Part of a series about independent restaurants and stores in the Northwest Ohio area.

Classes at the University of Toledo have started up again, and in honor of thousands of students migrating back to Toledo to learn stuff, I would like to present you with a special edition of Indie Toledo about an on-campus treasure.

Phoenicia Cuisine is a Mediterranean-style restaurant located on the third floor of UT’s Student Union.  Phoenicia serves Lebanese-style food for the most part, but there are also other offerings.

When it’s time to order, you have two choices: a sit-down area and a take-out window.  Busy students may want to just grab an order to take back to the dorm, but it’s always nice to sit in the dining area and just chill out.  It’s a great place to catch up with that friend you haven’t seen since May!

Food & Beverages

There are several main categories of food at Phoenicia, including Entrees, Appetizers, Sandwiches, and Salads.  I’ve tried something from every category, so we’ll talk about at least one recipe from each here.

The appetizer list consists of several dishes, including several Lebanese foods.  I’ve tried the hummus and grape leaves, and both were fantastic.  Hummus comes in a regular and large size, but the regular size is huge!  It was much bigger than I could eat all on my own, and if my roommate had not been allergic to chickpeas I would have saved the rest for later.  (I ended up giving it to a friend.)  The stuffed grape leaves were non-vegetarian, something I like in my stuffed grape leaves, and were served slightly warm.  Mmm.  There are also vegetarian stuffed grape leaves available.

The list of salads is by far my favorite.  While there are regular American-style salads, like the house salad and Greek salad, there are also Mediterranean-style salads as well.  In particular, you can find an incredibly fresh tabbouli and an absolutely delicious fattoush salad.  My personal favorite is the tabbouli – I get it so often, I’m sure that’s how the staff knows me by now!

The sandwiches are fairly standard in terms of American restaurant fare.  There are cheeseburgers and other specialty hamburgers as well as gyros and other sandwiches.  One particular delicious meal is the grilled feta, a pita filled with feta cheese and tomatoes grilled to a melty perfection.  It comes with a side – you can choose fries, but I almost always take rice with it.  Grilled feta is my staple sandwich at Phoenicia because it’s easy and quick when I’m on the run.

You can also order one of their many entrees, which are always made when you order it.  You can order things like the chicken shawarma platter or a Lebanese combo.  Vegetarian entrees, like the vegetarian grape leaves and falafel sandwich, are also available for the health-conscious or those living a vegetarian lifestyle.

Critic’s Conclusion

While it’s one of the pricier options for on-campus food, Phoenicia offers fresher, healthier options for those who spend a lot of time on campus.  They even offer vegetarian options – always a healthy choice no matter if you’re a vegetarian or proud omnivore.

Phoenicia is also a nice place for a sit-down dinner with friends or a casual lunch date with a new friend.  If you attend the University of Toledo, you should definitely check out Phoenicia before you graduate.