La Shish — Restaurant in Dearborn

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the city, La Shish is the kind of mom-and-pop Mediterranean restaurant that feels like a well-kept secret. The moment you step through the door, you're greeted by the comforting aromas of fresh herbs, grilled meats, and warm spices that immediately set the tone for what promises to be an authentic dining experience. The interior is simple yet charming, with a cozy, unpretentious ambiance that invites you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the meal ahead. The walls are adorned with rustic decor that pays homage to the restaurant's Mediterranean roots, and the friendly staff, often family members of the owners, make you feel like a welcome guest in their home.

But it’s the food that truly defines La Shish. The menu, a carefully curated selection of Mediterranean classics, is a testament to the rich culinary traditions of the region. Each dish is prepared with an evident passion for flavor, using fresh ingredients that elevate even the simplest of offerings. The hummus, creamy and smooth with a hint of lemon and garlic, is an ideal start to the meal, especially when paired with the warm, pillowy pita bread that arrives straight from the oven. The tabbouleh, bright and refreshing with its mix of parsley, tomatoes, and bulgur, is a perfect balance of tangy and fresh, offering a vibrant counterpoint to the richer flavors on the menu.

The entrees are where La Shish truly shines. The kebabs, whether lamb, chicken, or beef, are expertly grilled, tender, and infused with a blend of spices that highlight the natural flavors of the meat. The lamb, in particular, is a standout—juicy, succulent, and perfectly seasoned, it’s clear that this dish is prepared with both skill and love. For seafood lovers, the grilled fish is a must-try, flaky and moist with a subtle char that adds depth to its flavor.

Accompanying the mains are sides that are just as thoughtfully prepared. The rice, fragrant and fluffy, and the roasted vegetables, lightly charred and seasoned to perfection, round out the meal beautifully. Even the simplest of dishes, like the lentil soup, is a revelation—rich, hearty, and spiced just right, it’s comfort in a bowl.

La Shish is a reminder of what makes mom-and-pop restaurants so special. The food is made with care, the service is warm and personal, and the atmosphere is inviting. In a world where dining out can often feel rushed or impersonal, La Shish offers a refreshing return to what dining should be: a place to savor good food, good company, and the simple pleasures of a...

What a wonderful dining experience! My husband and I were in Dearborn, Michigan from Toledo, Ohio to do some holiday shopping and we stopped at LaShish for dinner and from the moment we stepped out of the car and could smell the grilled meats to the moment we left, very full, we were happy. Our waitress, LV, was friendly, attentive, upbeat, and professional and even made a great suggestion on one of the items we ordered. We had the hummus with lamb and, at LV's suggestion, we got it a little spicy, and it was amazing! The meat was cooked to perfection and that little bit of spice didn't add much heat, but it really added a lot of flavor! The portion was huge for the price, so we just ended up getting half orders of the Greek salad and the Village salad and they were both delicious. The half order is a very substantial full salad....a full order must be enormous! The complimentary fresh from the oven little pita breads were so wonderful and went perfectly with the housemade "salsa" and garlic dip! We liked our food so much, we ended up ordering another hummus and lamb to go and dropped it off at our son's house on the way home. He loved it as well! We highly recommend this wonderful restaurant for excellent food, terrific service, and very nice atmosphere. Come hungry and leave full and happy!! We stopped here again while in the area and it was even better this time! We had to get the lamb (spicy) with hummus again, the amazing garlic dip, and wonderful fresh and still warm pita bread. This time we added an order of the lamb grape leaves and a fattoush salad and both were outstanding! Some of the best grape leaves we've ever had and the salad was so fresh and delicious with the most wonderful homemade dressing! The waitress, Amanda, was upbeat, attentive, and so friendly ... she made the experience even more terrific. We will definitely be back...

To begin, horrible experience. This has been the absolute worst restaurant experience. To begin we walked in and it took 5 minutes for a server to greet and seat us even though the restaurant was practically half empty. The manager then came over, who was really nice, to greet us and we proceeded to order. We ordered the La Shisha tray and we were told it’ll take 25 minutes which was fine as it was a large order. As we were waiting we can hear all the commotion going on in the kitchen which was not a good sign. The kitchen seemed to be extremely backed up and disorganized with the servers and manager shouting out orders back and forth right in front of all the customers. All that shouting made the experience unpleasant.

Now, for the food. They first brought out the bread, cold... which was the first red flag. Then the hummus, baba ghanoush, and salad were all extremely sour. The three soups we received were either bland or extremely salty. The food was all cold. The shish kabobs were undercooked while the kafta kabobs were over cooked, cold, and dry. The rest of the food, including the rice were really cold. We honestly didn’t put a dent in our plates as we just couldn’t eat it.

The restrooms definitely need some looking after. It’s really dirty with no paper towels or toilet paper and it was infested with a ton of flies.

I honestly don’t understand where the rest of these good reviews come from.

Summary, if you don’t want to read all that lol. Staff is nice, friendly, and disorganized. Food is either cold, undercooked, overcooked, bland, or extremely salty. If I could give 0 stars I would. Hopefully they can get themselves together and...