which was creamy and very tasty, red onions and couscous. It would have been a really great meal had the lamb not been over-cooked. A friend had the lamb meatballs which were excellent...kind of lemony and delicious. Everyone else was happy with their meal...waiter was very friendly and attentive. They do have outside seating. I will try it one more time...lamb may have been a fluke.....hope so:)
(3)zarmala m.
Amazing food. Awesome bartenders. Have the Spanish coffee. Have the lebneh. Oh and the lemon herb chicken kabob. Have it all. Gah. Also gluten free options are great.
(5)Libby T.
A Birmingham staple for as long as I can remember with solid middle eastern options. Better quality middle eastern can be found elsewhere, but if you're looking for a sidewalk lunch spot in the Birmingham area, Elie's can't be beat
(3)Kelly C.
Solid option in Birmingham, with a range of fish options and other Mediterranean favorites. The special fish, a type of sea bass, was very flavorful with the herbs stuffed in the fish, however there were several bones left after the deboning. Entrees are accompanied by soup or salad to start which is a nice touch. Decor is simple but cozy for a casual meal out.
(3)Chad C.
Nice upscale (though not formal) Middle Eastern restaurant that has a number of other traditional entrees as well, some with a slight Middle Eastern twist to them. This would have been a 4 were it not for the prices. A bottle of wine that's less than $20, for example, was $52. I understand there's a typical and sizable upcharge in a restaurant, but more than double is a bit much.
(3)Dave F.
Excellent lunch spot! This is true Middle Eastern food with a nice ambiance. There's a lot of competition in this suburb, so great food, ambiance, pricing and service are Elle's differentiator. I had a salad and a cup of lentil soup and really enjoyed the meal.
(4)Elizabeth M.
Good: On a vibrant street in birmingham - good for people watching. Patio Seating Bad: I would never pay to eat here. The Chicken Shawarma was $20 (plate of grilled chicken, rice and hummus). The fattoush that our table ordered had to be sent back twice and was finally taken off of the bill. The portabella mushroom app is good, but has WAY too much cheese and WAY too little mushroom. Drinks are outrageously priced. Overall, there are better restaurants in Birmingham. Mediterranean food is, in my opinion, like Mexican food - very similar ingredients all served differently. There is no reason to pay $20 a plate for something you can get for $4 in a pita around the corner.
(2)Sarah L.
Carefully prepared Middle Eastern fare in a beautiful, comfortable setting--a very pleasant surprise! We had sautéed calamari and octopus with fresh hot pita bread and then stuffed grape leaves and pistachio encrusted whitefish with tomato and artichoke risotto. Each dish was delicious and beautifully plated. The booths are comfortable for 2-4 and a group looked comfortable at a larger table. Service was attentive. Bonus: the special desserts!
(5)Elie's M.
The Best Mediterranean food in the Birmingham area. Must try Clam chowder. The Lamb chops are the best I ever had. For dessert we split a Chocolate Lava cake. As for the drinks, try the White wine Sangria, with Fresh fruit. Seating outside as well, I will be coming here again
(5)Chelsea A.
I do enjoy trying new places. But here in Michigan I have run out of finer dining spots that I haven't tried. I've been to Ellie's in the past but it's been so long that I forgot how the food was and my bf was complaining about being tired of our usual choices. Ellie's it was. The restaurant was about a 1/4 full, closer to half if you count the patio tables. Usually we can see that Ellie's and Streetside are fully packed from our semi permanent perch at the Townhouse across the street so the staff is well accustomed to busy nights. We were seated in a cozy spot near the patio but still indoors. Then we waited. And waited. And waited. I'm rather impatient but I have a high level of dining etiquette so I waited some time before turning in my seat to get the attention of someone- anyone! A waiter did eventually come by but at this point we felt compelled to place out entire order on the chance that he would again not return for an extended period. Rushed and annoying is how I describe that type of order. I don't like having to explain how to course out my meal and that's what happens when apps salads and entrees are ordered in one shot. Ten minutes- literally- after placing our order, the young man returned to inform me that the grilled sausage and pepper entree couldn't be served because they were out of one of the two styles of sausages served. I asked if a half order of the available type could be offered, a fair question considering the restaurant was the one who had an issue, not me. ANOTHER ten minutes and he returned with a "no we can't". So..... Ok give me a full order of the same type then. And does this mean twenty minutes plus later my food has STILL not begun to be prepared??????!!!!!????!!!!!! The answer was obviously yes, as it took another twenty minutes or more to show up. I'm NOT exaggerating. We could have had a 5 course meal at this point somewhere else. WTF. All of this irritation would dissolve however, if the food served to us was enjoyable. No such luck. Offensive is the only appropriate descriptor for the quality. Grilled chicken was nearly inedible. Dry. Over cooked. Chicken has one correct temperature. One. Any more or less is unacceptable unless requested. The seasoning and sauce were also subpar. I make some mean tikka and if I can do it, surely a chef at a busy restaurant can also. The sausages were the funniest part. I can understand why a kitchen wouldn't want to slice up a half order as I had requested. These weren't sliced. They were little party sized sausages. The flavor was ok, nothing I'd eat again. There was no reason they couldn't serve me a half order and what a bummer - more than half were thrown out. The bread is awful. The salad dressing is awful. The rice is awful. The bill was insanely large for such a bad experience. I am the type who will miss a rent payment in order to splurge on a very good meal and it takes a combo of bad service and bad food to make me feel ripped off. They succeeded in accomplishing that feeling for me. DO NOT waste your time and money here. Try The Phoenicia, Sahara or even Mezza. All are awesome, and will leave you feeling that your money was well spent. Uhg. Never again. Never.
(1)Joseph R.
Great food, amazing chef and owners. I met Fadwa, the chef/owner my very first day in town when I was walking around the neighborhood getting to know everyone. I went back to visit the next day and was remembered by name, overwhelmed with hospitality and a few special plates from the kitchen. The food is absolutely incredible. I eat mostly vegan, so I haven't tried a lot of the items on the menu, but what I have had (and the few cheat items I allowed myself) were as near to perfection as could be. The only room for improvement that I see is that the serving staff aren't quite as over-the-top awesome as the ownership. They aren't bad, by any means, but they could be a little more engaged, etc.
(4)Jaime S.
Really tasty lebanese food. The tabouleh, hummus and chicken and lamb schwarma are SO freaking good. Also, the portion sizes are enormous. Both times I've been, I have split a meal with someone and it was PLENTY. PS: Doug the bartender makes great sangria and drinks in general, and he is quite the character to make any dinner memorable.
(4)Torrie M.
Do you like fresh salads? Do you enjoy hummus with beef, seasoned to perfection? Do you love a good Stoli Doli or white wine Sangria? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then this is the place for you! Elie's sits in beautiful downtown Birmingham and offers both patio and indoor seating. The food is divine and the drinks are refreshing. Yes, it's a little pricey but you get what you pay for people. Love this place!
(4)Deborah C.
I'm surprised at some of the lower reviews. We have been going to Elies for years, and have always loved it. Never have had a bad meal. Top notch middle eastern food. Only downside, it's a bit pricier then some other similar places. Love the Tenderloin hummus, Fattoush salad and the Pita Bread -pipping hot, with some garlic sauce - yum!
(4)Scott L.
Best Lebanese food around. A little pricy as mentioned by others, but the food is worth it. Great hummus and try the sangria!
(5)Seoung L.
This is a nice place for middle eastern food. A good place to bring a guest from out of town. However, if you want real arabic food, I wouldn't recommend this place. It's over priced and not that delicious. I ordered Hummus with chicken, fattoush salad, & rice... it came to $35. I could go down the street to Pita Cafe and feed 4 to 5 people for $35 and get better tasting middle eastern meals. Trust my reviews because I might be Middle Eastern food connoisseur since I grew up around Dearborn and lived in East Dearborn before. I ate real authentic arabic and Elie's doesn't compare to any of the restaurants in Dearborn or even Pita Cafe few blocks away. Like I said, a good place to impress people since it's got a nice decor, and good outside dining. Speaking of outside dining, It was nice to be outside eating but the service for the outside dining customers isn't too great. We had to wait awhile during lunch time to get refills on water and also made mistakes on what we ordered. Good - nice atmosphere for dining. Bad - overpriced mediocre food, mediocre service.
(2)Tarick S.
One of if not the best tasting middle eastern food in the entire Detroit metro area. Love this place. Owner Elie is good peeps as well
(5)Yakov F.
This is a very popular and unfortunately a noisy Birmingham destination. Food is good overall, lamb chops are excellent.
(4)Gray M.
Although Phoenicia is the more "upscale" experience between the two, Elie's is sure to satisfy both socialites and foodies alike. Great value for lunch and dinner, Elie's staff is sure to impress. Solos should definitely grab a bite at the lounge - the bartenders are some of the friendliest in town.
(4)D J.
Two trips in three weeks tells the story! One of the best new work trip dining discoveries - well technically I owe the outings to my meat loving set of coworkers who made a generous Mediterranean exception! A hearty appetizer platter is a perfect way to start the culinary adventure - the good old falafel was amazing, the bulgur and majadra were refreshing inclusions. Loved both so much that I doubled up on each as an entree on separate trips - the majadra trumped but the bulgur motivated me to give middle eastern cooking a try at home! Another simple but astonishingly delicious variation of the caziki had me hooked - strained Greek yoghurt with mint, cucumber,olive and a hint of pine nuts- go Greek! All that delicious food with some incredibly good wine and bonding - made for not one but two great dining outings. One can ponder how to classify elie's- Lebanese/ medit/ generic middle eastern- regardless, such a great assortment of ethnic food in the heart of very Midwestern, very suburban Birmingham is the biggest surprise of them all. A few more occupied tables would have been heartening but hopefully these yelps and more provide fodder to those on the fence - Elie's is worth way more than a single try!
(4)James R.
I was baffled that my waiter didn't permit me to order shawarma sandwiches during dinner hours. In the past, they have always permitted me to order special items not printed in the menu. I was told sandwiches can only be served during lunch hours because they want to rake in higher profits during the evening, even though I usually order about 3 for myself. When I decided to order drinks, I was told that beer is served only in bottles, not on tap, which offended me greatly. I then proceeded to consume 3 to 4 baskets of bread, and every loaf I tasted was overcooked to a crisp. In the past, it's been superior. This may quite possibly be my ultimate foray to Elie's.
(2)Kim L.
Took advantage of a warm April afternoon to eat at here so we could enjoy the indoor/outdor seating. That part was great. When I sat down I noticed some debris (or something) on the plate in front of me. I pointed it out to our waiter and asked for a clean plate. He picked up my plate, dumped the debris off, got me a plate off another table & put my plate on that table! REALLY! The menu's are tablets which I didn't really care for. I like to peruse the whole menu, but this required clicking from section to section and going back to look at the different options. Gimmicky & not really helpful in my opinion. I ordered the crushed lentil soup & a chicken kafta. The soup was just not good. It was too thick and tasted too chickeny. It had large chunks of something in it that I thought was perhaps barley because that's what it tasted like to me, but our waiter said it wasn't. I couldn't taste any spices. All in all, just yuk, but the waiter took it away and took it off my bill. My kafta was ok, put the pita was crispy which made it dry. For $5 it was a good price point, but don't expect to be wowed. My friend got a veggie sandwhich, she ended up eating it open faced because she wasn't impressed with the bread which was plain white bread with scorched toast marks on it. We both had a Sauvignon Blanc which was the highlight of our meal, crisp, dry & chilled just right. Come for the outdoor dining & stick to the basics & a glass of wine.
(2)Assaf Z.
Its very choosy and hot place in cold wether like that. The staff is great , especially Rami! That always smiled to us and recommended the best dishes! We had a great! Clam cheddar soup and wonderful salad. Mist recommended.
(5)Lynne S.
I only ordered a carry out, but the service was outstanding. And the kibbeh nayeh, hands down the best I've ever had. Might be going back tonight.
(5)Gina S.
Just wanted to sit on the patio and get a glass of wine. It was a nice Monday night in August. When we told the hostess this, she said, "oh, umm, you mean, you want a table so you can order? or you just want a drink? Because, ummm, yeah." That was her way of trying to tell us no, I suppose? We said we'd look at a menu so that she would seat us. Shmeh. Ordered our wine, and the waitress at least pretended to be okay with us just ordering two measly glasses of wine. They get one star for the annoying and rude hostess. I couldn't tell you much about their food or actual service, since we got very little.
(1)Wisdom H.
I ended up here by sheer mistake, or fate. You decide: I had intentions to go to Toast and had to park down the street. I put money in the meter and realized the car's beside me had expired. So I took a few minutes and put it in their meter. I walked down the street. I should have made a left for Toast, but saw the Seafood Restaurant to the right. I went right. I saw two doors and went through the one on the left since I saw the greeter. She sat me in my preferred seat outside. I waited for a while for my my server, but she was nice so I didn't mind. When she brought me my water, I realized I was not at the Seafood restaurant, but at Elie's Mediterranean, which shares a doorway and the same navy blue bricks making it look like one restaurant. Oops! I decided to stay and tried the White Wine Sangria I saw on another table. The fruit looked so good! It was tasty and well steeped. I also ordered the clam chowder, which I am normally not a fan of, and the Jeffrey's Chicken, since I'm a sucker for a cream based dish. All were progressively better than the item before, culminating in the Jeffrey's Chicken being addictively delicious. I am not a fan of linguine noodles either, as I only tend to eat Angel Hair pasta, but I ate every noodle. Very good. But the icing on the proverbial cake was not only the intense people watching session I was able to enjoy, but this charming non-profit team, the Kenya Relief Project, that sat beside me going back and forth about an issue they were having. The settings are close together, and I felt I was led to this place because I had been searching for a cause to lend my services to, and they kept stating that they needed my exact expertise. So we made a connection right then and there, and it made my meal all the more sweet. The experience, the food, the ambience -- all played into my overall opinion of this place. I will most certainly return.
(4)Jenna C.
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon when Bham faves like Toast and Social Kitchen were packed, Elie's was able to seat us at a cozy table for two right away. It wasn't on the sidewalk, but they have an inside/outside layout so it still has the open air effect. Our server, Trina, was um....AWESOME! From her upbeat personality to her food recommendations, she made our dining experience very enjoyable. I was treating my mom to a (much) belated Mothers Day lunch so we naturally started with mimosas. Fresh squeezed OJ and they did NOT skimp on the champagne :) We also ordered hummus with pita - and while I've had better pita bread before, the hummus was delectable. I was hesitant about the lettuce wraps per Trina's recommendation due to the "overdone" factor of pf chang's popular dish. But I ended up ordering the shrimp one while the Madre had chicken. We were not sorry. The cilantro hummus sauce was On. Point. At the end of the meal, the check didn't break the bank either. Will have to come back and try Elie's for dinner!
(4)Kathie E.
First visit last night. The waitress came over and didn't check on me once in the 15 minutes I waited for my friend. We ordered veggies and hummus as an appetizer and several of the carrots had gone bad. We had to ask for drink refills. The Falafel was good. Beautiful interior, horrible service.
(2)Steve S.
Jeez this is a tough one. I like this place sometimes and sometimes not. Place is very pricey and some of the items are pretty good. I do love the shawarma sandwiches. There really isn't much good middle eastern in the area so we did carry out sandwiches from here a few times. They only serve shawarmas for lunch though which is kinda annoying. My wife and I got carry out from here and we asked for an extra side of garlic with the shawarma sandwiches. They actually charged me $4 for it. That was almost the price of one of the sandwiches. I was in disbelief and when I mentioned it the bartender who rang it up she was apologetic they had to charge me for it. Thought I learned my lesson. Next time we ordered and my wife still wanted to get the side of garlic despite them nickel and dining us on it. Since we were ordering for a few ppl I thought it was ok since everyone could share. When I went to pay they had a large side of garlic which they charged us $8 (I believe that was the price) for. This was without anyone asking her if she wanted the large one. Being in a rush, I just paid and moved on. Was kinda disappointed with this. Haven't carried out from here since. Otherwise, for dining in it had nice outdoor seating in a good area of downtown Birmingham and good food if you stick to the middle eastern stuff. Did not like the sliders though. Def over priced for what you get though.
(3)Naomi D.
The food is great and fresh. Chicken pot pie is delicious, the bread and garlic is to die for and vegetarian kibbeh is amazing! Great place if you haven't been here you have to check it out.
(5)Steven L.
Great staff but the food was a tad on the bland side. However, the fries were quite tasty. I had the shwarma sandwich and my wife had the burger. Both were good and cook perfectly but just lacked flavor. Nice atmosphere and again solid staff, even from the waiter that was new.
(3)Alexandre M.
Very bad service. Everything was slow, we wait more than 25 minutes for a glass of wine and a glass of water and after asking 3 times for that and after waiting 25 minutes, they only brought the glass of wine. We waited more 10 minutes to receive the so expected glass of water. Simple as that. The food is OK but the service is terrible. Sign: Alex Moreira
(1)Megan B.
I love their chicken and hummus, the perfect blend of mediterranean spices make this great anytime. I highly recommend their chicken shawarma as well!
(4)Erik M.
Elie's is excellent Middle Eastern food in the heart of Birmingham. The menu is creative and expands beyond the traditional fare. The ribs are the best in town or that I've eaten in Michigan. I've traveled the world and Elie's ribs are the superlative. Daily specials are creative and the remodeled dining room is great for all occasions. I highly recommend this restaurant!!
(4)Genevieve P.
If you have not tried this place yet, you definitely should. I love the Loubyee, it is so flavorful! I have pretty much tried many items and it is all very good. I am a bit bummed about the price increases over the past 3 years as I used to get a chicken fatoosh salad at least 3 times each week for lunch for $10 and now it is $16.50. Although, most people in this area can likely afford to pay whatever. I just stopped buying their salads as I am more frugal.
(4)Corky L.
So many great Middle eastern restaurants in the area and this is not one of them. Over priced and poor service. Go to Palm Palace, Mezza or Phoenician which are all superb and owners make you feel very welcome!
(2)Gigi M.
This remains one of my favorite spots in Birmingham. Consistently. Elie of Elie's is such a great host. His menu is outstanding. The atmosphere is so inviting. I love the fire baked bread, too. I am highly recommending the BEST middle eastern food around town..it's at Elie's. (I'm salivating now!) LOL
(5)Sebastien
I stopped here for dinner while on a business trip. The food was excellent and the meat cooked to perfection. Service was quick and friendly. I will return the next time I'm in the area.
(4)Elle F.
Upscale Lebanese at its best. I have been dining here since they opened and I can say that without a doubt this is the best Lebanese in town. We use them for all our at home parties and get take out from there at least twice a week. This is our default restaurant and it doesn't get old. Elie's has stepped it up significantly since the remodel--very stylish. It isn't dirt cheap, but you can tell that the food is healthy, tasty and good quality. You eat well and still look good in your jeans. Plus, the owner is very sweet and goes out of his way to make you feel at home. Not to pass up: vegetarian grape leaves, mjadara, and shish kebab wrapped in homemade brick oven pita. Yum.
(5)James B.
Elie's was one of the first Middle Eastern (more specifically Lebanese) restaurants that I tried when I first moved to the area 6 years back. At that time I felt it was OK, but I always came away with the feeling that the dishes were unbalanced in regard to flavors. The grilled sweetbreads, for example, were almost always too acidic...one could not really detect the subtle livery taste of the sweetbreads at all. As another example, the baba ganoush suffered from an overpowering acrid taste of charred vegetable. I would have to give the Mk. 1 Elie's only 2 stars. When Elie's began their renovations, I all but forgot about the place. I would get my fix of the cuisine at any of other Middle Eastern restaurants in the area, with generally mediocre results. When I finally went back this summer, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the food at Elie's has, like the restaurant, been renovated for the better. The aforementioned sweetbreads are now a balance of lemon, garlic, and parsley that accentuate the taste of the sweetbreads. One can now easily discern the flavors of olive oil, garlic, tahini, and eggplant in the baba ganoush. The service is usually spot on and the restaurant has a modern Mediterranean feel to it. You can imagine this restaurant could be transplanted to a locale next to the sea, especially during the summer when there is outdoor seating. An overall good experience. Elie's is a place that merits multiple visits.
(3)Lindsey B.
Holy crap this was good food! WHATEVER YOU DO- YOU MUST ORDER: Hummus with sauteed tenderloin tips, onions and pine nuts. Seriously. This is GENIUS! And with their pita bread. OMG! I DIE! Everything is delicious and complements each other so well! We also had the Portabella Mushroom. This was good. But the Hummus stole the show and also my heart. The pita bread is light and fluffy and soooo good! Our waiter was super nice! I can't wait to go back for the hummus and pita!
(5)Lisa T.
Good food, good service, great atmosphere. This is a venue I choose more so for a fun dinner night out, not necessarily for the food. In the summertime, there's a great patio, and even some of the indoor seating offers open-air dining. The food is pretty standard Lebanese fare, and it's pretty decent. A little overpriced in my opinion (of course, my choice restaurant for Lebanese food is a hole-in-the-wall on Woodward, with quite inexpensive menu options). There are a number of great vegetarian choices, from the mjadra, bulgar, grape leaves, marinated mushroom appetizer, hummos, etc. Some of the portion sizes were a little small. My favorite dish is the chargrilled falafal -- a little dry, but dipped in tahini sauce, it's delicious (and a healthier option that deep fried falafal). I definitely recommend Elie's for the food, atmosphere and bar.
(3)myrrisa h.
Came here last night with my girlfriends. We only had drinks and appetizers. Service was not good. We sat at our table where the vents from above were leaking water due to the moisture outside. The water literally dripped on my head so i had to scoot over a seat to not get dripped on. When we asked the hostess to move she said sorry the other table was reserved for someone else and then ignored the situation instead of trying to find a better seat for us. So I had to sit where a vent was leaking on the chair next to me . That is unsanitary, unprofessional, and down right rude to your customers. It was hard for me to enjoy my meal because of it. The appetizer that did come out was pretty good. They have excellent Baba Ganoush. It had a rich smoky flavor. I also really liked their Grape Leaves. They were done just the way I like them and I am picky. Good Grape leaves are hard to find. I did not like the way we were treated despite the food being pretty good, so i will not be back.
(2)Jason L.
I visited the cute/cozy downtown of Birmingham on a business trip with all the intentions of eating at Elie's next door neighbor (Streetside Seafood) but since their bar was full I ventured next door and found this great middle eastern (pardon me, Lebanese) restaurant. I settled up at the bar and entrusted the friendly barkeep Casey for guidance--and she didn't disappoint. I had the hummus (fantastic) to start and the latke salmon as my entree. The main course came with soup or salad and Casey didn't hesitate to pick the soup which she described as lobster bisque meets chowder...it was by far the best soup I've had since the lobster bisque at Eddie Martinis (and I am a conniseuer of lobster bisque). The latke was good, the salmon okay and the whole dish only slightly above average because of the addition of applesauce. I'll be back to try it again...next time to tackle their lamb!
(4)andrew S.
Came here yesterday for a bloody mary with a few friends- Bartender was obnoxious and they were charging $10.60 for a bloody mary. What a waste of our time !! (and money)
(1)Keith M.
Been here a few times for drinks in the summer months when it is very busy...finally stopped in last night with some great friends and had dinner. The dining room was perhaps 2/3 full and the bar was lively as usual. We were sat at our booth quickly and experienced very good service the entire evening. The Wine selection was very good with decent prices for Birmingham. The bread...amazing, Apps....very good...but the Lamb Chops were OUTSTANDING! Best I have had in the Detroit area! The wait staff was super friendly and professional and the owner came back a couple times to greet us and spend some time telling us about the restaurant and some of the interesting décor that was personally made by him. Elie's is a Gem in this town. It's quaint, comfortable upscale feel is all Bham! The Service and Food is very, very good! Definitely a place I would recommend as well as frequent more often in the future!
(5)paul s.
This is very cool. A middle eastern place here in the midwest. Before I came to visit Detroit, I never thought that any place between the two coasts of our country had anything of interest except camping and out doorsie stuff. It shows my ignorance. Yesterday we headed to Birmingham and tried this restaurant. The pita bread was great, as a person before me mentioned. Problably the best pita bread I have ever had. We had a little tabuleh, babaghanoush, raddishes, etc. Then, kabob and some lamb dolmba, with a little cous cous. It was all very good. The place itself is decorated with a middle-east meets west decor. The only problem of the night which my sister and mom both duely felt agitated about was the fact that they were blaring number one hits music of the 70's. It was pretty loud, and I felt like my stomach was dancing to the beat of the disco. They should have had some middle-eastern music playing. Anyway, still a great place I think. The midwest needs some mountain ranges. How can you tell where you are here without a point of reference?
(4)Mrs. Hyman R.
Did you know that Elies has the best ribs ever? They are outstanding. I'm impressed with their food ... the kibbee nayee is really delicious - I order is spicy and with no onions and jalapenos on the side. Great shish tawook sandwiches - which I don't like but my husband does. I like their falafel, the lettuce wraps, .... yummy fresh bread.
(5)Susan G.
$112 for three people, only two people had a glass of wine. Food is good but very pricey and wine pour is very short. I think the only reason they have survived is because they pick up the overflow from Streetside Seafood next door which is a much better restaurant !
(2)Todd W.
The most delicious, succulent Middle Eastern food I have ever had. His white wine sangria is addictive. Try the bruschetta old style and then the Chicken Diane.
(4)Jj s.
So delicious! Best clam chowder I've ever had! Lettece wraps to die for, go figure;) best of all our waiter was sweet and knowledgable! Go there, it's awesome!
(5)Stephen T.
It was decent at best. The outdoor seating is the best thing going for it. The food was mediocre, but way overpriced. Anita's Kitchen is far better tasting and half the price.
(2)Melanie S.
Elie's has changed over the years it has occupied a home in Birmingham. Today it is more upbeat vs. the family friendly past. Their mid eastern dishes are very good as well as good for you. I do wish they could block the cold air that rushes into the restaurant on the cold days in Michigan, especially if you have a seat across from the door. Don't bother to get the cappuccino-it will disappoint. They prepare it as if they were making a spanish coffee. The rim is sugared and bites at the lip and the cup is clear glass. The coffee sits below the foam which is caught by the sides of the cup. There is no merging of the foam and the expresso, no blending of the creamy with the bite of expresso. When I spoke to the waitress regarding this odd preparation it was clear she had never had a good cup of cappuccino. I suggest they remove it from the menu or learn how to prepare and serve it.
(3)Tiffany D.
Love to come here when I'm feeling healthy, and when I can sit and stay awhile. Like the atmosphere here as much as I like the fresh juices and the pita bread. Good middle eastern fare, great salads and the seasoning on the lamb is delish. You can't go wrong anywhere on the menu really, unless you order kibbee nyi.
(4)Kimberly B.
Husband and I and a former student met at Elie's last night for dinner at 6:15pm and had our choice of seating, which was very nice. We chose to eat outside in the covered patio. Hummus and tabouleh appetizer came with flat bread fresh from the oven. The loubiye was delicious, the smashed lentil soup was divine, and the service was excellent -- not hovering but not absent. A little problem with the wine list, which is fairly large, by the way. I like a vognier but they didn't have it. Second choice from the wine list was vouvray, but they were out. If you love chardonnay, you'll have a full choice. This is not a budget restaurant, but it isn't too bad. Appetizer dish for four was $16 and the loubiye entree was priced at $22. People claim this restaurant is pretentious, but c'mon guys -- do you know of a non-pretentious restaurant in downtown Birmingham? Four stars - would have been five if the wine list weren't so frustrating.
(4)J M.
Just there today. I ordered a Fatoush Salad and Babaganoush to go. 20.00 and so small it would have barley served a small child. When I brought this to the attention of the Bartender some woman came from the kitchen and tried to tell me how much salad it would be if it was on a plate! I mean really? I then told some old guy i wanted a refund and as if to shame he says to the bartender "here this will be your lunch". First time there and the last time.I will tell everyone I know to avoid this place. Zero stars! Oops can't indicate zero stars so i'm giving it one star :(
(1)Williams C.
$21.00 for 2 mixed drinks and an owner who would rather take up prime seating for his own purposes than for paying Customers - forget this place!!!!!! There are too many other restaurants in B'ham where ownership "cares" about their Customers, I will never go back to this arrogant place.
(1)Nina B.
Went here with some co-workers for dinner and socializing on a week night. I thought the place has a great atmosphere, especially the outdoor dining on a sunny day. However, everything seemed to be overpriced, given the fact that most Middle Eastern places I have been to in this area (e.g. Anita's Kitchen in Ferndale and LaPita in Dearborn) charge a LOT less and the food is a LOT more authentic. I tried the hummus (not flavorful enough for my liking), the small Greek salad (I've had better at a Coney island!), and the fried calamari, which was actually quite good, and served with green onions, pepperoncinni, capers, and a few other seasonings. I would've had some alcohol if they had a wider range of choices in different price ranges. The service was pretty good, especially since we told them a larger group was coming, and then we had to downsize at the last minute. They didn't seem to sweat it too much. If you're looking for a hip place to see and be seen, try Elie's...but don't expect to get the most authentic food out there.
(3)Dane K.
It's easy to pass by this quaint little place in downtown Birmingham. I did many times... I recently did finally visit... It was good. At $8 total, it was also probably the cheapest meal I had the entire week. I really wanted the lamb shawarma, but the waitress talked me into the kebab, saying "it's very special" ... It was indeed good... But now I'm craving lamb shawarma ever since! The lamb was nicely flavored... it was accompanied by the fairly standard onions and tomatoes that were grilled with a nice char flavor... And a fairly standard rice. Also it came with lentil soup. Not the best lentil soup I've had, but good (a little lemon would kick it up!) ...while you wait for your food they give you pickled turnips and pita chips, which were tasty. With the food came the best part....freshly baked pita bread, piping hot. That really was what made this meal a good one... The service was just kinda "ehh" .. I didn't order a drink (partly why it was so cheap) because I was really dehydrated and just wanted water... They brought me water without having to ask, but then the glass sat empty after I finished it. Then after my food was brought out, she brought the check to me a few minutes later, without me really asking for it... or offering dessert.
(4)Jillian K.
This is a great little restaurant...especially with their recent renovation and the fact that I can now have a glass of wine! The staff is super friendly and the food is really good...but the atomosphere of this place is what is really amazing! Little crystals hanging, all sparkly...the draping of fabric on the ceiling and the really cool pictures that hang on the walls. Just sit back, chill out and enjoy!
(4)marisa s.
they make their own PITA BREAD! (that's probably enough info you need to come check out Elie's). it pops out of their stone oven and gets placed on your table ::hot:: so you can get some hummus on that thing before it gets cold. the middle eastern food here is amazzzzzze. i love the hummus, tabbouleh, baked kafta, shish kafta, lamb with hummus, grape leaves, house salad, even the pickled radish that they throw on the table for free (or maybe decoration, haha!)...i could go on and on. they have some great outdoor seating/birmingham people watching (we know how exciting that is) in the summertime. theire fresh juices are great...but they don't have alcohol...but who cares, you go there for the pita and hummus anyways.
(4)Deborah D.
like outdoor seating, pleasant, food is average
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