Today, I had the pleasure of enjoying a tasting menu at one of Roanoke’s best and newest Mediterranean restaurants – a fast-casual restaurant, located in the Ivy Market, Taziki’s Mediterranean Café. Taziki’s is locally owned (pictured below, left) by Jona Ford (and that’s me on the right).
Fast-casual is a dining concept bridging the gap between fast food and full-service dining, offering high-quality, made-to-order with quick service. Taziki’s dining room is bright and spacious, with seats and booths for 2 or more and a large community table if you are dining with a larger group. There are also outside tables to enjoy the sunshine and they offer takeout and catering. Open 7 days a week. The service team treats their co-workers and their customers like family. That’s one of the many reasons I like to dine there – the people are so nice!
My tasting menu began with whipped feta drizzled with honey, served with pita and crispy pita chips (photo above) Oh my! You need to taste this amazing appetizer. The whipped feta does not have the briny taste that feta often has, it’s just rich and creamy and the honey makes you want to lick the spoon. Jona told me that when she is at home she serves it with fresh fruit.
Taziki’s just added a bunch of new menu items. Seafood Season is officially back at Taziki’s. We tasted the grilled tilapia with homemade caper-dill sauce (photo below). We made a “feast” out of it (many of the entree items can be served as a feast with sides, a sandwich or a rice, pasta or quinoa bowl) with a lovely Mediterranean salad with balsamic vinaigrette and rice. So many fantastic flavors on one plate. The fish was moist and so flavorful. Perfectly grilled fish, nice and moist, topped with a bright, dill-forward sauce and tangy capers. It’s a fresh, Mediterranean-inspired option that aligns perfectly with Lenten dining and the growing interest in better-for you, protein forward meals.
Kýpelos is how they say “bowls” at Taziki. Start with a handcrafted bowl of rice, pasta or quinoa, add grilled veggies, feta, spicy Harissa and Taziki sauce and grilled chicken, spicy Harissa chicken, grilled salmon, grilled shrimp, grilled beef, grilled lamb, Turkish meatballs, or Falafel. Kýpelos is one of my favorite take-out dinners because you can custom design them to everyone’s liking.
One of our new favorites at Taziki is their Street Gyro. Chargilled shaved beef and lamb wrapped in a griddled pita with Taziki sauce, fresh tomatoes and red onion. Served with chips and your choice to homemade side.
Since Taziki makes all orders to order, they can meet any dietary restrictions such as gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan, etc. And they have a small selection of wine too. Spritz drinks are coming soon in the spring and summer.
Looking forward to seeing you at Taziki’s!
