'Mediterranean-inspired' chain Middle Eats to open first Lansing location
LANSING — Middle Eats, a Warren-based chain that offers "Mediterranean-inspired" dishes, will open its first Lansing area location off East Grand River Avenue later this spring.
The restaurant, opening in a nearly 2,000-square-foot storefront at 3201 E. Grand River Ave. previously home to Lefty's Cheesesteaks, will be Middle Eats' fourth location, joining locations in Warren, Bloomfield Hills and Detroit.
The chain's first location opened two years ago, said Jack Mashini, one of three owners, along with Brian Shunia and Mario Sattam.
"We offer fast-casual, Mediterranean-inspired, bowls, wraps and salads," he said. "It's a healthy alternative to fast food. Everything is made from scratch in-house. We make literally everything. We marinate all the chicken, and steak, make all of our sauces and freshly cut our veggies every morning."
The East Grand River Avenue location is expected to open sometime in May, Mashini said.
Menu includes bowls, wraps, salads
Middle Eats' menu includes chicken, shrimp, and veggie and steak shawarma bowls served over a bed of yellow rice that customers can personalize to their taste.
"The most popular thing in our restaurants is our bowls," Mashini said. "We have 10 different bowls, 10 different wraps, 10 different salads. It's not a traditional Middle Eastern restaurant menu. We like to call it Mediterranean-inspired. It's a twist on the typical thing that you would get from any other restaurant that serves Middle Eastern food."
Middle Eats also offers wraps, salads and sides, including fries, hummus, pita chips and pita wedges. Desserts include strawberry shortcake and cheesecake, banana bread pudding parfait, and Bavarian cream-filled churros.
The chain offers vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian options, Mashini said.
Restaurant will be popular with MSU students, owner said
The Lansing Middle Eats location will be the first with a drive-thru lane, Mashini said. Inside the restaurant will offer seating for about 40 people, between the dining room and patio space.
The company expects to employ about 25 people, Mashini said, and is in the process of hiring and training for management positions. Open interviews for the remaining positions will be scheduled soon, Mashini said.
The Lansing area seemed like the right area for the chain's next location, especially with the property's proximity to Michigan State University, he said. There are plans to open additional restaurants in other Michigan communities.
"We see the need for this," Mashini said. "I think our food is going to be a very big hit with college students. Having a healthy, fast, fresh option within minutes of the campus, I think it is going to do very well and be accepted very well. I think we bring something different than a typical Middle Eastern restaurant."
Learn more about Middle Eats at www.middleeats.com.
READ MORE:
McLaren to construct $40M Grand Ledge-area emergency department, medical campus
Marty Martin, who ran Olivet food truck Truckin' Awesome, helped start food pantry, dies
Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on X @GrecoatLSJ.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: 'Mediterranean-inspired' restaurant chain Middle Eats to open in Lansing
