La Palma Middle Eastern Restaurant

What a delightful and delicious lunch! We were in town for a meeting and visited La Palma for lunch. We were warmly greeted and seated in a booth. We started with a plate of hummus and warm bread-so delicious! Oh!! And the garlic butter-WOW!! The service was friendly and attentive, the food came out quickly and every dish was absolutely perfect and delicious! My chicken shawarma was great, the salad and lentil soup were perfect and my wife loved every bite of her chicken kabob. The lamb chili was also delicious. This is a true foodie gem! Highly recommend!!

We had a generally good experience at this Arabic restaurant. The kebab was really good and clearly one of the better items on the menu. The kefta was also good, and the hummus stood out as very well done. We started with fresh bread and garlic sauce, which were excellent, and we appreciated the complimentary baklava at the end. That said, not everything was consistent. The tawook was average, and the shawarma was disappointing. It tasted old and the spices were overly strong, which took away from the dish. Overall, it was not outstanding, but still a decent place with some strong items and some clear weaknesses.

A must visit! First, the customer service is wonderful. The food is excellent. I was in the area and just tried it and had to make another visit with my brother. Lamb Chili and Lamb Galaya.

La Palma has been my go to restaurant for professional and personal sit down, carry out and catering services for many years now. It is located at walking distance from the Wayne State University School of Medicine and the massive Detroit Medical Center hospitals. The food has always been genuinely Mediterranean, fresh and tasty. It offers a wide selection of meat and vegetarian dishes including lentil soup, hummus (served with fire oven baked pita bread), Tabbouleh salad, falafel, shish kabobs to name a few. Love their creamy rice pudding. It now offers a coffee bar. Noticed in the menu today a new listing, “Doctors’ plater”, which serves 10-12 people for a reasonable price ($190). Service is young, attentive and friendly.

Great meal with very friendly staff! Adam was an awesome waiter- extremely attentive and they all worked as a team. The linen tablecloths were a nice touch. The restaurant was clean and portions were generous. Parking on the street with lots nearby.

Middle Eastern food is not my favorite, but I still found something here that I enjoyed very much. Very clean and well maintained. It is pretty upscale looking. The architecture, particularly the ceilings inside are beautiful!

Very happy with our recent visit to La Palma! Service was great, the restaurant was very clean, and the food was wonderful. We had hummus topped lamb and beef shish kabobs. 10/10 recommend either of these dishes! Also, prices were pretty on-par with most other Mediterranean restaurants we frequent. No complaints here! We will be back!

The food here was out of this world! I eat a lot of Mediterranean food and this was exceptional. Three of us had the vegetarian stuffed grape leaves and a kabob and rice platter for three. Absolutely everything was well prepared and tasty and the service could not have been more attentive. This unassuming place is a gem. We will be back!

We went to La Palma on a date, and it was a pleasant surprise to see that they molded the meat on our plate into a heart - very sweet and thoughtful We were given great service throughout our lunch and offered more delicious (warm) bread and garlic sauce - it's so good!! We had to take some leftovers of our shawarma plate home because we got full from the warm bread. The dining area was very relaxing and the booth we sat in was very spacious and comfortable.

Food was pretty good but server seemed immediately annoyed when we walked in and when I got the chicken shawarma fries lunch special (specifies that it comes with rice and salad) it did not come with rice to which the server said, oh yeah that one doesn't come with rice. There was nothing about this on the menu. Considering the price and service you can get way better in Dearborn.

Amazing service! Food was great! Portions were large! The stars of the meal weren't the proteins, it was the hummus and the roasted veggies. They were top notch. The kabob meats were really good. I would highly recommend trying La Palma. This review is about 2 months old.

I've driven by La Palma several times, and i've seen the reviews, but this is the first time I get to try it for myself. Middle Eastern food is not very common downtown, though it is in Dearborn, where I work. Dearborn is the center of Middle Eastern, culture and cuisine, arguably in the world, outside the Middle East itself. Next time you go to a Middle Eastern restaurant and order a Shawarma, try this. Cut it open, then compare it to the picture that I have attached to this review. In case you're wondering what all that brown stuff is, it's beef. Normally, even at a good Middle Eastern restaurant, there will be much less meat, and a mix of sauces and vegetables. Nothing wrong with that, but the point is that you really get your money's worth here. I had to get an extra piece of pita bread to eat the sandwich. I rather meals were enormous, chicken kebabs, served on a mountain of perfectly cooked rice. You also get a choice of soup or salad with the meals. Lamb chili with thin flavorful. The lentil soup was unlike I had seen before: smooth and creamy. I would happily get either one next time. We also added hummus, which was silky, smooth and delicious. The food was served with multiple cups of garlic paste, and they threw in some extra pita bread, too. This is easily enough food for today and tomorrow. The only minor downside, and it's not the restaurant's fault at all, is that Yelp shows them as a very cheap ($) restaurant. While the food is totally worth it for what you get, it's not cheap. What I just described cost me about $80. The guys behind the counter were telling me that they haven't done much to promote the place. Word-of-mouth has been enough to keep them busy throughout the day. After having a sampling of the amazing food here, I can see why.

Was visiting Detroit stop here to get a Shawarma ended up getting a dinner and appetizer and shawarma. Everything was really good . Service was good but a little slow This place is definitely worth checking out .

I discovered this fantastic spot on Yelp after our visit to the Motown Museum, which was also an amazing experience. Since we had dinner plans, we were looking for something light to hold us over. I tried the delicious lamb chili, and we shared the hummus, which was served with soft, warm pita bread and an incredible garlic sauce. The red tea was delightful as well. I will definitely return when I'm back in Detroit.

This place reminded me of why I like mediterranean food. The food was plentiful and flavorful. They also have some good bread and the garlic spread I can eat it on everything. We also had the grape leaves with lamb... they were packed with stuff. I ate of these dishes for 4 days.

La Palma seems to be the most recommended Middle Eastern takeout option for events and meetings in Midtown. As a result, I've had La Palma not once, but twice over the last month for gatherings with friends and I've had it several other times over the years. Surprisingly I've actually never actually eaten inside the restaurant! Hummus - This hummus has way too much tahini added for my tastes. Both times it was quite a bit on the runny side and the tahini taste was really overwhelming. This is not my favorite hummus. (2/5) Tabbouleh - The tabboleh for the order last month from La Palma was very disappointing. They barely added any olive oil, resulting in an extremely dry tabbouleh. This most recent time, the tabbouleh was a lot better. There was a good moisture level with the olive oil mixed with a lemon juice for acidity. Some places add too much oil, resulting in a sopping mess soaking on the bottom of the dish, but this one was pretty well balanced. In terms of the other ingredients, I found there to be a good mix of bulger wheat, tomatos and parsley included. I guess La Palma has some consistency issues because this dish was totally different between my two recent experiences. (1/5 first time, 4/5 second time) Toum - Probably the best thing I had both times. Garlicky, a bit of green from the interior garlic shoots and yet not any raw biting taste. Fluffy, yet somewhat grainy because it's not processed as much as other places. Overall very well balanced and delicious. (5/5) Falafel - I won't comment on the exterior since it wasn't fresh from the fryer and the falafel were steaming a bit in the metal trays. The interior was relatively fluffy with a bit more of a coarse grind compared to other places. The flavor is predominantly curry, which is pretty interesting since it's kind of like a South Asian twist. (3/5) Tawook - Good flavor on the exterior, but the interior was dry in some pieces, moist in others. Again, very strange consistency issues. To be honest, most of other meats I've had in the past have been pretty average to disappointing. For example, the chicken shawarma has always been dry with no char. I wonder if it's better if you eat in, but I can't see why that would make a difference. (3/5) I can't see myself actually eating inside La Palma, simply because I have so many choices for much better Middle Eastern food surrounding me in Dearborn. I think given the convenience and location, it's not a bad visit if you live in Midtown.

Man, I really wish I could rate this higher. Some of the items were very good, and the others not so much. Let's start with the highlights: Toum- This is one of the best I've had. Deliciously pungent and fresh tasting, all of the flavors are perfectly balanced with the garlic taking the front and center stage. I'll be back for this! Bread- The bread is fresh baked in house with their oven. Some of the pieces can vary in size, a testament to their hand-made nature. It's the perfect canvas to layer flavor on or just to eat by itself. It comes steaming hot so be careful! They also supply commercial pita as well if you want a thinner bread to eat with your meal. Gallayah- This unassuming dish was bursting with flavor. There was sauteed sliced onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and garlic atop a bed of french fries. A spiced sauce covers the dish and helps meld all the flavors together. Shish Kabob- The beef was cooked to medium and was tender. It had great flavor that complimented the other dishes! Less good: Shish Kafta- The lamb flavor was muted so it's a great choice for people who don't like the gamey flavor of lamb. It was dense and not particularly moist. Shawarma- Both the lamb and chicken were dry without any crispy bits or textural contrast to show for it. Rice- Very tumeric heavy without any vermicelli noodles or almonds. It was cooked fine though without any textural issues. Pretty standard. I wouldn't get again: Baba Ghanouj- I normally love eggplant but this had strong tones of bitterness for some reason. The consistency was smoother than how other places make it, and the smokiness was well balanced. Hummus- This was really runny for some reason and light on flavor. Tabbouli- This rendition doesn't include bulgur. There were a lot of herb stems in the salad as well, but it was chopped so that it wasn't too fiberous. The diced tomato and green onion were fine. The worse part of this dish was that it felt like they forgot to add dressing/olive oil as it was completely dry. I took it home and added my own extra virgin olive oil which improved it greatly. I don't know if they messed this up accidentally or this is how they make it at this restaurantn, but I'm not getting this again to find out! Falafel- Very dense inside with not a lot of herbal notes. The outside was crunchy but it was a workout to eat. I probably wouldn't order this again.

Picked up our son at CCS for a Thursday night out. We wanted to broaden his culinary horizons, so we did a little research and chose La Palma nearby. No problem getting a table. Dinning area was casual but warmly decorated. Beautiful wood ceilings. My son was new to Middle Eastern food, so he was a little apprehensive to commit to one entrée. Our server recommended the Compo for 3, a large platter with a sampling of our favorites. Food was delicious and plentiful with leftovers for our son to take back to his dorm. Perfect. Wait staff was attentive and very pleasant. We will be going back.

Had a birthday lunch here yesterday after a visit to the DIA. Fattoush salad, hummus and that garlic sauce!!! Everyone loved their food and the service was spot on!! Keep it up La Palma - you're a gem in the city!!!

The food was amazingly good. The lamp chips that I had was made perfectly. The garlic butter sauce that is served with the bread was out of this world. I've never had anything like it. The service was good. There is not a wait. The ambiance is really nice.

A great place to eat. The customer service is excellent. They aim to please. I highly recommend it. You will not be disappointed. Be there or be square ‍‍ Vstang60!

Love this place and the staff! Lamb chili is amazing! Lamb vegetable soup top tier! Natural squeezed fruit and veggie juices! The hot Bread and Garlic omg I'm actually about to head there now.

Solid 4-4.5 star experience. The food was tasty and the service was excellent. We got the spinach fatoosh feta salad. Very fresh. And the hummus and garlic sauce with the warm bread was delicious. Definitely plan to come back.

Food was not good. Chicken was dry. Rice was plain and felt like it was missing some spices. They give you like 2 pieces of chicken in an entire entree so it's definitely not worth the prices.

I ordered a take out of a chicken shawarma platter from La Palma for the first time in about 6 years. I must say that chicken was tender,flavorful and delicious as before. I had a side of rice and a salad also which both were fresh with lots of herbs and really delicious. My platter was $21 & I tipped $2. I HIGHLY Recommend this restaurant for great authentic Middle Eastern food.

Great food. Went for lunch. Had beef shawarma, and chicken Gallaya hummus and lamb in grape leaves appetizers. Service was great and own met nice guy and attentive. Definitely on the list to visit again.

Worst service....four x just asking for water after food was served. Worst food I have eaten since I could remember. When ordering a chicken burger there was no chicken, they took away, added chicken. It might have been appropriate to just bring chicken breast to the table. I was hungry, this ate half of sandwich. It is also probably a fourth of what any other Med restaurant service. They serve a much lower quantity of food here. The bread was the highlight of yummy with Hummus. I recommend Sheeba Express for great Med food downtown! Service is outstanding! Food is amazing! There catering for large groups is terrific! The manager made bill half price at $42.00 This was still a horrible experience with lousy food.... 2 containers for dog

I heard good things about this place from friends and wanted to check it out while I was in Detroit. We came here after the DIA and it was during the off hours when it was not as busy. I really enjoyed the service and they even gave us a free dessert. I am biased and I really like my hometown med restaurant but I also enjoyed La Palma. We both got the chicken shawarma. They have good portions and needed a to go box. The bread was the highlight because it was so warm and fluffy. I would recommend getting the hummus as well.

I am so happy to have discovered this recently open spot. It is close to home and the area was in need of a Mediterranean restaurant! I ordered take out and got a variety of entrees (lemon chicken Tawook and vegetable gallayah) as well as tried the grape leaves, lentil soup, and fattoush. All of the food was delicious and just as I had hoped. Service was great and food was ready very promptly even for take out. I'm looking forward to dining in as well - plenty of seating and impeccably clean.

This has quickly become my favorite restaurant, not just in Detroit, but in all of Michigan. Owner Fadi personally took the time to offer several thoughtful recommendations, which made our dining experience truly exceptional. The food was outstanding, and the ambiance added to the overall enjoyment of our lunch. There was an abundance of delicious options, not only for us as adults but also for our three children, who are notoriously picky eaters. It was a rare and delightful experience where everyone left satisfied. And on top of this exceptional experience we got complimentary desert!

The Adeni tea was runny and tasted bad. And my chicken in the shawarma was so dry i did not want it anymore. And I just was overall disappointed. The service wasn't horrible but they seemed to be trying to rush people to order.

The food here is very consistent, fresh and plentiful. The fresh bread, served straight out of the oven is delicious. The hot tea is sweet and delicious, with and without milk. I normally get the grilled chicken platter with rice and grilled vegetables and the side salad. Lunch specials are available before 3pm, which is kinda nice. The restaurant is always very clean with good service.

Unassuming on the outside, with wretched parking, but once you enter, you are greeted with a warm welcome to an interior that rivals the opulence of Detroit Architecture. Vaulted, carved wood ceilings, oak panels inlayed with glass tiles and brass & crystal chandeliers adorn the vestibule, which is open to view within the spacious, yet cozy dining room. The food here gives us a reason to make this a regular and one of our top five date-night favorites in Detroit proper. The prices may seem a little high, but once you get the food you realize you're paying for quality. Everything is prepared fresh, even the garlic sauce tastes like fresh garlic. I had the grilled deboned chicken with mushrooms, which was like a religious experience. The chicken was perfectly marinated and perfectly grilled , presented with a generous heaping amount of (at least a pound) of lightly seasoned sliced mushrooms. I ordered the fries, of course because they are the best in town. My husband ordered the chicken gallaya, which tasted of fresh turmeric, ginger and other freshly ground spices mixed with and a perfect balance of sliced carrots, peppers & onions, paired with their yellow rice. We both started with the fattoush salad and the trio of hummus, tabouli, and baba ganoush, with their perfectly soft, fresh baked bread. The salad alone, with it's lemony goodness made my day.

I was really disappointed when the menu said rice with almonds, and the picture showed the same, but both my dishes came with yellow rice that was more Mexican than Middle Eastern. My Galaba was already mixed with the yellow rice like a stir fry. There are much better middle eastern restaurants in Detroit. I do not recommend.

We had a delicious lunch at La Palma. Great service and the food is fresh and tasty. Their bread arrived hot and fluffy, and that garlic sauce is amazing. So good that I put some of it on top of my lamb kabob. We had a variety of the lunch specials and they were all pretty good. The only thing I wished they had was a little sauce for the shawarma as it felt a little dry. Overall it's a great place for some Middle Eastern classics.

This place is a GEM. It doesn't quite look like it from the outside but the inside is cozy and the staff is warm and amazing! They give you warm pita and fresh garlic sauce complimentary! I could have only ate that and would still give it 5 stars. We ordered the falafel appetizer. Best falafel I have ever had. Not dry at all! The inside is moist and delicious. Then we both got the shawarma plate. It was juicy and so flavorful. This is going to be our new go to for lunch when we are in Detroit. Don't miss out on this incredible place!

Not a review, just a fact. Name a better Mediterranean spot near this I'LL WAIT been goin for years and it just gets better

The ceiling detail is quite pretty here, barreled ceiling looks vet cool and old world classy. There's a small parking lot behind the building of the palma. It is about half a block behind the restaurant. I ordered an OJ and carrot raw juice blend and a chicken gallaba to go with the rice on the side. I would normally get it with salmon, but I didn't see that as an option on the menu. The chicken gallaba smells savory and yummy in the carry out bag, that's a good sign. The orange and carrot juice is super fresh and so wonderfully refreshing. Needed a boost of healthy after some ramen noodles. The chicken gallaba wasn't bad, it looked flavorful and nicely cooked, taste wasn't quite what I expected and was a bit more bland than it looked to me. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't special. It came with a side salad and as the dressing was already on top, it was a bit soggy after the 20+ minute drive home. The OJ and carrot juice was the best part of my meal tonight. The dressing for the side house salad was decent. It had a creaminess from the oil and nice flavoring, not to tart from the lemon juice.

Great food at a very reasonable price. Servers very attentive. The lamb chops were very meaty, tender and well seasoned. The best I've had at a restaurant in years.Rice nice texture and taste. Doo your self a favor and try this Mediterranean food restaurant.

I absolutely love this restaurant. I am obsessed! I love everything I have had from the menu and their house dressing is so yummy. They have a beautiful dining area. And the young men that work here are very nice.

Poor packing of the food. Inferior packing products and zero utensils for soup and a shish kebab plate..... Order for takeout and delivery at your own risk. This was my last time

We stumbled upon this place and went for dinner before heading to a show. It was our first time, they have an area that is takeout only and seat you/wait on you if you're dining in. The wait staff was very attentive, we had everything we needed and the food came out quickly. We split the shawarma combination meal and had an extra salad, but still had plenty of leftovers. Everything was great and we were so happy to see they have the fluffy bread and everything comes with lots of garlic! Our waiter (potentially the manager/owner?) asked if it was our first time and gave us some baklava on the house. TLDR; Great service, good food with sizable portions, definitely recommend for a casual lunch or dinner.

With so much excellent Middle Eastern food down the way in Dearborn, I didn't expect much of La Palma in Midtown Detroit. I was thrilled with the quality and flavor of La Palma's meals, and their excellent customer service at pick-up. La Palma has full menu of Middle Eastern traditional meals and juices. Juices are made fresh and are the perfect addition to the clean eating of their schwarmas and lamb chops. Their salads are fresh and full of clean flavor.

Lamb vegetable soup is always a hit. Parking is always available, they're nice and it's a vibe

I was not impressed with the food at all. It was average and I was very disappointed in the Tabouleh which was literally parsley, tomatoes and lemon juice.

Met my daughters and sister here for an after work dinner. Staff was courteous, friendly and professional. We tried the vegetable lamb soup, combo for three( came with hummus, salad and rice), grilled vegetables, carrot juice, hot bread and garlic spread. Everything was great! The combo for three was good for our party of four. Will definitely revisit La Palma... our first dining experience was great!

La Palma is centrally located in Midtown Detroit making it a great go-to for folks who work or live in the area. It offers fresh healthful Mediterranean food which is flavorful and moderately priced. The restaurant is spacious and good for dining alone, lunch with coworkers, date dining and small families. I stopped in after work with my coworkers yesterday on our way to a movie. Seating is comfortable. The restaurant decor is well appointed. I loved how open it felt with large windows for people watching. The menu items are comparably priced. My salad totaled $9. I ordered a medium Fattoosh salad, adding grilled chicken. The salad veggies were fresh and the dressing was super tasty. The marinated grilled chicken was flavorful and moist. Other menu items include Mediterranean favs such as hummus, fresh juices, shawarma, kafta and kabobs. Diners are served yeast bread and garlic "schmear" (toum). Street parking is available, as is parking in a nearby lot.

Unfortunately need to take three stars from my previous review. We liked the place so much, so we decided to go again. This time it was a completely different experience. There were just 2 more tables with people and one big with young people that were probably owner's friends, he was joining them from time to time during our stay. The service was terrible, young guy was totally bored, and at the end it was the owner that took our order. We got the same thing again, the combo for 2. Everything tested much different than the first time, there was definitely less meat on the plate and more rice. Besides taking our order, nobody was talking care of us during entire time. After few attempts to get somebody's attention, we're finally got our bill and left. Won't be back. Such a shame, we had a great time there our first time, and so disappointed in our second visit.

Excellent service. They greeted us at the door. They have parking!!! Downtown Detroit. That's a win just by itself!!!!! The food OMG. THEY have full menu lunch and dinner dine in take out. Sandwiches and full meals trays for parties and weddings. Our meal was 5 stars. We were extremely pleased

Good customer service. Delicious! Chicken was a little dry. But overall good food with big portions. Clean restrooms.

The food was banging and you can watch them make pita bread. Staff was very polite and accommodating (:

Just stopped by after our museum visit. We wanted smoothies and the bright signage on exterior was attractive! I asked the guy if the signature La Palma was good and he said it was delicious. So I order that for myself and the fruit smoothie for my husband. Both made fresh so it took awhile to get the two treats. As I waited I really enjoyed the interior of restaurant. Very detailed in design and would come back to try out what they prepare in brick oven. Covid protocols were in place & the carryout seemed efficient. My drink was not delicious, but definitely healthy. Bitter taste and it seemed my ice has melted or was not added. My husband's fruit smoothie was delicious and I was envious but he shared with me. Menu looked good and we thought about coming back later for food but went elsewhere. Would try their food out because I love Mediterranean cuisine.

More like a 3.5 star review. The food was good and so were the portions. Had an awkward experience where I wasn't given any utensils and no servers were near by for a while. Waited a like 8-10 minutes before my server returned and I was able to ask for utensils.

Love this place because the service is great, the food is awesome, and one of the dudes looks like the guy from the Karate Kid movie. Talks and acts like him a little too. In the Detroit area there are plenty of options for Middle Eastern food. Do not pass this one by. Great value too...Looking to make it back

Finally a good Mediterranean restaurant in Midtown! The food was combarable to some of my favorite places in Dearborn. We ordered the hummus topped lamb, lentil soup, fatoosh, grape leaves, deboned chicken, shish kafta and lamb gallayah. My favorite was the chicken. It was juicy and full of flavor. The kafta was a little too dry. The ambiance inside is really nice. There is plenty of seating and pretty decor. A great perk is the free parking which you can find on John R. I definitely recommend if you're in the area!

I dont have much experience with Mediterranean food but I've discovered I need to quickly change this. For pharmacy week at my work, the department got La Palma catered. The rice was soft, rich, and flavorful. The dressing on the fattoush salad had a nice tanginess and slight bitterness, however not overwhelming by any means. Very good balance. The humus was smooth and delicious, and the bread was soft and chewy. The lamb was AMAZING! I dont each much lamb, but again I think I might need to change this! Very nice spices, and no need for any additional sauces. The chicken had very nice flavor as well. The beef was a bit dry, but I still enjoyed it. Overall, the meal was spectacular and all the food meshed together in harmony. I will definitely be coming back to this restaurant and highly recommend it, especially if you've never had this type of cuisine before!

I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great food and even better service. I took the recommendation of the server and the lamb was amazing. I would also recommend their hot bread with the garlic butter. Unbelievable!!