Mezeh Mediterranean Grill
Dining · 53+ locations · DC metro, Richmond, Hampton Roads, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, NYC
Build-your-own Mediterranean bowls at 50-plus locations from Virginia to Manhattan — it reads like a private-equity growth story. It isn't: the three friends who opened the first counter in Annapolis in 2012 still own and run it, with no franchisees and no institutional investors.
The Big Picture
Founders Saleh Mohamadi, Steve Walker, and Tai Chiao still own and run Mezeh, which grew from a 2012 Annapolis food-court counter to 50-plus company-owned locations with no franchising and no institutional investors. The one open question is inside the stores: Glassdoor reviewers rate it 2.6 out of 5 and fault management and training, even as posted crew pay runs well above local minimums. The company answers to its founding partners, not outside capital.
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Explore all diningCompany data last updated August 2026
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