The founders of the fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain CAVA are opening a new full-service Greek restaurant in North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose development.
The chain’s founders — Ike Grigoropoulos, Dimitri Moshovitis and Ted Xenohristos — will open the Greek restaurant Melina in the 909 Rose office building, according to a press release from Federal Realty Investment Trust, the property’s landlord.
According to the press release, Melina will serve “vegetable-forward” — having an extra focus on vegetables – Greek delicacies such as salt-baked baby beets with roasted lemon Greek yogurt, candied pistachios and dill, pork belly “gyro” with homemade pita, and charred octopus with red onion marmalade.
The restaurant is named after Moshovitis’s daughter, the press release stated.
Grigoropoulos, Moshovitis and Xenohristos opened their first CAVA Grill in Bethesda Row in 2011, and the chain has grown to more than 100 locations across the country, the press release stated.
CAVA’s founders also opened the French-Mediterranean restaurant Julii in Pike & Rose 2018 at 11915 Grand Park Ave. Federal Realty Senior Vice President Stuart Biel wrote in the press release that they wanted to follow up on the success of Julii by bringing Melina to the development.
The press release did not give an opening date for Melina. A Federal Realty spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a follow-up email asking about the opening.
News of Melina coming to Pike & Rose was first reported Tuesday by the Washington Business Journal.
Dan Schere can be reached at daniel.schere@moco360.media