Mediterranean restaurant to open in Qdoba spot

Chapel Hill is hungry for a fresh take on Franklin Street dining.

Jasmin Mediterranean Bistro, a Greek-Lebanese fusion restaurant, is tentatively set to open in February 2015, filling the space formerly occupied by Qdoba Mexican Grill at the intersection of Franklin Street and Columbia Street.

“It’s a family-owned, family-operated restaurant,” said Nawwaf Said, who co-owns the restaurant chain with his wife, Bayan.

“All the recipes, all the food, it’s who we are.”

Said and his wife opened their first Jasmin restaurant on campus at N.C. State University in 2004 — the first of four restaurants in Cary and Raleigh. The Franklin Street location will be the fifth, with a sixth in the works for mid-2015.

“Nowhere else could we get the visibility that we need than Franklin, especially at the intersection of Franklin and Columbia,” Said said.

The pair said they have wanted to open a Chapel Hill location for a while now, but were waiting for the ideal spot — which they found when Qdoba Mexican Grill closed its doors on Halloween night, he said.

Said said what sets Jasmin apart from other eateries on Franklin is the ingredients used in their Mediterranean-inspired dishes.

“We use homegrown recipes, fresh ingredients — in the Triangle and over here — we try to do our best to source all of our ingredients from local markets,” he said.

The restaurant is a chance for students to eat healthy, high-quality food that fits their budgets, said Said. It’s a welcome change in what he calls a “hamburger town.”

“Up and down Franklin Street, all the food is either Mexican or hamburgers or pizza,” he said.

UNC students have only gotten a small preview of what Jasmin has to offer, but several say they are optimistic about its opening.

“I’m excited for it, because I really love Mediterranean food, and Med Deli is great, but it would be great to have other options as well, especially for vegetarians,” said junior Lucy Thomas.

Said said he is not expecting to compete with Mediterranean Deli, another Franklin Street restaurant offering comparable cuisine.

“There’s no reason why Jasmin and Mediterranean Deli can’t coexist nicely,” he said.

Dominic Corwin, a senior, said a restaurant like Jasmin might draw him to Franklin Street more often.

“I grew up in Chapel Hill and I’ve maybe been to Med Deli four times in 22 years — I don’t go to West Franklin a lot, but if Jasmin is anything decent I would probably frequent it more than some others,” he said.

“And if they have delivery, that will help.”

Said said he is hopeful that Chapel Hill students will benefit from the healthy, delicious option his restaurant will present come opening day.

“I just want everybody to come and try us — give us an opportunity, give us a chance to make Franklin Street a new home for Jasmin,” he said.

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