S
uperlative chicken shwarma is
what made Bucharest Grill a
Detroit dining essential.
Contrary to expectation, the shwarma
at Bucharest Grill is not a
Middle Eastern specialty.
Instead, owner Bogdan
Tarasov said the grilled
marinated chicken breast is a
Turkish Empire import to his
native Romania. Whatever
its heritage, Tarasov
s grilled
marinated chicken breast has
received numerous accolades
from local media outlets and
enthusiastic customers.
Diner Jerry Krugel of
Detroit admits to never order-
ing anything else but shwarma off the
restaurant
s menu: It is a succulent, juicy
chicken sandwich with a great-tasting
sauce.
Bucharest Grill opened in December
2006 and spent more than nine years on
Park Avenue, around the corner from
Cliff Bell
s. After the building owner
reclaimed the space for another purpose,
Tarasov opened an 80-seater this year
in the Rivertown District. The location
on Jefferson Avenue is east of Chene
Street, between the RenCen and Belle Isle
Bridge.
Two smaller Bucharest Grill outposts
were already in Detroit: the Milwaukee
Junction location for 25 at 110 Piquette
and a carryout in Corktown at 1623
Michigan. Bucharest Grill will move
uptown with a fourth restaurant this year
on Livernois, south of Eight Mile.
Tarasov, 40, was a canoeing/kayak-
ing coach before joining a friend living
in Detroit in 2001. Now married and
an expectant father, Tarasov admitted,
I didn
t know the restaurant business,
but knew I wanted a place that would be
open a lot. I didn
t open to make money.
I never knew how this [Bucharest Grill]
would take off.
When I went, my heart leaped with
anticipation watching streams of din-
ers drifting in and out of the Jefferson
Avenue Bucharest Grill in an otherwise
nondescript shopping plaza. I liked hav-
ing free parking.
I noticed the menu was highly interna-
tional with nothing particularly spicy.
I
m from the Black Sea part
of Romania, which has more of a
Mediterranean influence,
Tarasov
explained.
Simple salt and garlic are the two most
frequent spices in combinations he devel-
oped for his own menu items.
I
m the one tasting, and I have
employees who follow the recipes,
he
said. We have a warehouse in Corktown
where we make the sauces, and slice and
marinate the meat,
he said. The meat
is purchased from the Wolverine
and Fairway packing companies
in Detroit
s Eastern Market.
With such care, the food is
noticeably handmade, not pre-
made, at Bucharest Grill.
My co-diner was bowled over
by the huge quantity of shwarma
placed on her dinner-sized chick-
en salad, enough for a second
meal. We shared a plate of excel-
lent hummus, widely ringed with
paprika.
I tried stuffed pepper for an
entree more typically Romanian. After
the delectable, sweet-and-sour Jewish-
style pepper, this is my new favorite.
The subtle sauce for the pepper
s blend of
ground beef, rice and Romanian spices
was not the typical tomato-dominant
kind I don
t enjoy.
I was pleasantly surprised by my
home-style potatoes. They consisted
of thick-sliced potatoes, of course, but
also sauteed carrots, pepper and onion.
Get them! Muenster cheese or chicken
shwarma can be added for an additional
charge.
House specialties here include
stuffed grape leaves (served with sour
cream!) and Romanian sausage, falafel or
chicken quesadilla, rib-eye steak, shnitzel
plate and skinless sausage. Some start-
ers are cheese pie turnover, chicken
bites, eggplant dip and various hummus
combos. The six gourmet dogs varieties
begin with either knockwurst, bratwurst
or kielbasa.
There are burgers and sliders featuring
different proteins, eight salads and home-
made crepes for dessert.
Young ladies take orders at a counter,
tip jars beside them. A swarm of employ-
ees wearing black crew shirts are hard at
work in the visible kitchen.
Bucharest Grill does a big carryout
business, too. For example, a six-pack of
shwarma costs $25.
Tarasov said he
ll stay a Detroit-based
operation. This is something just for
Detroit. People from everywhere are
coming to Detroit.
*
54 September 1 2016
out to eat
dining around the d
arts & life
Esther Allweiss
Ingber
Contributing
Writer
Bucharest Grill
2684 E. Jefferson
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 965-3111
www.bucharestgrill.com
$$ out of $$$$$
Bucharest Grill
Chicken shwarma with a Romanian twist.
EXQUISITE FOOD & EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
EpicKosher.com
Catering@EpicKosher.com
Supervised by the Council of Orthodox Rabbis of Greater Detroit
CHOLOV YISROEL
KOSHER CUISINE
GLATT
KOSHER CUISINE
2046060
Off
/
2
2053730
248.476.0044
Not good with any other coupons.
Not good on holidays. One coupon per couple. Up to $30
Expires 9/30/16
Not good with any other coupon.
Not good on holidays. One coupon per couple. Up to $30
Expires 9/30/16
Kids
Eat Free
Monday
THE GALLERY RESTAURANT
Daily Special to choose from for lunch & dinner
Dinner specials come with complimentary rice or chocolate pudding or jello
For 40 years, Gallery Restaurant has served up masterpieces
~ Danny Raskin
www.thegalleryrestaurant2.com
OPEN 7 DAYS:
Now Serving
Beer & Wine
1998780
Visit Facebook
for Full Menu
Sandwiches, Soups, Salads, Party Trays and more!
per person
pick up or delivery
Deli Trays
$999
only
$2 OFF
purchase of $15 or more
Dine-in or Carry-Out.
With JN coupon only.
Not valid with any other offers.
$4 OFF
purchase of $20 or more
Dine-in or Carry-Out.
With JN coupon only.
Not valid with any other offers.
1lb. choice of Meat, 1 Loaf
of Bread, 1lb. Potato Salad or
Cole Slaw, 1 Quart of Soup,
Pickles & Russian Dressing.
$25.50
With JN coupon only.
Not valid with any other offers.
3258 Orchard Lake Rd.
Orchard Lake
(Just North of Commerce Rd.)