Al Sultan Restaurant — Restaurant in Garden City

Al Sultan: Where the Salad is Soggy and the Owner Thinks He’s Your Daddy

About 15 years ago, I lived near Al Sultan, and when I recently had a craving for a chicken fattoush salad they were the first place that came to mind. Big mistake.

I picked up the salad between 7 and 8 PM to take to work. A couple of hours later, I sat down ready to enjoy it—only to be hit with disappointment. It didn’t taste anything like the salad I remembered. The chicken was off. The lettuce? Wilted, mushy, and disgusting. And to make matters worse, they had already drenched the whole thing in dressing. Pita chips included—so you know they were soggy and sad.

Now look—I’m not someone who lets money go to waste. So I called the restaurant to let them know what happened. I spoke with someone named Sam—maybe the manager, maybe the owner. Instead of a simple explanation or even an apology, I got a full-blown lecture like I was his teenage daughter who broke curfew.

Sam told me “this is how everyone does it.” Really? Because I’ve eaten at Outback, Texas Roadhouse, Red Lobster, Flemmings, The Highland, Bucharest Grill, and more Mediterranean restaurants than I can count—and nobody ever pre-drenches a salad for takeout.

All I was trying to explain was common sense: I didn’t eat the salad right away. So of course the pita chips turned to mush, and the lettuce followed. If he’d just said, “Next time, request the dressing on the side,” this review wouldn’t even exist.

But no—this man stood in front of guests, likely his wife and child as well the way they were gaping and gave me a verbal spanking. Who talks to customers like that? Who talks to anybody like that?

Thank God for a little weed and some self-restraint, because I almost lost it. I reminded him: I’m not one of your kids. Either remake my food, give me my money back, or hush. He chose to remake it.

But let me be clear—I will never eat there again. I handed that salad to a homeless man on my way home. Why? Because after the way I was spoken to, I had lost all appetite. That food carried the taste of disrespect.

I used to recommend this place. Never again. In fact, I will now go out of my way to discourage anyone from eating there. Unless, of course, you’re into soggy salads and surprise lectures from men who think they’re your...

Handa down this is THE best arabic food in Michigan, maybe anywhere! And Im Persian! The restaurant is so clean you could eat off the floor (not really, but its seriously spot less!) the staff and owner are extremely friendly and make you feel so welcome and appreciated (opposite of Beirut restaurant about 10 mins up the street that treats their customers like trash!) the food is to die for! I have never had a bad meal here, as a matter of fact nothing here has ever been less then delicious! The shish tawook, beef shwarma, and kibbie are some of my favorites! And the hummus is better then home made! I also love the pickled cabbage and peppers they bring out for free! Everything ia good here so you cant go wrong! Excellent food is only one part of a successful business, you need outstanding customer service, consistency, and cleanliness and Al Sultan does NOT disappoint or lack in any of those areas! I dont have a single negative thing to say about this place, oh also their prices are super reasonable! By far my absolute favorite restaurant! I crave this daily, it never gets old! I cant understand how anyone could have anything negative to say, in over 20 years I have not once had a bad experience! Definitely check this place out for authentic Arabic food in a clean atmosphere with...

For the first time since 2008 I had the worst experience here today. I ordered 2 of the grilled deboned chicken half, chicken, rice, and onions only. No sauce, no pickled veggie. When I received my food, both had sauce and pickled veggies. I let the 2 young ladies there know my order was wrong, the lady that took my order apologized, the second came and ask did I order it without sauce and pickled veggies, I told her I did, she said the ticket didn’t say that, I explained that was how I ordered the second lady questioned as if I did something wrong and had such a nasty disposition doing so. I decided to take my wrong order and go, but when I got in my car I thought how unfair is that? I pay for a service and don’t get what I paid and tipped for and I’m going to accept it? No, so I took the order back in to get it corrected, a mistake is ok, but to treat the people that help keep your business healthy and thriving, as if they aren’t contributing to the your business and you don’t need your customers, is exactly why the lost a faithful customer. Al Sultan died with Covid, I will never return or suggest anyone to spend...