Frugal Friday at Chef Restaurant Mediterranean Grill - many filling options fit a tight budget

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor
We were greeted by a very warm and friendly hostess/waitress, who let us pick whichever table we wanted. As we perused the menu, it was clear that there were many items which would qualify for our mandatory frugal budget of $5 per person: soups, sandwiches, salads, desserts... an entire array.

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor
He also ordered a side of fries for $2.95, which would make a nice snack with a soda or juice. The small order was still quite a good size, so I can't imagine how much you'd get for the large one!
I decided to start with a cup of the lovely lentil soup, which cost $2.50. It was rich, but not heavy, and subtly spiced. It was a perfect serving if you were going to help your son to eat the copious quantity of french fries he'd ordered.

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor
The chef, who is originally from Lebanon and has an impressive background of international travel and culinary experience, came out to the dining area briefly and smiled happily as Jeremy and I told him how wonderful his food was. Our waitress then brought over a laptop, after watching me take the necessary pictures of our dinner, and showed gorgeous photos of elaborate displays that the chef has prepared. Had we ordered more expensive meals — none very highly priced, but more than our $5 budget would allow — our plates would have been works of art.
There are many vegetarian options at the Chef Restaurant, and everything we ate was fabulous. The next time you're craving Middle Eastern food, be sure to stop by and indulge for very reasonable prices!

Mary Bilyeu, Contributor
Chef Restaurant Mediterranean Grill 1098 N. Huron River Drive Ypsilanti, MI 48197 734-544-1161 Monday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday: Noon - 9 p.m. Sunday: closed

Go visit Mary's blog — Food Floozie — where she enthuses and effuses over all things food-related; and look for her monthly articles in the Washtenaw Jewish News. "Like" her on Facebook, or send a tweet on Twitter, too.
The phrase "You Should Only Be Happy" (written in Hebrew on the stone pictured in this post) comes from Deuteronomy 16:15 and is a wish for all her readers - when you come to visit here, may you always be happy.
Comments
UncleMao
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 4:13 p.m.
Mary, totally dig your articles, and I can't help feeling paranoid that I'm going to come accross as a nitpicky A2.com reader, but here goes: Is your $5 a person budget a rough number, or am I missing something? You and Jer spent $12.95 -- not including drinks, tax and tip. Maybe it's $5 per item? I look to the Frugal write up to target places for a cheap lunch. A $5 budget is tough in this town. I appreciate your effort!
WlZ
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 4:23 p.m.
I've said this before, but need to repeat: Mary is giving a taste of more than just the food for $5. It's a wonderful service to have someone vet different restaurants for food, ambiance, and the experience a person can have enjoying all the fine venues offered in Ann Arbor, without going bankrupt doing so.
Sarah Rigg
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
Poor Mary can't win. She's engaged in the comments before and was told she was defensive and shouldn't be talking back to complainers. Now, when she doesn't defend her $5 limit, she "no longer deigns to answer questions on that topic." Anyway, in response to UncleMao, her schtick has always been finding treats or noshes - NOT necessarily a whole meal - for $5 or under.
BobbyJohn
Mon, Nov 12, 2012 : 11:07 p.m.
Mary is very defensive about her $5 target and no longer deigns to answer questions on that topic. In general, she is just looking for a less expensive restaurant and the $5 no longer applies. Places with an actual $5 max are rare.
Ron Granger
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 4:06 p.m.
Sounds like a great option for the East side!
Billy
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
"The chef, who is originally from Lebanon" That's all you had to say....I'm going. They will have homemade Toom. I just wish there was a restaurant that served Tadig.