"Middle Eastern food" covers a region bigger than Western Europe, so it's no surprise the cooking varies. Royal Palace Grill's menu draws on two traditions in particular, Iraqi and Lebanese, and guests often ask us what separates them. Here's the short answer.
Lebanese: the mezze table
Lebanese cooking is what most Americans picture when they hear "Mediterranean": a table of small plates (hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouli), fresh herbs and lemon everywhere, garlicky shish tawook, and toum, the whipped garlic sauce. Flavors are bright and clean. Olive oil is the fat of choice.
Iraqi: rice, stews and the grill
Iraqi food leans heartier. Rice is central, often cooked with saffron and served in generous mounds. Slow-cooked stews over rice are everyday food, and a whole seasoned chicken with rice and stew is exactly the kind of family meal you'd find in Baghdad. Spicing is warmer and deeper: baharat blends, dried lime, cardamom. And Iraq has a serious grill culture: kafta and tikka cooked over charcoal are national dishes, and whole grilled fish, inspired by the Tigris-side tradition of masgouf, is a celebration meal.
Where each shows up on our menu
| Tradition | On the Royal Palace menu |
|---|---|
| Lebanese side | Hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouli, falafel, toum, shish tawook, shawarma sandwiches |
| Iraqi side | Saffron rice, Whole Chicken with Rice & Stew, Curry with Potatoes, kafta and tikka kabobs, whole fish |
| Shared | Charcoal kabobs, pita, pickles, Arabic salad, fresh lemon juice, hot tea |
Why serve both?
Because that's how people in this community actually eat. Metro Detroit has one of the largest Middle Eastern populations in the country, with deep Lebanese and Iraqi roots side by side, and a table here is likely to want hummus and stew over rice. Cooking both, over real charcoal, with halal meat, is the whole idea of Royal Palace Grill.
Come taste the difference: 6123 Haggerty Rd, West Bloomfield, open daily 12 to 7, Saturdays from 11. The full menu is online.
Questions people ask
Is Royal Palace Grill an Iraqi restaurant or a Lebanese restaurant?
Both. Our menu draws on Iraqi cooking (saffron rice, stews, charcoal kafta and tikka, whole fish) and Lebanese cooking (mezze, shish tawook, shawarma, toum).
What is a typical Iraqi dish?
Rice with a slow-cooked stew is the everyday Iraqi meal, and charcoal-grilled kafta and tikka are the classic grill dishes. Our Whole Chicken with Rice & Stew is a good example.
What is the most famous Lebanese dish?
Hummus and tabbouli are the best-known, usually served as part of a mezze spread with warm pita.
