The Lebanese food slinging days at La Shish are over. The restaurant chain went out of business Saturday night, leaving some 350 workers at 11 restaurants out in the cold.
According to the Detroit Free Press:
...the Dearborn-based chain, consisting of 11 restaurants and a central food preparation commissary, suffered a 50% drop in revenue after federal agents raided Chahine's homes and businesses in 2005 looking for evidence of a $6.5-million tax evasion scheme.
Federal prosecutors said Chahine sent much of the money to his native Lebanon, where he fled in 2005 to avoid prosecution, and that he had links to Hizballah, which the U.S. State Department has designated as a Lebanese terrorist group.
Johnny is saddened. He ADORED the cornish hens and Arabic coffee there. He's also bummed some of his money MAY have been used for shady purposes.
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7 comments:
I was under the impression that the Carpenter Road La Shish was a separate entity, owned by someone else. If so, it might still be in business.
But, personally, I think the food is better at Pita Pita. Cheaper, too.
I've had really good food at Alnoor, as well, but have to admit I haven't been in there in a year or so.
You may be right, I didn't check, I just saw the entire LaShish name had closed. I did find myself preferring the Canton food to the Ann Arbor one. I mentioned the Ann Arbor franchise to the host as I was checking out one night in Canton he kinda rolled his eyes about it.
I agree with Eric. We had chicken shawarma at Pita Pita a few days ago and it was not only fresh and delicious but served with flair, with the ingredients arranged with style and artistry on the plate.
The staff was nice, too. That one visit put Pita Pita on our list of restaurants to visit regularly. YUM!
I like both Al Noor and Pita Pita, but IMO the best food of this genre in Ypsi was at the Pita Hut, at the former A&W next to the former Cottage Inn a half mile east on Washtenaw from the first two. Best tawook and, hands down, the best falafel in the area. Only lasted about a year, unfortunately. We never saw more than three tables of guests other than ours, even on a Saturday evening. We miss it.
I work in Dearborn, and go past the La Shish offices and warehouse on Rotunda each day. I always got a chuckle out of their billboard: "Fresh, healthy, honest!" Well, mostly.
I also work in Dearborn. There a many, many fantasic restaurants there that, IMHO, beat La Shish hands down. Nothing against La Shish, but there are so many smaller proprieters out there trying to make a go of it - without all the baggage.
I have never been to the La Shish in Ann Arbor - is it any good?
I think what La Shish did was show what a huge market there is for Middle Eastern and Lebanese food here in SE Michigan even outside the Arabic areas of Dearborn proper.
SE Michigan loves us some Middle Eastern grub.
glimmertwinfan--I think the La Shish in Dearborn and Canton were a slight cut above Ann Arbor's fare. But since the Ann Arbor La Shish is all we have left.....
Coincidentally, AAN just reviewed Al Noor.
I can only remember going to La Shish twice -- interestingly, both times it was with out of town guests. At least some of these guests were definitely used to having dinner in relatively fancier places.
So, while I prefer the small local places, there's certainly a market niche a more upscale ambiance.
Well, upscale from a converted donut shot or taco store....
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