Al-Ameer Restaurant

Raghida Choucair
Comp 227
Essay# 2
Evaluating a Restaurant

Al-Ameer Restaurant
27346 Ford Road
Dearborn Heights, MI, 48127
Saturday, October, 10, 2009
Time: 3:00 pm

Have you tasted “Lebanese Shawarma” in Al-Ameer Restaurant?


Just on the intersection of Ford road and Inkster Street, in Dearborn Heights. There is a nice building with big red tents on all sides. In that building, you can see the Middle Eastern architecture style merged with an American style to give a unique picture for Al-Ameer restaurant.
Al-Ameer Restaurant was highly recommended to me by two of my friends, because it is clean and their food is fresh. So, I decided to go with my children to this restaurant on Saturday, October 10, at three o’clock, in order to avoid the lunch time crowds.
Once we entered Al-Ameer Restaurant, two waitresses; a lady and a gentleman welcomed me and my children. They were dressed in a neat elegant way. The lady asked us to wait for her in the hallway until she would arrange a table in a non-smoke family hall, and she went inside the restaurant.
I strolled in the hallway looking at the pictures on the walls; I was astonished with the appearances and the lightening. Al-Ameer Restaurant was sufficiently decorated with a Lebanese style. Although I am originally Lebanese, which this made me remembered my childhood in Lebanon.
Few minutes latter, a nice man (I learned later, he was the restaurant owner) came, welcomed me and my children, and walked with us to our table in a very elegant hall.
Luckily, our table was located in the corner. This helped me to saw all the gorgeous interior decorations. The hall was sufficiently decorated in Arabic style. The colored statues were standing in the corners as those displayed in a museum. The astonished pictures and paintings hang on the wall as those were displayed in an art museum. The embroidered mirrors in the walls portrayed the Arabic agriculture. The elegant chandeliers in the ceiling and the extraordinary lamps made me feel as if I were in a Middle Eastern Ancient Palace. Adding, the floor was covered in a fancy burgundy carpet. The tables were adorned with white tablecloths, and setup with linen napkins.
Believe me; I was impressed with all the beautiful views. I didn’t notice the waitress speaking to me until my son whispered in my ear. :” Mom; we are hungry, please order the food”.
The waitress put a batch of water and some cup on the table. She gave me the menu and waited to take our order. I discussed with my children what food they liked, and suggested to my daughter to select a boneless chicken. Finally after about five minutes of chatting and discussing; my children and I decided to select Al-Ameer main dishes:
The waitress said:” It is my pleasure to serve you. Please be patient with us to prepare delicious food for you”. She took the menu and vanished in the kitchen.
I thought it could be around ten minutes and they would bring the food, but it took more than forty minutes. My daughter finished reading her story. My older son talked with his friend on the cell phone and discussed with him about the math homework, and my younger son took a nap in his chair. Finally, the waitress came with big tray of fresh and healthy Lebanese food. I told her we waited a long time for the food, she said: “Please taste our food and decide if we deserve to take our time preparing it”. Also, she advised me to make a reservation before I came to the restaurant, and she apologized for my children and left with a warm smile.
Wow! Wow! She was right, the food was very good, the rice was exactly how it should be, and the meats were perfectly cooked. All the food tasted like home cooking rather than a restaurant cooking.
Let me start from the beginning. We got a basket of hot pita bread with half dozen of pickled cucumbers as appetizers. The pita bread was really good, warm, and freshly baked.
We got side dishes and main dishes, and both were competing in deliciousness. The side dishes were: Babaganoush; a grilled eggplant was flavored with lemon, red pepper and a touch of paprika. Taboli, Hummus, and Falafel were served with creamy yogurt sauce and strips of iceberg lettuce. (All are well known Lebanese food). Believe it or not, most of the Americans in Metro Detroit are familiar with the Lebanese food.
Main dishes were served with many types of food: Shish Tawook, grilled boneless chicken with garlic, Lamb Shawarma, Fattoush, fried kibbi, and rice. All the dishes were particularly well cooked meats and well marinated chicken.
The young waitress came to our table for many times, and asked if we need any help. She delivered some drinks for me, and pop for my children. Also, she changed the empty plates on the table.
When I finished my heavy lunch, the waitress came and offered me a free dessert; I selected a baklava, sprinkled with honey and nuts. It was delicious sweet to balance my salty meal.
My children were urging me to eat Arabic ice cream for dessert. I was hesitated to agree with them because I was on diet, but I changed my mind after I tasted one spoon. It was natural fruit ice cream, covered with a peanut’s powder.
“Now it is time to go home kids. If you are not tired I am”. While I was negotiating the departure time with my children, the waitress put a nice brown envelope on our table.
I opened the envelope and I read the receipt. I thought it would cost me much more expensive, but it was a reasonable amount for a family to spend a good time and to enjoy a nice dining experience. It cost me forty five Dollars plus five dollars tips for the waitress.
Please remember. Al-Ameer Restaurant has delicious food with reasonable price, and friendly waitresses. But the service takes a little bit longer than other restaurant because selections are cooked to order.
According to Detroit News Restaurant Guide; Al-Ameer is rated one of the four-star-restaurants in Michigan. The cuisine is Lebanese Middle Eastern with lamb, beef, chicken and vegetarian entrees. Also, Al-Ameer Restaurant offers take out and catering
Concluding, it was a great experience for me and my children to go to that restaurant. In fact, we enjoyed our meal in “Al-Ameer” Restaurant. We were not just paying for the food; we paid to be treated as the preferred guest in a fancy dining room. For instance; the waitresses were so friendly with my children, my drink was never empty, and I felt satisfied with the food and the cozy warm atmosphere. If you are looking for all of those and more, then you should go to Al-Ameer restaurant.