Sultan’s off to a promising start in Delta Township

My family and I used to frequent Zaytoon Mediterranean Grill. It was one of the many eateries we ordered from during the COVID lockdown — that is, until the allegations about the workplace came out. It was very disappointing to hear negative information about a restaurant I liked, especially when there weren’t many other Mediterranean restaurants in Delta Township.

Yet when Zaytoon finally closed for good last summer, Sultan’s Mediterranean Cuisine announced it would be moving into the vacated space. While I was aware of the East Lansing location, I’d never eaten there. Nevertheless, every time I passed by the former Zaytoon building as it was prepared for the new restaurant, I found myself increasingly curious to try it out.

After months of renovation, Sultan’s opened its doors in the first week of April. At first glance, the building didn’t seem that much different from when it was Zaytoon. Other than a paint job and a new sign, there were no noticeable changes on the outside. However, upon entering to pick up my food, I found the interior was very clean and much brighter, with renovated booths and tables. Since it was the first official week of business, I knew the staff would still be trying to find their way around the lunch and dinner rush. Despite that, they were friendly and helpful.

Like Zaytoon, Sultan’s offers typical Mediterranean entrees like shawarma, kafta, kabob, falafel and pita wraps. All combo options are served with a side of hummus, pita bread, yellow rice and a choice between soup or salad. I ordered the chicken shawarma combo with the vegetable soup.

I’ve noticed that some Mediterranean restaurants make their chicken shawarma spicier than others. Fortunately, Sultan’s isn’t one of these places. The chicken was perfectly marinated and had plenty of flavor without being spicy. It was a perfect complement to the rice, which was also delicious.

The soup, on the other hand, had a definite kick to it. There are only two soup choices on the menu: vegetable or lentil. Both are vegetarian, but I was enticed by the blend of carrots, zucchini, cauliflower, cabbage and yellow peppers in the former. Those who are seeking something less spicy should probably pick the lentil soup instead. If nothing else, at least the hummus was there to cool my tongue afterward.

With good food and good service, Sultan’s Mediterranean Cuisine is off to a promising start in Delta Township. Westside residents who are in the mood for Mediterranean food should definitely check it out. I know my family definitely will be coming back for more