Taziki’s Mediterranean Café unveiled a new interior design this week at the grand opening of its 77th location in Alabaster, Alabama.
The new direction for Taziki’s is centered around a deeper enduring sense of happiness or what the Greeks call “eudaimonia.”
The new design reflects a “Mediterranean-Coastal” atmosphere. Sunflowers in Greek pots greet you as enter the cool and serene feel of the restaurant. Community tables establish a welcoming environment for conversation within the exposed stone and painted white shiplap adorned walls.
Shades of bright white and deep ocean blue are present throughout with hanging wicker lanterns. Natural lighting beams from over a dozen windows and exposed wooden beams in the ceiling give you the experience of dining outdoors. In the rear of the restaurant, a community board lists local non-profit events with information about how to participate, furthering the at-home, community feel.
Taziki’s own philanthropic project will expand nationwide in the coming years. At present, The HOPE (Herbs Offering Personal Enrichment) Project serves special needs students in Birmingham, Alabama, Nashville, Tennessee and Little Rock, Arkansas school systems by hiring and teaching them to grow, harvest, and sell fresh herbs, which Taziki’s purchases for use in their area restaurants.
After researching, Taziki’s found that half of their business was driven from takeout orders. The restaurant now has a larger space for customers to retrieve their food at the ‘To Go’ counter. The restaurant currently offers convenient ways to order ahead, both with a mobile app and online ordering options.
Taziki’s has found the most popular items with patrons include Taziki’s delicious Seafood Feasts including the Grilled Salmon, Grilled Tilapia and Grilled Shrimp.
“We believe great food brings people together, and we want our restaurant guests to feel like dinner guests in our home,” says Keith Richards, Taziki’s Mediterranean Café Founder. “We want our guests to enjoy extraordinary food that is as colorful as the Mediterranean.”
The Mediterranean diet often suggests eating the following items daily: olive oil, grains, fruits, and vegetables. The diet also suggests eating poultry, dairy, fish, and other types of seafood a few times weekly. New menus items in the coming months will include several new salad options focused on Taziki’s commitment to use simple, wholesome ingredients and make everything from scratch daily.
Taziki’s customers will continue to enjoy the menu teeming with original chef-driven recipes prepared daily from more than 100 fresh produce items as well as more than 60 herbs and spices flavoring the food.
“No freezers or fryers can be found in Taziki’s restaurants. If you are looking for a fresh-casual dining option, then nothing is healthier than Taziki’s,” says Richards. “An array of vegetarian and gluten free options have also expanded on our menu.”
Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe’ was the first national franchise to achieve REAL Certification by the United States Healthful Food Council (USHFC), the emerging national standard for foodservice nutrition and sustainability. With 77 locations across 16 states, Taziki’s is also now the largest chain restaurant to complete the certification process.