DAVISON, MI – A new fast casual Mediterranean restaurant that recently opened is providing a fresh option for diners in Davison.
Zatar & Olive, located at 415 N. State Road (M-15), Ste. C., opened its doors to the public on March 6, owner Jim Joubran told MLive-The Flint Journal.
“We have quite a few bugs to work out, but overall, we’ve gotten excellent customer feedback about the food,” said Joubran, adding “We appreciate our customers understanding that while we get into (our) rhythm.”
Mo Aboneaaj, vice president of business development, previously described the restaurant as “the only Middle Eastern fast casual cuisine” in the area.
“Everything’s fresh, the meat is halal,” he said. “We have line items on our menu that you won’t find at a Pita Way, if you will.”
Items on Zatar & Olive’s menu include chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, kafta, and falafel sandwiches; falafel, kafta skewer, chicken shawarma, and beef shawarma bowls; zatar and mozzarella cheese bread; tabbouli and fattoush salads; appetizers including hummus and pita bread; and, a Dubai-style chocolate torte.
The full menu can be found here.
Joubran has said many of the recipes came from his mother Eva.
“A lot of my friends who came over would eat my mom’s food and they would love it,” he said.
Joubran said the restaurant would provide a chance to bring those recipes to the masses “so everybody could enjoy it.”
In terms of picking Davison as the restaurant’s first location, Aboneaaj said they “are very community driven and we are very deeply rooted here in the community,” with plans to donate food remaining on a daily basis to nonprofit organization Outreach East.
“They’re going to see what we believe to be a top-notch restaurant,” he said, with an aim moving forward of expanding to Grand Blanc, as well as possible locations in Lapeer, Oxford, Clarkston, Ann Arbor and East Lansing.
Before those plans are further developed, Joubran said “My main focus right now is Davison and making sure the customers have a good experience.”
Hours of operation for Zatar & Olive are from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sundays.
Read more Flint-area business news here.
Dining and Cooking