A new Lebanese restaurant in Metro Detroit beautifully marries the concept of old-world cuisine with modern accommodations. Mandaloun Bistro, located on Telegraph Road in Bingham Farms (in the former home of Morels), offers authentic, scratch-made cuisine using family recipes in a gorgeous, contemporary setting.
Melissa Bitar, Owner, points out that the cornerstone of Mandaloun Bistro is quality ingredients and careful preparation, allowing the food to shine in both visually and in taste.
Bitar’s mother and father are behind the exquisitely orchestrated food at Mandaloun Bistro. Her mother runs the kitchen, preparing everything from scratch, right down to the olive oil. Her father butchers the meat himself. Combining quality, freshly-cut meats and a symphony of fresh ingredients helps create intensely fresh and delicious dishes.
The interior of the Mandaloun Bistro compliments the food quite nicely. The restaurant is noticeably upscale and modern, but manages to stay warm and welcoming. Tables are adorned with white linens while plush black chairs surround. Pops of color give the dining room an almost Parisian feel, fitting since Beirut, Lebanon has long been called “The Paris of the Middle East.”
Because of the restaurant’s proximity to offices and professional buildings in the area, it does a good job accommodating busy professionals with a great lunch, whether in-house or for takeout. A private room, complete with a projector, is available for business meetings and presentations with a capacity of 40 people. Catering is available, too.
During our visit to Mandaloun Bistro, we devoured two “build your own” lunch plates that included Shish Tawook (chicken), Shish Kabob (beef), Baba Ghannouj, Hummus, Fattoush Salad and Tabouli. The beef and chicken were tender and juicy with a perfect char. The Baba Ghannouj and Hummus were smooth, fresh, and flavorful.
While everything was absolutely delicious, the Fattoush stood out as our favorite. This colorful salad was so bright, crisp, and delicious, we couldn’t stop talking about it. We even made a special trip back to Mandaloun Bistro the day after Thanksgiving because we were craving it after a day filled with gluttony.
In an age with mass-produced everything, it’s refreshing to see the food at Mandaloun Bistro made from scratch. Their old-world recipes and cuisine perfectly juxtapose the contemporary dining experience. Even if Lebanese food isn’t in your wheelhouse, you’ll have no trouble recognizing the love that goes into each dish.
We highly-recommend making a trip to Mandaloun Bistro soon.
Mandaloun Bistro is located at 30100 Telegraph Road in Bingham Farms, Michigan. Visit their website for menus and be sure to connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
