I stopped by Zatar + Olive in Davison shortly after they opened, and the first thing you notice when you walk in is the smell. The whole place smells like garlic and spices in the best way possible, and everything looked very clean. The staff were friendly and even took time to explain what za'atar seasoning is for people who might not know.
The food itself was really good. The chicken shawarma was creamy, smoky, crunchy and flavorful, especially with the tahini added, and the pickled turnips gave it a great crunch and tang. The tabbouleh was very finely chopped with a fresh, bright flavor. The real standout for me though was the falafel. Instead of the usual dense ball of chickpeas, theirs was shaped almost like a donut with a hole in the center. It was really crunchy on the outside and almost creamy inside, which made it easily the best thing I tried. The za'atar fries and large pita chips were also good, and overall the prices were very reasonable.
That said, the ordering process felt really disorganized. Someone was taking orders by hand (very kind man literally writing in pen and paper), writing them on a note and handing them to the cook. It seemed like nobody quite knew who was doing what, and several finished orders were sitting while staff tried to figure out whose food they belonged to. Two orders who came in after me actually got their orders before me before the staff realized but it did not deter it from happening multiple times while I sat there.
Everyone was friendly, but clearly a little overwhelmed and confused as they tried to confirm which orders were done and who they belonged to and what food I was already packed and what was still outstanding.
The layout also adds to the confusion. When you walk in the door you're immediately at the cashier counter, which actually ends up being the end of the line, so you have to walk all the way through to the other side or "front" to start ordering. A lot of people were standing there trying to figure out where the line even started.
Seating is very limited inside. There are maybe six small tables where people can sit while waiting for food, but it wouldn't be comfortable for dining in. I'd plan on this being more of a takeout spot. There is an outside patio, and parking is plentiful once you find the entrance. It looks like you should be able to enter the lot from M-15 or State Street, but you actually have to turn onto 3rd Street and come in from the back.
They were busy when I went but that was not the reason it took an additional 23 minutes after placing my order before I walked out with my food; this was due to murky processes and disorganization and confusion. That said, for a restaurant that just opened a week or two ago, some growing pains are expected.
Overall, Zatar + Olive feels like a promising addition to Davison. The food is flavorful, the prices are fair, and once they get the ordering process and flow figured out, I think it could become a really popular spot. read more