Mediterranean restaurant Gyro Rice & Spice is expanding into Grapevine

Gyro Rice & Spice, a Mediterranean restaurant, is planning to open in Grapevine later this year in addition to its Trophy Club and Dallas locations.

The restaurant at 919 E. Northwest Highway near Ruth Hall Road will serve sandwiches, wraps, rice bowls, salad and appetizers like pita bread, hummus and more. Main menu items are about $9 to $16.

Flamur Ahmeti, one of the partners in the restaurant, said the team is working with the city on permits and hopes to open up within six months.

Ahmeti said the reason Grapevine area was chosen was due to the proximity to the Trophy Club location for events, catering and logistical support.

“I mean, the appeal is there, people liking it, they’re loving the taste,” Ahmeti said. “We make most of our sauces in house.”

He said the cuisine is definitely Mediterranean, but the spices are a fusion of northern Mediterranean food from Turkey, Croatia and Albania, and the Middle East.

The restaurant will join other Mediterranean restaurants in the area including Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet near Grapevine Mills Mall, PIAF on South Main Street and ZaTaR in Harvest Hall.

Ahmeti said the biggest seller is the gyro, and he credits that to the high-quality meat they use. The bowls and melts are also popular.

The restaurant uses fresh bread made at Sara’s Market Bakery in Richardson for the wraps and melts.

“It’s just a casual, family-friendly, you know — good,” Ahmeti said “I know people use the term fast food, but we make our vegetables fresh, our salads fresh, all of our sauces, expect the hot sauce, we make in house as well, and we prepare our chicken daily. We spice it up like a day prior, and then its grilled per order every single day. We’re just excited to come to Grapevine.”