TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Restaurants Make Move To North

ADVERTISEMENT

By LAURA KINSLER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

UNIVERSITY AREA - North Tampa diners no longer have to drive across town to sample dishes from two of the area's more established restaurants.

The Stephan brothers, Ziad and Roger, opened the popular Byblos Cafe in South Tampa seven years ago. The Mediterranean restaurant has earned consistently rave reviews for its authentic food and lush setting.

Now, the Stephans are venturing into the "fast casual" restaurant movement by launching Byblos Pitas at University Collection II. The menu focuses on made-to-order wraps and soups and salads using recipes that are popular at Byblos Cafe.

"It's been bouncing in our mind for quite some time," Roger Stephan said. "We wanted to come out with a concept that keeps the quality of the food we have at Byblos but is still fast food. People are looking for healthy fast food."

To prosper, fast-casual restaurants must capitalize on fast service of fresh food at prices that beat or meet those offered at casual, sit-down restaurants.

None of Byblos' sandwiches costs more than $6.75, and for $2 more, diners can get two nutritious sides, such as hummus, labneh or dolma.

"The concept we created is to have people in the kitchen constantly cooking small batches," Stephan said. "This is our test site. We hope to be able to franchise it. It's hard to do a fast-food chain and keep the quality of food, with everything prepared on-site from scratch. We're still tweaking things."

The falafel never sits out more then 10 minutes, so it's always crunchy. The kitchen uses the same filet mignon for its steak shawarma, but it's cut into strips instead of grilled on kebabs.

The restaurant opened in July and already attracts a busy crowd at lunch despite the fact that the owners haven't advertised or finished the Web site, www.byblospitas.com.

Just like the original Byblos, the business has grown through word of mouth.

"This area is good when you consider the college and the hospitals," Stephan said. "These are customers who know our food, but they only have a half-hour for lunch."

Another Tampa staple, Mr. Empanada, is moving into University Collection in the space formerly occupied by Dockside Imports. It opens Sept. 15.

Mr. Empanada was created by Tampa natives Albert and Audrey Perez in 1983. They sold the company in 1990, but within two years, all of the restaurants closed.

The Perezes regained the original trademark and reopened their dream. On Sept. 2, 2003, they opened a new Mr. Empanada on Armenia Avenue.

The University Collection store will be the company's seventh location, and expansion is planned into the Orlando market.

"We manufacture all the empanadas here at our Armenia store," Al Perez said. "That's how we can ensure consistency. Each franchisee trains here in our store, so they can learn the proper way to fry the empanadas."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Byblos Pitas
WHERE: 2734 University Square Drive

WHEN: Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday

INFORMATION: Call (813) 849-5050 or visit www.byblos pitas.com.

WHAT: Mr. Empanada

WHERE: 2111 University Square Drive

WHEN: Opens Sept. 15.

INFORMATION: Call (813) 797-6232 or visit www.mr empanada.com.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 865-4844 or lkinsler@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT