Mediterranean cuisine is one of the most popular types of cuisine out there. It’s a way of eating based off of the traditional foods from the Mediterranean region: Italy, Greece and other countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. This cuisine has recently gained popularity due to the growth attraction to the Mediterranean diet and its numerous health benefits. 

Some of the most popular Mediterranean recipes usually include fish, fruits, vegetables, potatoes, feta cheese, tomatoes, olives, whole-grains, beans, seeds and extra virgin olive oil. Mediterranean dishes essentially offer less processed foods and more whole foods. I recently ventured out to find some Mediterranean style cuisine as cravings hit once again to find the best fast-casual dining Mediterranean food experience I could find.

Mediterranean Style Fast-Casual Dining

Something to know about me is that I love a good sandwich. Wraps, paninis hot off the panini press & subs, they are all great in my eyes. When I stumbled upon an avocado and fresh mozzarella panini on the restaurant’s menu, I knew I couldn’t resist. What’s better than bread, cheese and avocado?

The panini had mashed avocado slices with pesto sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese pressed between two slices of grilled sourdough bread. There was nothing as satisfying as pulling apart strings of cheesy mozzarella goodness. I had to order an iced latte to wash it all down and make a full rounded meal.

Goat Cheese Panini

If you couldn’t already tell, the way to my heart is through cheese. So when I came across the goat cheese panini on the menu, I was beyond excited. This panini had creamy goat cheese with havarti, basil, fresh parsley and traditional muhammara spread pressed inside of two grilled sourdough slices of bread. 

The combination of creamy goat cheese, crunchy sourdough and fresh herbs like basil and parsley made for the perfect balance of a sandwich. Both of these paninis were served with a signature kale salad to balance out the carb-rich meal.