Signage has appeared for Mandi Mediterranean, a new restaurant, at the Shops at Avenir Place in Merrifield (staff photo by Jared Serre)
A restaurant fusing cuisines from the Mediterranean and South Asia is planning to open soon in a vacant storefront near the Dunn Loring Metro station.
Signage for Mandi Mediterranean has appeared in Merrifield at 2670A Avenir Place — the former home of Burger7, which closed in 2024.
With a buildout of the space nearly complete, the restaurant is expected to open “in about two weeks at the most,” owner Sami Khan told FFXnow.
“This going to be basically a Mediterranean and Pakistani/Indian mixed fusion restaurant,” Khan said, listing kabobs, tandoori, bread and Mediterranean grilled food among the planned specialties.
An array of Mediterranean appetizers and grab-and-go sandwiches will also be served.
“Down the road, hopefully, we’re going to be able to do some breakfast also,” he added.
The menu will be similar to the offerings at Khan’s existing restaurant Namak Mandi, which can be found in D.C. and Bailey’s Crossroads (5884 Leesburg Pike). He also previously operated a Mandi Mediterranean Bistro in Alexandria, but that location is now closed.
Upon learning that the former Burger7 space was available, Khan’s team checked it out and found it to be “a beautiful location.” The proximity to Metro and promise of “a lot of traffic” added to the site’s appeal.
The forthcoming restaurant, which will occupy 2,160 square feet, will be open daily from 11 a.m.-11 p.m., permit applications suggest.
Khan says he’s looking forward to sharing Mandi’s unique concept with the Dunn Loring community.
“I want to make sure the neighborhood is happy with it, and [we’re] trying to bring something really good to them,” Khan said. “I’m trying to make it happen just really good, like a destination place for people.”
Mandi Mediterranean is likely to face competition from a nearby Halal Guys location, which is located two spaces down in The Shops at Avenir Place.
Hat tip to Brett Kruger
Dining and Cooking