"As the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, we all need a place to go to where we can experience an atmosphere of entertainment and enjoyment with friends and loved ones," says Elias Haijar, co-owner and head chef of Gemmayze Lebanese Kitchen and Lounge in Royal Oak. "Our goal in opening this unique restaurant was to create a place where people can sit back and enjoy a blend of contemporary and cultured atmosphere with other stylish and trendy people."
Haijar has over 15 years of restaurant experience, making him an expert in Mediterranean cuisine. He selects only the finest ingredients and crafts them into the most delectable dishes in order to bring customers the very best dining experience available in Metro Detroit.
"There are so many options for dining in Metro Detroit and most of them fit within a certain mold. We wanted to do something different, and we really think we've nailed it with Gemmayze," says Nicholas Aubrey, co-owner and business manager of Gemmayze. "There are literally no other restaurants around that capture the upscale essence of a big city entertainment district the way we do."
The Hajjar legacy continues in Royal Oak as Hajjar opens the doors and invites you to enjoy time-honored traditional family recipes with a much more modern flair inside Gemmayze. In 1977, the Beirut restaurant in Toledo, Ohio was established. It has now been serving homemade Lebanese food to its loyal patrons for over 30 years. Now, the culinary delights of hummus, grape leaves and kibbee, made from scratch using recipes passed on from generations, and originally made famous by Labib Hajjar and Riad Abourrage, are presented in a new and wonderful way by Elias Hajjar.
"Though we modeled the restaurant after the district with the same name in Beirut, we really want everyone to know that you don't have to be of an Arab heritage to enjoy the subtle Lebanese tones, delicious fare and exciting entertainment that makes Gemmayze the destination of choice for the hippest and savviest people in Metro Detroit," says Aubrey.
"We want people of all backgrounds to experience the finest of what Beirut nightlife has to offer without having to travel halfway across the globe. From our full bar and lounge area to our delectable dining experience, Gemmayze offers patrons the spirit of Beirut's entertainment district in an upscale, fashionable environment. I think our slogan says it best: 'Gemmayze, An Authentic Meal. An Unforgettable Experience.'"
For more information, please visit http://www.gemmayzemichigan.com.
