Exclusive | Letters to the Editor, December 2008

Good afternoon, I just found your recent article about Detroit area travel and destinations and wanted to offer an update and addition.

On Day 3, you suggest La Shish restaurant in Dearborn for lunch. Unfortunately, it has closed. Please allow me to make a couple of recommendations in its place though. Two other very popular restaurants near the old La Shish serve some of the best Arabic/Middle Eastern food anywhere:

• Amani's at 13823 Michigan Ave, Dearborn (313-584-1890) or
• Country Restaurant at 5131 Schaefer Rd, Dearborn (313-582-6677).

Amani's attracts many families and kids, a sure sign that the food is authentic and good. Country on the other hand attracts more than its share of Dearborn cops (many Arab-American), so gents into that kind of thing can take in the best food of the region AND equally tasty eye candy! Both places also offer wonderful, high-octane Arabic coffee too, for the evening at Menjo's.

To learn about perhaps an equally maligned and misunderstood community and its contributions to American culture and history, travelers can walk from either restaurant to explore the Smithsonian-affiliated Arab American National Museum (13624 Michigan Ave, Dearborn; 313-582-AANM). Their Global Thursdays concert series and signature Concert of Colors free summer world music festival span all the colors of the rainbow, from young local talent to out faves like the Indigo Girls.

Thanks a million,

Michael Boettcher