ANN ARBOR, MI – A longstanding Mediterranean restaurant on the south side of Ann Arbor is hitting 30 years in business serving cuisine inspired by 14 different countries.
Mediterrano opened in November 1995, when first-generation Greek immigrant John Roumanis took a risk on the corner spot in a plaza at the corner of State Street and Eisenhower Parkway.
“If in the first three months, I went down, I couldn’t get back up. I’d have to start all over again.” he said. “There aren’t too many restaurants in the area — or period — that have survived almost 30 years.”
Roumanis was inspired by his Greek heritage — although Greek restaurants were common in Michigan at the time, he hadn’t seen Mediterranean fusion done anywhere else.
“It was an unusual concept. You would find Greek restaurants, Italian restaurants, an Irish pub or a seafood restaurant, but a Mediterranean restaurant was a new idea,” Roumanis said.
Mediterrano serves a lunch menu of pastas, paninis, salads and small plates alongside a dinner menu with rotating food and wine features.
Customers can choose from African-inspired flavors like Tunisian braised chicken, Tuscan-style pappardelle pasta, Spanish paella or Greek-style lamb kebab served with tzatziki.
For spring, Mediterrano has revamped its seafood offerings, including whole branzino and strawberry-infused King Salmon. Also popular is the Halloumi – a hard cheese from the island of Cyprus served with Portobello mushrooms, pesto, lemon and a balsamic glaze.
“Right now, it’s perfect, because citrus is in season,” head chef Patrick Bush said. “You can get beautiful grapefruits, oranges, blood oranges and Meyer lemons.”
John’s son Constantin, who manages the restaurant, says Mediterrano regularly updates menu items to create freash, in-season platings of their best-known dishes.
“The most important thing is constantly adapting our menu by listening to guests,” Roumanis said. “Being a place where people can come not just for special occasions but multiple times a week.”
Mediterrano, 2900 S. State St., is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. Customers can place reservations or book the restaurant’s private dining room online.
