Stepping Into The Middle East

On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. I had the delightful experience of stepping into the Middle East. I entered a beautifully decorated Mediterranean restaurant named LaPita. The atmosphere took my breath away with sparkling chandeliers, quaint pictures of deserts, animals, and people of the Middle East, and valuable displays of artifacts of a land many miles away. The elevated booths were draped dining areas allowing privacy for a couple, or a few people. Wooden tables of various sizes were scattered throughout the main dining facility, enhancing a richly textured carpeted floor. Upon entering the restaurant, located dead center, a huge square table lay with layers of silk and lace surrounding the intimate setting. This secluded space allows the customers to have small, private parties for various occasions.


The focal point of this room was a brightly lit, rounded fireplace where pita bread was being made. The woman preparing the bread was dressed in a simple dress with a wrap on her head. She spoke Arabic to her co-workers and the patrons watching this procedure. It enticed your taste buds, and with your mouthwatering, you became fascinated with this process. Memorized as you watched her kneading the white bread, you observed her place it into the open fire, and then remove a rounded, golden-colored cooked masterpiece—baked pita bread. In observing this process, it brought back memories of my childhood, assisting my mother while she baked Christmas bread. The aroma of cinnamon, nuts, and raisins filled the air, along with the remembrance of kneading the powdery dough. The clatter of tin pans being placed into the oven was also brought back to my mind. I felt great memories as I watched the Arab woman busy at work making her customary, culinary art.



As you passed the entrance, several awards of fine dining hung on the walls, inviting you to experience exquisite food. To the left of the cashier counter was a hall that led you into another space of distinct quality. There was a smoking cabinet with cigars and expensive smokes. A large, fully stocked bar with detailed scrolling invited you to drink fine beverages, liquor, beer, and beautifully prepared, non-alcoholic, tropical fruit blended drinks called “smoothies.”
More detailed private dining was available—and yes, again, yards of flowing, brown and gold fabric were attached to overhead, hanging bars, enhancing the feeling of regal seclusion. One realizes in touring this entity, privacy is regarded highly, and elegance is of utmost importance. Because of the intense decorations, and eloquently designed booths dining in the Middle East must be eloquent! With yards of soft, flowing fabric draped from bars for isolation, one can only imagine Mediterranean restaurants embrace eating as time of restful beauty, and a retreat for families and friends.



The bathrooms were beautifully decorated with textured murals of various deserts, and camels, granite sinks and ornately decorated, gold towel dispensers. The walls and floors throughout the facility were ceramic tile, except for areas where thick, rich, ornate brown carpeting was located on the floors.
There was also a formal banquet room with white linen tablecloths on the tables, and chairs covered to the floor with matching fabric. Wide maroon ribbon adorned the chairs with thick bows tied in the back. White candelabras surrounded with white roses, sat on the tables, and a fresh, variety of white flowers gently cascaded down the fireplace mantel. An eloquent, inviting room indeed! My mind imagined weddings, retirement parties, and various gala events held in this room.
The food is authentic Mediterranean cuisine, served with grace and dignity. I ordered a chicken shawarma platter with pine rice, hommous, and a fattouch salad. Shawarma is sliced, white chicken cooked on a large stick that rotates on a grill. Hommous is chick peas, lemon, garlic and a red sauce combined into a smooth spread; it is served with pita bread. Fattouch is salad made of romaine lettuce, onions, tomatoes and toasted pita bread served with a lemon oil dressing. The meal was delicious and quite filling. Desserts were various types of pallet pleasers, cheesecake, rice pudding, baklava, ice cream and sorbets. Prices of the food served varied from $6.99 to $129.99, slightly pricey, but well worth the money!
The specialties of the house are lamb dishes, generally served with pine nut white rice, or pine nut and lamb brown rice cooked to perfection. Waitresses and waiters dressed in formal, black attire serve the food. They are well-trained in the cuisine and menu selections, which are freshly prepared. The atmosphere is eloquent; the white linens are crisp with starch, and spotlessly presented. The owners of the establishment graciously address the patrons at the front desk, and also saunter over to the tables for more greetings and conversation with the customers. They are eager to know the opinion of the clientele, regarding the food and service received.
This is a 5 star rated restaurant by the Detroit Metro Times. For an experience of remembrance, romance, and authentic food, “LaPita” is a Mediterranean delight.