Now local entrepreneurs, Ziad Dalal and Bechara Harfouche, along with restaurant veteran Tedy Ramy, are bringing an authentic taste of the Mediterranean to Plano, Texas, and the Shops at Legacy with the opening of Mama Pita Mediterranean Grill.

Using family recipes that have been refined and handed down over six decades, Mama Pita offers a range of fresh, authentic Mediterranean dishes that combine Armenian, Greek European, and Middle Eastern influences.

“This was born out of our passion for Mediterranean food and a desire to share that passion with others,” Harfouche says. “The simple, hand-picked ingredients are rich in flavors, colors, and textures, offering a true Mediterranean dining experience.”

The Mama Pita flavorful experience is based on a successful chain of upscale restaurants operated by the Ramy family in the Mediterranean region. Together, Harfouche, Dalal, and Ramy decided to recreate that experience in Plano that would combine with the same attention to quality and detail, but in the increasingly popular fast-casual setting.

“Because Mediterranean food is still new to many, we wanted to create a simple, affordable way to experience the true flavors and recipes of the region,” Harfouche says. “That’s why we are so excited about Mama Pita.”

At Mama Pita, diners are able to customize their own salads, pita wraps, or combination platters featuring fresh meats and vegetables prepared and grilled right in front of them in a traditional Mediterranean style.

The menu also features:

·Traditional Mediterranean wraps that contain no fat or trans fats, and that are flavored with a squeeze of olive oil and prepared and baked in-house.

·Platters, wraps, or baked pita chips all accompanied by a choice of original, red beet, or carrot hummus, baba ghannouj (eggplant), garlic paste, or tzatziki (homemade yogurt) dips.

·Dips made from scratch using fresh ingredients with no preservatives or color additives.

“The great thing about Mediterranean foods is that they are full of rich flavor and texture, but do so without a lot of the negative health side effects of other diets,” Harfouche says.

Restaurant hours are Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; and Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Prices for main entrees range from $6.95 to $8.95.

Mama Pita is now open at the Shops at Legacy (5800 Legacy Drive), and a grand opening celebration benefitting Minnie’s Food Pantry/The Giving Movement is scheduled for May 22.

A complete menu and more information is available at http://www.mamapita.com/.