Blog

During the summer of 2024, we launched Gido’s Garden, a passion project of ours. Gido’s Garden is our family’s garden, and we are organically growing produce to provide for Sidon and Middle East Market. We always strive to provide our guests with unmatched freshness when they dine with us. This project allows us to further increase the level of freshness we deliver by having our fresh crops come straight from our garden to our businesses’ kitchens. The idea for this project originated with Mahmoud Hariri, founder of the Sidon and Middle East Market. He has a deep love for gardening and cultivating fresh produce. He is also the inspiration for the name of this project; the word “gido” (pronounced jid-do) means grandfather in Arabic, and Mahmoud now has several grandchildren. For Sidon, fresh vegetables that will be used include tomatoes, […]

Shish Kafta is a quintessential grilled meat recipe in Lebanese cuisine that consists of ground meat mixed with diced onions, parsley and spices. You can use beef, lamb, a mix of both or even chicken, but this recipe is most commonly made with beef. This mixture is then formed around skewers and cooked on a hot grill. Serve the finished kabobs over a bed of rice or use them to make pita wraps with hommus, pickles, chopped parsley white onions and tomatoes. All of your ingredients and supplies can be found next door at Middle East Market! You can also use the kafta meat mixture to make other dishes, such as Arayes pita, meatballs and burgers. Kafta can be used in almost any context that you would use ground meat. Have fun and experiment! You can’t go wrong with this […]

The Hariri family is originally from Saida, Lebanon, also known as Sidon. This ancient city is the third largest city in Lebanon and is known for its fishing ports, soap manufacturing and fruit orchards. Arched pathways connect the city filled with mini-markets and souvenir shops, creating an eclectic mix of past and present. The Hariris moved to the United States in 2001, and brought a taste of Sidon with them. They have always had a deep love for delicious food and the way it brings people together. The inspiration for Middle East Market and Sidon Lebanese Grille & Bakery was founded in cultural traditions rooted in gathering around the table and making memories with loved ones. In 2005, their journey began on the corner of Reynolds Road and Bancroft Street in a small corner store known as Middle East Market. […]

Q: What do you do at Sidon? “As the kitchen manager, I directly manage the Sidon restaurant team, which connects across the business. We have many moving parts in order to keep the freshest products available to everyone. I spend most of my time at the restaurant itself preparing food and overseeing operations.” Q: How long have you worked here? “I’ve been here for about 4 years; I started at the end of 2020.” Q: What’s your favorite part of your job? “I take pride in helping to provide a unique experience for both our customers and our staff. The Sidon team cares deeply about the quality of the food and service we provide. I feel blessed and proud to work for an independent business rooted in traditional cultural values. We believe that in today’s zeitgeist, this is a large […]

Over the course of 2024, the Sidon team has invested a great deal of time into some new projects that we think will enhance your dining experience with us. We are finally ready to share some of these endeavors with you, and we hope you are as excited about them as we are! We wanted to enhance our guest’s dining experience, so we have installed brand new custom made tables in order to provide a sleeker and more inviting atmosphere. This project took many months; good craftsmanship takes time and careful planning. For the materials, we decided to go with white oak for the tabletops, and black semi-gloss metal bases. The tabletops were handcrafted from single block wood to ensure durability and structural integrity. These tables are also much larger than our old tables, so you will have ample room […]

Here at Sidon Lebanese Grille & Bakery, we are spoiled with so many menu choices! Sometimes it can be hard to decide, but this list of our five most ordered items should give you some good options for your next visit. Hommus No meal at Sidon is complete without our signature hommus! If you are unfamiliar with hommus, it is a savory dip made from chickpeas and tahini. We use plenty of garlic and lemon in our recipe, which gives it its distinct flavor. We love to dip fresh veggies in our hommus, but it is truly a universal dish that goes well with just about anything! It can be enjoyed with any meal, at any time of day. Chicken Shawarma Pita Sandwich Almost any bad mood can be cured with one of our chicken shawarma pita sandwiches! This simple […]

At Sidon Lebanese Grille & Bakery, we prepare authentic meals from the Middle East region as our Homemade Specials. Each day, we offer two unique dishes made with love and care. Whenever you order one of our Homemade Specials, it comes with your choice of soup, salad or cucumber yogurt. Our talented chefs make a large batch right before lunchtime, and once we run out, we are out for the day. So, make sure to come in early or call us to secure your plate! Get to know some of our favorites: Moloukhia with Chicken Moloukhia is a green leafy vegetable similar to spinach and kale. We cook the leaves with deboned chicken marinated in lemon and garlic and serve the dish over rice pilaf. The bright flavors from the lemon and garlic pair so well with the greens and […]

Dining Overseas Whether you’re looking for a traditional Lebanese breakfast or an upscale fine dining experience, the ancient city of Sidon has plenty of wonderful restaurants to keep you satisfied. This Lebanese city has been serving up delicious food for thousands of years, but today, we’re going to focus on Sidon’s food culture in the modern era! Start the Day with a Tasty Breakfastz Although the first meal of the day is usually enjoyed at home with family in Lebanon, there are plenty of great restaurants serving up breakfast in Sidon. Many of the people at breakfast restaurants will be fellow tourists, but it’s still a great way to indulge in some amazing Lebanese flavors! If you’re looking for something sweet, you’ll find many restaurants serving Halawa spread, which is similar to hummus but sweeter. On the other hand, if […]

; At Sidon Lebanese Grille and Bakery, we’re proud to have a family-run grocery store, Middle East Market, adjacent to our restaurant. Our market offers a fresh selection of spices, produce, Halal meats, and plenty of other Mediterranean groceries. And although there are various excellent items to choose from, today we’d like to pay special attention to our Halal meat department. Visit Our Meat Department for Middle Eastern Delights For a rich selection of top-quality meats, pay a visit to the meat department at Middle East Market! Our Halal meats are the best you’ll find in the Toledo area, and you’ll feel confident about sharing them with your friends and family. You’ll be able to enjoy all the delicious meats that we serve at Sidon, including chicken, lamb, and beef. If you’re looking for a recipe to prepare after you […]

When most people think of Lebanese food, they think of tantalizing lunch plates and delicious kabob dinners. However, at Sidon Lebanese Grille and Bakery, there are plenty of tasty Lebanese breakfast options just waiting to be discovered! Today, we’re going to give you a brief overview of Lebanese breakfast, and share some of our favorite options with you. Whether you’re craving a sweet cheese pastry or a savory dish of labneh, there’s something for everyone. Lebanese Breakfast: A Brief Overview An authentic Lebanese breakfast is usually simple and prepared with only a few ingredients. Most recipes aren’t complicated, and take only a few minutes to put together. This means that you’ll spend more time enjoying your food and less time working in the kitchen! Furthermore, Lebanese people realize that sharing a meal is great way to prepare for the day. […]