Al Ameer Once Again Earns a Spot on Eater’s National 38

For a third year running, Dearborn’s incomparable Lebanese restaurant Al Ameer has earned a spot on Eater’s National 38. Eater’s roving critic Bill Addison revealed the annual list today, naming the country’s essential restaurants.

Addison compiled this year’s Eater 38 based on 34 weeks of travel and roughly 600 meals across 36 cities. The restaurants featured in this year’s National 38 represent the trend-setters and icons in their regions as well as the best in hospitality, leadership, and service. Of Al Ameer, Addison writes:

Among Dearborn’s cache of Lebanese restaurants, this is the paragon. Kahlil Ammar and Zaki Hashem’s family business includes an in-house butcher facility, so the unrivaled stuffed lamb (and also lamb liver, a traditional breakfast dish) exhibits exceptional freshness.

The 2016 guide was Al Ameer’s first year landing on the National 38, but it’s long been a favorite spot to visit for Addison. It was a highlight of his first visit to metro Detroit back in 2014, serving one of his favorite dishes of that year.

Holding a position on the National 38 is a huge honor. Only one other restaurant in the region, the now-shuttered Torino, has ever been named to the list. Coming back for a third year is an equally impressive feat as 17 restaurants were rotated onto the 2018 list, which features show-stoppers like Antelier Crenn, Prince’s Hot Chicken, and JuneBaby.

• America’s 38 Essential Restaurants [E]
• Al Ameer Is One of the Best Restaurants in America [ED]
• All Al Ameer Coverage [ED]
• The 38 Essential Restaurants in Detroit, Fall 2018 [ED]