One of our favorite places to dine out. The food is always exceptionally good. And the serving sizes are huge. We always leave with left overs. You automatically get fresh pita and homemade garlic spread when you arrive. The fattoush salad is very good. All entrees come with soup or salad - the salad is enough for two people to share. This is a great restaurant for dine in (there is never a wait) and for take out.
(5)
Melissa L.
I purchased a Groupon twice for this location, and both times were great. They have great service and good food. Free side of garlic sauce with warm homemade bread when you sit down, plus! Granted, I haven't been to too many Arabic restaurants but never had garlic sauce that didn't come with a charge. I am a creature of habit so I usually order the mango smoothie and shish tawook sandwiches. Great! Also, I tried the shish tawook entree with a cup of lentil soup and a side of rice. The manager came by our table and checked up on us. La Marsa meets all of my criteria for a good restaurant: good food at decent prices, good portion size, and great service. This is my go to place whenever I am craving Arabic food!
(5)
Tom D.
Food was GREAT, service sucked so badly. We ordered 3 meals, 2 smoothies and Kibbie appetizer. Was birthday lunch for my Kid, and she really wanted a mango smoothie. We ordered and then 10mins later (Still no food, just my Pop and 2 waters to help the wait on the smoothies that never showed) the people next to us sat down, ordered their food and got a smoothie dropped off in maybe 2 minutes, I did notice they seemed to get better service and actually had the manager stop and talk to them like they knew him, so I guess only good service if you know someone. The manager did see me looking not too happy and did ask me if everything was ok and I replied "Sure, I guess" in a sarcastic voice and he replied, "Ok, good" and left. This is not the 1st time I have been here, I went one other time awhile back and got similar service (From who I think was the SAME waiter) back then I was asked to "Please leave a decent tip being we come here a lot and usually get better service" from the people I was with. Well, good food but bad service is enough reason to NEVER come back again. This time the person was lucky that I was with my kid, I was ready to stand up and leave as my food was set down in front of me, being I was not even hungry being I waited so long that I filled up on bread and garlic (Really good garlic sauce there as well). Best advice, if you want what you ordered don't go here.
(1)
Samir N.
The place is a bit pricy, as far as Arabic food goes, but the price matches the quality. Everything was exemplary and above and beyond the standard. The wings were a bit greasy, but everything else was awesome. They bake their bread fresh, and that is why I grade Arab/Lebanese places like this highly. I do not want to tear into delicious baba ghanoush with crappy sandwich bag bread. Screw that! Here, you do not have to. The sandwiches that we had were all awesome, and I would not hesitate to come back. They also have the separate take out place if you are in a hurry.
(4)
Kay S.
Solid mediterranean option in Troy. Really beautiful decor and ambiance too. I've tried the chicken shawarma and chicken tawook and both are good, I think the tawook is my favorite. Fattoush and baba ganouj good as well.
(4)
Erica A.
The best Arabic food around and trust me I am soooo picky when it comes to Arabic food. Whenever I visit Michigan I head out there with my mom, which is about 40 mins from where I visit. I love their Chicken Shwarma wraps... WOW soooo tasty. I wish I was in MI. right now to grab one haha. They also give you garlic spread and warm pita for an app at no charge. I always ask for pickles and turnips and they have never charged me for those as well. The staff is super nice and always pleasant. I cant wait to get back there in a few weeks to get some Arabic food. I think they should open one in AZ., since Arizonas "ethnic food' includes Mexican lol ugh...
(5)
Richard F.
We stopped by for a quick lunch. I had been to the Bloomfield location, but always for dinner. The menus looked to be the same and the lunch experience was good at this location. I had their excellent lentil soup with a big squeeze of lemon in it and lamb shishkabob sandwich. Both were great and reasonably priced.
(4)
Vincenzo R.
Very good food! A must-go type of eatery. Especially the pita bread, hummus and garlic bread.
(5)
Ankur S.
We ordered starters which included Hummus. And also the Veg Falaffel wrap. Everything was great including the service. The music is also nice, an added bonus. A must try.
(5)
Jennifer L.
I'm clingy when it comes to La Marsa's hummus. I need to be with it all the time, I need it to call me all the time, and compliment me all the time, and when it doesn't I cry. It's the smoothest, creamiest hummus I've encountered and they are not shy with the lemon. I tend to throw lemon-less hummus on the walls and ceiling in a child-like fit, so their hummus is kind of like a delicious pacifier that sends me into a joyful trance. And now I've just pictured a pacifier covered in hummus and you know what? It's not even gross. That's how much I love their hummus. So really, my mom should be writing this review, because 1) she's a little more mature than I and 2) she loves this place more than she loves me. But she does in fact love me, because she brings me chicken shawarma pitas all the time, and they are so good. So flavorful! A lot of shawarma tastes just like grilled chicken to me but not here. It has all the flavors I'm looking for, complete with dream hummus and the best garlic spread (competes with Bucharest in my opinion). The pita they give you with your hummus and garlic is that fluffy, pillow-y kind, always fresh out of the oven! A meal in itself. Next to the sit down restaurant they have an express, which is perfect to pick up a rush lunch. Or perfect for those who have to stop in on a weekly basis for a large hummus, because they now refuse to buy store-bought.
(5)
Sonali B.
I am very disappointed. Before we went to La Marsa last night, I was thinking about how I had to write a review for it. Up until yesterday, we have had consistent good service, good food, and an enjoyable experience there. I am by no means rude to servers, even when there is a mistake. Mistakes happen - it's how the restaurant behaves after a mistake takes place that matters. I took my parents to La Marsa last night for dinner. We ordered appetizers and sat back and relaxed. We have been plenty of times and my Mom wanted to try something new - the Musaka. When it arrived, she dug in. Ate happily until she realized there was saran wrap in her food. Not a tiny piece. Not a sliver. A huge piece of rolled up saran wrap. I complained to the waiter. We were watching as he walked up to show someone and they both were laughing. I guess I didn't see what was so funny - we were sitting directly across them, so it wasn't the most professional reaction to something like that. The manager came over. But instead of apologizing immediately, he told us why it was there. He explained that the saran wrap is in the packaging. I can understand that - but why is it in my mother's plate? Why didn't you apologize? He took it away and offered to remake it but we were done. Not interested in having any more. We didn't throw a fit, we just weren't happy. Not with the server's reaction, not with how the management handled lack of concern or interest. He offered to bring us something else but we were finished. I do not know when I will be back. It will be a long time before I return. The food is good, but this service was poor. The usual manager who I see wasn't there, and if he had been, I know this would not have taken place. So I can't totally fault this place. Over all, I enjoy La Marsa but I have had better service elsewhere.
(3)
Ken J.
The food here is really tasty. I love venturing out to new places and trying new food, however when I'm at a place like this... I always start off with the chicken schwarma. And this place did not disappoint. The pita bread is top notch, and their hummus and garlic sauce is just the perfect touch. I will be returning there for a full dinner sometime soon. Nummy nummy!
(4)
Jay Vee Z.
Excellent food. The chicken shawarma sandwiches are a bit small but are always fresh and full of flavor. They almost melt in your mouth! Nothing beats their service, though. Whether you take out or dine in, they consistently deliver fast, friendly, and quality service. They make sure their customers are happy and satisfied. I love La Marsa!
(5)
Ron C.
While driving through, Troy, Royal Oak & Sterling today, I wondered where would I be when LUNCH came around? So at 1pm LaMarsa got the NOD I once again ordered the $5.99 Lunch Special A rolled Schwarma Pita and a choice of soup I sampled the Lamb Schwarma today + a side of garlic dip A+ And had to once again order the Lamb Chili A+ Mo was on duty & as usual tossed some hot pitta 'FLUFFS" into my bag
(5)
Anastasia W.
Service was quick and friendly. You know the food will be good when the side salad that comes first is really well done, and their side salad was delish! I had the hummus and chicken platter with rice which was very tasty! The chicken shwarma and lamb were also very good! The atmosphere is very cozy and warm, good for a family or group dinner or even a dinner for two. Prices for meals were higher than I expected but the portions were HUGE and the quality of the food was superb so it was fair. They also had some $5 shwarma sandwiches which would be great for takeout. Highly recommend!
(5)
nancy d.
People make plans, usually involving lots of text msgs, gripes about whose picking up who and after your thumbs turn black and blue you might possibly land on a joint where everyone's happy. But never have I spontaneously seen 8 adults agree to a hookie lunch outing so quickly. Without hesitation the below culprits enjoyed a delightful lunch and threw everything else on the ground. Players: 1. Joined us coming straight from DTW 2. Played a long lunch card 3. Left work in the middle of the day 4. PIcked up player 5 5. Picked up by player 4 6. Called everyone on board 7. Mother left her children with grandma for an hour. 8. Left in the middle of a mani / pedi to join And thats the story of how we ate like kings at La Marsa. If you don't know what we came for, you need to find out. The garlic sauce/ hummus / tabouli spread on their fresh puffy bread is to die for. The shawarma and shish are phenomenal too, we liked the lamb and beef over the chicken which seemed dry. And I love love love the fatoosh. Besides the waiter disappearing for most of the meal. This place is solid.
(5)
Sum S.
Delicious food and fast service..I like the soups, sandwiches, and just everything...sometimes the fresh bread they serve with garlic is a bit over cooked but its fine
(4)
Jennifer D.
I come to LaMarsa often. We always have friendly service. They have the best chicken kabob around and lamb chops. Love the bread and hommus too. We order carry out at least 3 times a month. So good.
(5)
Peter S.
La Marsa has become my staple Middle Eastern restaurant in Troy. A while back, a friend and I began a challenge to try and find a better Middle Eastern restaurant in the area, since there are so many of them. In the end, we couldn't find any place that tops La Marsa. I'd say that Ike's in Sterling Heights is a close second, but the food here is amazing. The service can be a little hit-or-miss, but the food always delivers and the prices are good for what you get. In the end, I really don't see a need for settling for another Middle Eastern restaurant in Troy.
(5)
Elsa C.
Great place for carry out, I always get the same thing on my way to school (chicken Tawook sandwich & fattoush salad) but they don't disappoint!
(4)
Bill B.
La Marsa offers a slightly different take on Middle Eastern food than many surrounding places. True, you can get Lebanese favorites like grape leaves, baba ghannooj and hommous. However, I like the things that are unique to La Marsa. For example, Koshary is a mildly spicy lentil and noodle dish. Their Moussaka is also a little different (sweeter?) than at other restaurants. La Marsa took over a former LaShish location and they still have the bread oven. I'm glad that it is there. Now, if they would only do more distinct dishes like Koshary...
(4)
Fonzelle A.
I loved this place. I had a lunch chicken shawarma plate. It was delicious! It included bread, soup or salad, chicken shawarma, and fries or rice. The lamb chili hit the spot on such a cold day. They also serve the plate with a garlic sauce that went well with everything! Good atmosphere and service too. Definitely going back!
(5)
Trang S.
Went here at 9:30 on a Friday night. Service was prompt, food came out quickly, and the server was very polite (without being a helicopter server) The fresh pita bread and whatever that garlic spread is ... is so delicious. We ordered some hummus, lamb chops, and chicken shawarma. This is a little much for two people but did I pack it in! Had to bust out the Kobayashi squirm or whatever that competitive eater does to get that food in. Oh, there was also lentil soup that came as a side to the lamb chop dish and that was really not that memorable until you squeeze the lemon that comes with it and then it was divine. Just the right amount of ZING. TL;DR This place is delicious but it will murder your breath.... or maybe slightly slay it. Just watch how much of that garlic goodness you eat.
(4)
Krupa U.
La Marsa is chic enough to be an elegant dining experience but cheap enough to be a quick lunch spot... and that's what keeps me coming back this this place! Not to mention the extremely friendly and polite service. The new manager there is very accommodating as is the rest of the staff. Their menu has a variety of delicious Veg and Non-veg Arabic items. Shawarmas, Hummous, Fatoosh Salad, Lentil Soup, all very good, but if you're with a group of 3-4 people and want to get a well-rounded appetizer, I suggest getting the Mixed Maza, it has a little bit of everything. Never had their desserts here but I am a fan of Baklava so I would love to try theirs and I hear their raw juices are really good. Also note that their website is very up to date and their menu is fun to use if you want to take a gander before going there: lamarsacuisine.com/Menu/…
(4)
Mimi B.
This wonderful gem of a place hidden in the strip mall on Rochester road is by far the BEST Arabic food I ever had in the states. We loved the decor--classy, interesting, understated. Wonderful and interesting wait staff who were all so polite we were in shock. Everyone was so incredibly nice and attentive. Then the food came out....and it didn't stop coming. Fatoosh salad that I am craving still, hummus as it should be made, warm fresh pita bread, grilled chicken and lamb kebabs that were so amazing, spiced perfectly, cooked perfectly. The rice is a review in itself. I don't even like rice, but this was like some special dish with crispy nuts on top, cooked perfect. We had so much food left over we felt guilty and took it back to our hotel, but we never got to eat it because we went back the next afternoon for even more of the same and brought our whole party with us...and this time we brought a bottle some wine...which was not necessary to enjoy the meal, but we were made to feel so welcome again, it was alike a holiday. Our guests were hesitant to eat "Arabic" food--we told them to hold on and give it a try....everyone loved it! And we had 43 people show up by the end of the night, ordering soup (an amazing lentil), kebabs, rice, salad. Delicious and elegantly prepared. For a last minute, impromptu "party of 43" this place really gave us the royal treatment, then wrapped leftovers to go for the whole party. The owner was a very refined, interesting man who welcomed us and made us feel special, and part of his family. We were sad to leave, and wished so much we could bring this place back home with us. Mmmmm that fatoosh salad...it will be in my dreams.
(5)
Mary Eileen K.
They start you off just right. The pita bread and garlic dip (toum) is amazing. I could come here and eat just that! We are not talking about your typical coney island pita bread that is delivered out of a Sysco truck or shipping box. We are talking about freshly made pita pockets that are baked in a woodstone oven right before your very eyes. Nothing is fake about this stuff. The garlic dip is freshly made here because from time to time the degree of garlic taste can change. It's still so yummy, even if it isn't consistent every time. The dragon breath effect is worth it. Just make sure you have some Orbit or Trident around. The fattoush tawook salad literally has to be one of the best salads in the metro area. The dressing, the toasted pita chips and marinated chicken is like heaven to the taste buds. They are very generous with the cucumbers too. The service is always friendly and efficient. I can say that I am not disappointed with anything I have tried at this location, Bloomfield or Farmington. They make a solid rice almond salad and tabouli too. I have tried other Middle Eastern places in the area and nothing quite compares to La Marsa. They hooked me to Middle Eastern / Mediterranean cuisine, and I think they are truly of definition of what it is. They set a high standard for all the other places to follow. That is for sure.
I work at 16 and Dequindre and get La Marsa regularly for takeout and have eaten in the restaurant multiple times. Their pita bread is amazing and soft, which is key because hard/dry pita bread is such a turnoff. I have had their Fattoush multiple times and it is amazing. In addition, I have had the falafel, hommous, grapeleaves, shish tawook, shish kafta, lamb shawarma, and toum. I would suggest any of these to someone visiting La Marsa. Especially the grapeleaves, they are some of the better that I have had. Of the Mediterranean restaurants I frequent, this is one on my favorites because it is low key and their takeout is also quality.
(5)
Maria B.
One of the best Middle-Eastern restaurants in Michigan! The dishes here are FRESH & FULL OF FLAVOR. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for awesome Arabic food, which will leave your taste buds dancing from the wonderful flavors in each dish : ) Excellent food!
(5)
divesh m.
Bad Service!! Bad Service!! I know we all might not write for good food and service, but definitely jump on anything bad. I have no complaints with food what so ever. Mostly I go here for lunch and is decently ok in all respects. This was my first try for dinner. I went around 630 pm and there were only 2-3 tables occupied. Still we had to wait about 5 mins for someone to show us our table. It took well over 15 mins to get water. Let me remind you again, there were only 2-3 tables occupied. Waitress came with water along with order of some other table. I sarcastically thanked her for getting water, which probably set her off. Once we got our food, she never came back to check with us. We were done with our dinner and with restaurant not being busy, we still had to wait for check or for box. BTW our waitress was standing right next to our table and chatting with them for 20 mins or so. Without asking for anything else or checking she got the check. I thought of skipping the tip, but my inner conscience didn't allow me to do so. My wife asked for manager to other waiter and he said manager is not here. She came back (after getting our boxes and check) asking if we can use any dessert or anything and that she will get the manager. Even though we expressed our concern she never apologized. Again I gave up the idea to speak to manager thinking it might cost her job. Again food is good, but service is bad. The prices are slightly more than average restaurant, but portions are huge. I won't like to pay more for decor only. The lamp chops were 24$ for order, which is awfully expensive.
(3)
Jayel L.
I truly love Mediterranean Cuisine and had a craving for it yesterday 6/22/2013 and was reminded that this place was a few miles down the road. I went in not really expecting it to taste even remotely close to my normal place in Birmingham but I figured why not give it a shot. There are two sides an express (for take out) and the actual Restaurant. I ordered a half deboned chicken with rice without almonds (allergic) and a mango smoothie my daughter ordered the same but with the almonds.He suggested we just order a whole debone chicken since it would be 10 dollars less, me being hesitant about the almonds, he reassured me he would place almonds in a separate container, so I agreed. We waited for our food in the car and then I noticed they turned the lights off on the "open" sign so I just knew we would get some rushed under cooked food so I had in my mind that we would probably order pizza once home. (Lol). Our order was ready and we carried out two nice cups with mango smoothies a large bag and an aluminum pan of food. Once we got home and saw the portion size, we could have fed my husband and son as well and still had enough for leftovers for two! The food was excellent, the chicken, tender and juicy, rice was perfect, pita bread and garlic spread we spot on. (Make sure you order extra garlic spread, one container isn't enough). I only gave it four stars because I didn't actually sit down to experience the wait staff... I will make this my new once a week place for all things Mediterranean!
(4)
Shannon M.
Fabulous! This was the first time my dining partner and I had ever been there. We were thoroughly impressed. Excellent service, our server was great at giving suggestions and explanations. The food was delicious with HUGE portions. The food was very hot and fresh. The pita bread that comes with the garlic dip before the meal was easily the best I've ever had. The decor was neat with complimentary music- I also found the restroom to be clean and acceptable. Highly recommend!
(5)
Kate F.
My daughter and I split the Vegetarian Combo, and all I can say is whoa! Absolutely everything was delicious! And there was a ton of food, so we could only eat half of it. Picture that - potential dinner for four for just $21.99! Hommous, baba ghannooj, tabbouli, two falafel, four stuffed grapeleaves, mjadra, two spinach pies, village salad, rice with almonds, those delicious loaves of bread (hollow pita), a platter of garlic butter, and pickled turnips and cucumbers. And I must repeat - EVERYTHING was delicious!!!!! My only complaint, my husband said I reaked of garlic when I got home, and evidently I still have the odor today. Oh well, small price for such a yummy meal!
(5)
Tony S.
I'm having a middle eastern review marathon this week. At first I was going to go to the carryout section to the left of the restaurant but when I looked at the menu I thought that I'd rather sit down and get the whole effect. Like another reviewer said the waitstaff are well dressed, but the customers were a mish mash of casual and not so casual. Pros: Very good flavor. Very pleasant amiable service. The chicken schwarma was juicy and flavorful, I think there was some dark meat in there or flavor from skin which my girl didn't like but I loved. Generous portions. Cons: They need to check to make sure the bathroom supplies are kept up like the paper towels. They ask how much you like your lamb schwarma cooked, I said well done because my lady likes it that way but if I wasn't with her I'd get it cooked less because it was slightly dry. The lobby area of the restaurant could use a makeover. 3.75 Stars
(4)
Sandra Z.
Here's the bottom line on La Marsa... If you're Arab and are used to eating really great Arabic food (at home or at other restaurants) like I am, then this place is fine. If you're not Arab, or don't usually eat Arabic food, you'll think this place is amazing.
(3)
John R.
La Marsa is the ONE thing that I miss about living in metro Detroit. Hands down my favorite restaurant, and hands down the best Middle Eastern food that I've ever had. I used to order from La Marsa at least once a week, even when I couldn't afford it. It just wasn't possible to get through a week without out. Every single time I went, I would order three things: fatoosh tawook salad, spicy hummus, 2 dozen pita bread. The fatoosh tawook is the best damn salad that I've ever had. I was raised a meat and potatoes kind of guy, and while I've greatly expanded my taste palette over the years, I still tend to find salads kind of boring. Their fatoosh tawook is unlike anything else that I've ever had before. It's PERFECTLY seasoned. Just enough dressing, not too much, and not too little. And everything in it, from the grilled chicken breast, to the dried pita bits, the cucumbers, EVERYTHING makes me squeal with delight. The spicy hummus, oh my god, I don't think there is anything more beautiful in life than this hummus. The texture is perfect, the spice is just right, ugh, it's just perfect. As for the pita bread, why am I ordering so much? Because it's just incredible. You've never had pita bread like this before. They make it fresh right there. It's usually so fresh that when you take a bite out of it, a puff of steam comes out. You could easily eat it on its own, but it goes amazingly with the spicy hummus. They do give you more than enough pita with the hummus to eat it with, but I always like a little extra. And when I say a little, I mean a lot. I can't wait to go to Detroit over Christmas, because I'll definitely be making a trip here.
(5)
Lusi F.
I took my parents here - they typically dont like non-Asian food, a step away from non-Chinese food years ago, and everyone LOVEd it. The dips in the beginning were the favorite part (garlic and baba ganoush), as well as the small warm pita pockets. We stuffed ourselves with thoese that we didn't really eat the main meats. the waiter was really friendly. portions were HUGE so order accordingly. they also have a takeout place next door
(4)
Nick C.
Wow. Just stumbled in here for lunch based on the Yelp reviews. They are absolutely correct. This place has fantastic food. The starter bread and dip is excellent all on its own. The lentil soup is delicate and tasty. The potassium juice is really refreshing. And the kabobs. What can I say? They are great.
(4)
Joe S.
The food and service were very good. The portions were huge, definitely a group type place where you can order a few items and share.
(5)
Stephanie T.
I had La Marsa today via the Restaurant Connection delivery service. It was pricey but a lot of food also, they messed up my order giving me fries instead of rice. We had the Sampler platter and everything tasted fresh. The cold was kept cold and everything was delicious. Even the grape leaves which I normally don't like. I will be back
(3)
Anton A.
Well I thought of coming here since it was around my mums birthday. We also had a coupon from restaurants.com . So this came out to be a good deal. We arrive at the place and it literally takes almost 2-3 minutes to be acknowledged and another 5 minutes to clean off a table. Next we are seated and of course a crying baby, lovely. Next we ordered this really good sounding combo platter. At first when we ordered the soups, my mum gets the lentil and its cold. I have to say the tumb and pita bread are very fresh. Then my dad gets the lamb soup and it was amazing. Therefore the soups are amazing. When they bring out the combo platter there's only grape leaves and hummus and salad. This was luckily the appetizer portion. When they brought out the other part, the food looked really good. The tawook was cooked well. The kafta was excellent, and the beef was okay. However the chicken sharama shredded was dried out. As for the earlier grape leaves, some tasted very not fresh. I have to say I been to plenty of Arabic restaurants, being part Arab this restaurant is not that great. Would never come to this location again!
(2)
T W.
Really enjoyed the moussaka. if you just order moussaka, it's the vegetarian version, but I recommend adding some meat to it. It was a good portion for me so I had leftovers for the next day. Husband loves the shih tawook (chicken with a citrus flavor), he gets it all the time. Love the bread & garlic dip, so glad it comes complementary!
(4)
Iffat B.
My friend and I shared a kabob plate and hummus and I didn't think it was anything special. I was fasting and I broke my fast with this meal and I didn't think it was all that. I can't even imagine what I would think if I had gone on a regular day! Probably won't go back unless I buy the restaurant.com gift certificate and want some cheap middle eastern food.
(3)
Bobby C.
This is our favorite place to eat out for dinner. Their staff is very nice and friendly. Their selection of dishes for dinner is amazing and delicious. My favorite is Quail which is very yummy but messy to eat. They give you fresh bread and garlic sauce which is good as well. They have good selection of fresh juices. Their lentil soup is pretty good as well. Overall, I love this place and go there whenever I get an opportunity.
(4)
Maxwell S.
Honestly speaking the food isn't that bad. But the restaurant itself, attitude and service-wise completely blows. The servers are totally rude and disinterested and the bathroom in completely ignored. Is this a restaurant or a hole in the wall pool joint? The servers all have attitude problems and need to learn how to live. Middle eastern people always have the worst attitudes...
(1)
Kelli A.
Really enjoyed our first visit! Kept it simple~ Pita & Hummus: Yum! Hot, fresh pita and smooth, creamy hummus. Garlic paste good, too. Lentil Soup: Perfect temp, good flavor. Nothing special Rice Pilaf: Love it. Not much to it really -but so good. Falafel: Ok. A tad overcooked. I always order the sandwich, which I open up and eat the innards. Tasty. Lamb Shawarma: Tender, good Smoothie: La Shish had better ones. Good but seemed watery. Service and atmosphere: Excellent! Super fast, clean, friendly, attentive.
(4)
Michigan M.
The food was comparable to other middle eastern restaurants in the area. We went for lunch around 2pm, and we were standing in the lobby for several minutes before someone came out to seat us. That was the only downside. The food was good, and they gave us tons of food. We ordered the sampler platter to start with, and then had a great big fattoush salad! Then, we had a couple different sandwiches. Everything was good, the service was fast, and I would go back again. Next time I will try something different, and go for dinner. The place was also very reasonably priced. With all of the food we had, our bill was only around $30. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a casual place to eat middle eastern cuisine in the Troy area.
(4)
Brian C.
It was okay. I'm not a picky eater, so I'd come again. Standard Middle Eastern fare. French fries were microwave reheated. Chicken Hummus was good, but the bread was terrific!
(3)
C R.
The food is very good and you get huge portions. Prices aren't bad. Only complaint is that the service wasn't very good the few times we've been there.
(4)
Sarah T.
I sent my parents here as a Valentine's Day gift. My parents were huge fans of "La Shish" and this was just as good delicious as they remember La Shish to be. My mother raved about the hummus and pita bread.
(5)
Frank R.
I love this place, the manager is impecable. I used to eat at his restauraunt in Farmington Hills. He set up in Troy and it has been to my delight. The dine in service is awesome the food is seasoned to perfection. The smoothies are to die for; fresh fruits and veggies yum. There is a meal for everyone, the portions are generous and the true Mediterranean hosipitality is reflected in the way this place opperates. Carry out is great too....Highly reccomend this place if you like mediterranean food, garlic, and spices and fresh salads and soups. Grilled chicken, salmon, grapeleaves, hummas...all wonderful...
(5)
Azeem H.
Love the food, and our waiter was soooooo nice. Great experience--don't miss it
(5)
Jess T.
We have been driving past this place since we moved to Troy in June. We went for lunch and got the hommous appetizer, a cup of lentil soup, and the shawerma with chicken, lamb, rice pilaf, and salad. It was more than enough food and we have enough left overs for several meals The hommous was excellent! It was smooth and creamy with a light lemon and garlic flavor. The lentil soup was thick and just chunky enough, the temperature was perfect. The salad had lettuce, onion, cucumber, and parsley with an olive oil and vinegar dressing. The chicken was juicy with great flavor. The lamb was not as great as it could have been. It had good flavor, tasted sweet with all spice, it was on the dry side. We will definitely be going back.
(4)
Jill C.
I've had takeout and dined in here and have had great experiences either way. The Fatoosh really is to die for and the garlic dip with the little pitas are extraordinary! It's my favorite Mediterranean joint for sure!
(5)
Kelly F.
I'd say it's solid decent middle eastern restaurant. Outstanding - no. Worth going back to - yes. The server was not exactly stellar, but she was all right. For me the best part of the meal was my babaghanouzh. It was very good. The bread, even though it was made on site, was not nearly as good. I also got a Lamb Shwarma sandwich. It was so so. The meat was a bit too finely chopped, I would have preferred more things on it (cucumber, pickle, more sauce, onion, more tomato - etc). The garlic spread that came with the pita bread was probably my second favorite thing - it was SUPER garlicky though - be preparred. I had a smoothy and - it was weak - meh. So - go, but don't be shocked by large swaths of mediocrity.
(3)
John M.
I had the Shis Kafta and the spicy hommos. It was all very taste well seasoned and presented. My wife had the Chicken and said it was the best she's had. Everythingw was cooked well and presented warm. The staff was prompt and professional the atmospher was pleasent.
(4)
Tommy_n_Loretta C.
This place is beautiful inside. The menu is huge. I loved the complimentary bread and garlic paste. I could have eaten just that all night. I ordered the spicey hummus which was ok - not the best I've ever tasted. I also ordered a side salad - which was huge and was a bit too covered in dressing for me. I also ordered the chicken swarma with a side of house fries. The chicken was dry but tasted good. The house potatoes were great with a bit of salt. The entrees are huge so unless you eat alot - you can easily split the meal with someone else. The prices are a bit high on the entrees. I would love to go back and try something else next time I'm in town.
(4)
Lyuba S.
I've been going here since it was La Shish. Food is always delicious. Love the decor, makes me feel like I'm in Morocco. The servers are always very polite & timely. The only reason I didn't give it more stars is because I've had more authentic Mediterranean food (& cheaper) elsewhere. But, for the location & the cuisine, it's A-OK! If you're looking for decent Arabic food in the area, I'd recommend this place.
(3)
Renee S.
Mediterranean food doesn't get better than this!
(5)
Ati M.
Best Mediterranean food and very polite staff! Don't miss the lamb chops, baba ghanoush and pita bread!
(5)
Matthew J.
The food here was poor at best! The chicken dish was not cooked - it was raw! Raw poultry is awful and a possible health risk. The prices were unreasonable - especially considering the poor quality. The service wasn't much better. Do not recommend at all!!!
(1)
Marianna Z.
La Marsa is great! Fresh, fresh salads, zesty mediterranean food. This restaurant does the best middle eastern food in metro. We went for lunch last week, had the lunch special with shish tawook and a fatoosh side salad. I also did a takeout falafel and everything was A OK with that as well. The decor is the same as it was when it was La Shish. Attentive waiters and quick lunch service. We were very pleased. This was my first trip back since the name change and we will definitely go back!
(5)
steve m.
Basically, someone re-opened La Shish and renamed it La Marsa. I don't even care if these dudes also fund Hezbollah - that's how good it is. That's how good it is.
(5)
Kathi C.
The hummus, the baba ganoush, and the felafels are all terrific. If you want to feed a la Man vs Food, get the sampler for 2, but is really big enough for 4. Don't forget to start with the crushed lentil soup with a generous squeeze of lemon.
(5)
Norman Y.
Decent arabic food for a decent price - nothing too great about this place.
(3)
Joe H.
I enjoy La Marsa but is seems to be getting worse for me every visit. Hummus and Garlic sauce are excellent but the Shawarma has been dry and flavorless the last few times ive eaten there. Service is good but inconsistent.
(3)
Cate S.
Mmmm, I *love* La Marsa. The soft pita bread, the delicious lentil soup, the smooth hummus, the tasty entrees and convenient sandwiches...scrumptious. I've been coming here for years and I have a good experience every time. Service can be a bit slow, but it's always friendly and the atmosphere is lovely. To get yummy food without breaking the bank, I definitely recommend the sandwich options...you can get the substance of the entrees (falafel, shish tawook, etc) in a pita for MUCH LESS than getting the actual entrees. Portions are quite generous--I have never left La Marsa hungry and I always have leftovers.
(4)
Brian M.
Love this place. They have the best Arnold Palmer's ever. Staff always goes out of it's way to make it a perfect dinning experience. The food is very authentic and the portions are large. Highly recommended.
(5)
Cat K.
On a recent trip to La Marsa with the fam, we are a hung jury. I personally enjoyed my meal and the thorough amount of leftovers I was eating for a few days after, but my mother and father speak differently. We went on a sunday afternoon and the place was pretty full, people were eating in and out and the carryout business was very constant. The fresh pita hot out of the over took a bit to come but when it came, MAN, it was delicious! The garlic butter was definitely tasty with it. My brother thought it had so much garlic that he needed a smoothie to manage the taste. After some hard time communicating with the waiter, we finally got a smoothie, It was fantastic. Fresh and refreshing. Ordering took forever though, even getting water was slow. The food made up for it though. Not only are the portions GIGANTIC but it was good too. I ordered the Koshary which was filled with macaroni, lentils and fried onions. I enjoyed the regular sauce (gravy?) that I was given. It was even better the day after for leftovers. My dad had the mousaka and said it was only "okay". My mom ordered some sort of lamb stir-fry, which was very salty and acidic, but when eaten with rice was better. My brother, the intelligent one he is, ordered the lamb chops. HOT DAMN! That's all I have to say. Perfectly cooked, succulent lamb chops. I would go back for those alone. Expensive though, portions were large to make up for it. We also had the baba ganooj appetizer, which was a little too smokey for my taste but still tasty. The staff was a little slow, but its understandable on a busy day, but we spent over 2.5 hours at the restaurant in what could have taken an hour less of time. We weren't sure if one of the servers understood english at all though. Final Verdict: Large portions, staff is "meh", food can be either fantastic or mediocre, still pricey but portions make up for it.
(3)
Christina K.
My boy and I came here for the first time today. We both love Mediterranean food and after reading reviews decided to give La Marsa a try. The food was perfect. We ordered a small hummus and fattoush salad to share. We both ordered chicken shawarma sandwiches. Joslyn was our waitress. She was very sweet and attentive. The seating is very cute and personable. We will definitely be returning.
(5)
Pallavi R.
This restaurant has typical Detroit mid-east restaurant fare: piquant & delicious garlic butter, hot, freshly baked pitas, carrot juice. Their hummus, baba ghanoush, & falafel are outstanding! The decor is nice & updated from the previous restaurant (Lashish) on the menu. They have family trays both veg & non-veg which is a good value for money.
(4)
Zulfiqar A.
Consistently great food. They often open on national holidays. I am a regular here and love the small freshly baked pita bread. The deboned chicken can be used in a large versatile way as a carry out. I stuff the little pita with the chicken and salad. They become pita sliders. Cusheri is also a favorite of mine. It is a traditional home made meal kind a like hodge podge style and I love it.
(5)
Joe V.
Very tasty. Was a little concerned when I entered the dining room - it felt a little overly fancy - and perhaps attempting to make up with decor for a sub-par kitchen - but NO - La Marsa's kitchen is turning out some great Mediterranean cuisine! Also enjoyed one of their fresh fruit and veg juice blends.
(4)
Sarah H.
Very good food, was great to stop on our way to an event on the east side. We had the lamb and a fattoush salad with feta and chicken. Food came quickly which was nice to make our show on time. I was a little stressed at the end of our meal, they had an issue with the credit card machine so our server was gone for what seemed like a long time and we didn't knew what had happened.
(4)
Steve T.
Great middle eastern place, always well prepared and good size portions. Greek salad is the best I've ever had.
(5)
Li S.
La Marsa is always a good choice. I've been slowly trying to work my way through the menu, and I have yet to find a dish that I haven't liked. There are so many delicious dishes- options for everyone, and the food is always fresh. The service is attentive and friendly. The owner makes an appearance every now and then, and makes an effort to get to know his customers. Even after a brief hiatus from La Marsa when I was doing some heavy traveling for work, the owner recognized me when I came back several months later. That's a true testament to his dedication to the restaurant. If I could eat La Marsa every day, I would.
(5)
Larry J.
Absolutely horrible for carry out, food is good but the customer service was horrible! We ordered 3 sandwiches and added hummus for $0.25 on each and he charged us for 3 side of hummus at $5 each. When we told him that's not what we wanted, he said"your fault not ours, I cant take it back you have to pay for it". Seriously!! Thats how you treat your customers??
(2)
Monika D.
This was the worst customer service I have ever received. Not only did our food come out wrong, but we were there for a little over an hour, when all we had was a salad and one chicken shawarma. Manager emailed me saying they would send us a gift card in the mail for the trouble and awful service. Well, almost a month has gone by with no gift card. I don't know if I would have even used it to go back. Horrible!
(1)
Caitlin B.
Terrible service but great food. I'd recommend going elsewhere if you're ordering for a large group - they tend to get very busy and mess up orders.
(2)
Lyndsay K.
Every time my husband and I are planning a visit to MI to visit the family he asks if we can eat here. That lamb we had was so memorable. So I was in the area for work and ordered takeout. When I pulled up I was happy to see they have an express side for takeout orders! My order was ready for me when I arrived. It was delicious. A week later, and after my husband and I had endured family drama for days over xmas, we escaped back to Troy and hightailed our asses to LaMarsa for dinner. Sadly, the husband thought the lamb on this visit wasn't quite as good as last time, but he had no problem eating off my plate instead. I can't even remember now what I ordered, but it was delicious. I haven't had a bad meal here.
(5)
Michele S.
Excellent service and food! the restaurant has plenty of space and a large parking lot. I used restaurant.com gift certificate (totally worth it). We ordered Shish combo for 2 people. it comes with 2 salads, 2 lamb kabob, 2 chicken kabob and one beef. They also serve bread with garlic spread before the meal. they are all delicious! The meat are cooked to perfection. The meat are really juicy and has so much flavor to it. I highly recommend this place. The only downside is it's kinda of pricy (but after restaurant.com certificate) it is actually not bad. The combo for two is $29.99. It has plenty of food and it is more than enough for 2 people.
(5)
Lisa M.
Yelp Yum yum yum! First time here at La Marsa and would definitely come back again. Enjoyed a delicious relaxing Middle Eastern meal at super lunch special price this past Saturday. Roomy restaurant, pleasant atmosphere, interesting music, perhaps a tad loud but it added flavor to the meal. We enjoyed chicken shwarma, moist tasty rice pilaf topped with crunchy roasted slivered almonds, a fresh salad with crisp lettuce and a light dressing, excellent garlic sauce w/ amazing pita, really good lentil soup, fresh bright tabouli and to top it all off, the best falafel ever!!
(4)
Shannon S.
Shoot! I think I still have garlic coming out of my pores (3 days later!!) WOOHOO!!! Oh baby this place is good...the food anyway!! The service was a tad lacking...only for the fact that by the time our entrees had finally gotten to us, we were all full from our starters..which was fine...but next time I'll know...we can definitely split entrees...because these were HUGE!! HUGE to say the least!! Geezzzuss... This is the most ethic middle eastern restaurant I've ever been too...I liked it..it won't be for everyone.....My Fattoush Salmon was just splendid for breakfast the next morning! We also tried Koshary, Mousaka, and the rice almond salad! We had all these yummy treats for breakfast...and they were all really good.....and they fed several more people that what we ordered for... Just keep that in mind, as most entrees are around $16-$17 - You can definitely split them!
(4)
Ashley T.
I've been coming here for years and I have never had a problem. They have THE BEST fattoush dressing & salad I have ever had. Almond rice is amazing. Their food is top notch. The service can be iffy sometimes but it's worth it for me because the quality of their food is exceptional.
(5)
Beenish N.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that the service can be a little off at times but I lobe this place. Been eating there for years and the food is always perfect! They are one of the only places that serves koshray! Or other Egyptian specialties. Truly one of the best places for Mediterranean food.
(4)
Christina C.
The only reason this isn't a five star is because of slow service, the food is impeccable. We did end up sitting at a table for at least fifteen minutes before a server came over but once they did we weren't disappointed. The satay and shawarma are amazing and the garlic paste is to die for! Thank you for the fantastic food!
(4)
Rick D.
The food is always fresh and tasty. I enjoy their food because I like healthy dishes and with a fine taste. Highly recommended if you like Mediterranean cusine. The owner treats his customers like family and remembers everyone. The best in Metro Detroit!
(4)
Sherry K.
MOST DEFINITELY THE MOST MOUTHWATERING DELICIOUSNESS IVE EVER HAD!! Love love love the food. We have never had a bad meal here. Wish they were national. Miss them tremendously when I'm out of town. Lamb, Shish Tawook, fattoush, garlic, fresh hot bread , juices oh my gracious. Everything is extraordinary
(5)
Sami T.
Beautiful atmosphere and great appetizers. Music is traditional and appealing . Prices are decent . Very much recommended
(5)
Chet G.
We ordered humus with ghabala in lamb. The bread and garlic was awesome. The lamb soup was good but on the salty side. If you have an issue with salt per doctors orders suggest you stay away from the soup. Menu is kinda pricey. But food is also very good. They forgot to get our humus so we had to ask. Otherwise nice experience. I will recommend this to my friends and family.
(4)
Holly S.
I've been here a few times since my last review and they're starting to redeem themselves so it's only fair that I give them a new review. I still order the same thing ( chicken fattoush salad) and their fattoush is still one of my favorites in the area. The dressing is killer! They also give you fresh outta the oven baked bread and a delicious garlic spread to dip in. The lemonade smoothie is tart and refreshing and kills the garlic scent and flavor that could otherwise be overwhelming. My one complaint is still the chicken. some times is perfect, sometimes it's undercooked, and today is dry and cold. From now on I'm going to just order the fattoush salad without chicken so it doesn't kill my experience.
(4)
Matthew P.
Service: FAILZOR Wow, what a train wreck. Two hours for a lunch all by myself. Two other patrons in the establishment starting at 1:30 pm on a weekend. The waiter was very attentive at the beginning. I ordered the lamb hommous which includes choice of soup or salad, and rice or fries. I got it with crushed lentil, and rice for $16.99. Soup came fast, then it took 50 minutes for my entree. No joke. I also ordered at the start a sandwich to go. My bill came, it was on there, I paid and he took the bill away and I figured he went to get my sandwich. Nope. He went to the back to play on his cell phone with the other waiter. The same place he was at my whole meal. I guess once you order they got you hook line and sinker. Water refill was not there the whole time. I had to flag down a girl passing by to ask where my sandwich I paid for was. She got the waiter, and instead of apologizing he disappeared for 15 mins and then came back out, and said 'here you are'. The thing was cold. For waiting another 15 min it should have been hot. What took him so long to get that ish???? The waitress were in a side booth around the wall that couldn't be seen from the front door, or their 'express counter' that they blew out a wall to put in next door. I watched two people come in, wait 10 minutes, and walk out without service. I mentioned you have some people at your counter... Should have asked for a bonus for helping them keep business. The restaurant business is a balance of service, with food. If you don't want to deal with customers or service just do a take out / fast food joint. Food was darn good, but not enjoyed due to service issues. Lamb seasoned well, hommous silky, crush lentil flavorful, garlic dip and bread top notch. Read other reviews for more on that as I don't need to rehash.
(2)
Amanda P.
Came here with a friend about an hour before they closed. I know some places are funny about that, so I asked if they were still serving for dine in. A man who was mopping at the front said yes, so we were seated. It took about 15 minutes to get anyone to come over. There were two other groups of diners and two waitresses. Both of them would keep walking right past us as if we weren't there. One woman who finally took our order was nice enough, but all we could smell the entire time was cleaning products from the mopping, and it took forever to get our drinks. My friend ordered soup which came out cold. We got bread, and when we got the entrees, the waitress disappeared in the back while our drinks needed refills. Of course, she didn't hide the entire time but came out a couple of times to serve and attend to others while ignoring us. When she finally came over, we couldn't really hide that we were annoyed, and she asked us "don't you like it?". We asked for refills which took another ten minutes, but the joke was on us because she pulled the old diet coke in place of regular coke to show us why we shouldn't waste her time. We vowed to not waste their time anymore and won't be coming back.
(1)
Karolina C.
Love this place. Food is excellent! Service is great. We always order cary out from La Marsa and are satisfied each and every time!
(5)
Dana E.
Usually love this place but I just had take out and the grilled chicken they gave us for our salad was unedible. Took one bite of the chicken and immediately spit it out since chicken is not supposed to be hard and rubbery. Texture was so off I can't even image what the issue was and had to throw the chicken away.
(1)
Miranda W.
Second time eating here! The first time I had some fabulous traditional dishes. This time I used an entertainment book coupon. I got 10 dollars off an order of 40, which I had a takeout of. The takeout was ordered inside and was speedy fast!!!! I'm serious, it was faster than jimmy jones, an was stacked with food. I had a hard time deciding whether to have the lamb or chicken sharwarma so the guy said he'd do half and half for me!!! Both sides were really good- the quality of the chicken was great! I decided i loved the lamb meat sharwarma- I ordered without pickles. The lamb was so flavorful. I'm no expert on hummus, to be honest I never really eat it but it seems pretty nice. The taboulli was perfect. My mom likes to use the little pita pockets they give you- the ones they put in a fire brick oven- and put taboulli and hummus inside. That tastes pretty nice!
(5)
Lily W.
In the world of Middle Eastern food that can easily be found in MI, this place was definitely not standout. I'm a veteran of the downtown Dearborn restaurants like Al Ameer and casual eats at New Yasmeen and Golden Bakery. In comparison this place doesn't rock my socks. For those of you who grew up in the area, this location used to be La Shish. Trust me, as La Shish the food was definitely some of the best Middle Eastern to be found in the Metro-Detroit area. However, there was that little snafu with the owner committing tax evasion and citizenship fraud..... whoops. Long story short, La Shish closed down and sometime later La Marsa opened at this location. Ironically after it opened I never tried it. My friends had become big fans of casual nights at Sky Lounge in Dearborn for food and hookah so I was able to satisfy my Shawarma fix elsewhere. On my recent visit home, a friend suggested this place for lunch. I readily agreed and we ended up here. For the four of us we got the appetizer sampler to share which comes with a small Hummous, Baba Ghanouj, and Tabbouleh. I am neutral towards Tabbouleh in general. I don't particularly like or dislike it but I do love Hummous and Baba Ghanouj. Luckily the appetizers were delicious as was the freshly oven baked bread. In addition they include a garlic spread that you can add to just about everything. The garlic spread seems to have olive oil, freshly crushed garlic, and tahini sauce in it. It does add a nice touch to everything. However after this things fell apart. I ordered the Lamb Shawarma plate which came with your choice of Soup or Salad and Fries or Rice. I went with the Lentil Soup and Rice. The Lentil Soup was flavorful and smooth, but I've definitely had better. The problem was that the Shawarma was dry and flavorless. Usually I don't eat lamb unless it's cooked Middle Eastern style because the spices overcome that weird bloody/fishy taste that lamb tends to have. However, I could still taste that flavor here which really threw me off. I actually had a friend finish about half of my Shawarma for me. The rice was delicious and had a nice amount of almonds and was well seasoned. Overall, I wouldn't come back. While the location is conveniently close to my parents' house, the food isn't that great, especially not for the area. The appetizers were good but they're good at EVERY Middle Eastern restaurant in a 25 mile radius. The fact that the Shawarma was definitely not up to my usual expectations was extremely disappointing. If La Marsa was located in Austin, TX I would probably give it 4 stars, but given the glut of amazing Middle Eastern Restaurants in Troy and the immediate vicinity, unfortunately it falls into the 2 star category.
(2)
Amanda W.
Haven't eaten in the restaurant yet, but have ordered carryout about a dozen times. The food is always fantastic, and the carryout area is on top of what they are doing. Great place to pickup lunch, dinner, etc.
(5)
Maria R.
Wow, what can I possibly say about this place. The food with amazing probably one of the best dishes middle eastern food that I've ever eaten. They're warm bread right out of the oven with the garlic butter and hummus mix as an appetizer mmmm delicious. I recommend everything on the menu you won't go wrong. I'm in the area I will definitely stop by for a meal or two maybe three.
(5)
Kathy V.
I have only gotten food to here but I have to say this is the best Mediterranean place I have been to in this area. A whole deboned chicken, rice, salad, and bread for $21 *the hot bread is to die for! Fed my whole family and was cheaper and much healthier than pizza.
(5)
Rebecca P.
Stopped by this place for lunch with my family. Overall, decor and atmosphere were more fancy than anticipated, but outdated. Service was ok. Waitress did not check in very often. Portions were very large. 2-3 moderately hungry people could easily share an entree. Food was good overall, nothing show stopping, it was on par with other Lebanese restaurants. I've been to many Mediterranean restaurants, and this place was very overpriced. There's a hefty gratuity charge for 6 people or more, which is unreasonable seeing as most small parties are about that size. Anyways, all in all, I won't be running back to this place.
(2)
Sarah A.
The best middle eastern food EVER! we order lunch from here all the time at work. The garlic sauce and pita bread is awesome. Definately 5 stars!!
(5)
Meredith E.
When you see me picking up my carryout you would think I'm heading to a party with my hands full of multiple bags. Nope. I just ordered the vegetarian platter. For $25 you receive massive amounts of hummus, baba gannosh, bread, mujadra, taboli, grape leaves, spinach pie, and salad. This is the perfect amount of food when we have a couple of busy days and nights ahead of us. My husband and I divide and conquer into smaller size portions to put into our lunch bags. La Marsa's garlic dip is fantastic. I'm pretty sure I've scared away vampires in the surrounding few cities every time I've indulged. We have also dined in at this location. Service was excellent and attentive. The interior of the restaurant is nicely decorated and very clean.
(5)
Bowen Y.
Awesome service! I went with 2 friends on a Sunday 9PM and although they close at 10, they accommodated us courteously and even gave us extra pitas to take home! As many said, the garlic dip is really good (apparently only made with garlic, olive oil, and jalapenos). We had falafels, lamb kabob, chicken with hummus, and shish tawook and it was all fabulous. The portions are great as well. Definitely a place to revisit.
(5)
Supraja M.
1 star service, 3.5 star food. Our party of six ordered, a veggie ghalaba, a falafel plate, a mousaka, and a vegetarian platter (hommous, baba ghanooj, tabbouli, falafel, grape leaves, mjadra, and spinach pies). These dishes came with 4 soups or side salads- we got soups, and ordered a greek salad for the remaining 2 to share. The soup is very bland-- pretty much just lentils. The rest of the food was tasty. The falafel was pleasantly crispy but still moist inside. The pickles that came with it were really good too-- the cucumber pickles were quite mustardy, and there were also pickled radishes. The veggie ghalaba was well-cooked- the veggies were cooked through but still crisp, and had a nice bit of char/sear on them. The mousaka was not what I expected- the menu descriped layers of eggplant with some other ingredients, what came out was basically a spiced eggplant and tomato stew, served with rice. The vegetarian platter is apparently meant for two- comes with 2 grape leaves, 2 falafel, 2 spinach pies, 2 soup/salads- but it would probably be too much food for two people. The spinach pie was the most disappointing thing- bland, soft (felt microwaved), just really blah. Everything else on the platter was good. One quarrel I had was that this platter is largely dips, and they didn't bring more bread to go with it. The garlic spread and bread that were served to the table at the beginning were really tasty. Service, on the other hand, was really horrible. There were only 2 servers for the whole restaurant, which makes slow service understandable-but it felt like we were the only table getting slow service, and I don't think we did anything to be designated 'that' table. I ordered an iced tea and two other members of the party ordered juices when we arrived, and we also asked for 6 waters. 5 waters arrived relatively promptly. The sixth never arrived, despite our repeated requests. My iced tea showed up after the appetizers, just before the main course. The juices arrived when we were halfway through our food. The waiter kept walking past when we tried to get his attention, and serving the other tables around us. We asked about that sixth water literally every time he came to our table and it never came. That's just unacceptable to me.
(2)
Lisa Y.
Got a take out from here today. The food was good and the piece were very polite. Nothing like fresh baked pita bread with fresh hummus and garlic. Also my Fattoush salad with grilled chicken on it was good. I liked the Fattoush dressing they have because some places is too sour for me.
(4)
Jayson M.
Heard from a friend that this is a great place! I would recommend trying for sure. Can't go wrong with so many locations. It's definitely on my list.
(5)
Tim K.
If I could rate this place a 2.5 I would, but I will round up to a 3 because they gave me some wicked good pita bread with my order. The food was decent and priced accordingly as well. My main complaint though was I ordered extra garlic sauce on my Chicken Shawarma Sandwich (as my wife had class that night and I was free to be my stinky garlicky self) and instead there was none on it at all. That stuff is the best part of any Shawarma dish. I am still sticking with Sammy though over at Sahara in St. Clair Shores as my regular spot for Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food. The dude makes a mean Shawarma yo!
(3)
Debbie Z.
There are a few LaMarsa Restaurants in the Detroit Metropolitan area. This was my first visit at this establishment, but I have been to another one in Farmington Hills. This particular restaurant is much larger than the one on Middle Belt - very roomy! The waiter came and took our drink orders, no liquor and promptly brought out my tea. There were 5 of us and we ordered 2 fatoosh salads with chicken on top and one order of chicken kabob - the dinner. This was enough to feed all five of us and one person was able to take a nice doggy bag home for her husband! Delicious, absolutely no complaints at all! The server was johnny on the spot and refilled my tea a few times. After drinking so much tea I had to use the restroom facilities. Oh uh! There were two stalls in the women's restroom and I entered the one that was not handicapped. Oh darn, I should've gone to the next stall because there was no toilet paper in the one I was in, so what did I do you ask? I snuck with my pants down to the other one!!!! Disgusting. Also, it did not appear to be clean and you know what I say? If the restrooms aren't clean, what does the kitchen look like? So, I grabbed the waiter and told him that I am a Yelper and he needs to get someone in there ASAP to clean up the restroom. I rejoined my friends and I saw someone going into the restroom with a mop. So, hopefully they took care of that. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the food, and my friends. Would I return to this establishment -- absolutely. But, I don't understand why it cost us so much and there was no liquor involved! $85 including the tip for 2 chicken salads and 1 chicken kabob dinner and coffee, tea, and/or pop. We just split the bill and it came out to $17 each, which if you think of it is not bad.
(4)
Corky L.
Been coming to La marsa for years. Best Middle Eastern restaurant in the area. Delicious hummus, Fattoush, Shish tawook, grape leaves, crushed lentil soup, mujadara, etc. Shared the vegetarian feast with my daughter on recent visit and we both loved it, had enough left for lunch the next day. Great owners and staff make it a favorite. Only down side, wish they had beer and wine.
(5)
Chinmay A.
The food was decent. The waiter was a bit untrained. He screwed up the order but pretended nothing was wrong. We liked the ambiance, the booths are very comfortable. The entrees can be pricey, I'd recommend the Lentil Soup and the Wraps.
(3)
Nha V.
Felt like the food was a bit Americanized. I had the shrawma combo. The chicken was inconsistent and some pieces were saltier than the other. Seemed a bit bland in flavor and a lot of fat. Felt like the garlic spread was very strong in garlic. The free bread was good, love their bread! Very nice atmosphere and service seemed ok. It seemed like they were understaffed but it wasn't that busy when we went.
(3)
Yasir K.
Came here with my one and her friend... The food was good ( typical mediterrian ) but this resturant will disappoint u if u r looking for barely classy hang out... The waiters r so in a rush and want u to leave as soon as u finish ur thing ( they throw containers and the check on the table ) as soon as i put the last bite in my mouth without even asking !!! If looking for food it's excellent ,,, otherwise ... It's a trash
(3)
Shari A.
Love the Garlic...(got carry-out) no bread this time. They had always given a few pieces with the garlic. Very disappointed that their bread did not accompany an 8 ounce container.
(2)
Xu W.
Please be careful to see the check next time. They overcharged me last time.
(1)
Michele S.
Large portions and delicious food. The wait staff was welcoming and thoughtful. This is my 12 year old's favorite restaurant. He wants one of everything so he can have a bite of it all, with leftovers!
(4)
Ryan H.
Great food and great service. The chicken kofta is excellent and for the lunch special it cost $11.65, plus they give you a ton of food. I go there at least once a week and look forward to it each and every time. Try it, you'll love it!
I had a fabulous lunch at La Marsa today. I was promptly seated and within a few moments my drink order taken and some delicious bread delivered. I took advantage of the lunch special of a lamb shawarma sandwich and chicken and veggie soup. The soup arrived first and was loaded with veggies and big chunks of chicken. It wasn't your typical flavor as it was seasoned with a hint of the Middle East. The sandwich came out a bit later, the meal was well paced. The shawarma was delicious. It was balanced in flavor and appropriately sized. With a drink, the meal was around $11 with tip. Given the quality of food, it was a steal. The only odd thing I noticed was that the La Marsa express restaurant and this one were separated by a big plastic drop cloth hanging between the two. I assume they were doing some work and the plastic will be replaced. Regardless, it didn't detract from the dining experience.
(5)
Jonathan S.
Had lunch here with a couple friends on a Sunday afternoon. When most of the restaurants in downtown RO are slammed for brunch, this place was essentially empty. However it was not reflective of the food or experience I had there. They start everyone out with pita bread and toum (delicious garlic ambrosia). This is real stone fired pita, not the garbage other places cut into triangles and put into plastic bags. There were three of us and we ordered the sampler platter. It could have served six people easily. It had an array of mezze including dips, grape leaves, falafel, etc. It also comes with various chicken and lamb cuts as well. At $31 this is a bargain if you have a lot of people or want a ton of leftovers. It is one of the last remaining spots in downtown RO for Middle Eastern food, and at these prices and quality I'm not surprised.
(4)
D J.
Pictures from Lebanon, touches of Tunisia, the taste of the Mediterranean - in a suburb of Michigan! I may never quite remember to look up if Marsa is a real French word, but I know I'll never quite forget the great food experience at this modest yet amazing restaurant. Amazing since every morsel of the fare was incredible - my favorites - the spicy hummus, filafels, tabbouleh and the mjadra. All but the latter were part of a generous appetizer platter - hands down the best bang for the buck! Interestingly, we learnt the owners don't have a liquor license, but the paucity of options for an oenophile was more than amply made up for by the plenitude for the gastronome! For my part, I loved my fresh fruit beverage that blended with the rest of my healthy but hearty dinner. For anyone that can do justice to a baklava or the ome ali after a two course dinner at LaMarsa, bless your capacious breadbasket!!
(4)
Brandy Z.
I am a addict when it comes to this place. I love Lebanese Mediterranean food:) I am so glad its there! Its as known as the old "La Shish".. The wait staff is really nice, friendly and really good looking especially the guys at take out always smiling and quick:). When you dine in the manager usually comes over to make sure your experience is well. I usually go there for takeout and they have a separate takeout section of the building with a separate door. I usually get tomato kibbe which is fabulous and tabouli. Its hard to find tomato kibbe around but they make it great here and the tabouli is better then most places. they have a very formal dining area with white tablecloths, you can dress up or dress down here. I like this place better then Beirut Palace in Royal Oak the only thing they have on this place is there bread is more yummy. But the bread is also really good here and when you order take out you watch them take the fresh bread out of the oven in the bag for you. The have really good raw juices The menu is awesome and has a good party menu incase you have a bunch of friends with you. The prices are reasonable to
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Whitney L.
One of our favorite places to dine out. The food is always exceptionally good. And the serving sizes are huge. We always leave with left overs. You automatically get fresh pita and homemade garlic spread when you arrive. The fattoush salad is very good. All entrees come with soup or salad - the salad is enough for two people to share. This is a great restaurant for dine in (there is never a wait) and for take out.
(5)Melissa L.
I purchased a Groupon twice for this location, and both times were great. They have great service and good food. Free side of garlic sauce with warm homemade bread when you sit down, plus! Granted, I haven't been to too many Arabic restaurants but never had garlic sauce that didn't come with a charge. I am a creature of habit so I usually order the mango smoothie and shish tawook sandwiches. Great! Also, I tried the shish tawook entree with a cup of lentil soup and a side of rice. The manager came by our table and checked up on us. La Marsa meets all of my criteria for a good restaurant: good food at decent prices, good portion size, and great service. This is my go to place whenever I am craving Arabic food!
(5)Tom D.
Food was GREAT, service sucked so badly. We ordered 3 meals, 2 smoothies and Kibbie appetizer. Was birthday lunch for my Kid, and she really wanted a mango smoothie. We ordered and then 10mins later (Still no food, just my Pop and 2 waters to help the wait on the smoothies that never showed) the people next to us sat down, ordered their food and got a smoothie dropped off in maybe 2 minutes, I did notice they seemed to get better service and actually had the manager stop and talk to them like they knew him, so I guess only good service if you know someone. The manager did see me looking not too happy and did ask me if everything was ok and I replied "Sure, I guess" in a sarcastic voice and he replied, "Ok, good" and left. This is not the 1st time I have been here, I went one other time awhile back and got similar service (From who I think was the SAME waiter) back then I was asked to "Please leave a decent tip being we come here a lot and usually get better service" from the people I was with. Well, good food but bad service is enough reason to NEVER come back again. This time the person was lucky that I was with my kid, I was ready to stand up and leave as my food was set down in front of me, being I was not even hungry being I waited so long that I filled up on bread and garlic (Really good garlic sauce there as well). Best advice, if you want what you ordered don't go here.
(1)Samir N.
The place is a bit pricy, as far as Arabic food goes, but the price matches the quality. Everything was exemplary and above and beyond the standard. The wings were a bit greasy, but everything else was awesome. They bake their bread fresh, and that is why I grade Arab/Lebanese places like this highly. I do not want to tear into delicious baba ghanoush with crappy sandwich bag bread. Screw that! Here, you do not have to. The sandwiches that we had were all awesome, and I would not hesitate to come back. They also have the separate take out place if you are in a hurry.
(4)Kay S.
Solid mediterranean option in Troy. Really beautiful decor and ambiance too. I've tried the chicken shawarma and chicken tawook and both are good, I think the tawook is my favorite. Fattoush and baba ganouj good as well.
(4)Erica A.
The best Arabic food around and trust me I am soooo picky when it comes to Arabic food. Whenever I visit Michigan I head out there with my mom, which is about 40 mins from where I visit. I love their Chicken Shwarma wraps... WOW soooo tasty. I wish I was in MI. right now to grab one haha. They also give you garlic spread and warm pita for an app at no charge. I always ask for pickles and turnips and they have never charged me for those as well. The staff is super nice and always pleasant. I cant wait to get back there in a few weeks to get some Arabic food. I think they should open one in AZ., since Arizonas "ethnic food' includes Mexican lol ugh...
(5)Richard F.
We stopped by for a quick lunch. I had been to the Bloomfield location, but always for dinner. The menus looked to be the same and the lunch experience was good at this location. I had their excellent lentil soup with a big squeeze of lemon in it and lamb shishkabob sandwich. Both were great and reasonably priced.
(4)Vincenzo R.
Very good food! A must-go type of eatery. Especially the pita bread, hummus and garlic bread.
(5)Ankur S.
We ordered starters which included Hummus. And also the Veg Falaffel wrap. Everything was great including the service. The music is also nice, an added bonus. A must try.
(5)Jennifer L.
I'm clingy when it comes to La Marsa's hummus. I need to be with it all the time, I need it to call me all the time, and compliment me all the time, and when it doesn't I cry. It's the smoothest, creamiest hummus I've encountered and they are not shy with the lemon. I tend to throw lemon-less hummus on the walls and ceiling in a child-like fit, so their hummus is kind of like a delicious pacifier that sends me into a joyful trance. And now I've just pictured a pacifier covered in hummus and you know what? It's not even gross. That's how much I love their hummus. So really, my mom should be writing this review, because 1) she's a little more mature than I and 2) she loves this place more than she loves me. But she does in fact love me, because she brings me chicken shawarma pitas all the time, and they are so good. So flavorful! A lot of shawarma tastes just like grilled chicken to me but not here. It has all the flavors I'm looking for, complete with dream hummus and the best garlic spread (competes with Bucharest in my opinion). The pita they give you with your hummus and garlic is that fluffy, pillow-y kind, always fresh out of the oven! A meal in itself. Next to the sit down restaurant they have an express, which is perfect to pick up a rush lunch. Or perfect for those who have to stop in on a weekly basis for a large hummus, because they now refuse to buy store-bought.
(5)Sonali B.
I am very disappointed. Before we went to La Marsa last night, I was thinking about how I had to write a review for it. Up until yesterday, we have had consistent good service, good food, and an enjoyable experience there. I am by no means rude to servers, even when there is a mistake. Mistakes happen - it's how the restaurant behaves after a mistake takes place that matters. I took my parents to La Marsa last night for dinner. We ordered appetizers and sat back and relaxed. We have been plenty of times and my Mom wanted to try something new - the Musaka. When it arrived, she dug in. Ate happily until she realized there was saran wrap in her food. Not a tiny piece. Not a sliver. A huge piece of rolled up saran wrap. I complained to the waiter. We were watching as he walked up to show someone and they both were laughing. I guess I didn't see what was so funny - we were sitting directly across them, so it wasn't the most professional reaction to something like that. The manager came over. But instead of apologizing immediately, he told us why it was there. He explained that the saran wrap is in the packaging. I can understand that - but why is it in my mother's plate? Why didn't you apologize? He took it away and offered to remake it but we were done. Not interested in having any more. We didn't throw a fit, we just weren't happy. Not with the server's reaction, not with how the management handled lack of concern or interest. He offered to bring us something else but we were finished. I do not know when I will be back. It will be a long time before I return. The food is good, but this service was poor. The usual manager who I see wasn't there, and if he had been, I know this would not have taken place. So I can't totally fault this place. Over all, I enjoy La Marsa but I have had better service elsewhere.
(3)Ken J.
The food here is really tasty. I love venturing out to new places and trying new food, however when I'm at a place like this... I always start off with the chicken schwarma. And this place did not disappoint. The pita bread is top notch, and their hummus and garlic sauce is just the perfect touch. I will be returning there for a full dinner sometime soon. Nummy nummy!
(4)Jay Vee Z.
Excellent food. The chicken shawarma sandwiches are a bit small but are always fresh and full of flavor. They almost melt in your mouth! Nothing beats their service, though. Whether you take out or dine in, they consistently deliver fast, friendly, and quality service. They make sure their customers are happy and satisfied. I love La Marsa!
(5)Ron C.
While driving through, Troy, Royal Oak & Sterling today, I wondered where would I be when LUNCH came around? So at 1pm LaMarsa got the NOD I once again ordered the $5.99 Lunch Special A rolled Schwarma Pita and a choice of soup I sampled the Lamb Schwarma today + a side of garlic dip A+ And had to once again order the Lamb Chili A+ Mo was on duty & as usual tossed some hot pitta 'FLUFFS" into my bag
(5)Anastasia W.
Service was quick and friendly. You know the food will be good when the side salad that comes first is really well done, and their side salad was delish! I had the hummus and chicken platter with rice which was very tasty! The chicken shwarma and lamb were also very good! The atmosphere is very cozy and warm, good for a family or group dinner or even a dinner for two. Prices for meals were higher than I expected but the portions were HUGE and the quality of the food was superb so it was fair. They also had some $5 shwarma sandwiches which would be great for takeout. Highly recommend!
(5)nancy d.
People make plans, usually involving lots of text msgs, gripes about whose picking up who and after your thumbs turn black and blue you might possibly land on a joint where everyone's happy. But never have I spontaneously seen 8 adults agree to a hookie lunch outing so quickly. Without hesitation the below culprits enjoyed a delightful lunch and threw everything else on the ground. Players: 1. Joined us coming straight from DTW 2. Played a long lunch card 3. Left work in the middle of the day 4. PIcked up player 5 5. Picked up by player 4 6. Called everyone on board 7. Mother left her children with grandma for an hour. 8. Left in the middle of a mani / pedi to join And thats the story of how we ate like kings at La Marsa. If you don't know what we came for, you need to find out. The garlic sauce/ hummus / tabouli spread on their fresh puffy bread is to die for. The shawarma and shish are phenomenal too, we liked the lamb and beef over the chicken which seemed dry. And I love love love the fatoosh. Besides the waiter disappearing for most of the meal. This place is solid.
(5)Sum S.
Delicious food and fast service..I like the soups, sandwiches, and just everything...sometimes the fresh bread they serve with garlic is a bit over cooked but its fine
(4)Jennifer D.
I come to LaMarsa often. We always have friendly service. They have the best chicken kabob around and lamb chops. Love the bread and hommus too. We order carry out at least 3 times a month. So good.
(5)Peter S.
La Marsa has become my staple Middle Eastern restaurant in Troy. A while back, a friend and I began a challenge to try and find a better Middle Eastern restaurant in the area, since there are so many of them. In the end, we couldn't find any place that tops La Marsa. I'd say that Ike's in Sterling Heights is a close second, but the food here is amazing. The service can be a little hit-or-miss, but the food always delivers and the prices are good for what you get. In the end, I really don't see a need for settling for another Middle Eastern restaurant in Troy.
(5)Elsa C.
Great place for carry out, I always get the same thing on my way to school (chicken Tawook sandwich & fattoush salad) but they don't disappoint!
(4)Bill B.
La Marsa offers a slightly different take on Middle Eastern food than many surrounding places. True, you can get Lebanese favorites like grape leaves, baba ghannooj and hommous. However, I like the things that are unique to La Marsa. For example, Koshary is a mildly spicy lentil and noodle dish. Their Moussaka is also a little different (sweeter?) than at other restaurants. La Marsa took over a former LaShish location and they still have the bread oven. I'm glad that it is there. Now, if they would only do more distinct dishes like Koshary...
(4)Fonzelle A.
I loved this place. I had a lunch chicken shawarma plate. It was delicious! It included bread, soup or salad, chicken shawarma, and fries or rice. The lamb chili hit the spot on such a cold day. They also serve the plate with a garlic sauce that went well with everything! Good atmosphere and service too. Definitely going back!
(5)Trang S.
Went here at 9:30 on a Friday night. Service was prompt, food came out quickly, and the server was very polite (without being a helicopter server) The fresh pita bread and whatever that garlic spread is ... is so delicious. We ordered some hummus, lamb chops, and chicken shawarma. This is a little much for two people but did I pack it in! Had to bust out the Kobayashi squirm or whatever that competitive eater does to get that food in. Oh, there was also lentil soup that came as a side to the lamb chop dish and that was really not that memorable until you squeeze the lemon that comes with it and then it was divine. Just the right amount of ZING. TL;DR This place is delicious but it will murder your breath.... or maybe slightly slay it. Just watch how much of that garlic goodness you eat.
(4)Krupa U.
La Marsa is chic enough to be an elegant dining experience but cheap enough to be a quick lunch spot... and that's what keeps me coming back this this place! Not to mention the extremely friendly and polite service. The new manager there is very accommodating as is the rest of the staff. Their menu has a variety of delicious Veg and Non-veg Arabic items. Shawarmas, Hummous, Fatoosh Salad, Lentil Soup, all very good, but if you're with a group of 3-4 people and want to get a well-rounded appetizer, I suggest getting the Mixed Maza, it has a little bit of everything. Never had their desserts here but I am a fan of Baklava so I would love to try theirs and I hear their raw juices are really good. Also note that their website is very up to date and their menu is fun to use if you want to take a gander before going there: lamarsacuisine.com/Menu/…
(4)Mimi B.
This wonderful gem of a place hidden in the strip mall on Rochester road is by far the BEST Arabic food I ever had in the states. We loved the decor--classy, interesting, understated. Wonderful and interesting wait staff who were all so polite we were in shock. Everyone was so incredibly nice and attentive. Then the food came out....and it didn't stop coming. Fatoosh salad that I am craving still, hummus as it should be made, warm fresh pita bread, grilled chicken and lamb kebabs that were so amazing, spiced perfectly, cooked perfectly. The rice is a review in itself. I don't even like rice, but this was like some special dish with crispy nuts on top, cooked perfect. We had so much food left over we felt guilty and took it back to our hotel, but we never got to eat it because we went back the next afternoon for even more of the same and brought our whole party with us...and this time we brought a bottle some wine...which was not necessary to enjoy the meal, but we were made to feel so welcome again, it was alike a holiday. Our guests were hesitant to eat "Arabic" food--we told them to hold on and give it a try....everyone loved it! And we had 43 people show up by the end of the night, ordering soup (an amazing lentil), kebabs, rice, salad. Delicious and elegantly prepared. For a last minute, impromptu "party of 43" this place really gave us the royal treatment, then wrapped leftovers to go for the whole party. The owner was a very refined, interesting man who welcomed us and made us feel special, and part of his family. We were sad to leave, and wished so much we could bring this place back home with us. Mmmmm that fatoosh salad...it will be in my dreams.
(5)Mary Eileen K.
They start you off just right. The pita bread and garlic dip (toum) is amazing. I could come here and eat just that! We are not talking about your typical coney island pita bread that is delivered out of a Sysco truck or shipping box. We are talking about freshly made pita pockets that are baked in a woodstone oven right before your very eyes. Nothing is fake about this stuff. The garlic dip is freshly made here because from time to time the degree of garlic taste can change. It's still so yummy, even if it isn't consistent every time. The dragon breath effect is worth it. Just make sure you have some Orbit or Trident around. The fattoush tawook salad literally has to be one of the best salads in the metro area. The dressing, the toasted pita chips and marinated chicken is like heaven to the taste buds. They are very generous with the cucumbers too. The service is always friendly and efficient. I can say that I am not disappointed with anything I have tried at this location, Bloomfield or Farmington. They make a solid rice almond salad and tabouli too. I have tried other Middle Eastern places in the area and nothing quite compares to La Marsa. They hooked me to Middle Eastern / Mediterranean cuisine, and I think they are truly of definition of what it is. They set a high standard for all the other places to follow. That is for sure.
(5)Joe T.
A nice sit-down Arabic restaurant with a revamped menu from the previous La Shish ownership. The interior ambiance is warm, soothing lighting, soft Arabic music, and nice Lebanese decor. My girlfriend and I come here and begin appreciating the cuisine with the complimentary warm fluffy pita breads dipped in creamy garlic sauce. We end up getting a meal that doesn't break the bank - usually something like a chicken shawarma sandwich from the sandwich menu. Though they are a little under-filled, they are nevertheless a tasty wrap of marinated chicken strips, pickles and garlic sauce. At about $4, the chicken shawarma sandwich is an all-around winner! Another favorite, this one from the appetizer menu, is the Mediterranean chicken wings. They are really these interestingly tasty middle-eastern BBQ drumsticks that are fried up with the meat pushed up and out, making them easier and more fun to eat. So in reality they are drumsticks but being fried and sauced to deliciousness - they merit the label they are given. We also enjoy the hummous topped with lamb - at about $11 it is quite tasty, but a small portion. We were disappointed that it was just a thin shallow ring of creamy hummous with a centerpiece of about 3-4 oz. of tasty sautéed lamb pieces. It was delectable - but left us wanting more, and at $11 it did not have the bang for the buck we would have liked to see! Perhaps the portion is worse with lamb - because when we got hummous topped with chicken before, it was about 1.5x the quantity. Many times we get the bowl of lentil soup, which at about $4 for a big bowl fit to share for 2 people is a great value. The pita breads can be dipped in the lentil soup as well. The soup is made of crushed lentils and eats like a soothing warming winter soup! It's the definite choice soup in the house. All in all, we never leave La Marsa disappointed. The experience has remained untainted since the previous "La Shish" days (minus the funding to terrorist groups of course), and if you are in the Detroit suburbs anywhere near Troy, I highly recommend trying the Arabic food here. It's a memorable dining experience that won't break the bank too badly. Granted, my girlfriend and I take a more econo approach here and share soup, sandwich and appetizer to eat for $30 combined - you could expect getting big signature entrees, appetizer, soup, and drinks for about $40-50 for a couple.
(4)Maggie H.
I work at 16 and Dequindre and get La Marsa regularly for takeout and have eaten in the restaurant multiple times. Their pita bread is amazing and soft, which is key because hard/dry pita bread is such a turnoff. I have had their Fattoush multiple times and it is amazing. In addition, I have had the falafel, hommous, grapeleaves, shish tawook, shish kafta, lamb shawarma, and toum. I would suggest any of these to someone visiting La Marsa. Especially the grapeleaves, they are some of the better that I have had. Of the Mediterranean restaurants I frequent, this is one on my favorites because it is low key and their takeout is also quality.
(5)Maria B.
One of the best Middle-Eastern restaurants in Michigan! The dishes here are FRESH & FULL OF FLAVOR. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for awesome Arabic food, which will leave your taste buds dancing from the wonderful flavors in each dish : ) Excellent food!
(5)divesh m.
Bad Service!! Bad Service!! I know we all might not write for good food and service, but definitely jump on anything bad. I have no complaints with food what so ever. Mostly I go here for lunch and is decently ok in all respects. This was my first try for dinner. I went around 630 pm and there were only 2-3 tables occupied. Still we had to wait about 5 mins for someone to show us our table. It took well over 15 mins to get water. Let me remind you again, there were only 2-3 tables occupied. Waitress came with water along with order of some other table. I sarcastically thanked her for getting water, which probably set her off. Once we got our food, she never came back to check with us. We were done with our dinner and with restaurant not being busy, we still had to wait for check or for box. BTW our waitress was standing right next to our table and chatting with them for 20 mins or so. Without asking for anything else or checking she got the check. I thought of skipping the tip, but my inner conscience didn't allow me to do so. My wife asked for manager to other waiter and he said manager is not here. She came back (after getting our boxes and check) asking if we can use any dessert or anything and that she will get the manager. Even though we expressed our concern she never apologized. Again I gave up the idea to speak to manager thinking it might cost her job. Again food is good, but service is bad. The prices are slightly more than average restaurant, but portions are huge. I won't like to pay more for decor only. The lamp chops were 24$ for order, which is awfully expensive.
(3)Jayel L.
I truly love Mediterranean Cuisine and had a craving for it yesterday 6/22/2013 and was reminded that this place was a few miles down the road. I went in not really expecting it to taste even remotely close to my normal place in Birmingham but I figured why not give it a shot. There are two sides an express (for take out) and the actual Restaurant. I ordered a half deboned chicken with rice without almonds (allergic) and a mango smoothie my daughter ordered the same but with the almonds.He suggested we just order a whole debone chicken since it would be 10 dollars less, me being hesitant about the almonds, he reassured me he would place almonds in a separate container, so I agreed. We waited for our food in the car and then I noticed they turned the lights off on the "open" sign so I just knew we would get some rushed under cooked food so I had in my mind that we would probably order pizza once home. (Lol). Our order was ready and we carried out two nice cups with mango smoothies a large bag and an aluminum pan of food. Once we got home and saw the portion size, we could have fed my husband and son as well and still had enough for leftovers for two! The food was excellent, the chicken, tender and juicy, rice was perfect, pita bread and garlic spread we spot on. (Make sure you order extra garlic spread, one container isn't enough). I only gave it four stars because I didn't actually sit down to experience the wait staff... I will make this my new once a week place for all things Mediterranean!
(4)Shannon M.
Fabulous! This was the first time my dining partner and I had ever been there. We were thoroughly impressed. Excellent service, our server was great at giving suggestions and explanations. The food was delicious with HUGE portions. The food was very hot and fresh. The pita bread that comes with the garlic dip before the meal was easily the best I've ever had. The decor was neat with complimentary music- I also found the restroom to be clean and acceptable. Highly recommend!
(5)Kate F.
My daughter and I split the Vegetarian Combo, and all I can say is whoa! Absolutely everything was delicious! And there was a ton of food, so we could only eat half of it. Picture that - potential dinner for four for just $21.99! Hommous, baba ghannooj, tabbouli, two falafel, four stuffed grapeleaves, mjadra, two spinach pies, village salad, rice with almonds, those delicious loaves of bread (hollow pita), a platter of garlic butter, and pickled turnips and cucumbers. And I must repeat - EVERYTHING was delicious!!!!! My only complaint, my husband said I reaked of garlic when I got home, and evidently I still have the odor today. Oh well, small price for such a yummy meal!
(5)Tony S.
I'm having a middle eastern review marathon this week. At first I was going to go to the carryout section to the left of the restaurant but when I looked at the menu I thought that I'd rather sit down and get the whole effect. Like another reviewer said the waitstaff are well dressed, but the customers were a mish mash of casual and not so casual. Pros: Very good flavor. Very pleasant amiable service. The chicken schwarma was juicy and flavorful, I think there was some dark meat in there or flavor from skin which my girl didn't like but I loved. Generous portions. Cons: They need to check to make sure the bathroom supplies are kept up like the paper towels. They ask how much you like your lamb schwarma cooked, I said well done because my lady likes it that way but if I wasn't with her I'd get it cooked less because it was slightly dry. The lobby area of the restaurant could use a makeover. 3.75 Stars
(4)Sandra Z.
Here's the bottom line on La Marsa... If you're Arab and are used to eating really great Arabic food (at home or at other restaurants) like I am, then this place is fine. If you're not Arab, or don't usually eat Arabic food, you'll think this place is amazing.
(3)John R.
La Marsa is the ONE thing that I miss about living in metro Detroit. Hands down my favorite restaurant, and hands down the best Middle Eastern food that I've ever had. I used to order from La Marsa at least once a week, even when I couldn't afford it. It just wasn't possible to get through a week without out. Every single time I went, I would order three things: fatoosh tawook salad, spicy hummus, 2 dozen pita bread. The fatoosh tawook is the best damn salad that I've ever had. I was raised a meat and potatoes kind of guy, and while I've greatly expanded my taste palette over the years, I still tend to find salads kind of boring. Their fatoosh tawook is unlike anything else that I've ever had before. It's PERFECTLY seasoned. Just enough dressing, not too much, and not too little. And everything in it, from the grilled chicken breast, to the dried pita bits, the cucumbers, EVERYTHING makes me squeal with delight. The spicy hummus, oh my god, I don't think there is anything more beautiful in life than this hummus. The texture is perfect, the spice is just right, ugh, it's just perfect. As for the pita bread, why am I ordering so much? Because it's just incredible. You've never had pita bread like this before. They make it fresh right there. It's usually so fresh that when you take a bite out of it, a puff of steam comes out. You could easily eat it on its own, but it goes amazingly with the spicy hummus. They do give you more than enough pita with the hummus to eat it with, but I always like a little extra. And when I say a little, I mean a lot. I can't wait to go to Detroit over Christmas, because I'll definitely be making a trip here.
(5)Lusi F.
I took my parents here - they typically dont like non-Asian food, a step away from non-Chinese food years ago, and everyone LOVEd it. The dips in the beginning were the favorite part (garlic and baba ganoush), as well as the small warm pita pockets. We stuffed ourselves with thoese that we didn't really eat the main meats. the waiter was really friendly. portions were HUGE so order accordingly. they also have a takeout place next door
(4)Nick C.
Wow. Just stumbled in here for lunch based on the Yelp reviews. They are absolutely correct. This place has fantastic food. The starter bread and dip is excellent all on its own. The lentil soup is delicate and tasty. The potassium juice is really refreshing. And the kabobs. What can I say? They are great.
(4)Joe S.
The food and service were very good. The portions were huge, definitely a group type place where you can order a few items and share.
(5)Stephanie T.
I had La Marsa today via the Restaurant Connection delivery service. It was pricey but a lot of food also, they messed up my order giving me fries instead of rice. We had the Sampler platter and everything tasted fresh. The cold was kept cold and everything was delicious. Even the grape leaves which I normally don't like. I will be back
(3)Anton A.
Well I thought of coming here since it was around my mums birthday. We also had a coupon from restaurants.com . So this came out to be a good deal. We arrive at the place and it literally takes almost 2-3 minutes to be acknowledged and another 5 minutes to clean off a table. Next we are seated and of course a crying baby, lovely. Next we ordered this really good sounding combo platter. At first when we ordered the soups, my mum gets the lentil and its cold. I have to say the tumb and pita bread are very fresh. Then my dad gets the lamb soup and it was amazing. Therefore the soups are amazing. When they bring out the combo platter there's only grape leaves and hummus and salad. This was luckily the appetizer portion. When they brought out the other part, the food looked really good. The tawook was cooked well. The kafta was excellent, and the beef was okay. However the chicken sharama shredded was dried out. As for the earlier grape leaves, some tasted very not fresh. I have to say I been to plenty of Arabic restaurants, being part Arab this restaurant is not that great. Would never come to this location again!
(2)T W.
Really enjoyed the moussaka. if you just order moussaka, it's the vegetarian version, but I recommend adding some meat to it. It was a good portion for me so I had leftovers for the next day. Husband loves the shih tawook (chicken with a citrus flavor), he gets it all the time. Love the bread & garlic dip, so glad it comes complementary!
(4)Iffat B.
My friend and I shared a kabob plate and hummus and I didn't think it was anything special. I was fasting and I broke my fast with this meal and I didn't think it was all that. I can't even imagine what I would think if I had gone on a regular day! Probably won't go back unless I buy the restaurant.com gift certificate and want some cheap middle eastern food.
(3)Bobby C.
This is our favorite place to eat out for dinner. Their staff is very nice and friendly. Their selection of dishes for dinner is amazing and delicious. My favorite is Quail which is very yummy but messy to eat. They give you fresh bread and garlic sauce which is good as well. They have good selection of fresh juices. Their lentil soup is pretty good as well. Overall, I love this place and go there whenever I get an opportunity.
(4)Maxwell S.
Honestly speaking the food isn't that bad. But the restaurant itself, attitude and service-wise completely blows. The servers are totally rude and disinterested and the bathroom in completely ignored. Is this a restaurant or a hole in the wall pool joint? The servers all have attitude problems and need to learn how to live. Middle eastern people always have the worst attitudes...
(1)Kelli A.
Really enjoyed our first visit! Kept it simple~ Pita & Hummus: Yum! Hot, fresh pita and smooth, creamy hummus. Garlic paste good, too. Lentil Soup: Perfect temp, good flavor. Nothing special Rice Pilaf: Love it. Not much to it really -but so good. Falafel: Ok. A tad overcooked. I always order the sandwich, which I open up and eat the innards. Tasty. Lamb Shawarma: Tender, good Smoothie: La Shish had better ones. Good but seemed watery. Service and atmosphere: Excellent! Super fast, clean, friendly, attentive.
(4)Michigan M.
The food was comparable to other middle eastern restaurants in the area. We went for lunch around 2pm, and we were standing in the lobby for several minutes before someone came out to seat us. That was the only downside. The food was good, and they gave us tons of food. We ordered the sampler platter to start with, and then had a great big fattoush salad! Then, we had a couple different sandwiches. Everything was good, the service was fast, and I would go back again. Next time I will try something different, and go for dinner. The place was also very reasonably priced. With all of the food we had, our bill was only around $30. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a casual place to eat middle eastern cuisine in the Troy area.
(4)Brian C.
It was okay. I'm not a picky eater, so I'd come again. Standard Middle Eastern fare. French fries were microwave reheated. Chicken Hummus was good, but the bread was terrific!
(3)C R.
The food is very good and you get huge portions. Prices aren't bad. Only complaint is that the service wasn't very good the few times we've been there.
(4)Sarah T.
I sent my parents here as a Valentine's Day gift. My parents were huge fans of "La Shish" and this was just as good delicious as they remember La Shish to be. My mother raved about the hummus and pita bread.
(5)Frank R.
I love this place, the manager is impecable. I used to eat at his restauraunt in Farmington Hills. He set up in Troy and it has been to my delight. The dine in service is awesome the food is seasoned to perfection. The smoothies are to die for; fresh fruits and veggies yum. There is a meal for everyone, the portions are generous and the true Mediterranean hosipitality is reflected in the way this place opperates. Carry out is great too....Highly reccomend this place if you like mediterranean food, garlic, and spices and fresh salads and soups. Grilled chicken, salmon, grapeleaves, hummas...all wonderful...
(5)Azeem H.
Love the food, and our waiter was soooooo nice. Great experience--don't miss it
(5)Jess T.
We have been driving past this place since we moved to Troy in June. We went for lunch and got the hommous appetizer, a cup of lentil soup, and the shawerma with chicken, lamb, rice pilaf, and salad. It was more than enough food and we have enough left overs for several meals The hommous was excellent! It was smooth and creamy with a light lemon and garlic flavor. The lentil soup was thick and just chunky enough, the temperature was perfect. The salad had lettuce, onion, cucumber, and parsley with an olive oil and vinegar dressing. The chicken was juicy with great flavor. The lamb was not as great as it could have been. It had good flavor, tasted sweet with all spice, it was on the dry side. We will definitely be going back.
(4)Jill C.
I've had takeout and dined in here and have had great experiences either way. The Fatoosh really is to die for and the garlic dip with the little pitas are extraordinary! It's my favorite Mediterranean joint for sure!
(5)Kelly F.
I'd say it's solid decent middle eastern restaurant. Outstanding - no. Worth going back to - yes. The server was not exactly stellar, but she was all right. For me the best part of the meal was my babaghanouzh. It was very good. The bread, even though it was made on site, was not nearly as good. I also got a Lamb Shwarma sandwich. It was so so. The meat was a bit too finely chopped, I would have preferred more things on it (cucumber, pickle, more sauce, onion, more tomato - etc). The garlic spread that came with the pita bread was probably my second favorite thing - it was SUPER garlicky though - be preparred. I had a smoothy and - it was weak - meh. So - go, but don't be shocked by large swaths of mediocrity.
(3)John M.
I had the Shis Kafta and the spicy hommos. It was all very taste well seasoned and presented. My wife had the Chicken and said it was the best she's had. Everythingw was cooked well and presented warm. The staff was prompt and professional the atmospher was pleasent.
(4)Tommy_n_Loretta C.
This place is beautiful inside. The menu is huge. I loved the complimentary bread and garlic paste. I could have eaten just that all night. I ordered the spicey hummus which was ok - not the best I've ever tasted. I also ordered a side salad - which was huge and was a bit too covered in dressing for me. I also ordered the chicken swarma with a side of house fries. The chicken was dry but tasted good. The house potatoes were great with a bit of salt. The entrees are huge so unless you eat alot - you can easily split the meal with someone else. The prices are a bit high on the entrees. I would love to go back and try something else next time I'm in town.
(4)Lyuba S.
I've been going here since it was La Shish. Food is always delicious. Love the decor, makes me feel like I'm in Morocco. The servers are always very polite & timely. The only reason I didn't give it more stars is because I've had more authentic Mediterranean food (& cheaper) elsewhere. But, for the location & the cuisine, it's A-OK! If you're looking for decent Arabic food in the area, I'd recommend this place.
(3)Renee S.
Mediterranean food doesn't get better than this!
(5)Ati M.
Best Mediterranean food and very polite staff! Don't miss the lamb chops, baba ghanoush and pita bread!
(5)Matthew J.
The food here was poor at best! The chicken dish was not cooked - it was raw! Raw poultry is awful and a possible health risk. The prices were unreasonable - especially considering the poor quality. The service wasn't much better. Do not recommend at all!!!
(1)Marianna Z.
La Marsa is great! Fresh, fresh salads, zesty mediterranean food. This restaurant does the best middle eastern food in metro. We went for lunch last week, had the lunch special with shish tawook and a fatoosh side salad. I also did a takeout falafel and everything was A OK with that as well. The decor is the same as it was when it was La Shish. Attentive waiters and quick lunch service. We were very pleased. This was my first trip back since the name change and we will definitely go back!
(5)steve m.
Basically, someone re-opened La Shish and renamed it La Marsa. I don't even care if these dudes also fund Hezbollah - that's how good it is. That's how good it is.
(5)Kathi C.
The hummus, the baba ganoush, and the felafels are all terrific. If you want to feed a la Man vs Food, get the sampler for 2, but is really big enough for 4. Don't forget to start with the crushed lentil soup with a generous squeeze of lemon.
(5)Norman Y.
Decent arabic food for a decent price - nothing too great about this place.
(3)Joe H.
I enjoy La Marsa but is seems to be getting worse for me every visit. Hummus and Garlic sauce are excellent but the Shawarma has been dry and flavorless the last few times ive eaten there. Service is good but inconsistent.
(3)Cate S.
Mmmm, I *love* La Marsa. The soft pita bread, the delicious lentil soup, the smooth hummus, the tasty entrees and convenient sandwiches...scrumptious. I've been coming here for years and I have a good experience every time. Service can be a bit slow, but it's always friendly and the atmosphere is lovely. To get yummy food without breaking the bank, I definitely recommend the sandwich options...you can get the substance of the entrees (falafel, shish tawook, etc) in a pita for MUCH LESS than getting the actual entrees. Portions are quite generous--I have never left La Marsa hungry and I always have leftovers.
(4)Brian M.
Love this place. They have the best Arnold Palmer's ever. Staff always goes out of it's way to make it a perfect dinning experience. The food is very authentic and the portions are large. Highly recommended.
(5)Cat K.
On a recent trip to La Marsa with the fam, we are a hung jury. I personally enjoyed my meal and the thorough amount of leftovers I was eating for a few days after, but my mother and father speak differently. We went on a sunday afternoon and the place was pretty full, people were eating in and out and the carryout business was very constant. The fresh pita hot out of the over took a bit to come but when it came, MAN, it was delicious! The garlic butter was definitely tasty with it. My brother thought it had so much garlic that he needed a smoothie to manage the taste. After some hard time communicating with the waiter, we finally got a smoothie, It was fantastic. Fresh and refreshing. Ordering took forever though, even getting water was slow. The food made up for it though. Not only are the portions GIGANTIC but it was good too. I ordered the Koshary which was filled with macaroni, lentils and fried onions. I enjoyed the regular sauce (gravy?) that I was given. It was even better the day after for leftovers. My dad had the mousaka and said it was only "okay". My mom ordered some sort of lamb stir-fry, which was very salty and acidic, but when eaten with rice was better. My brother, the intelligent one he is, ordered the lamb chops. HOT DAMN! That's all I have to say. Perfectly cooked, succulent lamb chops. I would go back for those alone. Expensive though, portions were large to make up for it. We also had the baba ganooj appetizer, which was a little too smokey for my taste but still tasty. The staff was a little slow, but its understandable on a busy day, but we spent over 2.5 hours at the restaurant in what could have taken an hour less of time. We weren't sure if one of the servers understood english at all though. Final Verdict: Large portions, staff is "meh", food can be either fantastic or mediocre, still pricey but portions make up for it.
(3)Christina K.
My boy and I came here for the first time today. We both love Mediterranean food and after reading reviews decided to give La Marsa a try. The food was perfect. We ordered a small hummus and fattoush salad to share. We both ordered chicken shawarma sandwiches. Joslyn was our waitress. She was very sweet and attentive. The seating is very cute and personable. We will definitely be returning.
(5)Pallavi R.
This restaurant has typical Detroit mid-east restaurant fare: piquant & delicious garlic butter, hot, freshly baked pitas, carrot juice. Their hummus, baba ghanoush, & falafel are outstanding! The decor is nice & updated from the previous restaurant (Lashish) on the menu. They have family trays both veg & non-veg which is a good value for money.
(4)Zulfiqar A.
Consistently great food. They often open on national holidays. I am a regular here and love the small freshly baked pita bread. The deboned chicken can be used in a large versatile way as a carry out. I stuff the little pita with the chicken and salad. They become pita sliders. Cusheri is also a favorite of mine. It is a traditional home made meal kind a like hodge podge style and I love it.
(5)Joe V.
Very tasty. Was a little concerned when I entered the dining room - it felt a little overly fancy - and perhaps attempting to make up with decor for a sub-par kitchen - but NO - La Marsa's kitchen is turning out some great Mediterranean cuisine! Also enjoyed one of their fresh fruit and veg juice blends.
(4)Sarah H.
Very good food, was great to stop on our way to an event on the east side. We had the lamb and a fattoush salad with feta and chicken. Food came quickly which was nice to make our show on time. I was a little stressed at the end of our meal, they had an issue with the credit card machine so our server was gone for what seemed like a long time and we didn't knew what had happened.
(4)Steve T.
Great middle eastern place, always well prepared and good size portions. Greek salad is the best I've ever had.
(5)Li S.
La Marsa is always a good choice. I've been slowly trying to work my way through the menu, and I have yet to find a dish that I haven't liked. There are so many delicious dishes- options for everyone, and the food is always fresh. The service is attentive and friendly. The owner makes an appearance every now and then, and makes an effort to get to know his customers. Even after a brief hiatus from La Marsa when I was doing some heavy traveling for work, the owner recognized me when I came back several months later. That's a true testament to his dedication to the restaurant. If I could eat La Marsa every day, I would.
(5)Larry J.
Absolutely horrible for carry out, food is good but the customer service was horrible! We ordered 3 sandwiches and added hummus for $0.25 on each and he charged us for 3 side of hummus at $5 each. When we told him that's not what we wanted, he said"your fault not ours, I cant take it back you have to pay for it". Seriously!! Thats how you treat your customers??
(2)Monika D.
This was the worst customer service I have ever received. Not only did our food come out wrong, but we were there for a little over an hour, when all we had was a salad and one chicken shawarma. Manager emailed me saying they would send us a gift card in the mail for the trouble and awful service. Well, almost a month has gone by with no gift card. I don't know if I would have even used it to go back. Horrible!
(1)Caitlin B.
Terrible service but great food. I'd recommend going elsewhere if you're ordering for a large group - they tend to get very busy and mess up orders.
(2)Lyndsay K.
Every time my husband and I are planning a visit to MI to visit the family he asks if we can eat here. That lamb we had was so memorable. So I was in the area for work and ordered takeout. When I pulled up I was happy to see they have an express side for takeout orders! My order was ready for me when I arrived. It was delicious. A week later, and after my husband and I had endured family drama for days over xmas, we escaped back to Troy and hightailed our asses to LaMarsa for dinner. Sadly, the husband thought the lamb on this visit wasn't quite as good as last time, but he had no problem eating off my plate instead. I can't even remember now what I ordered, but it was delicious. I haven't had a bad meal here.
(5)Michele S.
Excellent service and food! the restaurant has plenty of space and a large parking lot. I used restaurant.com gift certificate (totally worth it). We ordered Shish combo for 2 people. it comes with 2 salads, 2 lamb kabob, 2 chicken kabob and one beef. They also serve bread with garlic spread before the meal. they are all delicious! The meat are cooked to perfection. The meat are really juicy and has so much flavor to it. I highly recommend this place. The only downside is it's kinda of pricy (but after restaurant.com certificate) it is actually not bad. The combo for two is $29.99. It has plenty of food and it is more than enough for 2 people.
(5)Lisa M.
Yelp Yum yum yum! First time here at La Marsa and would definitely come back again. Enjoyed a delicious relaxing Middle Eastern meal at super lunch special price this past Saturday. Roomy restaurant, pleasant atmosphere, interesting music, perhaps a tad loud but it added flavor to the meal. We enjoyed chicken shwarma, moist tasty rice pilaf topped with crunchy roasted slivered almonds, a fresh salad with crisp lettuce and a light dressing, excellent garlic sauce w/ amazing pita, really good lentil soup, fresh bright tabouli and to top it all off, the best falafel ever!!
(4)Shannon S.
Shoot! I think I still have garlic coming out of my pores (3 days later!!) WOOHOO!!! Oh baby this place is good...the food anyway!! The service was a tad lacking...only for the fact that by the time our entrees had finally gotten to us, we were all full from our starters..which was fine...but next time I'll know...we can definitely split entrees...because these were HUGE!! HUGE to say the least!! Geezzzuss... This is the most ethic middle eastern restaurant I've ever been too...I liked it..it won't be for everyone.....My Fattoush Salmon was just splendid for breakfast the next morning! We also tried Koshary, Mousaka, and the rice almond salad! We had all these yummy treats for breakfast...and they were all really good.....and they fed several more people that what we ordered for... Just keep that in mind, as most entrees are around $16-$17 - You can definitely split them!
(4)Ashley T.
I've been coming here for years and I have never had a problem. They have THE BEST fattoush dressing & salad I have ever had. Almond rice is amazing. Their food is top notch. The service can be iffy sometimes but it's worth it for me because the quality of their food is exceptional.
(5)Beenish N.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that the service can be a little off at times but I lobe this place. Been eating there for years and the food is always perfect! They are one of the only places that serves koshray! Or other Egyptian specialties. Truly one of the best places for Mediterranean food.
(4)Christina C.
The only reason this isn't a five star is because of slow service, the food is impeccable. We did end up sitting at a table for at least fifteen minutes before a server came over but once they did we weren't disappointed. The satay and shawarma are amazing and the garlic paste is to die for! Thank you for the fantastic food!
(4)Rick D.
The food is always fresh and tasty. I enjoy their food because I like healthy dishes and with a fine taste. Highly recommended if you like Mediterranean cusine. The owner treats his customers like family and remembers everyone. The best in Metro Detroit!
(4)Sherry K.
MOST DEFINITELY THE MOST MOUTHWATERING DELICIOUSNESS IVE EVER HAD!! Love love love the food. We have never had a bad meal here. Wish they were national. Miss them tremendously when I'm out of town. Lamb, Shish Tawook, fattoush, garlic, fresh hot bread , juices oh my gracious. Everything is extraordinary
(5)Sami T.
Beautiful atmosphere and great appetizers. Music is traditional and appealing . Prices are decent . Very much recommended
(5)Chet G.
We ordered humus with ghabala in lamb. The bread and garlic was awesome. The lamb soup was good but on the salty side. If you have an issue with salt per doctors orders suggest you stay away from the soup. Menu is kinda pricey. But food is also very good. They forgot to get our humus so we had to ask. Otherwise nice experience. I will recommend this to my friends and family.
(4)Holly S.
I've been here a few times since my last review and they're starting to redeem themselves so it's only fair that I give them a new review. I still order the same thing ( chicken fattoush salad) and their fattoush is still one of my favorites in the area. The dressing is killer! They also give you fresh outta the oven baked bread and a delicious garlic spread to dip in. The lemonade smoothie is tart and refreshing and kills the garlic scent and flavor that could otherwise be overwhelming. My one complaint is still the chicken. some times is perfect, sometimes it's undercooked, and today is dry and cold. From now on I'm going to just order the fattoush salad without chicken so it doesn't kill my experience.
(4)Matthew P.
Service: FAILZOR Wow, what a train wreck. Two hours for a lunch all by myself. Two other patrons in the establishment starting at 1:30 pm on a weekend. The waiter was very attentive at the beginning. I ordered the lamb hommous which includes choice of soup or salad, and rice or fries. I got it with crushed lentil, and rice for $16.99. Soup came fast, then it took 50 minutes for my entree. No joke. I also ordered at the start a sandwich to go. My bill came, it was on there, I paid and he took the bill away and I figured he went to get my sandwich. Nope. He went to the back to play on his cell phone with the other waiter. The same place he was at my whole meal. I guess once you order they got you hook line and sinker. Water refill was not there the whole time. I had to flag down a girl passing by to ask where my sandwich I paid for was. She got the waiter, and instead of apologizing he disappeared for 15 mins and then came back out, and said 'here you are'. The thing was cold. For waiting another 15 min it should have been hot. What took him so long to get that ish???? The waitress were in a side booth around the wall that couldn't be seen from the front door, or their 'express counter' that they blew out a wall to put in next door. I watched two people come in, wait 10 minutes, and walk out without service. I mentioned you have some people at your counter... Should have asked for a bonus for helping them keep business. The restaurant business is a balance of service, with food. If you don't want to deal with customers or service just do a take out / fast food joint. Food was darn good, but not enjoyed due to service issues. Lamb seasoned well, hommous silky, crush lentil flavorful, garlic dip and bread top notch. Read other reviews for more on that as I don't need to rehash.
(2)Amanda P.
Came here with a friend about an hour before they closed. I know some places are funny about that, so I asked if they were still serving for dine in. A man who was mopping at the front said yes, so we were seated. It took about 15 minutes to get anyone to come over. There were two other groups of diners and two waitresses. Both of them would keep walking right past us as if we weren't there. One woman who finally took our order was nice enough, but all we could smell the entire time was cleaning products from the mopping, and it took forever to get our drinks. My friend ordered soup which came out cold. We got bread, and when we got the entrees, the waitress disappeared in the back while our drinks needed refills. Of course, she didn't hide the entire time but came out a couple of times to serve and attend to others while ignoring us. When she finally came over, we couldn't really hide that we were annoyed, and she asked us "don't you like it?". We asked for refills which took another ten minutes, but the joke was on us because she pulled the old diet coke in place of regular coke to show us why we shouldn't waste her time. We vowed to not waste their time anymore and won't be coming back.
(1)Karolina C.
Love this place. Food is excellent! Service is great. We always order cary out from La Marsa and are satisfied each and every time!
(5)Dana E.
Usually love this place but I just had take out and the grilled chicken they gave us for our salad was unedible. Took one bite of the chicken and immediately spit it out since chicken is not supposed to be hard and rubbery. Texture was so off I can't even image what the issue was and had to throw the chicken away.
(1)Miranda W.
Second time eating here! The first time I had some fabulous traditional dishes. This time I used an entertainment book coupon. I got 10 dollars off an order of 40, which I had a takeout of. The takeout was ordered inside and was speedy fast!!!! I'm serious, it was faster than jimmy jones, an was stacked with food. I had a hard time deciding whether to have the lamb or chicken sharwarma so the guy said he'd do half and half for me!!! Both sides were really good- the quality of the chicken was great! I decided i loved the lamb meat sharwarma- I ordered without pickles. The lamb was so flavorful. I'm no expert on hummus, to be honest I never really eat it but it seems pretty nice. The taboulli was perfect. My mom likes to use the little pita pockets they give you- the ones they put in a fire brick oven- and put taboulli and hummus inside. That tastes pretty nice!
(5)Lily W.
In the world of Middle Eastern food that can easily be found in MI, this place was definitely not standout. I'm a veteran of the downtown Dearborn restaurants like Al Ameer and casual eats at New Yasmeen and Golden Bakery. In comparison this place doesn't rock my socks. For those of you who grew up in the area, this location used to be La Shish. Trust me, as La Shish the food was definitely some of the best Middle Eastern to be found in the Metro-Detroit area. However, there was that little snafu with the owner committing tax evasion and citizenship fraud..... whoops. Long story short, La Shish closed down and sometime later La Marsa opened at this location. Ironically after it opened I never tried it. My friends had become big fans of casual nights at Sky Lounge in Dearborn for food and hookah so I was able to satisfy my Shawarma fix elsewhere. On my recent visit home, a friend suggested this place for lunch. I readily agreed and we ended up here. For the four of us we got the appetizer sampler to share which comes with a small Hummous, Baba Ghanouj, and Tabbouleh. I am neutral towards Tabbouleh in general. I don't particularly like or dislike it but I do love Hummous and Baba Ghanouj. Luckily the appetizers were delicious as was the freshly oven baked bread. In addition they include a garlic spread that you can add to just about everything. The garlic spread seems to have olive oil, freshly crushed garlic, and tahini sauce in it. It does add a nice touch to everything. However after this things fell apart. I ordered the Lamb Shawarma plate which came with your choice of Soup or Salad and Fries or Rice. I went with the Lentil Soup and Rice. The Lentil Soup was flavorful and smooth, but I've definitely had better. The problem was that the Shawarma was dry and flavorless. Usually I don't eat lamb unless it's cooked Middle Eastern style because the spices overcome that weird bloody/fishy taste that lamb tends to have. However, I could still taste that flavor here which really threw me off. I actually had a friend finish about half of my Shawarma for me. The rice was delicious and had a nice amount of almonds and was well seasoned. Overall, I wouldn't come back. While the location is conveniently close to my parents' house, the food isn't that great, especially not for the area. The appetizers were good but they're good at EVERY Middle Eastern restaurant in a 25 mile radius. The fact that the Shawarma was definitely not up to my usual expectations was extremely disappointing. If La Marsa was located in Austin, TX I would probably give it 4 stars, but given the glut of amazing Middle Eastern Restaurants in Troy and the immediate vicinity, unfortunately it falls into the 2 star category.
(2)Amanda W.
Haven't eaten in the restaurant yet, but have ordered carryout about a dozen times. The food is always fantastic, and the carryout area is on top of what they are doing. Great place to pickup lunch, dinner, etc.
(5)Maria R.
Wow, what can I possibly say about this place. The food with amazing probably one of the best dishes middle eastern food that I've ever eaten. They're warm bread right out of the oven with the garlic butter and hummus mix as an appetizer mmmm delicious. I recommend everything on the menu you won't go wrong. I'm in the area I will definitely stop by for a meal or two maybe three.
(5)Kathy V.
I have only gotten food to here but I have to say this is the best Mediterranean place I have been to in this area. A whole deboned chicken, rice, salad, and bread for $21 *the hot bread is to die for! Fed my whole family and was cheaper and much healthier than pizza.
(5)Rebecca P.
Stopped by this place for lunch with my family. Overall, decor and atmosphere were more fancy than anticipated, but outdated. Service was ok. Waitress did not check in very often. Portions were very large. 2-3 moderately hungry people could easily share an entree. Food was good overall, nothing show stopping, it was on par with other Lebanese restaurants. I've been to many Mediterranean restaurants, and this place was very overpriced. There's a hefty gratuity charge for 6 people or more, which is unreasonable seeing as most small parties are about that size. Anyways, all in all, I won't be running back to this place.
(2)Sarah A.
The best middle eastern food EVER! we order lunch from here all the time at work. The garlic sauce and pita bread is awesome. Definately 5 stars!!
(5)Meredith E.
When you see me picking up my carryout you would think I'm heading to a party with my hands full of multiple bags. Nope. I just ordered the vegetarian platter. For $25 you receive massive amounts of hummus, baba gannosh, bread, mujadra, taboli, grape leaves, spinach pie, and salad. This is the perfect amount of food when we have a couple of busy days and nights ahead of us. My husband and I divide and conquer into smaller size portions to put into our lunch bags. La Marsa's garlic dip is fantastic. I'm pretty sure I've scared away vampires in the surrounding few cities every time I've indulged. We have also dined in at this location. Service was excellent and attentive. The interior of the restaurant is nicely decorated and very clean.
(5)Bowen Y.
Awesome service! I went with 2 friends on a Sunday 9PM and although they close at 10, they accommodated us courteously and even gave us extra pitas to take home! As many said, the garlic dip is really good (apparently only made with garlic, olive oil, and jalapenos). We had falafels, lamb kabob, chicken with hummus, and shish tawook and it was all fabulous. The portions are great as well. Definitely a place to revisit.
(5)Supraja M.
1 star service, 3.5 star food. Our party of six ordered, a veggie ghalaba, a falafel plate, a mousaka, and a vegetarian platter (hommous, baba ghanooj, tabbouli, falafel, grape leaves, mjadra, and spinach pies). These dishes came with 4 soups or side salads- we got soups, and ordered a greek salad for the remaining 2 to share. The soup is very bland-- pretty much just lentils. The rest of the food was tasty. The falafel was pleasantly crispy but still moist inside. The pickles that came with it were really good too-- the cucumber pickles were quite mustardy, and there were also pickled radishes. The veggie ghalaba was well-cooked- the veggies were cooked through but still crisp, and had a nice bit of char/sear on them. The mousaka was not what I expected- the menu descriped layers of eggplant with some other ingredients, what came out was basically a spiced eggplant and tomato stew, served with rice. The vegetarian platter is apparently meant for two- comes with 2 grape leaves, 2 falafel, 2 spinach pies, 2 soup/salads- but it would probably be too much food for two people. The spinach pie was the most disappointing thing- bland, soft (felt microwaved), just really blah. Everything else on the platter was good. One quarrel I had was that this platter is largely dips, and they didn't bring more bread to go with it. The garlic spread and bread that were served to the table at the beginning were really tasty. Service, on the other hand, was really horrible. There were only 2 servers for the whole restaurant, which makes slow service understandable-but it felt like we were the only table getting slow service, and I don't think we did anything to be designated 'that' table. I ordered an iced tea and two other members of the party ordered juices when we arrived, and we also asked for 6 waters. 5 waters arrived relatively promptly. The sixth never arrived, despite our repeated requests. My iced tea showed up after the appetizers, just before the main course. The juices arrived when we were halfway through our food. The waiter kept walking past when we tried to get his attention, and serving the other tables around us. We asked about that sixth water literally every time he came to our table and it never came. That's just unacceptable to me.
(2)Lisa Y.
Got a take out from here today. The food was good and the piece were very polite. Nothing like fresh baked pita bread with fresh hummus and garlic. Also my Fattoush salad with grilled chicken on it was good. I liked the Fattoush dressing they have because some places is too sour for me.
(4)Jayson M.
Heard from a friend that this is a great place! I would recommend trying for sure. Can't go wrong with so many locations. It's definitely on my list.
(5)Tim K.
If I could rate this place a 2.5 I would, but I will round up to a 3 because they gave me some wicked good pita bread with my order. The food was decent and priced accordingly as well. My main complaint though was I ordered extra garlic sauce on my Chicken Shawarma Sandwich (as my wife had class that night and I was free to be my stinky garlicky self) and instead there was none on it at all. That stuff is the best part of any Shawarma dish. I am still sticking with Sammy though over at Sahara in St. Clair Shores as my regular spot for Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food. The dude makes a mean Shawarma yo!
(3)Debbie Z.
There are a few LaMarsa Restaurants in the Detroit Metropolitan area. This was my first visit at this establishment, but I have been to another one in Farmington Hills. This particular restaurant is much larger than the one on Middle Belt - very roomy! The waiter came and took our drink orders, no liquor and promptly brought out my tea. There were 5 of us and we ordered 2 fatoosh salads with chicken on top and one order of chicken kabob - the dinner. This was enough to feed all five of us and one person was able to take a nice doggy bag home for her husband! Delicious, absolutely no complaints at all! The server was johnny on the spot and refilled my tea a few times. After drinking so much tea I had to use the restroom facilities. Oh uh! There were two stalls in the women's restroom and I entered the one that was not handicapped. Oh darn, I should've gone to the next stall because there was no toilet paper in the one I was in, so what did I do you ask? I snuck with my pants down to the other one!!!! Disgusting. Also, it did not appear to be clean and you know what I say? If the restrooms aren't clean, what does the kitchen look like? So, I grabbed the waiter and told him that I am a Yelper and he needs to get someone in there ASAP to clean up the restroom. I rejoined my friends and I saw someone going into the restroom with a mop. So, hopefully they took care of that. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the food, and my friends. Would I return to this establishment -- absolutely. But, I don't understand why it cost us so much and there was no liquor involved! $85 including the tip for 2 chicken salads and 1 chicken kabob dinner and coffee, tea, and/or pop. We just split the bill and it came out to $17 each, which if you think of it is not bad.
(4)Corky L.
Been coming to La marsa for years. Best Middle Eastern restaurant in the area. Delicious hummus, Fattoush, Shish tawook, grape leaves, crushed lentil soup, mujadara, etc. Shared the vegetarian feast with my daughter on recent visit and we both loved it, had enough left for lunch the next day. Great owners and staff make it a favorite. Only down side, wish they had beer and wine.
(5)Chinmay A.
The food was decent. The waiter was a bit untrained. He screwed up the order but pretended nothing was wrong. We liked the ambiance, the booths are very comfortable. The entrees can be pricey, I'd recommend the Lentil Soup and the Wraps.
(3)Nha V.
Felt like the food was a bit Americanized. I had the shrawma combo. The chicken was inconsistent and some pieces were saltier than the other. Seemed a bit bland in flavor and a lot of fat. Felt like the garlic spread was very strong in garlic. The free bread was good, love their bread! Very nice atmosphere and service seemed ok. It seemed like they were understaffed but it wasn't that busy when we went.
(3)Yasir K.
Came here with my one and her friend... The food was good ( typical mediterrian ) but this resturant will disappoint u if u r looking for barely classy hang out... The waiters r so in a rush and want u to leave as soon as u finish ur thing ( they throw containers and the check on the table ) as soon as i put the last bite in my mouth without even asking !!! If looking for food it's excellent ,,, otherwise ... It's a trash
(3)Shari A.
Love the Garlic...(got carry-out) no bread this time. They had always given a few pieces with the garlic. Very disappointed that their bread did not accompany an 8 ounce container.
(2)Xu W.
Please be careful to see the check next time. They overcharged me last time.
(1)Michele S.
Large portions and delicious food. The wait staff was welcoming and thoughtful. This is my 12 year old's favorite restaurant. He wants one of everything so he can have a bite of it all, with leftovers!
(4)Ryan H.
Great food and great service. The chicken kofta is excellent and for the lunch special it cost $11.65, plus they give you a ton of food. I go there at least once a week and look forward to it each and every time. Try it, you'll love it!
(5)Z T.
Went on a Saturday afternoon around 4pm based on a groupon that I bought online. Walked and was promptly seated. Appeared only about 2 - 3 other tables. Only 2 waiters on duty. Service was a bit slow, but the food made up for it. Ordered up a Shish Tawook entrée with Salad and Grilled Veggies. Good size chicken breast chunks and Veggies. Will probably go again when in the area.
(4)J. W.
I had a fabulous lunch at La Marsa today. I was promptly seated and within a few moments my drink order taken and some delicious bread delivered. I took advantage of the lunch special of a lamb shawarma sandwich and chicken and veggie soup. The soup arrived first and was loaded with veggies and big chunks of chicken. It wasn't your typical flavor as it was seasoned with a hint of the Middle East. The sandwich came out a bit later, the meal was well paced. The shawarma was delicious. It was balanced in flavor and appropriately sized. With a drink, the meal was around $11 with tip. Given the quality of food, it was a steal. The only odd thing I noticed was that the La Marsa express restaurant and this one were separated by a big plastic drop cloth hanging between the two. I assume they were doing some work and the plastic will be replaced. Regardless, it didn't detract from the dining experience.
(5)Jonathan S.
Had lunch here with a couple friends on a Sunday afternoon. When most of the restaurants in downtown RO are slammed for brunch, this place was essentially empty. However it was not reflective of the food or experience I had there. They start everyone out with pita bread and toum (delicious garlic ambrosia). This is real stone fired pita, not the garbage other places cut into triangles and put into plastic bags. There were three of us and we ordered the sampler platter. It could have served six people easily. It had an array of mezze including dips, grape leaves, falafel, etc. It also comes with various chicken and lamb cuts as well. At $31 this is a bargain if you have a lot of people or want a ton of leftovers. It is one of the last remaining spots in downtown RO for Middle Eastern food, and at these prices and quality I'm not surprised.
(4)D J.
Pictures from Lebanon, touches of Tunisia, the taste of the Mediterranean - in a suburb of Michigan! I may never quite remember to look up if Marsa is a real French word, but I know I'll never quite forget the great food experience at this modest yet amazing restaurant. Amazing since every morsel of the fare was incredible - my favorites - the spicy hummus, filafels, tabbouleh and the mjadra. All but the latter were part of a generous appetizer platter - hands down the best bang for the buck! Interestingly, we learnt the owners don't have a liquor license, but the paucity of options for an oenophile was more than amply made up for by the plenitude for the gastronome! For my part, I loved my fresh fruit beverage that blended with the rest of my healthy but hearty dinner. For anyone that can do justice to a baklava or the ome ali after a two course dinner at LaMarsa, bless your capacious breadbasket!!
(4)Brandy Z.
I am a addict when it comes to this place. I love Lebanese Mediterranean food:) I am so glad its there! Its as known as the old "La Shish".. The wait staff is really nice, friendly and really good looking especially the guys at take out always smiling and quick:). When you dine in the manager usually comes over to make sure your experience is well. I usually go there for takeout and they have a separate takeout section of the building with a separate door. I usually get tomato kibbe which is fabulous and tabouli. Its hard to find tomato kibbe around but they make it great here and the tabouli is better then most places. they have a very formal dining area with white tablecloths, you can dress up or dress down here. I like this place better then Beirut Palace in Royal Oak the only thing they have on this place is there bread is more yummy. But the bread is also really good here and when you order take out you watch them take the fresh bread out of the oven in the bag for you. The have really good raw juices The menu is awesome and has a good party menu incase you have a bunch of friends with you. The prices are reasonable to
(5)