After writing about burgers, sandwiches, barbecue, chicken fingers, and pizza for a solid month, my body was in dire need of some vegetables.
Since dedicated vegetarian or vegan restaurants are in short supply in the Athens area, I’m always on the lookout for any places that can come close to offering a meat-free feast. Though I’m always up for Maepole or Dondero’s, I found myself in Five Points last week in search of a tasty green lunch.
Located at 1591 S. Lumpkin St., Mediterranean Grill is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day except Thursday, when it closes a little earlier at 8:30 p.m. The area is always busy, especially during lunch and dinner hours, and locals are spoiled for choice when it comes to great dining spots all within reasonable walking distance from wherever they can luck out with parking.
I was in the mood for more than just a big salad, and I ended up striking gold.
A guest orders lunch at Mediterranean Grill in Athens, Ga. on Friday, May 22, 2026.
Mediterranean Grill opened in October 2015, taking over the space previously occupied by the short-lived YoBo Cantina. Mediterranean Grill is part of a small Atlanta-based chain founded in 2000, around the same time Smoothie King opened its long-running Athens spot right next door. Both businesses share the 1960s-era building with the original Baddies Burgers location, which opened in December 2022.
Mediterranean Grill serves a fast-casual selection of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern staples, including gyros, chicken and beef kebabs, falafel, hummus, and baba ghanouj (roasted eggplant dip). Plates come with rice, salad, and pita bread, and combination platters are available. Sandwiches and desserts like baklava round out the menu, along with vegetarian options such as falafel plates, grilled vegetables, dolmas, lentil soup, and a sampler plate.
A vegetarian plate featuring hummus, baba ghanouj, tabouleh, crispy falafel, and side salad at Mediterranean Grill in Athens, Ga. on Friday, May 22, 2026.
Aside from the calamari, all the appetizers and salads at Mediterranean Grill are meat-free, making it fun and open to experimentation if there’s something on the menu you’ve always wanted to try. I decided to go straight to the entrée section for the $17 vegetarian plate, which includes hummus, baba ghanouj, tabouleh (finely chopped parsley, mint, tomatoes, and bulgur wheat), crispy falafel, and a side salad with feta cheese cubes and pitted olives.
Using the pita bread triangles, a fork, or a combination of the two, you’re welcome to eat each of these items one at a time. Since I’m the type to load up my utensil with layers of different things, the flavor possibilities seemed endless. Just sliding the falafel through the baba ghanouj and hummus yielded an incredibly tasty result. Next time I order this dish, I’m going to see if they’ll add a couple of dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) and leave out the super spicy salsa.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Mediterranean Grill in Athens turns veggie cravings into feast daily
Dining and Cooking