The smell of baked kibbee will be wafting through the air this summer in East Lansing’s downtown.

Kibbee, a ground meat spiced with salt, pepper, onions, pine nuts, cinnamon and allspice is one of the items that will be on the menu of Chuck Raad’s newest restaurant, Woody’s Oasis, located at 211 E. Grand River Ave.

Raad also owns a Woody’s Oasis at 970 Trowbridge Road and another at 625 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing.

The middle-eastern deli specializes in both meat and vegetarian Lebanese food, such as falafel, hummus and grape leaves.

But Raad said the Grand River location will have American dishes too.

“There will be a lot of kabobs,” he said “And there will be burgers, both American and Mediterranean style.”

The restaurant also will have a liquor bar.

Raad, who signed the lease for the new restaurant this month, said he believes the restaurant will be received well.

“It is going to be a good thing (for the city),” he said. “It will add to the diversity of the downtown area.

“It’s good for a college town that has a lot of international students and is a melting pot of nationalities.”

Caroline Bennet, community and economic development administrator for the city, said the addition of a new Mediterranean restaurant on Grand River is a good idea.

“I personally love their food,” she said. “They have some unusual foods, I think that is what makes the downtown interesting is the variety of restaurants.”

Raad said the restaurant will have a casual dining area as well as carry-out, and he hopes to create an authentic atmosphere for customers.

“I definitely want to give it a more open oasis type atmosphere,” he said. “I’m going to have lots of palm and fica trees - it’s going to be a cool little place.”

Psychology Professor Sam Saboury has been a customer for 15 years and says the fresh food keeps him coming back.

“They are very selective about their products and go all over the country to find the best,” he said. “I’ve tried all the Mediterranean restaurants in the area and no exaggeration, (Woody’s) has the best food.”

Raad hopes to keep the same quality and service in the new restaurant.

“We’ve got the most authentic food in town,” he said. “We still have the original cooks from when the restaurant opened in 1984 - the cooks make the restaurant.”

Interdisciplinary studies senior Sommer Olli said she has eaten at Woody’s before and is glad it will be moving closer to campus.

“They have the best samosa in town,” she said. “And it is a lot healthier than eating fast food.”

Raad agrees that the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest and can’t wait to bring it to Grand River.

“We are very excited to go downtown,” he said. “And with the (City Center Project) revival it’s going to be awesome down there.”