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Now Open Mediterranean Schaumburg

Meze Mediterráneo, a modern casual dining destination inspired by the culinary regions along the Mediterranean Sea, is open for business in Schaumburg. The new restaurant is located at 680 Mall Drive. Meze, which translates into “tapas”, offers a wide selection of shared plates, seafood and prime steak accompanied by an extensive wine list. The venue’s spacious lounge greets guests from behind a grand seafood bar filled with selections that are flown in fresh each day. The lounge offers a variety of wines by the glass, classic cocktails made with premium spirits, house-made syrups and fresh garnishes along with imported, craft and domestic beers, and a selection of ports, grappas, sherries and madeira. The restaurant is celebrating its grand opening month by offering $15.00 pours of Caymus by the glass every Monday in October.

Meze’s Michelin-scouted Executive Chef, Tino Almaraz, designed the menu, drawing upon influences gleaned from experiences with renowned French chef Jean Banchet, and his own tenure with Rosewood steakhouse and seafood restaurants. It was during his time at Rosewood that Chef learned how to subtly balance seasonings in order to let the flavor of the fresh ingredients shine through. The menu is a mix of selections drawn from Spanish, French, Greek, Italian and Middle Eastern influences – the dishes have familiar names and tastes, but the ingredient pairings are unique. Key selections include:

  • Ultra-fresh preparations using octopus, calamari, shellfish, salmon, sea bass, grouper, Dover sole, scallops, a fresh fish of the day and more
  • Prime cut Black Angus steaks, including a 45-day dry aged bone-in ribeye
  • Tapas including Turkish Style Borek (ricotta, feta, leeks, pine nuts in filo) and Gambas Al Ajillo (sautéed prawns, chiles, garlic, olive oil)
  • Lamb Shank Ossobuco over polenta
  • A delightful dessert featuring Greek yogurt and figs 
  • Flatbreads including one with prosciutto, figs, goat cheese, arugula

The restaurant wine list includes selections such as Caymus Select, Schaunessey, Far Niente from Napa, as well as wines from Italy, Spain and Greece. The restaurant also features a private wine locker program, dubbed “Club M”, that offers temperature-controlled personally engraved wine lockers for members. The program includes discounted pricing (by the bottle and case), preferential reservations, members-only events and more. Cocktail selections transport diners to the Mediterranean seaside, and include:

  • The Monaco Mule – sour mix, orange wheel, fresh mint, Figenza Fig Vodka topped with ginger beer and served in a copper mug and garnished with a lime wheel
  • Red or White Sangria – simple syrup, cold-pressed lemon juice, St. Germaine, red or white wine, lemon lime soda and served in a stemless wine glass and garnished with fresh citrus fruits
  • The Gibraltar – basil simple syrup, Cointreau, Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters, Four Roses bourbon and served over a large rock ice cube and garnished with a Luxardo cherry

The 7800 square-foot venue includes private event space for 10-200 guests, along with seasonal outdoor seating. The restaurant also features refreshing cold pressed juices using ingredients in keeping with the restaurant’s Mediterranean theme.

Mezé Mediterranean

680 Mall Drive Schaumburg, IL 60173

Reservations: 847-598-6393 or at OpenTable

Hours of Operation

Monday–Thursday: 11:00am to 9:30pm  

Happy Hour: Monday-Friday, 3:55pm – 6:00pm (Featuring $5 Signature cocktails)

Friday: 11:00am to 10:30pm

Saturday: 4:00pm to 10:30pm 

Sunday: 4:00pm - 8:30pm; Brunch Coming Soon

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