Courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern MissouriCourtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri
Grand Center has a new dining option that shares the art district’s name: Grand Mediterranean (519 N. Grand) opened in September just south of the Fox Theatre, in a prominent corner building that houses Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri and the Gallery at The Kranzberg. The fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant provides “a healthy alternative to American fast food,” says co-owner Emrah Şelli, who is opening the restaurant alongside co-owner Ersen Özcan.
The grand opening celebration is planned for Thursday, Oct. 17, at 11:30 a.m. Here’s what to know before you go.
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Photo by Amy De La HuntPhoto by Amy De La Hunt
Beef and lamb doner
The Menu
The signature items at the “fast but healthy” concept are made-to-order doner sandwiches (Turkish gyros). “In Turkey, we call them doners, and in Lebanon, they’re called shawarma,” Şelli says. “But since there are far more Greek restaurants here in the U.S., the term gyro stuck, the others did not. The doner is far less spicy than shawarma, so you taste the meat more than the spice.”
Grand Mediterranean offers the traditional beef and lamb doner (a custom-made blend fashioned into the traditional cone shape), roasted and shaved from a vertical spit. Şelli, who grew up in a region of Turkey where lamb meat is ubiquitous, says they are working with the supplier to nail their perfect combination of meats, fats, and seasonings, and he promises they will have it in place by the grand opening. Chicken, falafel, and mixed doners are also available in a warm, fluffy pita and as a wrap, salad, or rice bowl.
Falafel and several varieties of pide (Turkish pizza) have also been popular menu items since the restaurant’s soft opening. The pide—Şelli’s personal favorite—can be ordered with various combinations of cheese, herbs, veggies, and sausage. Among the sides and starters, dolma (stuffed grape leaves) are a hit, as are the house-made hummus and tzatziki, both served with warmed triangles of pita. The most visually arresting dish is the grand falafel salad, with toasty falafel arranged around the perimeter of bright greens and shimmering beet slices.
Desserts include pistachio or walnut varieties of baklava and kataifi (shredded phyllo mixed with nuts and soaked in a cinnamon-flavored sugar syrup). There are also two creamy options: tiramisu and trileçe, the Turkish version of tres leches cake.
Among the beverages, which include Ayran (a Turkish yogurt drink) and soft drinks, Şelli says he’s surprised how popular the Turkish coffee has been—so much so that they are in the process of adding to-go versions of the diminutive cups that are a signature serviceware for the distinctive beverage. No alcohol is served.
Smaller, more manageable items are also offered on the catering menu, Şelli says. “We might call them doner-tacos or mini-doner-subs, made with smaller pitas. Smaller bites look good on a platter.”
Courtesy of Grand MediterraneanCourtesy of Grand Mediterranean
Inci Sen, an experienced chef-manager who has worked in local kabob houses, oversees the kitchen. “She applies a lot of small touches, secrets,” Şelli says. “The little things that make a difference.” Sen has developed signature sauces—spicy red, white garlic, and tahini—for the falafel. The menu will also feature season changes that incorporates different items, with speed being paramount. The first will be a spicy kabob for the winter. Şelli says they will also expand their selection of hot beverages and desserts in the coming months.
“The logo resembles a gyro or perhaps a wrap,” Şelli says. “It also looks like a tornado, as in, We’re fast—you’re in, and you’re out.”
Courtesy of Grand MediterraneanCourtesy of Grand Mediterranean
The Space
Located along Grand Blvd. between the Fox Theatre and Saint Louis University’s campus, the restaurant follows a fast-casual service model. Guests order at the counter or a touchpad kiosk straight in from the door. Online ordering, pickup, and third-party delivery are also available—and SLU students can even pay with Billiken Bucks. In addition to the 32-seat restaurant space, an interior garage door opens to an adjacent event space.
Photo by Amy De La HuntPhoto by Amy De La Hunt
Photo by Amy De La HuntPhoto by Amy De La Hunt
A cozy corner at Grand Mediterranean
The décor has an elegance that’s uncommon in fast-casual spaces, including fresh flowers, sleek wood tables, and classical background music. Şelli explains that the goal is to encourage guests to visit throughout the day, whether for a meal or a pick-me-up like coffee and dessert. Large red window decals of the logo delineate the space from the outside.
Grand Mediterranean offers lunch and dinner from 11 a.m.–8 p.m. every day. “And there’s always the possibility of staying open later on Grand Center show dates and adding breakfast hours and/or items,” Şelli says.
The Background
Courtesy of Grand MediterraneanCourtesy of Grand Mediterranean
Emrah Şelli and Ersen Özcan
Şelli and Özcan both shared a dream of opening a restaurant. So why not do it together? they thought. Both are of Turkish descent, so it made sense to lean into the Mediterranean foods that they grew up with and loved.
When Jassen Johnson of Tower Real Estate Group introduced them to the space, they felt a bond with Grand Center, hence the cuisine and name.
It marks the first permanent restaurant to occupy a former shared pop-up restaurant space in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri building. “Grand Mediterranean is part of our overarching approach on how to collaborate on how to make the whole community better,” says Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri president/CEO Kristen Slaughter. “Our presence at Grand Center is part of that, Kranzberg [Arts Foundation] is part of that, and the same goes for the restaurant space. Having an affordable, healthy, and quick-serve restaurant in the building is important for the neighborhood, and the lease revenue only helps make our organization and programs stronger.”
Courtesy of Grand MediterraneanCourtesy of Grand Mediterranean
The fourth-floor ANEW event space overlooks the SLU campus
Grand Mediterranean is slated to be the caterer of choice for the fourth-floor ANEW event space, which is currently being used for company and partner events but may accommodate private events in the future.
Şelli says Grand Mediterranean has already developed a following of regulars, many of whom have left glowing, detailed reviews online. “We look forward to the activity in Grand Center, all of the different options for catering, and that Saint Louis University is right next to us,” he says. “There’s so much opportunity here.”