New Mediterranean grill opens Uptown

Where Jimmy John’s once stood now sits a Mediterranean and Greek-style restaurant: Tavo Mediterranean Grill. Inside, the interior remains the same; The floors are still checkered, the booths are still linear and the food-making assembly line is still present. But the small restaurant on East High Street, located next to Starbucks, went from a multinational sandwich chain to a unique Oxford Mediterranean grill.

Before I tell you about my experience, you should know that Mediterranean cuisine is something I know well. Both sets of my great-grandparents are Lebanese natives, so I grew up surrounded by some of the best, most authentic Lebanese food. Because of that, I came in with high expectations, and thankfully, Tavo did not disappoint.

Tavo sells Greek-style wraps and sandwiches, and they are best known for their gyro wrap, which comes with gyro meat, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and tzatziki sauce. My friend recommended the chicken shawarma wrap, and I took her word for it.

The menu is simple and easy to follow, which makes it a great stop if you are looking for something quick but different from the usual Uptown options.

After I ordered, I watched as the employee started assembling the wrap. She laid out two large tortillas and began adding the spiced grilled chicken, garlic sauce and pickles. She then asked if I wanted the wrap toasted — I said yes, obviously.

Tavo has an abundance of sides and appetizers you can choose from, including hummus, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh and grape leaves. My friend got the fries and said they were perfectly crispy — I will definitely be trying those soon.

The wrap came to about $12. For its size, I would say it was decently priced. The wrap was nice and warm, and I could taste the chicken, sauce and pickles in every bite.

It was filling without feeling too heavy, which is always a win when you still have the rest of the day ahead of you. Oxford gaining a Mediterranean option is a welcome addition — especially if you are looking to switch up your usual High Street routine.

Rating: 9/10

craverhj@miamioh.edu