Hello my fellow Divettes, Annod here. We have a good one for you today. We decided to take a ride to Fashionable Ferndale, I have been to this restaurant quite a while ago and was not disappointed. This restaurant is called Anita’s Kitchen, near 9 Mile and Woodward, just north of Detroit. It is a Lebanese Café and if you like Lebanese food, you don’t want to miss this one. We parked in the back, as Woodward is just too busy. There’s an outside patio at Anita’s that we walked through, would have loved to eat outside, but there was a busy weekend festival across the street, so we decided to eat in a quieter area, inside.

We were greeted by a young lady and seated right away. We wanted to sit in an area where we would be able to see everything, and she accommodated. Jeff, our waiter, came right over and gave us a quick verbal tour of the inside. This restaurant has a full bar plus raw juices and smoothies. You are encouraged to create your own. They have also available carrots, beets, kale, etc.

We placed our order, Suse decided on the Artichoke Pie. This came with a blend of Feta, cottage cheese, artichoke hearts, fresh dill and onions baked between layers of filo dough. This was served with tabbouleh and a rice pilaf. ($11.50). She said the Artichoke pie was light and flavorful, perfectly prepared and delicious. But as the highlight of the dish, she felt it was a bit small. As for taste, it was delicious.

I decided on the Chicken Shawarma, which comes with tabbouleh and hummus ($12.50). Wow lots of food and so appealing to the eyes. The Shawarma was flavorful, the tabbouleh was tasty (they make their own dressing and you can buy it if you love it). The rice was fluffy and tasty. I was just a little disappointed that the garlic dip was extra, which is usually included with this dish at other restaurants.

We were in the mood to try a dessert. We had the choice of Rice Pudding, Baklava or a Lemon Tart. They also have gluten free and vegan dessert options (just ask). We both chose a Lemon Tart, since we have had the other two before. It was fresh and the crust was firm. The lemon had a tang to it and it had a drizzle of white chocolate over the top. So Very Good. Don’t pass up this tart.

Our waiter, Jeff, was so attentive and helpful. He made it a great experience and we were so pleased he was there for us. He explained to us the great selection of foods, from Mezza (appetizers) Cold- hummus, eggplant salad, and a Lebanese Cucumber salad, and lots of others. The hot options were Joe’s Not-So-Buffalo chicken wings (crispy wings tossed in Anita zip sauce, served with a creamy feta dressing) and the traditional Stuffed Grape Leaves, to name a few. They also have available many vegetarian and gluten free options.

There was quite a good choice of Entrees, including Shish Kabob (beef or lamb) and Shish Kafta which is grilled ground beef and ground lamb, mixed with parsley. If you like pizza they have options for that. Arabian pizza made with garlic, roasted red peppers hummus, ground beef, artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers, Spinach and Cheese with garlic, chopped spinach and a blend of cheeses.

They even have the Kids corner, Grilled Cheese Pita Triangles, Cheese Pita Pizza, Hot Dog Kabob, Chicken Strips, Mini Chicken Strips, etc. They welcome kids, and there were several in attendance.

They also have Soup & Salad lunch specials for $7.50. There was a steady flow of people enjoying lunch inside, and also on the patio. The music in the background was oldies (our favorite).

I could go on but you will need to experience it for yourself. They are located at 22651 Woodward Avenue in Ferndale, Michigan. If you want food to go or are interested in their catering services, you can call 248-548-5818. Their hours of operation are M-Th 11am – 9pm, Friday 11am to 10pm, Saturday 12 Noon to 10pm and Sunday 12 Noon to 9pm.

Special Attention:

Ferndale at 9 Mile and Woodward hosts quite a few events every year. The Woodward Dream Cruise attracts more than a million spectators and 20,000 to 30,000 classic cars of all ages, makes and types. It is usually held in mid August and lasts a full week. A seat on the patio of Anita’s gives you an excellent view of the cruise.

The Funky Ferndale Art Fair is usually held in September and is located on Nine Mile Rd., West of Woodward. The DIY Street Fair happens across Woodward the same time as the Funky Ferndale Art Fair.

Look online for these events and come visit Anita’s Kitchen when you do. It will be the greatest addition to your day.

I know Suse and I will be back.