ANN ARBOR, MI -- A new restaurant inspired by Mediterranean flavors has been bringing new life to the former Chela's Restaurant and Taqueria space on South Fifth Avenue in Ann Arbor.
Related: Spiedo is bringing Mediterranean style menu to former Chela's in Ann Arbor
Spiedo officially opened at the end of September and offers a variety of rotisserie meats and vegetables. Its menu features flatbread sandwiches, rice bowls and all sorts of side dishes all made with two rotisseries and a griddle.
Spiedo draws inspiration from Mediterranean food, but Owner Brad Greenhill said he also uses flavor profiles from all over the world.
"We're just trying to have fun with the food," he said. "Our biggest thing is making things flavorful and delicious and sticking within the confines of what we have."
The restaurant prides itself on its small, everchanging menu, Greenhill said.
"We have plenty of ideas, and we're sort of grappling with how often we want to change," he said. "We want to keep it fresh and for people to try new things."
Spiedo's menu changes seasonally so it can offer the freshest items, but that doesn't mean old dishes will never find their way back to the menu, Greenhill said.
Right now, the menu features just five flatbread sandwich options that can be made into rice bowls. Each sandwich is made with freshly griddled bread with Spiedo sauce, pickled onions and shredded napa cabbage.
The Zhoug Knight, made with spit-roasted marinated chicken, Zhoug hot sauce and half sour cucumber pickles, is a top-seller, Greenhill said, describing its taste as "floral" and "herbaceous."
The chicken used for the sandwich sits in a brine overnight and is marinated with different spices and seasonings before it is layered on the spit.
"I mean the chicken is good on its own, but the sauce is a nice like counterpoint to it with the herbaceous and acidity that it adds to the dish," Greenhill said.
The only two sandwiches that have stayed the same since September are the Zhoug Knight and the Sabich, which is made with griddled eggplant, hardboiled egg, crispy potato and amba.
However, even these sandwiches may soon come off the menu as Greenhill looks at new ideas.
As for first time customers should try whatever seems interesting, Greenhill said. He recommends ordering some side vegetables, since these dishes are often "stars" on their own. The menu currently features roasted beets and carrot salad among its veggie options.
"Nothing at the restaurant lacks flavor," he said. "The food is very flavorful and dynamic."
Since opening, Greenhill said Ann Arbor's reaction to Spiedo has been positive. He said the business wants to keep growing while continuing to offer a positive space and good food.
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