Vine Valley Restaurant

The new Vine Valley Restaurant features authentic Lebanese dishes using recipes handed down through generations of the Saidi family. And many of the ingredients come fresh from the family's popular Mediterranean market right down the street.

By: Beth Newcomb
mimivanderhaven.com/vinevalleyrestaurant
Caroline Saidi rushes out of her kitchen with a warm smile, cheeks flushed red from steaming pots, and hair slightly disheveled from several hours spent getting the many meals she's prepared just right. It's a homey picture witnessed regularly by family members who dine on her delicious, authentic Lebanese cooking, but with one important difference.

They aren't her relatives.  

Following on the heels of their 13th successful year as the owners of the Merriman Valley's Vine Valley Market, the Saidi family has taken the fresh and hard-to-find Mediterranean ingredients they'd been selling at the market and turned them into delightfully authentic signature dishes now offered at their Vine Valley Restaurant.

And everything at Vine Valley is a family affair.

You're greeted at the door by Caroline's daughter, Christine, waited on by son Michael, and you'll no doubt see husband John and their younger son Mario tending to any number of details to ensure that your experience at the Mediterranean-style restaurant is perfectly authentic.

Caroline serves as both mom to the family and head chef in the kitchen, preparing time-honored dishes that have been handed down from her own mother. But even if you're lucky enough to get a tour of the spotless kitchen, don't expect to find the recipes. "I keep them all up here," Caroline shares in her delightful accent while pointing to her head.

It's difficult not to feel like part of the family when you're with this group. The smiles shared are genuine and the appreciation of your patronage and eagerness to provide an exceptional experience are deeply felt. It is a rare treat to find a truly family-owned restaurant?especially one that doesn't have a chicken wing or hamburger on the menu.

This is comfort food at its finest, which provides a wonderful?and affordable?opportunity to venture away from the safety of spaghetti without taking too great a risk.

Caroline recommends that you try her three different versions of hummus: Vine Valley's Basic Hummus is made with ground chickpeas, tahini (from sesame seeds) and fresh lemon juice. The price is $4.00 for the regular portion and $7.00 for the large. Hummus B. Lahmeh includes sautéed meat and roasted pine nuts for $8.00. Hummus Beiruty features hot peppers and fresh-chopped parsley for just $6.00. All three are served with warm pita bread for dipping.

For your entrée, Caroline suggests the Beef Shawarma, made with 100% lean meat. Thin slices of beef are marinated then roasted and served with fresh vegetables, tahini sauce and your choice of salad or rice. It's offered at an affordable $6.00. "Most people don't realize how healthy Mediterranean cooking is," Caroline says. "Almost nothing we serve is deep fried and everything features very lean meats and vegetables. All of the ingredients are very familiar, we just combine them in different ways and use unique spices to give them an authentic flavor."

Salads are all made-to-order and Christine suggests the Taboule Salad, priced at $4.00. Generous amounts of chopped parsley, diced tomatoes, fresh mint, cracked wheat, lemon juice and olive oil are combined to create this refreshing starter.

"Everything is made from scratch," she says. "My mother spends hours slicing and chopping all of the ingredients. She even chops all the parsley and soaks her own chickpeas overnight before boiling them. Nothing comes from a can."

And starting the first Sunday in January, Vine Valley Restaurant will debut its Sunday lunch buffet. For just $12.95, guests will enjoy all-you-can-eat selections from the regular menu. It's a great way to discover even more new favorites.

Vine Valley Restaurant is located at 1562 Akron-Peninsula Road, same entrance as Max McQ's in the Merriman Valley. Hours are 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The phone number is 330-920-7411. A catering menu is available upon request. Visit the Vine Valley Market at 1450 N. Portage Path. The phone number there is 330-865-6777.