Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill, a Denver-based fast casual restaurant concept featuring Mediterranean cuisine, opened its first urban location with the new interior design prototype in the heart of downtown Denver at the landmark 16th Street Pedestrian Mall.
The 16th and Market restaurant features the new Garbanzo interior design prototype. The new look is unique to Garbanzo, inspired by the rhythm of the Mediterranean and derived from spices and flavors found throughout the Garbanzo menu.
“Everything from the colors, finishes, furniture, and artwork are designed to draw our visitors together, to share a satisfying meal with the comfort, convenience of a fast casual restaurant and the knowledge that the food they are enjoying is healthy,” says Alon Mor, president and CEO. “The dining room visually connects the food, fun and spontaneity of the Mediterranean.”
“This prototype embodies the nature of the Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill brand, while also improving service both in time and experience,” says Bob Bafundo, vice president of company and franchise operations. “The queue line is designed to connect guests to brand and food cues and to set up anticipation and appetite. We want the entire guest experience to be positive, even entertaining and educational. For example, we transitioned baking our pitas to the front of house to drive awareness that we make our pita from scratch throughout the day.”
In addition to the visual changes, the new prototype provides several other features including expanded daypart service, a to-go and online ordering pick-up window, a designated catering area, and inclusion of the Garbanzo Mobile and Payment Loyalty app. The addition of the breakfast daypart will introduce morning versions of popular items such as bowls and wraps. The breakfast menu will also feature new accents such as two new Mediterranean inspired sauces including shakshuka, a traditional Mediterranean breakfast sauce served warm. The separate window for to-go and online ordering pick-up also includes a new grab and go menu and provides a no-line lunch option for guests. The new grab and go menu includes traditional menu items including wraps, salads, and new snack items such as the hummus snack-pack. And the designated catering area allows for quicker assembly and delivery of orders, which will improve overall sales capability in the urban location.
The newest Garbanzo joins existing company-owned and franchisee-owned locations in nine markets throughout the country.
Garbanzo offers guests a variety of authentic Mediterranean items with an emphasis on flavor, freshness, and quality, as well as a healthy menu. Guests have the ability to customize every meal with items such as pita, wraps, falafel, gyros, hummus, seasoned rice, sauces, and dressings. All Garbanzo salads are prepared on-site daily and the pita is made from scratch throughout the day in every restaurant. Additionally, several ingredients are bought locally and some are imported directly from the Mediterranean region.
