Among the offerings at Skewers (counterclockwise from top left): Shnitzel, imported beverages, hummus, Caramel Cheesecake, falafel and Jerusalem Mix.
WORTH
FINDING
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Hidden away, Skewers is worth the search and discovery.
BY ANNABEL COHEN I PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGIE BAAN
lended into a strip mall on
Haggerty Road, just north
of Maple, Skewers
International Grill isn't very eye-catch-
ing. The only thing that hints at
Skewers' secret life is the disco ball
hanging smack center — on Friday
nights the restaurant offers live Russian
music and dancing; on Saturday nights,
Israeli music and karaoke.
But what this small diner lacks in
ambiance is balanced in a charming and
attentive staff. Skewers is truly a family
enterprise. My party was seated by the
white-aproned owner, Russian-born
Moshe Shalmiez, whose family has been
in the restaurant and catering business
for 30 years in Russia, near the Caucasus
Mountains, and, until three years ago, in
Israel.
We were surprised to find a profes-
sional-looking and whip-smart 13-year-
old with pad and pencil ready to answer
our questions about the menu. This
capable young waiter, Or, is Moshe's
son. Later, older son and restaurant part-
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ner Shy enquired how we were enjoying
our meal.
While many restaurants go overboard
on the details of each menu item,
Skewers explains nothing. There are
those who may not need descriptions of
the multi-ethnic offerings. But entrees
like Jerusalem Mix, an Israeli staple, and
Shnitzel and Chicken Aristocrat left me
wondering what to expect. Also includ-
ed on the eclectic menu are dishes like
spaghetti with meat or marinara sauce
and seven appetizer offerings from all
points of the compass, including
bourikas, falafel, wing dings, onion rings,
hummus, fresh mozzarella and sliced
tomatoes, and a pickle platter — a typi-
cal Russian appetizer.
Aside from all of this, the food at
Skewers is pretty good. Some of the
choices were excellent and some were
merely average. The falafel was among
the best I've ever tasted — light, hot
and extremely fresh. The bourikas --
apparently authentic — seemed heavy
on the puff pastry and light on the pota-
to-mushroom filling.
The soups — cabbage borsht, lentil
and mushroom barley — were all hot
and Well seasoned. The salad we
ordered — Greek — was uninspired and
included canned black olives.
Our group of four each ordered
something different. The Jerusalem
Mix, we found out, was a boneless
chicken stew served with sliced raw
onions over spiced and pureed potatoes.
The Israeli sandwich we ordered was
tasty, but the baguette we ordered was
more like a hoagie roll.
A better choice would have been the
delicious, fluffy, homemade pita, which
came to us steaming hot when we asked
to taste it. The Pan Fried Whole White
Bass was delicious and well made, as
was the shnitzel, a breaded chicken cut-
let served with stewed baby carrots.
Other menu items include salmon,
chicken, tenderloin or lamb kabobs, two
types of shwarma, lamb ribs and chops.
For dessert, Skewers serves local
favorite Ray's Ice Cream in chocolate
and vanilla and, on this day, several
types of cheesecakes and cannoli. The
spare portion of rich cheesecake turned
out to be the perfect size; the cannoli
was fresh but not exceptional.
Skewers is definitely worth a visit.
The owners are delightful and the prices
affordable — nothing on the menu costs
more than $14.95, including the 12-
ounce tenderloin filet (which we did not
sample). Each dish comes with soup or
salad, vegetables and a choice of rice,
spaghetti or mashed potatoes. Lunch
specials for $4.95 include large sand-
wiches with a choice of soup or salad.
Go to the Web site for the full menu
and coupons. ❑
Skewers International Grill
6283 Haggerty Road
West Bloomfield
skewersmideastgrill.com
(248) 960-3460
Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnigh
Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.