Local food enthusiast Manish Patel celebrated opening with free gyros and a fundraiser benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
Ocala, FL (RestaurantNews.com) The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill®, the award-winning, elevated fast-casual restaurant serving traditional Mediterranean cuisine with a modern twist, opened an Ocala location at 4414 SW College Road in the Market Street at Heath Brook shopping mall. The 2,715-square-foot space is operated by franchise owner Manish Patel, a local food enthusiast who is excited to bring the bold flavors of the Mediterranean to the Ocala-area.
To commemorate the opening, the restaurant hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony in collaboration with the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership. The celebration included a day-long fundraiser in which 25 percent of net sales for the day were donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to support its mission of fighting hunger and feeding hope by providing nutritious meals to locals in need.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill mission to Live Your Life Deliciously is embodied by its menu with a range of classic dishes like The Great Greek Gyro and lamb, steak and chicken Souvlaki plates, all prepared in-house using high-quality ingredients and recipes that have been passed down for generations. Selections are complemented by fresh Greek salads and four signature house-made dips, including Hummus, Tzatziki, Melitzanosalata (eggplant dip) and Tirokafteri (spicy roasted red pepper). The restaurant also serves signature handcrafted desserts prepared onsite like Baklava, Baklava Ice Cream and Rice Pudding.
“I love to experience a variety of flavor combinations and cooking styles, and Mediterranean food is one of the healthiest, most flavorful cuisines,” said Patel, who worked in the food service industry for years before deciding to open The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill Ocala. “There’s nothing else like it in the Ocala-area, and I know locals will enjoy discovering it as much I enjoy serving it.”
One of Patel’s favorite dishes is the Great Greek Gyro, a mouth-watering rendition of the classic. Customers can choose from beef and lamb or chicken topped with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, Tzatziki and feta, all nestled in pillowy-soft pita bread.
For guests hosting parties, events and meetings and more, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill catering menu features options like build-your-own Gyro kits, savory Souvlaki Skewers, a variety of side dishes, delectable desserts and more.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill Ocala is open Sunday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Delivery is available through DoorDash, Grub Hub and Uber Eats. For more information, call 352-598-3087, visit TheGreatGreekGrill.com/ocala-fl and follow on Instagram at @greatgreekgrillocalafl and Facebook at @TheGreatGreekGrillOcala.
About The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill
The award winning Great Greek Mediterranean Grill® is a leading franchise within the Greek, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern fast-casual restaurant industry, offering a vivacious and flavorful menu inspired by foods in the Mediterranean diet. Every dish is made fresh, in-house from authentic recipes passed down generation after generation. Co-founded by two culinary trained, third-generation restauranteurs, Nick A. Della Penna and Trent Jones, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is an affiliated brand of United Franchise Group™, the global leader for entrepreneurs, within the United Franchise Group’s food division, Big Flavor Brands™. For more information about The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill locations, menu and catering visit TheGreatGreekGrill.com and for franchise information, visit TheGreatGreekFranchise.com.
About Big Flavor Brands
Big Flavor Brands™ specializes in franchises dedicated to creative eating, offering a zesty menu of fast-growing, award-winning food brands with a proven track record of success. From fast-casual restaurants with authentic third-generation recipes like The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill®, to specialty concepts like the grazing innovator and charcuterie board caterer Graze Craze®, Big Flavor Brands dominate their niches with quality, value, and tasty fare for every occasion. Big Flavor Brands represents the food division of United Franchise Group™ which is comprised of innovative concepts pushing the boundaries with an unwavering commitment to quality, variety, and the pursuit of joyful eating.