WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — People are instantly greeted by the warmth of wooden tables and the comfort of home-cooked food when they walk through the doors of Carlyle Grill.
Ann Arbor restaurateur John Roumanis opened Carlyle Grill in 2006, after opening his other restaurant, Mediterrano, in 1995. Since then, he has become known for his menu filled with American comfort food.
“What (the menu) aims to represent is 99 percent of the population’s tastes, which means almost everyone can find something to eat here,” said Andrew “Chino” Connell, general manager of the Carlyle Grill.
Choose from nearly 50 menu items, including burgers, sandwiches, steaks, salads and specialty dishes like shrimp cakes, fish and chips, barbecue ribs and macaroni and cheese .
“The time and effort we put into the quality and preparation of this food has served us well and sets us apart from everyone else,” Connell said.
When it comes to the best dishes, Connell said the menu is so varied that everyone has a different dish as their favorite. Although his favorite is the Carlyle Ribeye Steak, he said he also thinks the grill has “the best chicken tender in town.”
Carlyle Grill’s salads are also all made with house dressings made with olive oil imported from Roumanis’ properties in Greece, where he is originally from.
Customers often order the restaurant’s classic cheeseburger, salmon and steaks, Connell said, adding that the fries from the grill also seem to be their favorites.
“The fries in particular are something that people caused a mutiny over when I tried to remove them or change them,” he said.
Roumanis said he took the risk to open Carlyle Grill in 2006, when there was little development in the Scio Township area. And since then, there have been changes in the business world, including the closing of the Goodrich Quality 16 movie theater right behind the restaurant.
Although some business owners may have felt the impact of such a closure, Connell said it became clear that Carlyle Grill had become a destination for many and the restaurant had only grown.
“This restaurant built its brand so well that it kind of paid off,” he said. “We have weathered the storm of COVID-19 and business changes in the municipality. »
Carlyle Grill was built to be a neighborhood hangout and bar, Connell said, adding that it continues to be a venue for its many regular customers.
“(Our regular customers) feel so comfortable eating here. They receive the same constant food. They receive the same warm service from my staff, and they are the same employees,” he said. “That’s why people love him so much.”
The grill’s brand is something Roumanis and Connell have taken pride in over the years. Despite the restaurant’s success, management and owners said they are continuing work on its operation.
“In the restaurant business, if you stop improving, you’re dead,” Roumanis said.
Roumanis said he has a mission focused on the community involvement of the restaurant, its staff and its customers.
“The moral of our story is that we are here to feed the masses and provide a comfortable place for everyone,” Connell added.
The Carlyle Grill dining room is open from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Happy hour is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Find him online, on social media or by phone at 734-213-9800.
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