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The worlds of Syrian cuisine and French baking are not often intertwined, but the so aptly named Exotic Bakeries and Syrian Cuisine proves that this combination can stimulate the pleasure receptors of most every taste bud residing in a college student’s mouth.  Often overlooked, this walk-in sandwich and dessert shop has subsisted for almost 20 years under the masterful guise of Jinan Elkhatib and his wife Monib.  Through providing enormous portions teeming with overwhelming quality, this couple has captured the hearts of savvy Ann Arbor foodies for years.

Located in the plaza at the intersection of Murfin and Plymouth Road, just beyond North Campus, Exotic Bakeries and Syrian Cuisine is a positive island among the sea of negatives that is North Campus living.  For $6-10, a guest can receive any permutation of sandwiches or combos involving shawarma, kafta, tabbouli, hommous, kibbee, and all the other Middle-Eastern favorites that make its cuisine so delectable.  Jinan or his wife will assemble the food right in front of you, heaping on enough tantalizing ingredients to make you wonder why you would ever spend $7 on a Panchero’s burrito again.
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Are my arteries THAT important?
Sundays spent lounging inside a restaurant’s kitchen are a peaceful time.  There is no sizzling, no slicing, and no yelling, partially because there are often no customers.  With a giant deep fryer only feet away, curiosity reigns supreme.  If they can deep fry potatoes and fish, why not cherries or sandwiches?  We did.  Here’s a report:
  • Sandwiches: The more simple the sandwich the better.  It’s really just like grilling the bread hundreds of times over.  On the other hand, don’t overlook the ecstasy that can result from a monstrous breaded Rueben whose Thousand Island dressing is dripping down your forearms.
  • Bar Fruit: This probably isn’t a shock, but deep fried cherries and oranges are subpar.  They taste just like a regular cherry or orange, only with breading and hypertension as an outer layer.
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“I’m only smiling because I want your money.”
You’re a college student.  After purchasing your $30 ticket to see Girl Talk, $200 worth of hockey season tickets, and a hyper trendy $50 Urban Outfitters cardigan, you realize that you bank account is running at a perilous low.  You need to get a job, but class starts at 11:00 and you despise hearing your alarm clock anytime before that.  Where do you go?  A restaurant, of course!  

As a veteran of this process, I hope to shed a little light on the different positions available and their respective benefits and disadvantages.  Most places are far from perfect, but knowing what exactly you are getting into could prevent a nasty firing, replete with broken glasses and middle fingers.

Here are the most common positions available:
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