Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Elie's wants belly dancing as bistro's low-key entertainment

By John McTaggart

Elie's Mediterranean Cuisine will ask the Planning Board Wednesday to approve belly dancing as a form of low-key entertainment as part of the restaurant's application for a bistro license.

Elie's is one of three downtown Birmingham restaurants that will be considered for bistro licenses Wednesday night. The city's planning staff has recommended postponing decisions on Elie's and Salvatore Scallopini, and has recommended conditional approval for Cosi.

All of the applications must eventually pass muster with the City Commission. The commission is willing to consider up to six bistro applications this year from existing restaurants. The applications from Elie's and Salvatore Scallopini are recommended for postponement in part because their proposals for outdoor cafes, which are required by the ordinance, don't meet criteria set by the city.

The bistro ordinance allows applicants to be approved for "low-key entertainment," but does not define "low-key."

Elie’s owner Elie Mondalek believes belly dancing, which has a rich cultural history, fits the bill.

“We used to do it here,” Mondalek said. “So it’s nothing new to us, really. It’s very low key, and certainly nothing way out there.”

Detroit's Greektown was for years the home of two popular belly dancing clubs, Mykonos and the Bouzouki Lounge. Mykonos is closed, and the Bouzouki has changed its entertainment format.

Belly dancing at Mediterranean restaurants is popular all over the country, according to Mezze Café & Cabaret manager Jeremy Padilla.

Mezze, a popular Grand Rapids restaurant, features weekly belly dancing.

“It adds so much culture and so much fun to the dining experience,” Padilla said. “We’ve been doing it for quite some time now, and it’s really been a wonderful thing for us. It’s very tasteful, we have families with smaller children come in for the belly dancing show, and it’s something I would strongly recommend. It really exposes people to a different culture and enhances the dining experience greatly.”

“There is nothing sleazy about it, nothing without taste or class,” Mondalek said. “I would not have anything like that at Elie’s. People on the board should know that. I believe it will make dining here more enjoyable, more fun, and that, in my opinion, is good for the city and for Elie’s.”

Click here for a National Geographic video on belly dancing.

Wednesday’s Planning Board meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.