Where to Find Healthy Mediterranean Food in Columbus: Meet Fresh and Feta at The Little Grand Market
If you have been searching for healthy Mediterranean food in Columbus, the newest vendor at The Little Grand Market makes the decision easy. Fresh and Feta is a fast casual Mediterranean concept built around bold flavor, fresh ingredients, and meals you build exactly the way you want them. It is the kind of food that feels good to eat and even better to make a habit of, and now it lives under the same roof as some of the best gathering space downtown.
This is not a salad bar trying to pass as Mediterranean. Fresh and Feta is the latest concept from Tarek, the founder behind Habibi Grill, a chef who grew up in Lebanon and has been feeding Columbus since 2008. That history matters. When you order a bowl here, you are tasting recipes and techniques that come from a real tradition, not a trend. For anyone who wants a lunch that is fresh, filling, and genuinely good for them, this is one of the strongest options in the city right now.
Why healthy Mediterranean food is one of the smartest lunches in Columbus
Most people who search for a healthy lunch in Columbus run into the same problem. The options that are good for you often feel boring, and the options that feel exciting are usually heavy. Mediterranean food solves that tension better than almost any other cuisine. It is built around vegetables, legumes, lean proteins, olive oil, herbs, and whole grains, but it never tastes like a compromise. The flavors are big, the textures are varied, and the portions actually satisfy.
That balance is exactly what makes Fresh and Feta fit so naturally at The Little Grand. You can walk in wanting something light and walk out having eaten a full, colorful meal that still feels clean. A salad bowl with chicken shawarma, chickpeas, cucumber, and tahini is a very different lunch from a sandwich and chips, and your afternoon tends to feel different too. If you want to understand why these flavors are also so good for your body, we go deeper in our companion guide on why Mediterranean food is good for you.
Build your own bowl, wrap, salad, or pita
The heart of Fresh and Feta is a simple, customizable format. You choose a base, a protein, your spreads, your toppings, and a sauce. That structure is what makes the menu so friendly for anyone eating with a goal in mind, whether that is more protein, fewer carbs, plant based only, or simply a meal that hits the spot without slowing you down.
Step one: pick your base
Rice bowl, salad bowl, warm pita, or wrap
The base sets the tone for the whole meal. A salad bowl keeps things light and gluten free. A rice bowl adds comforting structure and is also gluten free. The warm pita and the wrap are the move when you want something handheld and a little more indulgent. None of these options are wrong, which is part of the appeal. You decide how light or how hearty the meal should be.
Step two: choose your protein
Lamb gyro, beef shawarma, chicken shawarma, falafel, or grilled shrimp
This is where the kitchen’s experience shows. The lamb gyro, beef shawarma, and chicken shawarma are seasoned and cooked the traditional way, and they carry the meal. Grilled shrimp keeps things lean and bright. Falafel is the plant based anchor, crisp on the outside and tender inside, and it is both gluten free and vegetarian. For a high protein lunch, chicken shawarma over a salad bowl is hard to beat. For a fully plant based plate, falafel does the job without feeling like an afterthought.
Step three: add your spreads
Hummus, spicy feta, or baba ghanoush
You can add up to two spreads, and this is where the meal gains depth. Hummus brings creamy, protein rich body and is both gluten free and vegetarian. Baba ghanoush adds a smoky, roasted eggplant note, also gluten free and vegetarian. Spicy feta is the one to choose when you want a little heat and richness. These spreads are a large part of why Mediterranean food feels satisfying without relying on heavy sauces or fried elements.
Step four: pile on the toppings
Shredded lettuce, cabbage blend, pickled red onions, diced tomatoes, cucumber, pickles, banana peppers, kalamata olives, feta, chickpeas, and sweet potatoes
Toppings are unlimited, which is a quietly great detail for anyone trying to eat more vegetables. You can load a bowl with cucumber, tomatoes, pickled red onions, chickpeas, and kalamata olives and turn a single lunch into a serious serving of produce and fiber. The cabbage blend adds crunch, the sweet potatoes add a little natural sweetness, and feta adds the salty finish the whole cuisine is named for. This step is where a healthy meal becomes a genuinely exciting one.
Step five: choose your sauce
Tzatziki, tahini, house vinaigrette, garlic sauce, ranch, or hot shatta
The sauce is the finishing decision. Tzatziki keeps things cool and tangy. Tahini adds nutty richness and is plant based. House vinaigrette is the lightest option. Garlic sauce is for the bold, and hot shatta brings the heat for anyone who likes a kick. The point is the same throughout the menu. You are in control of how the meal comes together, so it actually matches what you are in the mood for.
What to order based on how you want to feel
One of the best things about a build your own menu is that you can tune the same five steps to fit completely different goals. If you are not sure where to start, it helps to think about how you want to feel after lunch rather than what you feel like eating in the moment. Here are a few easy ways to approach it.
For a high protein, light meal that keeps you sharp through the afternoon, start with a salad bowl, add chicken shawarma or grilled shrimp, include chickpeas and a generous load of vegetables, and finish with tzatziki or house vinaigrette. For a fully plant based plate, build a rice or salad bowl around falafel, add hummus and baba ghanoush, pile on cucumber, tomatoes, and kalamata olives, and choose tahini for a nutty, satisfying finish. For something handheld and a little more indulgent that still keeps its balance, go with a warm pita or wrap, choose lamb gyro or beef shawarma, add spicy feta, and dress it with garlic sauce or hot shatta.
None of these are rules. They are starting points. The reason this format works so well for eating well is that small choices add up. Swapping a heavier sauce for a lighter one, leaning into vegetables, or choosing a leaner protein are tiny decisions individually, but across a week of lunches they make a real difference, and you never have to feel like you are settling.
Sides, plant based options, and a little something sweet
A good Mediterranean menu always has the sides to match, and Fresh and Feta delivers. You will find hummus and pita, spicy feta and pita, baba ghanoush and pita, grape leaves, fried cauliflower, falafel, fried kibbeh, crispy french fries dusted with za’atar, sliced cucumber, and warm pita on its own. Many of these are gluten free, vegetarian, or both, so a table with different eating styles can still share easily.
This is also one of the better spots in Columbus for genuinely satisfying plant based eating. Between falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, grape leaves, fried cauliflower, and the full lineup of vegetable toppings, a vegetarian guest can build a complete, flavorful meal without a single substitution feeling like a downgrade. And when you do want a treat, the baklava closes things out the traditional way, flaky and honey sweet.
The story behind Fresh and Feta
Part of what makes this food taste the way it does is the person behind it. Fresh and Feta comes from Tarek, who was raised in Lebanon and learned early that food is how people gather, connect, and feel at home. After moving to Columbus, he turned a late night concept that started in 2008 into food trucks, restaurants, and a loyal following across the city, including Habibi Grill. Fresh and Feta is the next chapter, taking those same authentic recipes and bold flavors into a fast, fresh, fully customizable format.
You can read more of that story on the Fresh and Feta about page, and you can browse the full lineup any time on the Fresh and Feta menu. When a vendor brings this much history and care to a market, the whole experience gets better, and that is exactly the kind of partner The Little Grand looks for.
Fresh, fast, and built for a real Columbus schedule
Healthy eating tends to fall apart when it is inconvenient. The meals are great in theory, but the prep is long, the options near work are limited, and by the time you are hungry you reach for whatever is fastest. Fresh and Feta is built to solve exactly that. The fast casual format means a fresh, vegetable forward, protein rich meal comes together in minutes, not in an hour of cooking, and the line moves at the pace a lunch break actually demands.
It also fits more than just the noon rush. With the kitchen open into the evening, a Mediterranean bowl works as a post workout dinner, a quick bite before plans, or a relaxed weekend lunch. And because the menu is so customizable, it stays interesting. You can order the same way every day if you find a combination you love, or change one variable at a time and never eat the exact same meal twice. That kind of variety is what turns a healthy choice into a lasting routine rather than a short lived resolution.
Why The Little Grand is the right home for it
Healthy food is easier to stick with when the setting makes you want to come back. That is the real advantage of finding Fresh and Feta at The Little Grand Market rather than on its own. You are not just grabbing a quick bowl. You are stepping into a food hall built for gathering, with other local food vendors, large bars, and relaxing patios with city views. A healthy lunch can turn into a slow weekend brunch, a catch up with a friend, or the first stop on a longer evening.
It also means you can pair a fresh Mediterranean meal with whatever else the day calls for. Browse the market, see what is on the events calendar, or move from lunch into the bar program on the Drink page. The flexibility is the point. Eating well does not have to mean eating alone at your desk.
How to find Fresh and Feta at The Little Grand Market
Fresh and Feta is located inside The Little Grand Market at 710 Grandview Crossing Way in Columbus. The kitchen serves from 11am to 8pm Sunday through Wednesday and 11am to 9pm Thursday through Saturday, so it works whether you are after a midday lunch or a later dinner. You can dine in at the market, take it to go, or order delivery and pickup online when you would rather eat at home.
First time visiting the market? Start with the Visit page for hours, parking, and the full vendor lineup. If you already know you want Mediterranean, head straight to the Fresh and Feta menu and start building your order.
Common questions about Mediterranean food in Columbus
Is Mediterranean food a good choice for a healthy lunch?
Yes. Mediterranean food is consistently ranked among the healthiest ways to eat because it centers on vegetables, legumes, lean proteins, and healthy fats like olive oil. At Fresh and Feta, building a salad or rice bowl with a lean protein, chickpeas, plenty of vegetables, and a lighter sauce gives you a filling lunch that supports steady energy rather than an afternoon crash.
Are there gluten free and vegetarian options?
Plenty of both. Rice bowls and salad bowls are gluten free, and proteins like chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, lamb gyro, and falafel are marked gluten free as well. Vegetarians can build a complete meal around falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, chickpeas, and the full range of vegetable toppings. Many sides, including grape leaves and fried cauliflower, are vegetarian and gluten free too.
Where exactly is Fresh and Feta located?
Fresh and Feta is inside The Little Grand Market at 710 Grandview Crossing Way in Columbus. It serves 11am to 8pm Sunday through Wednesday and 11am to 9pm Thursday through Saturday. You can dine in at the market, take your order to go, or order delivery and pickup online.
Make Fresh and Feta your new healthy lunch in Columbus
The best healthy meals are the ones you actually look forward to. Fresh and Feta clears that bar with room to spare. It is fresh, customizable, rooted in real Mediterranean tradition, and generous with the vegetables, proteins, and plant based options that make a lunch feel both good and good for you. Add in the energy of The Little Grand Market around it, and you have a reason to make this a regular stop rather than a one time visit.
Explore the full Fresh and Feta menu, read the story behind the concept, learn why Mediterranean food is good for you, browse the other food vendors, and plan your visit to The Little Grand Market. If you are thinking about a larger gathering, take a look at Private Events and build the whole occasion around a fresh, flavorful table.