Restaurant Review: the New Mediterranean Grill in Wichita, Kansas

The soft scent of flowers greeted me as I entered Wichita's newest Mediterranean restaurant, the Mediterranean Grill. My lunch partner, J.K., and I were promptly attended to and were asked if we preferred a booth or table that day. We chose a booth and had barely sat down when a dapper waiter approached, introduced himself to us, and took our drink orders. It was noon on a Saturday, and I had a busy day ahead of me, so I chose iced tea rather than anything stronger. The restaurant's wine list and well-stocked bar offered many temptations, however.

The menu was filled with delightful entrées and appetizers perfect for most tastes and included lamb, beef, and vegetarian dishes. Since J.K. was buying (it was my birthday) and I did not want to be an expensive lunch date, I ordered the reasonably-priced falafel sandwich and a fatouche salad. J. K. ordered the special, which was a flaky pastry stuffed with meat and spices and lightly covered in marinara. Within just a short while, the waiter delivered our food with a smile.

The Fatouche Salad:

The romaine lettuce and other vegetables had been chopped in small, manageable pieces and were fresh-tasting and crisp. The leaves were lightly adorned with a sprinkling of feta cheese and pieces of toasted pita bread. The dressing was light and flavorful, and enhanced the flavor of the salad ingredients without drowning them.

I love feta cheese and when I make a fatouche salad at home I use a lot of feta. However, feta is a pungent cheese and a little goes a long way. The chef at the Mediterranean grill likely had this in mind when deciding to go easy on the feta.

The Falafel Sandwich:

The falafel was perfectly seasoned and was dressed with just the right amount of tahini sauce. Falafel, for anyone who does not know, is a mixture of ground chick peas (and sometimes fava beans) and seasoning. It is, typically, fried and served on a bed of lettuce or wrapped in pita (or flat bread). Falafel is a wonderful vegetarian alternative to meat, but non-vegetarians enjoy falafel as well.

I was delighted with the flavor and texture of the falafel from the first bite. The sandwich was roughly the size of a burrito and, with the accompanying salad, made a perfectly filling lunch.

How the Mediterranean Grill in Wichita, Kansas rates for:

The Service:

The service at the Mediterranean Grill gets 5 stars. Our waiter was professional, friendly, and accommodating.

The Food:

This time I only had the falafel sandwich, the fatouche salad, and a sample of my friend's dish. However, my experience at Mediterranean Grill, along with what I know of friends' experiences with food at the Mediterranean Grill, prompt me to give the food 5 stars.

The Ambience:

The atmosphere is fresh, clean, and pleasant. The fresh cut flowers--which are nicely placed around the restaurant and on each table-- are a wonderful touch and the gentle waterfall creates a relaxing environment perfect for either casual or fine dining. I give The Mediterranean Grill 5 stars for the ambience.

Final comments:

I highly recommend the Mediterranean Grill in Wichita, Kansas for any occasion--from casual lunches with friends, to business lunches, to dinner with a date. Wichita, Kansas is home to many good Mediterranean restaurants including N&J's Cafe and Bakery , but the Mediterranean grill ranks among the best.