Phoenicia Restaurant

"Phoenicia is an elegant Lebanese restaurant well-known for its cold and hot mezze, shish, shawarma, and even frog legs, but don’t sleep on the delicious burger available for lunch. Phoenicia serves a thick pub burger with white cheddar, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, and special sauce with a side of fresh-cut, bar-style fries. What makes this burger so notable, however, is a very specific pro tip: Order a side of Phoenicia’s fluffy garlic-whipped toum and use it as a condiment for both the fries and the burger. Book a table on Resy, or place an order online." - Danny Palumbo

"Phoenicia in Birmingham is one of the Detroit metro area’s most iconic restaurants, and notably was also one of the first places in the country to elevate Lebanese dining thanks to owner and family patriarch Sameer Eid. Phoenicia’s tabbouleh is imitable and features a towering romaine lettuce leaf for crunchy dipping. The dry-rubbed baby back ribs are an ode to Sammer’s time in Texas and come with a sidecar of tangy barbecue dipping sauce. Also, don’t sleep on the frog legs (a Detroit classic), savory vegetarian stuffed onions, Lebanese sausages, and fattoush. Pro tip: Ask for a side of garlic whip (AKA toum); you’ll want to dip everything in it, including the bar-style French fries. Reserve a table through Resy or place to-go orders online." - Danny Palumbo

"Chickpea Hospitality — the group co-owned by Samy Eid whose restaurants in metro Detroit include the stalwart Phoenicia in Birmingham — is building out the space." - Serena Maria Daniels

"Finer dining Lebanese experience with unexpectedly fantastic ribs." - Serena Maria Daniels

"Birmingham’s Sameer and Sami Eid (Phoenicia, Forest, Leila) are in the running for Outstanding Restaurateur." - Missy Frederick