CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Tradition isn’t just something passed down. At Zeitouni Mediterranean Grill, it’s served on a plate.
- Zeitouni Mediterranean Grill serves authentic Lebanese cuisine.
- It's located in Ballantyne.
- Their specialty is the Tawooq Special, a chicken skewer, grilled, wrapped in pita with a garlic mayo spicy sauce, pickles, tomatoes, fries and Zeitouni’s signature dressing.
“I feel like definitely the culture is in the kitchen,” Sandra Zeitouni said.
The Ballantyne restaurant creates authentic Lebanese cuisine using generations of Zeitouni family cooking techniques and recipes, passed down to Sandra and her brother Wassim, who owns the restaurant.
“In Lebanon, family is the biggest thing,” Sandra said. “Grandmas and moms are the real cooks.”
Zeitouni Mediterranean Grill has regional favorites from across the Mediterranean including hummus, baba ghanoush and salads, along with meatier main dishes.
“It’s all going to be very light on the stomach. And it’s not so greasy at all,,” Sandra said. “All this type of food is going to be good for you.”
Like Zeitouni’s signature dish is the Tawooq Special. It’s a chicken skewer, grilled over an open flame for nearly ten minutes, then chopped, and grilled again on a flat top.
The chicken is wrapped in pita, with a garlic mayo spicy sauce, pickles, tomatoes and fries.
It’s finally toasted on the grill as it’s drizzled with Zeitouni’s signature dressing.
“[Customers ask,] ‘Can you sell it by the bottle?,'” Sandra said.
Because it takes longer than most dishes to prepare, the Tawooq Special isn’t listed on the menu. But it’s still one of Zeitouni’s most popular dishes.
No matter what you order, Zeitouni Mediterranean Grill offers a taste of Lebanon, and a feeling of family.
“It’s authentic food,” Sandra said. “And whether you go to different [Mediterranean] places, you’re not going to get the same flavors.”
Address
3419 Toringdon Way A-124
Charlotte, NC 28277
Off I-485 on the Johnston Rd. exit in Ballantyne
Hours
Mon-Sat, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Specialty
Tawooq Special
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