Lydia’s International Coffee House and World Gifts

5103 St. Joseph Avenue

279-8517

Unlike fried tenderloin, tabuli is not something you will find at most St. Joseph restaurants. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find it served anywhere in the area except for Lydia’s International Coffee House and World Gifts on St. Joseph Avenue.

Owner Lydia Sprague is a native of Israel, and although some people have suggested she serve some locally popular fried foods, she says she’s not tempted to add them to her menu. What she does have in the small, yellow house with a white post fence is a variety of Mediterranean specialities, such as lentil soup, gyros, baklava and Turkish coffee. The tabuli (it can be spelled several ways), is a Best Bite nomination by a News-Press reader and is made from cracked wheat, parsley, green onions, lemon juice and olive oil and served with pita bread or as a salad.

Although Turkish coffee conjures up images of turbaned men smoking hookahs, Lydia’s is a smoke-free business and a popular spot for Bible study groups to meet. Lydia is a devout Christian and encourages groups to come there. As far as the coffee is concerned, if you like it strong, this a treat to drink, served in special espresso size cups with your own pot on the side for refills. It tastes great with Lydia’s baklava that she makes herself, a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of phyllo dough a honey syrup.

When I stopped by, she had just returned from Israel, one reason a lot of gifts in her shop are from there.

The restaurant isn’t big, and Lydia pretty much handles the whole place herself, so reservations are required for groups. Hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.