Today we’d like to introduce you to Omar Dari.
Hi Omar, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Baba Dari Mediterranean Grill is more than just a restaurant to our family — it’s a continuation of a legacy that started decades ago in Ann Arbor. Originally known as Ali Baba’s, the restaurant was founded by family members who introduced authentic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food to the community long before Mediterranean cuisine became mainstream.
For nearly 25 years, Ali Baba’s became a local favorite near the University of Michigan campus, serving students, families, and the Ann Arbor community. The restaurant helped support and raise an entire family across generations, and many of us grew up around the business. The building itself holds childhood memories for our family and represents years of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication.
As the next generation stepped in, we wanted to honor that legacy while also modernizing the concept for today’s customers. That vision led to the transformation of Ali Baba’s into Baba Dari Mediterranean Grill. We updated the restaurant, simplified and modernized the menu, improved the customer experience, and introduced a faster, more approachable Mediterranean dining style while still staying true to our roots and authentic flavors.
Baba Dari continues to focus on fresh ingredients, authentic Mediterranean recipes, and welcoming hospitality. We are proud to serve the Ann Arbor community from the same iconic location on Packard Street where the family journey first began.
Like many family-owned businesses, the journey has come with challenges, including economic changes, competition, staffing, and adapting to new customer trends. However, those experiences helped us become stronger and more innovative. Seeing loyal customers continue supporting us across generations has been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
Today, Baba Dari represents both tradition and growth — honoring the past while building toward the future. We are grateful to continue sharing our culture, food, and family story with the Ann Arbor community every day.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey has definitely not been a smooth road, and like many family-owned restaurants, we’ve faced our share of challenges over the years. One of the biggest challenges was modernizing a long-established family business while still preserving the history and reputation that customers loved. Transitioning from Ali Baba’s into Baba Dari required us to rethink the brand, menu, operations, and customer experience while staying true to our roots and authentic Mediterranean flavors.
The restaurant industry itself is extremely competitive and constantly changing. We’ve had to navigate rising food costs, labor shortages, delivery app fees, inflation, and changing customer expectations. At times, it felt like every year brought a new obstacle that required us to adapt quickly.
Another major challenge has been balancing growth with consistency. As a family business, we care deeply about quality and customer relationships, so maintaining high standards while growing the business takes constant effort and attention to detail.
Recently, construction around our location near the University of Michigan has also created challenges by limiting access and impacting customer traffic. Situations like that test your resilience as a small business owner, but they also force you to become more creative with marketing, customer communication, catering, and delivery strategies.
Despite the challenges, every obstacle has taught us valuable lessons about perseverance, adaptability, and leadership. The support from loyal customers and the Ann Arbor community has been a huge motivation for us to continue pushing forward. In many ways, the difficult moments helped shape Baba Dari into what it is today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Baba Dari Mediterranean Grill?
Baba Dari Mediterranean Grill is a family-owned Mediterranean restaurant located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, near the University of Michigan campus. Our restaurant is built on a family legacy that began decades ago through the original Ali Baba’s restaurant, which became a well-known part of the Ann Arbor community for nearly 25 years.
At Baba Dari, we specialize in authentic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food made with fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and recipes inspired by our cultural roots. Our menu includes shawarma, falafel, rice bowls, hummus, fresh salads, catering trays, and late-night favorites that appeal to both students and local families.
What sets us apart is the combination of tradition and modernization. We took a long-standing family restaurant legacy and reimagined it for a new generation while still preserving the authenticity and hospitality that customers loved for years. We focus heavily on consistency, customer experience, and creating food that feels both comforting and high quality.
One thing we are especially proud of is the strong connection we’ve built with the Ann Arbor community. Many customers remember visiting the original restaurant years ago and now continue supporting Baba Dari today. Seeing multiple generations of customers walk through our doors is something very meaningful to us.
We are also proud of our ability to adapt and grow in a constantly changing restaurant industry. From expanding our catering services to improving online ordering and delivery operations, we continuously look for ways to evolve while staying true to our identity.
More than anything, Baba Dari represents family, culture, resilience, and community. We want people to feel welcomed when they visit us and to leave with an experience that goes beyond just the food.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was always surrounded by family, hospitality, and hard work. Being part of a family involved in the restaurant business from an early age taught me the importance of responsibility, communication, and treating people with kindness and respect. Some of my earliest memories involve being around the restaurant environment, watching how food could bring people together and create a sense of community.
Personality-wise, I’ve always been ambitious, curious, and very goal-oriented. I enjoyed learning new things, taking initiative, and finding ways to improve or build something better. At the same time, I’ve always valued relationships and teamwork, which became very important later in both business and leadership.
Growing up between cultures also shaped my perspective a lot. It gave me an appreciation for diversity, adaptability, and the importance of staying connected to your roots while still embracing change and growth. I became interested not only in business and entrepreneurship, but also in understanding people, communication, and how strong communities are built.
I was also very interested in education and personal development. Over the years, that interest expanded into studying business, leadership, and technology while continuing to gain hands-on experience through the restaurant industry. I’ve always believed that growth comes from combining real-world experience with continuous learning.
Looking back, many of the values I carry today — resilience, hospitality, work ethic, and community — were shaped during those early years and continue to influence how I run Baba Dari today.
Pricing:
- Affordable Mediterranean meals for students, families, and professionals
- Individual meals and bowls starting around $10–$15
- Catering packages available for corporate events, student organizations, and private gatherings
- Family-style trays and large catering orders customized based on group size
- Online ordering, delivery
Contact Info:
- Website: https://babadari.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babadarigrill/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/babadarimg
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/baba-dari-mediterranean-grill-ann-arbor
