ELLICOTT CITY, MD — This fall, the first Mezeh Mediterranean Grill will open in Howard County.
With the ability to seat 44 people inside, the restaurant will officially start serving up Mediterranean fare in September 2025, Madelaine Brewer, chief marketing officer, told Patch. There also will be delivery and take-out options.
“This will be our first location with a pickup window. We’ll call it the falafel lane,” Brewer said.
Although Mezeh is best known for its rice bowls, salads and wraps, customers can build their own entree or signature item.
“Some popular recipes are our basmati rice, chicken shawarma – ours is spicy, which is unique – creamy hummus, Lebanese tabbouleh, sumac cucumbers, homemade sauces like tzatziki and harissa, pickled turnips-onions-beets and freshly baked pita bread,” Brewer said.
There are 50 other Mezeh Mediterranean Grill locations in North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York City and elsewhere in Maryland. The owners chose Ellicott City as their newest location to help fill a void.
“It’s a strong market that needs more healthy, fast casual options. We’re very excited to open our doors to the community,” Brewer told Patch.
The gem behind the brilliant menu is head chef and co-founder Steve Walker, who is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University where he earned degrees in culinary arts and restaurant business. Walker also sharpened his skills under Certified Master Chef Paul Elbling at La Petite France in Virginia.
“He has created our entire menu from scratch and is incredibly passionate about creating fresh, bold and natural food. We have 65-plus recipes, all made fresh each day in our 50 restaurants using high quality, locally sourced produce. We use extra virgin olive oil in all our recipes – from our grilled proteins to our homemade dips and sauces. And this coming week, we are launching a new seed oil-free frying oil for our falafel, pita chips and croutons,” Brewer said.
As the restaurant chain continues to grow, the focus consistently remains on serving healthy and fresh food to customers.
“We will never use preservatives, additives or other funky ingredients in our recipes. Our protein is halal and we have a ton of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. We also have a rewards program where members can earn 10% back on all purchases, including catering,” Brewer added.
Mezeh Mediterranean Grill is owned by Walker, Tai Chiao and Saleh Mohamadi. It’s located at 4394 Montgomery Road in Ellicott City’s Long Gate Shopping Center.
Dining and Cooking