By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
There’s a new kind of buzz in town—and it smells like garlic, grilled chicken, and fresh-baked pita.
Zane’s, a family-owned Lebanese restaurant, has officially opened its doors at 1424 E. Wooster St. The restaurant brings its authentic, made-from-scratch dishes—and a whole lot of heart—to the Bowling Green community. From the moment customers walk in, it’s clear this isn’t just another place to grab a bite. It’s a place built on tradition, family, and recipes nearly half a century in the making.
“I’m a humble guy,” owner Zane Ismail said with a smile during the grand opening. “But everything we serve—we eat ourselves. It’s all fresh. It’s all from scratch. It’s made with love.”
From Lebanon to Bowling Green
For Ismail, cooking isn’t just a business—it’s a lifelong mission. He’s been in the kitchen since he was 17 years old, perfecting recipes passed down through generations in his small hometown in Lebanon.
He has been sharing his family recipes for decades in the Toledo area. Zane’s Lebanese Grill is his most recent, with restaurants already in Sylvania, Toledo, Maumee, Lambertville (Michigan), and now, Bowling Green.
One of the joys of his life is working alongside his sons, Muhamed, Ali and Jaafer. The Bowling Green location will be run by his sons and their families, with Ismail rotating to the various restaurant locations, he said.
“When you count the family, it’s an army,” one of his sons joked during the ribbon-cutting ceremony when asked how many employees work in the store.
That family-first mentality is baked into everything—from the hummus and shawarma to the chai brewed in-house in the coffee shop portion of the restaurant. Nothing is outsourced. Nothing is rushed, he said.
Welcoming community
City leaders, community members and a whole bunch of students turned out in full force (thanks to Ismail’s offer to provide a free bowl to the first 50 people) to welcome the restaurant, marking it as the owner’s fifth location.
“We are very excited that you all selected Bowling Green for the next location,” said Mary Hinkelman. executive director of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce. “Your investment in this property is meaningful to the community.”
“We’re always aware of the fact that you had options, that you could have invested in other places, but yet you chose Bowling Green,” said Bowling Green Mayor Mike Aspacher. “Obviously, you’re going to be successful. We’re so happy that you’re here. The city really likes to keep ourselves as a community that supports businesses, so please understand that we’re here to help in any way that we can.”
Ismail said he chose Bowling Green for their fifth location because of the people and he proximity to the university.
“I feel welcomed in this location,” he said. “Everyone says, ‘Welcome to our community.’ That means a lot to me.”
It reminds him of the small town in Lebanon where he grew up
Also welcoming Zane’s at the official opening was a long line of eager customers—many of them students—ready to enjoy the offer of a free bowl, coffee and fries.
“I got here at 10:25 to be first,” said BGSU freshman Libbie Baker of West Unity, Ohio. “I’d never had Lebanese food before, but I tried it during Zane’s recent soft launch, and I loved it. It’s so good I knew I wanted to be here, and I decided to try to be first in line.”
Being first in line paid off for Baker. She was featured on Zane’s social media trying her supreme chicken-lamb-hummus and secret sauce bowl. Her immediate reaction was, “It’s amazing!”
Inside the restaurant, the energy felt more like a social event than a restaurant opening. Students filmed TikToks, laughed with friends, and debated what to order—chicken bowls, vegetarian options, or a little bit of everything.
The restaurant is packed after the official ribbon-cutting.
“It’s nice to have a variety of restaurants in town,” Marilyn Levinson of Bowling Green said as she waited patiently to head inside.
Zane’s food menu includes a wide variety of Lebanese options including platters, bowls and “Roll-It! Original Pitas,” and an abundance of sides, salads, desserts and beverages. Ismail hopes everyone walks out satisfied with the taste and quality of their food and beverages, but he also hopes they feel welcomed and appreciated for choosing Zane’s.
Zane’s can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ZanesLebaneseGrill and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/zanes_lebanesegrill/.
Posted by: Julie Carle on April 1, 2026.