Frugal Friday at Star's Cafe - sandwiches are a good value

Posted on Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 10 a.m.

Frugal Friday at Star's Cafe - sandwiches are a good value

By Mary Bilyeu

Vegetarian Grape Leaf Sandwich at Star's Cafe.

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor

Craig and I went out to lunch over the weekend at the lovely Star's Cafe, today's Frugal Floozie Friday feature. We ate very well within our mandatory $5 per person budget, with many fresh, flavorful options to choose from.

Shish Kafta sandwich, featuring ground lamb.

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor

I picked from among the vegetarian sandwiches, and selected the one stuffed with grape leaves, hummus, tabbouli, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles (pictured above). Bright and lemony, it was unique and delicious; and it cost only $4.75 for a foot-long feast.

Craig chose the Shish Kafta sandwich — which also cost $4.75 — filled with ground lamb, onions, parsley, tomatoes, pickles, and hummus. He asked if he could also get a schmear of garlic sauce; any extra sauce costs just 50 cents. We also shared an order of exceptionally crisp, excellent fries for only $1.99.

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor

Other options that fit within our budget would be hummus and baba ghannouj (small for $3.95, medium for $4.95), falafel for $3.95, and several salads from $2.95-$3.95 (garden, fattoush, Greek, tabbouli).

Most of the sandwiches cost $4.75, soups cost $2.75, and spinach or meat pies are a mere $2.25.

Star's Cafe also offers a variety of hot and cold drinks that all fit nicely within the Frugal Floozie Friday budget — smoothies, fresh juices, teas, and coffees. Traditional Middle Eastern pastries are available for $1 or less; and homemade baked goods are another temptation.

For friendly service, good food, and great value, Star's Cafe is a fabulous choice!

Star's Cafe
2575 Jackson Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-996-0299
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: closed

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Mary Bilyeu writes for AnnArbor.com on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, telling about her adventures in the kitchen - making dinner, celebrating holidays, entering cooking contests, meeting new friends ... whatever strikes her fancy. She is also on a mission to find great deals for her Frugal Floozie Friday posts, seeking fabulous food at restaurants on the limited budget of only $5 per person. Feel free to email her with questions, comments, or suggestions: yentamary@gmail.com.

Go visit Mary's blog — Food Floozie — where she enthuses and effuses over all things food-related; and look for her monthly articles in the Washtenaw Jewish News. "Like" her on Facebook, or send a tweet on Twitter, too.

The phrase "You Should Only Be Happy" (written in Hebrew on the stone pictured in this post) comes from Deuteronomy 16:15 and is a wish for all her readers - when you come to visit here, may you always be happy.

Comments

Patti

Sun, Jan 20, 2013 : 3:42 a.m.

Star was a favorite of mine when I lived in the area went every Friday

Liz

Sat, Jan 19, 2013 : 2:34 p.m.

Stars is a huge family favorite for this West Side family! We have been customers for years, always enjoying both delicious food and friendly, personal service! Mohamed features a special that he puts together just for my little granddaughter, a Type 1 Diabetic who has been eating there since she was just a baby. She loves hummus and broiled chicken strips....very low carb and nutritious! Stars is a top spot for all of us who use Westgate!

pegret

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 5:27 p.m.

Their chicken shwarma sandwich is excellent, and I think they might still have those tasty little meat pies for $1 each.

Linda Peck

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 4:50 p.m.

Star's Cafe is a favorite of mine. They do get very busy at lunch time. Their kitchen is very very clean. Sometime it gets messy with a very busy crowd, but that is the exception. I love Star's! Great food. Wonderful coffee.

DBH

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 4:14 p.m.

It appears they had no Health Dept. violations of any sort at their last inspection 11/26/12. http://www.swordsolutions.com/inspections/pgesearchresults.asp?County=28

DBH

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 4:19 p.m.

Of course, that inspection was scheduled, so I suppose the lack of violations is not as noteworthy as it would have been if the inspection had been unannounced.

Jessica Webster

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 3:53 p.m.

Thanks for the tip, Mary! I need to try this place.

dougfair

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 3:53 p.m.

Food is good and "apparently" inexpensive. I say "apparently", because one of the counter people can't count - puts your cash in the drawer, then tells you you owe more. Ummm, no, because I counted my cash before I came in, then again before I placed my order. I know exactly how much I handed over but can't prove it.

seldon

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 3:46 p.m.

It's been clean when I've been there, the food is great, and the people are friendly. Great place. And surprisingly inexpensive.

Blerg

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 3:35 p.m.

I shop at Westgate all the time but have never been here. Thanks for the tips!

pegret

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 5:29 p.m.

It's worth it, Blerg, and convenient for carry-out too! Try the chicken shwarma.

Giarc

Fri, Jan 18, 2013 : 2:19 p.m.

Last time I was there, place was filthy, paper napkins, straw wrappers and what not all over the floor, wonder if that has improved? Might give it a go again.