Anita's Kitchen - Ferndale

My partner is Lupus/Celiac. She is not a vegan. It is so difficult in 2025 to find a place that understands the difference. So many things for vegans, which is a choice. Anita's Kitchen went so far above and beyond any restaurant we have been to (even where we live downtown..sorry we have not been to your downtown location yet) to ensure they were able to accommodate our specific, but not unusual dietary restrictions. Usually even if a place feels empathetic, they can only say sorry and can't do anything about it, even if they want to. You made us feel welcome, safe and very satiated. She was even able to eat multiple desserts. More of this please. Thank you so much.

Great place to have lunch or dinner we have enjoyed both here! Most recently, we had a lovely lunch, and our server Steve was an added bonus. He was kind, professional, with a side of humor and attentive! The food is consistently delicious, and the atmosphere is very chill and inviting!

My fries were a little cold. Ordered take out napkins and ketchup would’ve been nice. Didn’t get anything. My blueberry lemonade was good, a little sweet. But the restaurant is nice and all the servers were nice. I would still recommend.

came here for my birthday with my husband, we drove all the way from flint and it was sooooo worth the drive! drinks, food, dessert all amazing. thanks kevin for great service as well! the baklava was literally the best ever.

We ordered quite a bit of food: The vegetarian mezza platter (hummus trip, baba ghannouge, tabbouleh, fattoush, mujadra, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, fried cauliflower, pickled vegetables, tahini sauce, yogurt) Marinated Chicken Shawarma, and the blueberry lemonade cocktail. Very delicious, staff was super helpful and pleasant. Highly recommend!

Great place! Fried cauliflower was our favorite. Mediterranean bowl was good too. Tahini brownies are very good too. They have a covered patio area for winter. They don't take reservations but the wait time is not long as they have plenty of tables.

We found our Nando’s equivalent in Michigan! Jonathan C was such a nice guy, very attentive. Food was good with hearty portions, the deboned chicken couldn’t have been tastier. Super juicy. We loved the starters - definitely try the whipped feta. We highly recommend!

Ordered two gyro and two chicken shawarma via Grubhub order. This was the second time ordering from here and this “shawarma” is NOTHING like the shawarma I ordered the first time. What I Received was 3 gyro and something not quite a chicken shawarma but more like a chicken gyro with a little garlic sauce, and little lettuce. It wasn’t wrapped like a shawarma. It was open. My son is a huge fan of the gyros so Normally I would buckle down and eat it but it wasn’t what I was craving. It didn’t have that distinct “shawarma” taste. Not to mention out of the two chicken shawarma ordered, only one actually had chicken. Don’t get me wrong. The food has been decent previously and I do understand that everyone makes mistakes. I would more so recommend going directly into the restaurant to enjoy the food. That way you know what you’re getting. Included is a pic of the chicken shawarma. It is unlike any other shawarma I’ve had previously from anywhere else.

I loved the atmosphere of this place. Trendy but welcoming. It's been here a long time, the excellent food is the reason. I ordered the mediterranean gf entree with mujadra, caramelized onions, hommus, tabbouleh, pickled turnips, and choice of: falafel (baked), and tahini sauce, it was all prepared to perfection. I started out with the lemon lentil soup which was amazing. I had a glass of Pinot Noir and some Malbec, both wines were excellent. Our waitress was super nice and very attentive. The dessert menu looked really fantastic but I was too full to eat any.

Overall, great experience at Anita's! We started off with some apps - all were delicious. The stars were the raw lamb (I forgot what it's called) and the jalapeno hummus. I would come back for these two alone! We also tried the grape leaves with meat which were good but prob wouldn't get again. The tabbouli was pretty standard. Then for entrees, most the table got the lamb gyro was they thought was tasty and filling. I got the mixed plate to try a variety. The chicken was pretty standard. The kefta had a little too much cinnamon and a lil overcooked. The lamb chunks was the standout so I would just go with that next time. Roasted veggies were delish. Pilaf was underwhelming. Service was great though! Oh and dessert! The baklava was not one of my fav renditions but the lemon tart WOW. Get it!!

Anita's Kitchen is one of my favorite healthy lunch spots downtown. I always order ahead using Toast, and my order is consistently prepared exactly how I ask. My go-to is the Chicken Feta Fattoush Salad with onions, a pepperoncini, and extra sauce--it's always fresh, flavorful, and perfectly satisfying. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for a quick, delicious, and healthy meal! If you have a sweet tooth, I recommend their Banana Bread!

Anita's Kitchen is now riding on nostalgia and ambiance. The reviews are overrated. And I get it. I was once a raving fan. After over 10 years and at least 100 visits with family, friends, and business associates, we've decided to let this one go. We had it so bad at one point that we drove from the airport for Anita's Kitchen, but that's behind us now. The food isn't consistent and the cost exceeds the value (from $$ to $$$). When the food is good, it's really good, but when it's off...it's really off. Consistency is not to be expected with the food or the service anymore. Dependability is no more. You can't count on what you're going to get or the disposition of the server who brings it. It's all hit or miss. The menu has changed considerably and major staples that made this place a winner for years, such as the patata, are gone. Also, there is now a "nickel and dime" policy that can leave you feeling robbed. It's standard practice for us to dine out. We don't cook. So we have a firm grip on what various meals should cost. Anita's has gotten stingy. It's a dollar per ounce for basic condiments. And you can now easily rack up a bill for two of over $100 with just soup, sandwiches and raw veggies at lunchtime. To be fair, this would also include lemonade and dessert. But still...over $50 per person for that! We aren't talking steaks, lobster or alcoholic beverages after all. Having traveled extensively and eating all over the world, it is clear to us that Anita's Kitchen is now offering more cost than value these days. $$$

Giving it 5 stars because my food was good. Service was great, staff was nice and polite. The inside was clean and neat. I can only speak on my meal. I don't eat all middle eastern food. But my meal was great.

I returned with a companion to Anita's recently for a weekday lunch, and we both left happy and full. Be aware that parking can be a challenge here; especially if trying to download and work the app with a credit card.... On this day, the restaurant was just opened and not busy. We were seated in the adjacent, heated space. Know that it can be really (too) warm if you're placed under the heater as we were. We just took off more winter layers though. Paris K was our efficient and knowledgeable server. She offered good meal accompaniment too. Wines by the glass and craft cocktails were interesting and reasonably priced. My companion and i tried a couple and there were all very good. Loved the Lebanese Old Fashion! Anita's serves some of the best tasting Crushed Lentil Soup around. It's thick, slightly lemony and a bit minty. My only wish was that my cup had been served hotter than just lukewarm. The Spinach Pie piece was very good. My companion raved about his seasonal (and recommended by Paris!) Chicken & Black Bean Bowl meal. Tabboulah Salad was a win too! We finished with fresh, hot, decaf coffee and Anita's excellent Rice Pudding with cinnamon and whipped cream. All in all, we will return!

Smallish establishment place that has a variety of mediterranean food like hummus, baba gannoush, grape leaves, kabobs, and shawarma. I got a sampler platter than had mujadra, caramelized onions, hummus, tabouli, pickled turnips, and cbaked falafel - so as to sample everything. Wow - was everything good - and a lot to eat! I took some home and it reheated great. You, of course, can just get one entree or salad - but I wanted to try a taste of everything. There is a good selection of basic drinks and mixed drinks. Service was pleasant.

Been an Anita's customer for at least a decade, probably longer. The food has always been incredibly fresh and consistently tasty. Waitstaff is friendly, quick, and knows what they're talking about. Just had dinner with a friend, the server brought us a basket of 3 warm pitas, and when those were finished, she came there with another basket (presumably free) and asked if we'd like more, however we declined because we were nearly full. The portions are very large but not too much to not finish. Stuffed grape leaves and falafel are always a good choice, and the smoothies are delicious. Lamb is my favorite to get here, whether in a gyro or in an entree. The patio is heated and enclosed, perfect during a winter dinner as the sun sets. I will always go back for lunch and dinner, and takeout is just as fresh as eating there. 11/10

Good ol' Anita's! We have ordered/dined in easily over 100 times through the years. A go-to for us, obviously. Dependable, fresh, & healthy food - great for vegetarians. Sit at the bar and enjoy a glass of wine!

I've been coming to Anita's for a few years, and I've noticed that I come here most often to get takeout after a vacation when I want something quick and a little healthier. I've also dined in quite a few times! Their atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and the service is always quick. My usual go-to is the falafel sandwich with a side of pickled veggies for a filling and flavorful meal. I've also recently had the mixed mezza for two, which was great! It had so many different items in it, and was only $40 for two people, which I thought was a great deal. The hummus and garlic dip are also amazing. Regardless of what I get or when I visit, I've never had a bad meal here. My only complaint is that they're not open on Sundays, which is a little inconvenient, but I totally understand that family time is important as well. I'll for sure keep coming back!

My go-to spot for a Chicken Greek Salad, which I get at least twice a week! The quality is always consistent: fresh, crisp vegetables, perfectly grilled chicken, and a tangy Greek dressing that ties everything together. The portions are generous, making it a satisfying meal every time. The staff is friendly, the service is quick, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. If you're in the area, you have to try it--it's a staple in my routine for a reason! I've had a few other menu items, namely the veggie grape leaves and a few chicken entrees. You really can't go wrong!

Spent $200 to feed 4 people, AS ADVERTISED, and my food was not good. Almost all of the portions were WAY too small--especially for four people. Paid $7.50 for freshly cut veggies, and got 3 pieces of each vegetable...which I could've bought at the grocery store for much less, and cut much better ‍ The kibbee was $18, and I ordered extra onions. They didn't even fill the whole tray--more like half, which was RIDICULOUS. Ordered the Mixed Mezz, which was also advertised for four people. They gave us two chicken kabobs, two kufta kabobs, four falafels, grape leaves, more meat on the side, a bunch of dry rice, but fresh onions. Also, when you order the pita bread, it's literally the store-bought pita bread that YOU can get from any store. SUCH a disappointment. The garlic paste was good, and the tabouli was good, but honestly, you might as well order from Sahara...

The vegan options are so stay I ate it so quickly I didn't even get pictures and I was starving the staff made top tier selections based on me being vegan loved that. The place is really clean and cozy. Nice and warm just in time for the holiday season

We got carry out and the food was awful. The beef shwarma was tough, chewy and lacked flavor. The fried cauliflower was super salty and was gross. I have had way better middle eastern.

We got to sample everything! It was a really great good all around. The portions were super huge for the platter. It also came with pita bread. Service was good! The restaurant was nice and modern with indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor seating had glass panning. And, the outdoor seating was shaded and perfect for a summer Michigan day.

We ordered the Mezze platter for 2. The food was really good. The grape leaves were perfect. The plating was really nice. The only thing I missed was Harrisa at the table. The service was spot on. The ambiance? Well, we were in an enclosed tent ---I don't know what they are called, in the middle of a construction zone, but nobody could be bothered. It was a comical situation and loud. The family who runs the restaurant must be good people. I really liked the vibe. Yes, I recommend.

Anita's food, service, and atmosphere were awesome. We ordered the mezza platter for 2 and everything was delicious. The kafta kebob was particularly fresh and flavorful. We sat outside under a covered patio. The space was busy, but not overwhelming, and the service was prompt. I need to order some hummus to-go for next time!

The good at Anita's is nothing short of amazing. Fresh and seasoned just right. Try the pesto hummus.

Great Food Fast Service Good Prices Wish The Parking Wasn't So Challenging But Other Thank That I Enjoy It IDining In Or Taking Out

So tasty and fresh loved visiting this place and such a great atmosphere outside A nice way to experience Mediterranean

Honestly, some of the worst service I've ever received... Very slow and underwhelming. The food wasn't all that impressive, either. Won't be back.

Greatest shawarma spot in the area. Intimate and dim lit ambiance. Super nice patio and can even be a fun spot with friends on the weekend. Great customer service and a quality and value filled meal. I love Anita's.

The wings are out of this world!! Everything on the menu is good, been many times and haven't had a dish that's wasn't amazing!

Anita's Kitchen was a lunchtime stop, and I'm incredibly glad and full of food, and the world is wonderful, amen. I went with the Chicken Feta Fatoosh salad, which is a Fatoosh salad topped with chicken shawarma, and this thing was huge. A two person meal for sure. To be honest, I should have gone with the grilled chicken Fatoosh salad, because the chicken shawarma flavoring didn't marry with the Fatoosh salad as well as I wanted it to, and I know this is a controversial sentence I will probably be skewered for, but this is my truth. I wanted the tang of Fatoosh, and instead I got the warm cinnamon of shawarma. Good separately. Together just okay. The baba ganoush, however? Epic. I tried my friends beef shawarma bowl? Epic. Lemon lentil soup? Delish. The menu is mouth watering and I can't wait to make my way through it.

Pretty good Mediterranean food. I like it because there are a number of vegetarian options.

My bestie loves this place, and maybe it's great eating there, but our takeout experience was underwhelming. Had the chopped salad and was bummed that the chicken in my salad was so over-cooked that it was tough, and i wound up pitching all of the chicken. Hummus was so lemony that all three of us agreed we never needed to order that again. It was mouth-puckeringly tart. My Mom's Greek salad was fine--hard to mess that up--that paired w the pita and baklava being delicious is what saved the review from being 1 star.

Ordered a mixed mezza for takeout for TWO PEOPLE and asked to box vegetarian options separately from meat. The boxing of a carry out meal was done nicely. The service was very good. When the order was called in, we were informed of a time, and arrived there and the food was already ready for pickup. The restaurant seemed nice inside and would probably go back and dine in if I had a chance! The food itself was A LOT of food and we got 2 meals each out of this. The food it flavourful. Will order takeout again from here. (Or dine in!) Good value for money and delicious!

The go to place in ferndale for middle eastern foods but if you have the choice of where to go head towards Dearborn or Hamtramck and you will be much happier. There is nothing wrong with Anita's. Service is good. It's a comfortable space. And the food would be considered very good if there didn't happen to be much better within a few miles.

It can't compare to Sahara Restaurant in Oak Park. It's mediocre at best. I dined in once and carried out once. I haven't been back...

If you're looking for authentic and fresh Lebanese cuisine, check out AK's. The menu is full of authentic Lebanese dishes that are curated with love. First off, parking can be a bit dicey. I highly recommend coming in early if you're planning on dining-in. This place gets busy! As for the food, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I tried the Kefta Dinner with an additional Kebob. The meal came with a side of brown rice, freshly made hummus, and sautéed vegetables. I also ordered a side of turnips, and a fattoush salad. Delish!! Not shown is the Gluten-Free Carrot Cake and a Rice Pudding that was quickly eaten. The carrot cake is AMAZINGGGGGG! Heck, if you're hungry just for dessert, stop into Anita's Kitchen. The atmosphere is very relaxed, great staff, and cool music plays in the background all while you inhale your meal. HahHa! I love this place, and I'll be back! Keep up the amazing work!

Food is always good, but the portions have definitely gotten smaller. Ordered the fried cauliflower appetizer for $8.00 and got what seemed like a half-portion. Also, the chicken kabob dinner may as well be a kid's meal. My wife and I love Anita's, but geez.

I have been a patron for years. I stopped going during Covid and preferred another Lebanese place. I recently went in April, June and July this year. I was sad to find out in June the white rice was off the menu. However, the food was excellent. In June I sat at the bar area and was quickly served by a bald dude. Service was great, offered refills and food came out quick during lunch hour. The guy was even cranking out smoothies like it was Starbucks but still attentive to the few at the bar area. My recent experience I had slow service, people standing around and no sense of team work. Had to wave people down for a refill of water and potentially the Manager had an attitude. Not sure what changed but if you want service quickly at lunch hour it's not happening. The place needs team work like I witnessed before.

Flavorful gyro with lettuce, tomato, and gyro sauce. The gyro sauce tasted like tzatziki sauce, and I enjoyed it.

I loved the guava Mocktail, it was tropical and sweet and especially good with the lime squeezed in! The Mediterranean platter was pretty tasty, the falafel was nice and crisp even baked and I really enjoyed the mujadra. The chicken shish kebabs are also apparently really good too.

I recommend this place. The food and service was great. If you are gluten-free then this is the place to go since they have many options for you. There is something for everyone. The menu is rather large and I had a hard time picking something since everything sounded and looked great. I ended up ordering a Greek Salad with grilled chicken and was not disappointed. I will be back.

There were actual bits of rock in the tabbouleh. My friend chipped his tooth. The staff and management couldn't have been more rude about. Avoid this place if you want to keep your teeth.

Highly recommend foods always good and fairly priced. Service is equally good as the food.

I have been a loyal customer of Anita's for years. I love going into the restaurant and when I do the service and food is spot on. Unfortunately when I have done carry out it hasn't gone very well and is inconsistent. Items missing, orders wrong, and then told that I will have to wait for service because they are busy in the restaurant when I've already received the wrong order and have had to drive back because of their error. They attach the itemized bill but all items are not included. It doesn't make any sense. So, if doing carry out make sure to open the bags and ensure they have fulfilled your order, especially if you have allergies or specific dietary needs. This has been my absolute favorite place to dine but am reconsidering now. :(

Poor service. My chicken sandwich was dry and burnt tasting. Stale bun and cold fries.

Anita's Kitchen is the best! You can taste the love and passion they have for serving the freshest, most Authentic Lebanese cuisine in southeast Michigan in everything on the menu. From the super tasty Fattoush, fresh tabouleh, and THE best hummus ever! I've been going to Anita's since they opened and have never been disappointed. The staff is friendly, and the service is second to none. Their chicken dishes are superb and always flavored perfectly with just the right amount of garlic, lemon and spices. Try the Kababs or Deboned Chicken. Same for the lamb chops. The cuts are cooked to arrive juicy and tender, yet slightly charred just on the edges for that perfect grilled flavor. You can never go wrong with the Shawarma sandwich. Chicken or lamb. The falafel is the best I've ever had and when eaten in a pita wrap sandwich with all the fixings it's to die for. I cannot go there without getting the grape leaves. Delicious! And if you are an ice tea drinker try the refreshing mint flavored ice tea. It's unsweetened, but I never miss the sugar as the mint does the trick without the extra calories. The well lit ambiance during the day adds to the energy of this awesome restaurant. They have a really good selection of wines and beer as well. Deciding to go eat at Anita's is a no brainer. They've been making their middle eastern food for decades from Anita's original family recipes. I'm completely addicted. You will not be disappointed.

Anita's kitchen is always amazing. Fast and friendly service, very clean restaurant (and bathrooms), and delicious food. On my last visit, I had the lamb ghallabab (sp?) over hummus and it was so good. The sauce was rich and flavorful and went so well on top of the hummus. I also love all of their desserts. The tahini brownie is a must.

Food was delicious atmosphere was eclectic we really enjoyed the cocktails, & food overall had a wonderful night. Menu has really changed over the years. I hadn't been there in quite a while and I was very pleasantly surprised of the variety and upbeat menu. definitely going back again soon.

Update - thanks Joe, I didn't think about that. I only put it as 5 starts because I didn't eat the food and was worried about being a liar. I do really like you guys

ate there 7/27/20023 just had appetizers and the food we had was good... did not eat dinner items but heresay says the dinner items aere very small portions... reason for this is, if you walk with a cane or have handicaped problems this is not a place for you...when it is busy or other wise it can be dangerous...(getting in and around the restaurant) also unless you get get one of the few parking spots in front there i not any parking but there is a city parking lot pretty close by. there is also 3-4 spots in back but no way to get into the restaurant which they should try to correct but for those spots and the city parking area.. norman schwartz

Make sure that when you go here for curbside service you actually ask them where to pick up your food. I arrived for a curbside order, TALKED to a staff member for pick up about said order and was told they were bringing it out only to wait more than five minutes for someone to run out and tell me (without an apology for the confusion and inconvenience), that curbside can't be done in front of the building any longer. I have to go to the back. Why didn't the person who answered the phone when I called for my order tell me that? That would have been informative AND good customer service.

This place is pretty damn good -- one of my favorite Mediterranean places in the area. I tend to get the falafel sandwich and fries -- simple as shit -- but yesterday I got *that* (because I'm simple as shit) with a side of cauliflower and zip sauce and grilled vegetables. I've ordered from AK 4 or 5 times since COVID started, and it's always been stupidly good and consistent. The falafel sandwich on its own at $7 is an okay value, but adding fries for $4.50 makes it a full-on meal. The cauliflower isn't battered and appears flash-fried, but with the zip sauce (which is very much like a buffalo sauce) is pretty damn addicting. Salty, vinegary goodness. The side of grilled vegetables sounds stupidly uninteresting, but grilled veggies just hit different... so damn good. The fries don't have anything inherently special about them, but it's tough to find a fry I don't like. ‍ In the past, I've gotten their lemon lentil soup, and it's a trip. Then again, I'm just all about lemon anything in soup. Sorry for the review being a bit messy, but alcohol will do that to a man. Vegans looking for some good ass food, consider Anita's. I still think 2941 is the best around, but Anita's is close and pretty damn ass delicious themselves.

Pretty good. I had the fried cauliflower which was different and good. The hummus needed olive oil but that is normal. I like the patio which allows for different types of seating.

The inconsistency of these falafels is very sad! Flat, salty, some burnt. I was better off ordering nothing. Whomever made, fried and packed these didn't care and it showed. The host was real nonchalant as well. I only tipped a dollar so maybe that's why I got these like this. I won't be returning tho!

I've watched Anita's Kitchen blossom from its humble hole-in-the-wall beginnings in Troy to the sleek fashionable eatery it is today in the heart of downtown Ferndale. The falafel is the best I've had, and I've sampled it in many parts of the world, including Lebanon. It is perfectly crisp on the outside without sacrificing moistness on the inside--no easy feat! The fatoush dressing is not miserly with the lemon, which I absolutely adore. The kebabs are always cooked perfectly to order--The chefs know what medium rare actually means. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are plentiful and tasty. I highly recommend trying the fried cauliflower with tahini. Whatever your thoughts are on the vegetable, you will not be disappointed. My only wish is that the restaurant consider bring back what was to me their most unique item: the tomato kibbeh. The tomato kibbeh provided similar tastes and textures similar to kibbeh Nayeh (which I also love) but was a brilliant substitute for vegetarians/vegans or those squeamish about eating raw lamb. Another suggestion would be to consider investing in a saj to prepare fresh pita that would pair nicely with the perfectly fresh and delightfully creamy hummus.