Welcome to Groupon, Detroit! For our inaugural deal, $15 gets you $30 worth of Middle Eastern cuisine and drinks at Palm Palace Restaurant, located in Clinton Township, Auburn Hills, and Ann Arbor.

You're probably thinking, "That sounds great, but I've never bought a car or a computer without first reading the Wikipedia definitions for car and computer—I'm not about to buy a Groupon either without a briefing." Well, neither would we, and since this is everyone's first Groupon, allow us to briefly explain how it works.

How Groupon Works

Groupon is a combination of the words group and coupon. Each day, we offer an unbeatable deal on the best of Detroit: restaurants, spas, sporting events, theater, and more. By promising businesses a minimum number of customers, we get discounts you won't find anywhere else. We call it "collective buying power."

If you want to get the deal, just click BUY before the offer ends at midnight. If the minimum number of people (15 for today's deal) sign up by the end of the day, you'll get a printable gift certificate in your inbox the next morning that you can use whenever you want (well, at least until the deal expires—today's expires in six months). If not enough people join, no one gets the deal (and you won't be charged), so invite your friends to make sure you get the discount!

It's nice to wake up to something new every day. Some people get their daily fix from desk calendars with a cute puppy and a funny caption every morning. Groupon is like a desk calendar, except the puppy is an unbeatable discount and the funny caption is a profound reflection on the flowers and needles growing from life's cactus. We selflessly share our deep insights, hoping that you will join our mob of consumers, thus strengthening our collective buying power and commanding even better deals.

Details

Besides packing a powerful protein punch, chickpeas also come in handy when looking for impromptu snowman eyeballs or makeshift dollhouse doorknobs. Enjoy the versatile legume in the way nature intended with today's Groupon: for $15, you get $30 worth of Middle Eastern cuisine and drinks at Palm Palace Restaurant, which CityVoter ranked as one of Detroit's Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in 2009. This Groupon is valid at the restaurant's Clinton Township, Auburn Hills, and Ann Arbor locations.

Executive Chef Jamil Eid's healthy and hearty menu woos diners of all flavor preferences and blood types. Classic hummus dressed up with sautéed pine nuts ($10) or studded with seasonal veggies ($13); crushed lentil soup simmered with minced carrots, onions, and spices; or a garden-heavy house salad ($4) will prep bellies for the main course. Traditional entrees like the mussaka ($10)—a standout layering of eggplant, minced lamb, and tomato coated with mozzarella cheese—are served with your choice of soup or signature salad. Otherwise, opt for the chef's lean prime kabob in lamb or beef ($20). The Palm Palace also prepares Moroccan plates such as the fish Tajen ($16) or Moroccan chicken ($16)—served with sides of couscous and soup or salad—and a wide variety of sandwiches from vegetarian-friendly falafel ($4) to the shish kafta ($4), a ground lamb mixture with parsley, onions, fire-roasted tomatoes, and herbs.

The Palm Palace's appropriately palatial interior, outfitted in garnet-colored radiance, feels mysterious and regal. Ornate chandeliers provocatively sway from the ceiling, casting ambitious portions in a favorable light. Service is friendly, attentive, and informative—and won't pretend not to hear you if you don't order in verse. Each Groupon is good for one table, so bring along some friends and trade 1,001 wild stories over an evening of Middle Eastern cuisine.

Not valid on Mother's Day.

Reviews

The Detroit News praises Palm Palace for its commendable comestibles:

• Although the Moroccan dishes are tempting, it's hard to beat the classic meze assortments, such as the sharing platter for three, which includes a fresh, olive-dappled salad, rounds of fresh pita bread served warm from the oven with irresistible garlic spread, and literally a dozen items ranging from taboulee and baba ganouge to chicken and lamb shawarma. – Molly Abraham, Detroit News

CityVoters rave about Palm Palace, listing it as one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in the metropolitan area. Five Google Maps reviewers give the Clinton Township location a solid 3.5 stars, while 85% of Urbanspooners recommend the Auburn Hills outpost and 83% the Ann Arbor branch:

• Everything was so delicious and amazing. Great service!! – Nabil, Google Maps
• The food, the service, the atmosphere...it's all fantastic! We think they have the best Chicken Shwarma in town. – Steve J., CityVoter