If you blink, you’ll miss it – Jerusalem Garden in Ann Arbor

Tucked into the side of South Fifth Avenue is where you’ll find the best damn falafel and hummous sandwiches in the midwest. I’ve been going there for years and still can’t get enough. And it’s usually the only place that isn’t packed after a football game. That all has changed now as word got out and it was packed after a football game. DAMN! Oh well, the wait was only about 15 minutes and would’ve been quicker if we could’ve shuffled the drunk revelers out of the carry-out line a bit quicker. Of course, the carry out and the seating lines are one in the same at The Garden. By the way, seating is limited to about two dozen and when we arrived all two dozen were occupied.


Damn fine Lentil Soup at The Garden

As winter had already set-in, in Michigan (winter officially arrives in Michigan in early September), some hot lentil soup was in season. It was a delicious start to The Garden’s delicacies. Goes extra good with sliced lemon, indeed. And feast your eyes on the tabbouleh salad (wikipedia says two b’s). I’m going to have to rate this tabbouleh ahead of Alladin’s and Pita Hut ‘n’ Grille in Columbus-town.


The Jerusalem Burgoo – aka Burger

I asked the recommendation of the server as to the Jerusalem Burger or the Kibbeh Sandwich. Without hesitation, she said go with the Burgoo. So away we went. The Jerusalem version of the Burgoo is a lamb dish wrapped in pita. My camera flash bleached it out a little bit but it was still mighty tasty.


Chicken Schawarma plate at The Garden

In the words of the Macho King, Randy Savage – ooooh yeah! The Garden rockin’ it with the Chicken Schawarma. Check out the Turkish Coffee in the middle of the table there. I could’ve sipped that for hours – very well done with a hint of citrus taste.


Staff on a busy night at The Garden

I tried to get a shot of the cooks putting together some Garden fare but my opening quickly disappeared as other staff members blocked the view – that’s how busy they were at The Garden. And that’s how secretive they are about their special recipes. If they had seen me taking pictures, I probably would’ve been escorted to the back alley and severely beaten. Lucky, I bought the spy cam from that Hulk #67 comic book back when I was a kid.

And the secret to transporting falafel and hummous sandwiches across state lines – hold the lettuce and they will keep for days. As a matter of fact, the falafel and hummous sandwiches were better the next morning – straight from the fridge with my favorite hot sauce – Cholula. Oooooh yeah! The breakfast of champions, Bruce Jenner and fine repasters everywhere. Can’t get enough. Next time, I be takin’ out a dozen.

I’ll be back!

307 S 5th Ave
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 995-5060

I was back. The Garden remodeled at the end of 2008 and now boasts about double the back room dining space and a real restroom instead of a water closet. Oh yeah! My favorite AA spot just got better.

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