Sahara Restaurant & Grill- Bar The District Detroit

4.3

58 Reviews

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 18, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 14 times today

About this restaurant

Charming

Sahara Restaurant was founded in 1982, with the first location in Ferndale, Michigan. The establishment has been owned and operated by Saad Attisha and his family since it’s first day opened. In 1987, New Sahara Restaurant moved its location to Oak Park and opened other locations in Sterling Heights, Farmington Hills and Shelby Twp. All of the Mediterranean,m Chaldean and Middle-Eastern dishes are prepared fresh daily by a team of exceptional chef’s. There are various specialty Chaldean dishes on the menu that are created from timeless traditional recipes; that originate from the culture and heritage of the Chaldeans.

Additional information

Location
77 W Columbia St, Detroit, MI 48201
Phone number
(313) 888-9909
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–12:00 am
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa

Hummus$9.00
housemade iraqi style
Baba Ghanouge$9.00
baked eggplant + puree of olive oil + lemon juice
- Small$9.00
- Large$14.00
Garlic Plate$9.00
housemade iraqi style
- Small$7.00
- Large$13.00
Whipped Feta$9.00
calabrian pepper + honey + mint
- Small$9.00
- Large$15.00
Marcona Almonds and Olives$8.00
paprika + garlic + lime
Seared Halloumi
honey + labneh + mint
- Small$13.00
- Large$19.00
Mezza$24.00
can't decide? taste them all!

Mezze

Italian Meatballs$14.00
tomato sauce + parmesan + basil
Warm Lobster Rolls$23.00
butter + lemon + brioche roll + cottage potato
Iraqi Falafel$15.00
chickpeas + cucumbers + tomatoes + eggplant + cottage potato + amba
Mediterranean Shrimp$14.00
paprika + pineapple + cream
Eggplant Arayes$17.00
smoked kafe + paprika + eggplant + labneh + pomegranate
Crispy Octopus$19.00
rosemary + lemon + parsley
Charcoaled Wings$14.00
lemon + hot sauce + za'atar
Vegetarian Grape Leaves$14.00
labneh + molasses + pomegranate
My Nana's Dolma$24.00
literally a mini pot of my nana’s dolma
Fried Kibbe$15.00
wheat shell + beef + labneh + pine nuts
Steak Bites$16.00
filet + zip sauce + mushrooms
Sahara Fries$15.00
fries + beef shawarma + sahara ranch + parsley

Soups

Crushed Lentil$7.00
Chicken Lemon Rice$7.00

Zalata

Tabbouleh
parsley + tomatoes + green onions + dried mint + cracked wheat + lemon juice + oregano
Fattoush
lettuce + cucumbers + tomatoes + carrots + purple cabbage + mint + radish + molasses + crispy pita bowl
Iraqi
cucumbers + lettuce + beets + chickpeas + lemon juice + olive oil
Sahara Caesar
parmesan + lemon + roasted garlic + honey dijon + croutons
Chef Salad
lettuce + grape leaves + cucumbers + tomatoes + olives + house dressing + pita chips
Greek Salad
lettuce + tomatoes + cucumbers + red onion + beets + olives + feta cheese
- Beef Shawarma$7.00
- Chicken Shawarma$7.00
- Shrimp$8.00
- Salmon$12.00

Pitas & Such

Falafel$11.00
falafel + lettuce + cucumber + pickled turnips + amba
Shish Kafta$14.00
beef kafta + onion + tomato + parsley + sumac
Shawarma$12.00
beef shawarma + lettuce + tomato + tahini
Chicken Cream Chop$13.00
breaded chicken + lettuce + tomato + garlic
Shish Tawook$14.00
chicken + pickles + garlic
- Grilled Tomato$0.00
- Grilled Peppers$0.00
Smash Burger$15.00
beef + onions + lettuce + pepper jack cheese + jalapeño aioli
Baguette Steak Sandwich$22.00
sliced beef + zip sauce + sweet steak + caramelized onions + grilled peppers + arugula

Maoon

Shawarma Dinner$16.00
beef shawarma + hummus + sumac vegetables
Shish Tikka$20.00
beef filet + grilled tomato + grilled onion + mediterranean pepper + iraqi pita
- Grilled Tomato$0.00
- Grilled Onion$0.00
- Mediterranean Pepper$0.00
- Iraqi Pita$0.00
Shish Kafta$19.00
ground beef + lamb + grilled tomato + sumac onions + mediterranean pepper + iraqi pita
- Spicy Pistachio$4.00
Chicken Kafta$16.00
ground chicken + grilled tomato + sumac onions + mediterranean pepper + iraqi pita
Potato Chop$17.00
beef + zip sauce + mushrooms
Vegetarian Potato Chop$15.00
Chicken Cream Chop$16.00
iraqi style breaded chicken breast
Mixed Grill$40.00
beef shish + chicken shish + shish kafta + mediterranean pepper + grilled tomato + grilled onion + iraqi pita
Psura & Tomata$21.00
steak + diced egg + harissa + pink sauce + olives + oil
- Steak$4.00
- Egg$0.00

Pasta

Cajun Shrimp Linguine$29.00
homemade cajun sauce + peppers + shrimp
Spicy Rigatoni$26.00
tomato spicy vodka sauce
Campanelle Zesty$27.00
lemon + creamy + parmesan + za'atar + beef shawarma

Pit-za

Vodka Margherita $14.00
alo ve vodka sauce + fresh mozzarella + evoo
Bella Pusra$16.00
tomato base mozzarella + red onions + kalamata olives + banana peppers + trio paprika + sprinkle of za’atar
Creamed Spinach$22.00
whipped feta + spinach + calabrian pepper + honey + pear

Khussa

Cured Carrots$13.00
harissa + cilantro + orange blossom honey
Brussel Sprouts$9.00
Rose Potatoes$8.00
garlic + rosemary + thyme + parmesan + lemon + za'atar

Cocktails

Turkish Delight$14.00
vanilla absolute + turkish coffee + baileys + simple + angostura bitters
Cucumber Basil$13.00
tanqueray gin + cucumber + basil + simple + lime juice
Iraqi Sour$16.00
peach crown royal + egg white + lemon juice + simple + red wine float
Simon Says$18.00
blv + cinar + crème de cacao + orgeat + lemon juice
Arak I$13.00
massaya arak + rose water + pomegranate simple + lemon juice
Mediterranean Lady$14.00
ciroc peach + raspberry purée + lemonade + fruits
Za'atarita$17.00
tequila blanco + limoncello + orange juice + lime juice + maple syrup + za'atar
Sea Spritz$14.00
st germain elderflower + domaine de canton + prosecco + sparkling water + orange liqueur + mint

Wine - By The Glass

Arte Latino Cava Brut (Spain)$8.00
- Bottle$28.00
San' Elisa Prosecco (Italy)$9.00
- Bottle$34.00
Cipriani Bellini (Italy)$15.00
- Bottle$54.00
Lucio Moscato Dasti Dogg (Italy)$11.00
- Bottle$38.00
Franz Carl Pinot Grigio (Italy)$10.00
- Bottle$34.00
Fritz Wincsh Riesling Spätlese (Germany)$12.00
- Bottle$42.00
Italo Cescon Pinot Grigio (Italy)$14.00
- Bottle$50.00
Mr. Tomson Bordeaux Blanc (France)$10.00
- Bottle$34.00
Toulouse Chardonnay (California)$13.00
- Bottle$46.00
Tsilakis Xynisteri (Cyprus)$16.00
- Bottle$52.00
Magnetic Wines Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)$12.00
- Bottle$42.00
Campequi 'Traditions' (France)$10.00
- Bottle$36.00
Chateau Montaud Provence Rosé (France)$12.00
- Bottle$42.00
Le Grand Noir Pinot Noir (France)$12.00
- Bottle$42.00
Cune Garnacha (Spain)$11.00
- Bottle$38.00
Reserve De La Ronciere Côtes Du Rhône (France)$11.00
- Bottle$38.00
Cusumano Syrah (Italy)$12.00
- Bottle$42.00
Tomaiolo Chianti Classico Riserva (Italy)$14.00
- Bottle$50.00
Terradoro Di Paolo Aglianico (Italy)$16.00
- Bottle$52.00
Fragospito Kotsifali (Cabernet/Syrah) (Greece)$17.00
- Bottle$54.00
Can Verdura Negra (Spain)$18.00
- Bottle$60.00
Tenute Falezza Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore (Italy)$18.00
- Bottle$60.00

Beer

Model$7.00
Rotating IPA$8.00
Rotating Local$7.00
Samuel Adams$6.00
Blue Moon$6.00
Michelob$6.00
Coors Lite$6.00
Guinness$8.00
Peroni$7.00
Stella$7.00
Long Drink$6.00
Heineken$7.00
Corona$7.00
0% Laziza Raspberry$6.00
Bud Light$6.00

0%

Pistachio Matcha$14.00
matcha + pistachio syrup + orgeat + honey + grounded pistachio + mint
Cherito$10.00
lime juice + house grenadine + mint + soda water + cherry

Raw Juice

Grape$9.00
Carrot$9.00
Pomegranate$9.00
Beet$9.00

Smoothies

Strawberry Banana Honey$8.00
Avocado Cream$8.00

What 58 people are saying

Sahara Restaurant & Grill- Bar The District Detroit reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.3

4.3 based on recent ratings

4.2Food
4.2Service
4.5Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Sahara Restaurant & Grill in The District Detroit offers a "beautiful ambience" and a menu with "delicious food" and "ample" portions. The staff is noted for being "friendly" and "accommodating," creating a welcoming environment. While service can be slow due to staffing, the "great food" and convenient location make it worth a visit.

58 Reviews

J
Jochem
Detroit3 reviews
4.0
Dined on March 8, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Great food, although a bit pricey. Be careful with the check: they automatically include 20% gratuity! A bit sneaky, in my view
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J
Jerry
Cleveland1 review
5.0
Dined on February 22, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Loved it. Food and drink was delicious. Staff super friendly
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M
Max
Detroit2 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
The overall experience here was excellent. We went here for Valentine’s Day. There was a band playing smooth jazz in the entryway, but it was not excessively loud. I got the chicken shawarma and crushed lentil soup which were both to die for. My partner ordered the falafel and shrimp linguine which were also both excellent. The wait staff was a little less attentive than one would think for the number of people that were dining, but it was not a significant problem. The ambience was beautiful and romantic, and the prices were not exceptionally high given the quality of food and the atmosphere.
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A
Alvin
Detroit5 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had a fantastic experience at this restaurant for Valentine’s Day with my wife. It was our first time visiting, and we were not disappointed. The food was 7 1/2 out of 10 but The ambiance was perfect, and the overall atmosphere made for a memorable evening. The service was great, and everything exceeded our expectations. Most importantly, my wife was happy, which made the night even better. I would highly recommend this place and will definitely be returning!
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K
Katerina
Chicago2 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 9, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The service was exceptional, very good quality food and great prices.
Is this helpful?
n
nelsons
Toronto1 review
5.0
Dined on February 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Good food and very friendly service. Would go back
Is this helpful?
J
Joanne
Detroit34 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 6, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Very nice server. Good food. Had rigatoni. Very good but could have been hotter. Nice wine selection. Would definitely go back.
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B
Ben
Detroit3 reviews
5.0
Dined on January 18, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best chicken cream chop you will find! Hummus is outstanding as well (recommend adding it to your cream chop sandwich). Friend had the crushed lentil soup and he loved that too. Place is a hidden gem downtown!
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R
Richard
Detroit4 reviews
5.0
Dined on January 5, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was excellent, great service, great atmosphere. I highly recommend.
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M
Mark
Orlando1 review
1.0
Dined on December 29, 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
Service was very slow, even though the restaurant was nearly empty when we arrived. A few tables came in after us, and most of them had their entrées served before we even received our hummus. Our main course arrived long after other tables had already finished, paid, and left. To make matters worse, a side of rice and one of the five entrées we ordered were forgotten. When the missing entrée finally arrived 10 minutes later, it was still frozen inside. While our waitress was friendly, she was rarely available. The menu was also confusing—hard to read, with unnecessarily vague and complicated options for the combo platter. On top of that, there was an unexpected up-charge for a “chef salad,” which we learned was different from the “house salad.” Although the food had decent flavor, much of it seemed as though it had been reheated from frozen. Finally, the deposit required for the reservation was not applied to the bill, which caused additional hassle at the end of the meal. Would not recommend.
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FAQs

Sahara Restaurant & Grill- Bar The District Detroit offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (313) 888-9909.

Sahara Restaurant & Grill- Bar The District Detroit is rated 4.3 stars by 58 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 18, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 14 times today

Google Map for Sahara Restaurant & Grill- Bar The District Detroit

77 W Columbia St, Detroit, MI 48201

Additional information

Phone number
(313) 888-9909
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–12:00 am
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa

Sahara Restaurant & Grill- Bar The District Detroit

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

To Enjoy with Our Iraqi Pita

Hummus$9.00

Baba Ghanouge$9.00

Garlic Plate$9.00

Whipped Feta$9.00

Marcona Almonds and Olives$8.00

Seared Halloumi

Mezza$24.00

Mezze

Italian Meatballs$14.00

Warm Lobster Rolls$23.00

Iraqi Falafel$15.00

Mediterranean Shrimp$14.00

Eggplant Arayes$17.00

Crispy Octopus$19.00

Charcoaled Wings$14.00

Vegetarian Grape Leaves$14.00

My Nana's Dolma$24.00

Fried Kibbe$15.00

Steak Bites$16.00

Sahara Fries$15.00

Soups

Crushed Lentil$7.00

Chicken Lemon Rice$7.00

Zalata

Tabbouleh

Fattoush

Iraqi

Sahara Caesar

Chef Salad

Greek Salad

Pitas & Such

Falafel$11.00

Shish Kafta$14.00

Shawarma$12.00

Chicken Cream Chop$13.00

Shish Tawook$14.00

Smash Burger$15.00

Baguette Steak Sandwich$22.00

Maoon

Shawarma Dinner$16.00

Shish Tikka$20.00

Shish Kafta$19.00

Chicken Kafta$16.00

Potato Chop$17.00

Vegetarian Potato Chop$15.00

Chicken Cream Chop$16.00

Mixed Grill$40.00

Psura & Tomata$21.00

Pasta

Cajun Shrimp Linguine$29.00

Spicy Rigatoni$26.00

Campanelle Zesty$27.00

Pit-za

Vodka Margherita $14.00

Bella Pusra$16.00

Creamed Spinach$22.00

Khussa

Cured Carrots$13.00

Brussel Sprouts$9.00

Rose Potatoes$8.00

Cocktails

Turkish Delight$14.00

Cucumber Basil$13.00

Iraqi Sour$16.00

Simon Says$18.00

Arak I$13.00

Mediterranean Lady$14.00

Za'atarita$17.00

Sea Spritz$14.00

Wine - By The Glass

Arte Latino Cava Brut (Spain)$8.00

San' Elisa Prosecco (Italy)$9.00

Cipriani Bellini (Italy)$15.00

Lucio Moscato Dasti Dogg (Italy)$11.00

Franz Carl Pinot Grigio (Italy)$10.00