Several Michigan restaurants provide residents and visitors with a range of culinary offerings. From a Grand Rapids brewery serving Puerto Rican fare to a family-owned Lebanese restaurant in Birmingham, diverse cuisine are available in every corner of the state.
Where Cultures Collide
In Grand Rapids, City Built Brewing Company offers a unique menu of Puerto Rican bites to go along with its craft beers. Edwin Collazo, co-founder of City Built, brings his roots to the table and welcomes others to do the same.
“We are really kind of a melting pot of food because that was my experience growing up,” Collazo says.
The menu at City Built features everything from Bori balls, a Puerto Rican-inspired rice croquette served with an in-house sofrito blend, to yuca fries and tostones perfect for snacking on with a drink.
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Some of City Built’s unique brews are a tribute to this blend of cultures, including the Alemania beer, a traditionally German lager with a Mexican influence. Collazo’s upcoming venture, Mi Gente, aims to develop new beers in collaboration with other breweries that highlight different brewers and businesses in the Latin community.
City Built has become a hub for the Grand Rapids community. The pandemic prompted the brewery to open a takeout window for beer, allowing visitors to enjoy their drinks on the go and walk in the nearby park or along the Grand River. Collazo has made it a priority to ensure that
City Built is a welcoming environment for all.
“One of our taglines is ‘where cultures collide’ and I see that playing out in our taproom, which is great,” Collazo says.
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A Family Legacy
The story of Phoenicia began when Sameer Eid purchased his favorite hole-in-the-wall Lebanese restaurant in Highland Park. More than 50 years later, the restaurant is still in the family.
“It’s unique to have a restaurant survive that long,” says Samy Eid, Sameer’s son and CEO of Chickpea Hospitality, which oversees Phoenicia along with several other Michigan restaurants.
Since reopening in Birmingham, Phoenicia has gained a loyal clientele, including second- and third-generation customers.
“We’ve built a business by taking care of our guests and treating them like family,” Eid says.
“It’s home.”
Specializing in Lebanese food, Phoenicia’s menu has changed very little throughout its history, a testament to its timelessness. From vegetarian offerings like falafel and tabouleh to lamb chops and chicken shawarma, the menu is a tour of traditional Lebanese fare.
A small plaque on the outside of the building signifies its longstanding presence. Community relationships and word of mouth have built Phoenicia’s steady reputation.
“Birmingham has been nothing but welcoming and supportive of this restaurant for over
40 years now,” Eid says.
Phoenicia has long been a staple in the Birmingham community. The restaurant supports local farmers markets and charities, and much of the produce used in its kitchens is locally sourced and hand-picked. Coming from a family of immigrants, Eid notes the importance of diverse options in both food and cultural offerings.
“Nothing opens you up to another person’s culture quite like food,” Eid says.
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A Welcoming Space
For Michigan restaurant owners, providing an experience of different cultures has enriched their surrounding communities. Longtime regulars and culinary adventurers alike are welcome to experience these spaces.
“The more diversity we have in our restaurants, our communities and life, the better off everybody is,” Eid says.
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