J. Adrian Wylie
Moroccan dishes cooked in clay pots can take a while, but diners at Mynt House can enjoy comfortable furnishings and intricate decor during their wait.
Abdu Saad says he designed his first restaurant to resemble a Moroccan riad, a villa alternative to conventional hotels, typically featuring courtyard oases with fountains, greenery, and ornate elegance.
The half-service café is in an extended soft-open phase but will eventually feature traditional entrées such as tagine and couscous. Named for the herb characteristic of Moroccan tea (its spelling variation for novelty), Mynt House already offers a range of coffees, teas, and smoothie-like frullatos. An appetizing case of French pastries—“we put some Moroccan touch on it,” Saad adds—is complemented by heartier fare including paninis and shakshuka, a savory poached-egg dish served with pita-like batbout.
More businessman than chef, the Moroccan native now lives in Canton Twp. near his Abdu Market on Michigan Ave. “This is a new experience. I take the challenge and see how things will work,” he says. “I’m hiring people, and I’m learning as well.”
Mynt House, 118 S. Main. (734) 492–3987. Daily 9 a.m.–midnight. mynthousecafe.com
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