EVOO, a new Greek-Mediterranean restaurant from restaurateurs Brad Friedlander and Michael DuBois, is slated to open at the end of March at Legacy Village in Lyndhurst. Built around live-fire cooking and a social dining room that orbits a large central oven and a bar that wraps around part of it, the spot is taking over the former California Pizza Kitchen space and will add patio seating once the weather cooperates.
Inside the space
The mall’s own listing bills EVOO as an upscale Greek and Mediterranean kitchen with a focal open-fire oven and a 16-seat bar that gives guests a front-row look at the cooks at work, according to Legacy Village. The page lists the address as 25365 Cedar Rd and includes a local contact number, and notes that the design is meant to feel warm and energetic while still staying approachable.
Who’s behind EVOO
The restaurant is a project from the Cleveland Restaurant Management Group, with Brad Friedlander and Michael DuBois as principals, as reported by Cleveland Scene. The duo is also launching a second concept, The Legacy, in the former Bar Louie space as part of a broader refresh at Legacy Village, a push that is bringing in chef-driven restaurants to replace several longtime chains at the center.
Menu and design details
According to Cleveland.com, EVOO will spotlight Greek extra-virgin olive oil across its menu and has tapped chef Scott Stiving to run the kitchen. The outlet reports that Catherine Stenta of Hue Design Collective handled interior details and that the dining room will feature local pottery along with pieces from Friedlander’s personal collection. Friedlander told Cleveland.com, “our vision was to create a greek restaurant that feels exciting, social, and alive, where food, fire, and hospitality are all part of the experience.”
How EVOO fits in at Legacy Village
EVOO joins a changing cast of eateries at the shopping center, following Saffron Patch’s opening earlier this year, per a first-look by Cleveland Magazine. The new concepts are aimed at refreshing Legacy Village’s dining lineup after several chain departures and at building a livelier restaurant district by next summer. Operators say the combination of open-fire cooking, a full bar program and patio seating is meant to make EVOO a social hub for both weeknight dinners and weekend gatherings.
For now, EVOO is scheduled to open at the end of March, and official hours and a grand-opening date have not yet been posted. The Legacy Village page for EVOO will be updated with hours and reservation information as it becomes available, according to Legacy Village.
