Green Cedar
19217 Newburgh Rd, Livonia, MI, 48152
Green Cedar Menu
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Address :
19217 Newburgh Rd
Livonia, MI, 48152 - Phone (734) 237-1887
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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C E.
The best hummus I have ever had. Very smooth and tasted just right. Got there pretty early so they were still prepping but pretty chill staff. The space could use a renovation but I have seen worse.
(4)Scott F.
Have dined here a couple times. Might sound funny but seemed both times I was in an episode of Seinfeld with the 'Soup Nazi' not very friendly at all and when I asked a question the server snapped at me. Food was decent, a little bland and portions a bit small. Its a convenient location, but I will drive the extra couple miles for friendlier service and more flavorful food.
(3)Liz W.
Got some takeout with my mom who is a big fan. The guy (I believe the owner) was super sweet and obviously remembers his regulars. I was impressed with the freshness of his salads given the time of year. I am a fan of both fattoush and tabbouli, these renditions were respectable :). The hummus was fantastic. The garlic sauce was good but not as pungent as some I have had, so good added to rice I think. I really liked the flame on my shish tawook, seared but the meat was still juicy. I appreciated being about to upgrade to tabbouli for a buck too. The lentil soup was a big hit with my sick dad, I'm kicking myself for not getting another for myself. We shared all the items (except for that soup), portions were such that my dad had a bit of actual food too. Good value for the money. I'm not often around here but if I were I'd definitely give it another whirl :).
(4)Christine B.
I went here to order take out on recommendation. I have passed this place several times and never even saw it. They have quite a following. I had to wait in line to order lunch, but it was quick, and the staff did a great job multitasking and keeping track of all the orders, from calls, regulars, and new folks in line. The food was great. I could have went for a bit more garlic. I'm excited to try it again.
(3)Nathasja T.
Yeah! Green Cedar! My husband was in the mood for falafel one day, so I Yelped a Middle Eastern place which would still be open. About twenty minutes before close I walked in to place our order. They were out of falafel (I think they make their own), but they could still make chicken shawarma, so chicken shawarma pitas it was. Add a side of hummus, and I'll be in a food coma soon. I thought the chicken was tender, juicy and had nice flavor. The garlic was not very strong, but great nonetheless. I really liked the hummus with its slight lemony flavor, it was creamy, dreamy heaven. The pita itself wasnt the greatest, however. My husband felt the shoarma was so-so, but I think he truly just wasnt in the mood for it (hence the falafel being first choice). Service was nice, eventhough I stepped in the door pretty late. I have to say the guy acts very flirty, which was kindof uncomfortable. Either way, the food is great so I will be back (maybe with my husband alongside next time).
(4)Mark S.
I've been to a handful of Lebanese eateries in Detroit metro and this is the best. I love the THT, fattoush and the hummus. All of it is fresh and delicious. Prices are very reasonable as well.
(5)Miriam I.
Stopped here for dinner before a movie at the Phoenix. This is a primarily carry-out place, but when we took one of the few tables, and opened our Styro take-out containers, we enjoyed some very good Middle Eastern food. Quantities are more than enough for now and later. The lamb shawarma was very flavorful - meat cooked just right, set off nicely with rice with slivered almonds. Co-diner got chicken kabob, which was moist and well seasoned. One small quibble: I asked for water, and all they had was bottled water - no tap water. So, we took a bottle, planning to share, and were told they had no cups. They gave us 2 Styro soup bowls , and we made do. Guys, order a sleeve of Dixie cups - they 're not that expensive. Staff was friendly, and service fast. A good value for your casual dining dollar.
(4)John V.
Here is why I love Green Cedar: Superb Hummus - so creamy, so fresh, lemony, and garlicky. I can't get enough. Incredible Baba Ghannouge - deep smoky flavors of roasted eggplant and garlic. Delicious and totally homemade. Tawook sandwich - garlic mayo and chicken wrapped in pita. Ahh... . Tawook, Hummus & Tabbouli - great change of pace with the fresh Tabbouli. Falafel Plate - generous portion (8 large) of crispy on the outside and moist on the inside falafel and served with pickled turnips, onions, fresh tomatoes, and tahini dipping sauce. Yum and enough to share. They are close to my office. They are cheap. The portions are huge. The GARLIC mayo!!!!! Get extra on the side, you won't be sorry. You will burp garlic goodness all afternoon and no amount of gum, tooth brushing, or water drinking will save your breath for at least 5 hours after eating, so you better not have a meeting with your boss, clients, or mistress after the lunch hour. Tips: You must call ahead because they are dreadfully slow, but oh so worth the wait. This is a "to go" kind of place because there is hardly any seating and absolutely no atmosphere, unless you like staring at out of date and faded Lebanese tourist posters. So get your phone out, give them a call and dig in to some of the best Lebanese around. Mmmm....
(4)Robert P.
This place is a little out of the way...but worth your time/effort to get to. It is not at all fancy, but they make up for it in the freshness, taste, and price, which is just what I'm looking for. I frequently eat dinner here after work as I have a long commute and don't want to eat at a late hour. Pros: Good food, fresh, inexpensive, fast Cons: Not very posh, really a carry out place. Help can a bit brusk, especially if they are busy...but they do good work and have great food. I definitely recommend it if you want tasty, fresh, middle eastern type food quickly.
(5)T-Bone T.
Not even close to the best middle eastern food around. The place is odd and outdated and the food was mediocre. Only order carry out if at all.
(2)Monica I.
Great food, as good as east Dearborn! Great service too! Today was my first time and will be back!
(5)Joe J.
Great food The chicken steak humus and sandwiches Awesome Yeah good eats!
(5)M F.
Very good Lebanese food. Tasty salad and shawarma! I was looking for good food in Detroit and this is one of those.
(5)Nicole W.
Delicious food, but you have to be in the know. I stopped in twice in 1 week, the first time I needed a quick bite on the way to the office, it was dirty - no tables had been cleared and it was 2 pm, and the fella behind the register was too busy flirting to give me any notice so I left. Later that week, I mentioned to co-workers that I wasted Mediterranean since this part of MI was known for it. They said oh, we know the place, but you have to order to go. Ok, no problem I got the the tawook, hummus anh taboolea - and it was delicious! I was a little concerned by the size of the "wrap" but filled up fast and stayed full! Definitely stick to takeout, order via phone!
(4)Jenna B.
I went into my experience with high expectations based on all the glowing reviews I had read. What I got was.....ehhh. My husband, mom & I ordered carry out for lunch. The good - Tasty, non-greasy sandwiches. Flavorful garlic paste. The not so great - I ordered chicken on my mom's salad. No chicken came with it. We couldn't check our order until we got home because it would have required unpacking everything. No pita bread. All the other Mid-eastern places I go too give you pita bread with your order. Small side portions. Salad & rice portions were small. Rice was VERY bland and there were NO almonds. I've never had rice without almonds from a mid-eastern place before. Our end feelings were that we WON'T be going back to Green Cedar. While the food was edible and parts were tasty the downfalls don't make it worth it. We will go to Sheesh in Livonia for our middle eastern fix.
(2)Don B.
Delicious Chicken Fattoush salad. Proportions are not huge, but the salad is a hit. Garlic Sauce is phenomonal. Wish they served fresh baked pita bread, but they do not. Evidentally that is coming soon. Definitely worth eating at again!
(4)Jack C.
If you're looking for FRESH middle-eastern salads and sandwiches, this is the place to go. I've always been disappointed with the freshness of the salads at the more popular middle-eastern places that make their salads in advance. Here, they put your salad together as you stand there and watch. The fattoush has plenty of zing with the lemony dressing and sumac. It's not a place for a relaxing dine-in experience because it's small and gets a lot of foot traffic, but for a great salad or quick sandwich, you've gotta give this place a try.
(5)Janine B.
I have had the fattoush salad and the shish kebabs. Both extremely delicious!! The employees are super friendly. Not a lot of sit down dining room (3-4 small tables). Pricing is on par with other similar restaurants.
(5)Rene F.
Best Hummus I have ever had in my life. .Try their chicken and Hummus. WOW. My son doesn't like hummus but "this stuff is special", he said to his girl. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this little place. Yeah it's a small place, small enough that they remember you, and what and how you like your food. . I happen to think the food is outrageously delicious!! I have turned a lot of my friends on to this place and they love it also. I could eat their food every day if I lived closer. There are only three tables so I usually carry out. If its dinner or lunch time call ahead because they are BUSY BUSY BUSY.
(5)Kerrie M.
I just love Green Cedar. And you KNOW it's good when Middle Eastern folk pack the place waiting for carry-outs! It really is my very favorite Meastern joint. The hummus is the star of the menu. Everyone I talk to knows about the hummus! It has a subtle kick of lemon and it's texture is nice and smooth. The lentil soup is also divine. The spices are perfectly balanced. No need to reach for an extra squeeze of lemon or the salt shaker. My usual order is the tawook sandwich. I am hooked. The chicken is always moist, never dry. And they put just enough garlic sauce and pickle inside the pita. The only thing I wish they would change is their choice in pita bread that they serve along with the hummus. It is OK but compared to some other places that bake their own bread, it kinda falls short. Oh...and if you have picky children, they offer chicken strips and burgers too! The chicken strip entree comes with 6 large size pieces of white meat chicken and tons of fries. You also get a choice of soup or salad. They only have a few tables, so plan on getting a carryout, especially during lunch hour.
(5)Mike H.
Good food, extraordinarily expensive. The lunch combo used to be $6.50, then one day it was $7.50, now it's a whoping $8.25 for a shwarma, rice and salad (and a can of coke). As others have mentioned, this is not a restaurant, but a carry-out joint. How do you justify these price tags? For middle eastern food, this place is very VERY expensive. If you found a menu online, it is probably out of date; expect to pay $1 more for anything.
(2)John G.
Great food and great people!
(5)Megan C.
I was impressed with the speedy service and the fresh ingredients. I thought the hummus was maybe a little too salty and lemony for my taste, and the falafel was a little dry.
(3)Angela N.
If I could eat at Green Cedar everyday I would! Cozy spot with friendly people always greeting you with a smile. Food is amazing! From Chicken shawarma to Falafel to the BEST fattoush on the planet matched up with their homemade daily hummus - you can;t go wrong with a delicious meal for a good price. Fast service, even faster if you call in your order. Small seating area, large groups not recommended. They cater also.
(5)Lil L.
GOOD FOOD! NOT a restaurant style set up. More of a really casual set up with just tables and chairs.
(4)Lori C.
The food is fantastic! Very fresh and flavorful. I think it is the best place in Metro Detroit! All of my family loves their food, and I think we have tried most of their sandwiches.
(5)Jason M.
Best Lebanese carry out in surrounding area hands down. Love the phone call asking what do you want with out a hello. Love the Chicken Shawarma, grape leaves and fattoush salad. Great Shawarma wrap also. Mmmm mmmm good. Place gets swamped on weekends and past experience is if they say 20 min it's 30. Can't go wrong here.
(5)Levent T.
Excellent portions on the hummus and eggplant dip. Also, enjoyed how light and thin the pita was...however...it was a tad chewy. They give you a ton to go with it, but, if not fresh...what's the point? Fattoush salad was nice and the dressing not overpowering. Kabobs seasoning was ok and a tad tough. Still the guys behind the counter are a trip and they were quick on getting my order out. Met expectations...just didn't get goose bumbs.
(3)Dan D.
Lots of food for the money! Very good hummus and chicken. If you order out make sure you get utensils!
(3)Dona B.
We love everything from here. Shwarmas & falafel sandwiches are delicious. Babaganoush, hummus & tabouli are made from scratch. Best middle eastern west of Dearborn! Wally-you're great!
(5)Angela S.
Good food. Hummus is very good. Tabouli and grape leaves are very good. Deboned chicken is very good. I work close so we are always ordering from Green Cedar and the food is always very tasty. HOWEVER - EXPECT TO WAIT! The food is never done in the time promised. If you call and they quote 30 minutes, do not expect the food to be done in 30 minutes. Make sure you give them an extra 15-20 or you will be waiting around. Every time I come in, there are several other people waiting as well. Very slow and there is usually only 1 or 2 people taking orders and cooking.
(4)Joe B.
More Please! Lynn isn't lying...the hummus is ridiculous with the perfect amount of lemon and so smooth you'll want to break out your leisure suit and sing some Barry White. The shawarma is the best I've had in the area and while not as good or as big as Bucharest's it's on par with Mr. Kabob. The chicken is fantastic and their pita is a little griddled so it crisps more. The Sujouk sausage pita sandwich was pretty solid although not the flavors I expected but I'd order it again. Their lentil soup is on point and the rice that rounded out my daily lunch combo was buttery and light with vermicelli noodles running through it here and there. The service isn't quite as quick as Mr. Kabob but it's more friendly and polite. I've eaten the chicken shawarma the last three days and I'm still craving it. Worth trying for sure! Call ahead.
(5)Lynn H.
This review is really a 3.5 A big ole 5 for the hummus; mildly citrusy and super smooth. A 2.5 for the chicken schwarma; delicious and fresh garlic sauce, but tough chicken.
(3)Kimberley D.
First time picking up food here. The service was quick. Got home to try the food and it was very flavorful. The lentil soup was one of the best I've had and the spices on the chicken shawarma dinner were superb. The Fattoush salad was spiced well with the right touch of lemon and spices. Highly recommend. Staff was friendly as well. My new favorite go-to place is this.
(5)Megan U.
I like to give a restaurant a few tries before leaving an extremely positive or negative review, to be fair to establishment. This place has consistently been the best Lebanese food I've ever tasted! My one complaint is that it has little potential to be a sit-down restaurant. There are tables, but I'd imagine they are intended to be used by carry-out customers waiting for their food. Not that you'd get kicked out for eating there, it just doesn't provide a good eating area- you catch my drift? But anyway, for fast and convenient carry-out, this is the spot to hit. The men working here are very polite and efficient. You see the stoves right when you walk in (Think SORT OF like subway, with the food behind the glass) and to me, there is something comforting about seeing your food and the people cooking it! You can call ahead to order and be quoted around 10 minutes. Or you can order there and wait- either way, you aren't waiting an excruciatingly long time for delicious food. My friend had Green Cedar cater her bridal shower- the food was a HIT! I would definitely recommend their catering services as well. I was particularly impressed that the hummus trays were decorated with turnips, parsley and paprika powder. So neither taste nor presentation were compromised with the catering service.
(4)Sarah R.
Livonia has a lot of chain restaurants and national retailers, but it's harder to find small independent shops and restaurants. I was happy, then, when a co-worker left a Green Cedar take-out menu in the breakroom at my office job. I checked them out for lunch recently, and I liked the food and the prices. It's in a strip mall, and while the interior does have a couple tables along with a counter and 4 or 5 stools, they appear to do most of their business as take-out. There's nothing really out of the ordinary about their menu items, but they seem to do a good job with the basics, like falafel, hummus, ghallaba, and lamb dishes. They also do burgers, salads, and subs. Most recently, I got a Mojadra pita sandwich. The lentils were flavorful, and they were wrapped up with some nice lemony salad greens and red tomatoes. Out the door, including tax, it was $3.17. That was a nice light lunch. Next time I go, if I want something more filling, I might try their daily combo special. For $6.49, you can get any sandwich with a soda pop, rice or fries, plus soup or salad. Sounds like a pretty solid deal.
(4)David P.
I popped into Green Cedar today after passing it every day on my commute to work, I was looking for a lighter lunch that was easy on my wallet. I left quite happy with my food and semi happy with the impact on my wallet. I went with the lunch combo "any sandwich, fries or rice, soup or salad, and a pop". I had the Tawook (chicken), hummus and tabbouli sandwich, with fattoush salad and rice, and my can of Pepsi. The current price for the combo is $7.49. The sandwich was excellent! It had perfectly seasoned chicken, great hummus and tabbouli all in perfect proportion in a tight wrapped and toasted pita. The fattoush was good with crisp bits of pita in it and it was dressed just right, not sloppy or dry. The rice was good, some form of steamed large grain buttered rice with some pasta bits in there. As both sides were excellent I cant complain too much but the side proportions where on the smallish side, 6-8ozs or so by estimate and the can of Pepsi was a little on the eh side. I'm not a Pepsi fan so even if they had had coke products id still have said the same about my can of diet coke. I would go back again but I would avoid the combo and get two of the sandwiches as they are currently priced at $3.50. The sandwich was that good and really put paying the $4 for the sides to shame.
(4)Craig K.
Yesterday we ordered the Cedar Platter for a carry out. When I opened it up, in my opinion the order was much smaller then we previously ordered. Probably 5 previous orders of the same thing. I called the restaurant and expressed my opinion to the female that answered the phone. She basically blew me off. Apparently the customer isn't always right. Also, the fountain pop machine has been broken for 5 months or longer forcing customers to buy can pop. Fix the machine. We will be getting our food from another restaurant in the future.
(2)Miike G.
Good Middle-Eastern spot near the Novi area (we are lacking a good one). Ordered the chicken swarma sandwich and a shish tawook sandwich. Stick with the Tawook for $3.50. Be prepared to smell like garlic for the remainder of the day :)
(4)Lucy K.
Thank goodness I have finally graduated school so that I can FINALLY live near Green Cedar. My husband and I have been going here for two years now, and I can honestly say that it is our favorite food in the area. The hummus is the best we've had, and I really enjoy the lentil soup. The chicken is always cooked perfectly and my fairly picky-eater husband regularly stuffs himself with the Tawook dinner and Tawook sandwich (minus any vegetables, pickles or turnips, of course, haha). Make sure you get their garlic sauce if you like garlic sauce, but know that you will still be breathing garlic a day later no matter how many times you brush your teeth. Really, this place has so many good things going for it. Not only is it AWESOME middle eastern food, they also have a very friendly staff. The owner, Wally, knows both Scott's and my names and shakes our hands everytime we come in and asks how the other is doing if we come in alone. The girl that used to answer the phone would always say... "Is this Lucy?" after I would order a Tawook dinner with absolutely no vegetables for Scott over the phone. Wally always sticks an extra container of pickles and turnips in our bag for me. They know where I was going to school, when our wedding was and a variety of other small things about us. One day I walked in and complimented a little painting they had propped against the wall and Wally took it off the wall and GAVE it to me! Haha, that really surprised us, but it's just one of the small things that they have done to make us feel like we're part of a very lucky community that knows about Green Cedar and goes there regularly. The prices are good - the dinners run from $12-18, but honestly they give you enough to feed you for multiple meals (or me, at least). I tend to either get meat grape leaves or a meat grape leaf sandwich along with lentil soup or fattoush salad and definitely hummus. The tabbouli is also excellent, and the meat schawarma sandwich is delicious. Honestly, I haven't found anything on the menu I didn't like at this point. I guess I better just keep going back and trying! This place is pretty much strictly take-out, so order at least 20 minutes ahead of when you want it (30 is safer). There are two small tables there that are often occupied. The only drink option is cans of soda or bottles of water, however, there's a liquor store next door that often provides anything else that we want with the dinner.
(5)Jay K.
Perfect place for takeout. Definitely a place to go for lunch on a budget since chicken shawarma was less than 4 bucks! Their hummus is a MUST HAVE. Best hummus in town guaranteed. They always say food will be ready in 15 minutes but I would say every time I waited 20 to 25 minutes at least.
(5)Scott T.
I just had dinner there tonight. I had the chicken shawarma sandwich, bowl of lentil soup, small salad and a can of soda. Everything was delicious and all for under $10.00. Definately worth the time. I watched the cook make all the "to go" orders and everything was freshly made and cooked as it was ordered. Yummy food!!
(4)Randal B.
I love the food at Green Cedar. The food is really good. Of course, it's very popular, so they are often backed up and slow during meal times.
(4)Marisa C.
Amazing food and friendly, wonderful service! Everything I have tried here has been exceptional but my favorites are fattoush, tabouli, hummus, and shish tawook. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Cornelius B.
I gave this place a shot last night, figuring the dining accommodations were going to be at least adequate given the location is in the ritzy part of Livonia, a fairly toney burb. I don't do paper, don't do plastic nor Styrofoam, so obviously I don't do carryout, which is exactly what this place is. I don't care if the food is 7-stars, if I can't sit down and eat, I'm not patronizing the joint, period! The dish I ordered was cooked perfectly, and was served on a china plate, since I was lucky enough to find one of the 3 tables available. I didn't order anything to drink, since no raw juices were on the menu. The waitress/cashier asked if I wanted bread, I said "yeah". What I got was day old re-wrapped pita bread from an outside bakery. The bread was way too brown/burnt almost. The yogurt that was supposed to be served with the dish was replaced with some king of garlic spread.. After serving my food, the lady cashier/waitress kept checking with me every 5 minutes if everything was OK and did I need anything else. After about 3 times of this, it started to get annoying. I was really annoyed I didn't realize this was a strictly CARRYOUT joint. Heck, Pi's Thai in Hazel Park is a much larger eatery and many consider that a TAKE OUT place. I don't tip at Takeouts, never have, never will. I doubt I'll return here, since I need to sit down to be able to properly enjoy my food. When the food and service are good, I tip 20%. When I get some freebies, I tip more. So, c'mon yelpers, recommend a decent middle-eastern eatery in the western burbs.
(2)Jessica S.
Now THIS is the kind of food I'm talking about. Arabic food is not easy to come by where I live in Central NC, and what we do have doesn't come close to even the average quality stuff in Michigan. My brother took me here for lunch on my first day in town and the rest of the trip was a culinary disappointment in comparison. Prices? Reasonable as I recall from when I ordered, but my brother actually picked up the tab for the meal, so I can't say for certain, as I didn't see the check. We had chicken shawarma, hummus, and fattoush with feta. ALL of it was incredible. The garlic paste was the best I've ever had. The hummus was so light, smooth and creamy, it was like whipped cream. The chicken shawarma was moist and flavorful and incredible delicious. The only negative I can think of is that they didn't have fresh warm pita bread, but I can overlook that because the actual food was so delicious. It's made to order, so we waited about 20 minutes for our meal, but they did have people coming in to pick up call ahead orders for carry out, so that is an option for you if you're pressed for time. There are only a few tables for dine in, and the whole place is very small, so it wouldn't be ideal for large groups. The parking lot is small, but the plaza that this place is located in is very small also, so it shouldn't be hard to find a spot. If you are in the 7 mile and Newburgh area, EAT HERE. It's on the Northwest corner of the intersection. You'll have an amazing meal. And I'll be jealous because I only got to enjoy it one time, and I'll be thinking about that meal until my next visit in the summer. It's going to be a long few months of waiting!
(5)Sasha N.
One of the great things about Detroit and the burbs is we have lots of strip malls. I jest ... sort of. Strip malls aren't good in themselves, mind you. They are ugly. They are frequently half-vacant, and they have things like Dollar Stores in them. In general, they are bad for the soul and a blight on the landscape. You'll certainly never find a Chanel boutique in one. I generally avoid them like the plague. But one advantage of having these brown-bricked monstrosities peppered along every major thoroughfare is that with strip malls come Cony Island and Middle Eastern restaurants. And while Sasha doesn't do chili cheese dogs, I DO love good Middle Eastern food. So while I loathe what the strip mall has done to the American shopping experience, I am grateful that they exist if only for the mere fact that they give places like Green Cedar somewhere to call home. Green Cedar is, hands-down, in this girl's opinion, the best Middle Eastern food in greater Detroit. Yes, I'm sure some people will argue with me that there are better places in Dearborn. Some will say there are alternatives right in in my neighborhood like Phoenicia or Pita Cafe. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They are fine. Green Cedar still wins. Now, if you're looking for posh, this isn't it. There are no fancy booths, Arabesque murals, fountains, Persian rugs, hookah pipes or the other usual trappings of more "upscale" sit-down Middle Eastern restaurants in the area. They do have a picture of a mountain in Lebanon and a big screen TV that blasts Middle Eastern music videos all day, which I actually get a little thrill out of. But you don't go to Green Cedar for a date ... unless you plan on not having a second date. Bring me Green Cedar carry-out and a bottle of David Bruce Pinot delivered to my home, on the other hand, and you might get lucky. Know that Green Cedar is 1.) small; 2.) has limited seating and 3.) the kitchen (which is right out in front so everyone can see what the cooks are doing) is frequently backed up seven orders deep during the lunch hour rush. While you can eat in, it's really better suited to take-out. And based on the usual line of bags behind the counter, Green Cedar does a lot of take out. The food is what really causes me to stop here whenever I'm on the West Side. What they lack in ambiance, they make up for in quality. In case I haven't said it already: I love, love, love, the food at Green Cedar. LOVE it. The salads are hand-tossed to order in front of you and dressed with a light, lemony-tart vinaigrette (gotta love sumac.) The hummus is silky smooth and rich. The chicken is grilled perfectly, with a nice smoky char on the outside. The tabbouleh is to die for. I've sampled pretty much everything on this menu over the past couple of years, and am never disappointed. The thing about Middle Eastern food is that you have to eat a lot of mediocre Middle Eastern to know when you've found the really good stuff. It's a not a particularly hard cuisine to prepare mechanically, so differentiating your fare from the plethora of other Middle Eastern places in Detroit requires attention to the little things. Freshness of ingredients is always one of those little-big things that can make Middle Eastern food shine, and watching them prepare your meal, you'll notice that the ingredients always look ultra-fresh. One bite of the salad will confirm this. Like most Middle Eastern food, the fare here is also quite healthy. You can, of course, negate the "health" benefits of chickpeas and chopped parsley by getting the french fries as a side, but I usually opt for double salad and skip the rice or potatoes. A couple of tips: Order ahead if you are planning on dropping in for lunch. As I mentioned, it gets very busy at lunch. Give yourself about 20-30 minutes for your order to be ready for pick-up. Food like this can't be prepared at microwave speed, and you just need to accept it. In fact, the owners post a hand-written sign to this effect. I dig the honesty. Also, Green Cedar is very easy to miss. While it's just a quick jaunt off from 275, you may have a bit of a time actually finding it. It's nestled into a nondescript brown (why must they always be brown) mini-strip mall behind a Speedway station on the North-West corner of Newburgh and Seven Mile. Even when you find the strip mall, you might miss the restaurant. Look for the neon "Kabob" sign. I won't even bother giving wardrobe recommendations for Green Cedar. It's a carry out place, so pretty much anything goes. No one cares about your fashion statement here, except for maybe the guys behind the counter if you make the unfortunate decision to wear a pair of pink yoga pants with "Juicy" splashed across your rear in rhinestones. Wear at your own risk. I really wish Green Cedar was closer to home. If it were, I'd probably eat there more often. For now, I'll just have to take my carry-out when I can get it. Highly recommended.
(5)Mark C.
For great mid eastern food this place can't be beat! I especially like the spicy sausage sandwich for lunch. The prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend giving this place a try. Its not a big place, but comfortable for couples and foursomes.
(5)