Lily's Mediterranean Cuisine has grown from a takeout-focused business into a thriving dine-in restaurant by emphasizing fresh, made-to-order Mediterranean-Armenian fusion cuisine and family traditions while adapting to changing customer demand. (GV Wire Video/Jahziel Tello & Eric Martinez)
- Lily's Mediterranean Cuisine expanded from takeout into dine-in service, attracting new customers while growing its local presence.
- Fresh, made-to-order Mediterranean-Armenian fusion dishes and family traditions help distinguish Lily's from other local restaurants.
- Despite economic challenges, Lily's continues expanding private events while seeking more consistent customer traffic throughout each week.
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What began as a takeout and catering operation has grown into a dine-in destination for Lily’s Mediterranean Cuisine, with the restaurant’s expanded dining room bringing in returning customers and first-time visitors.
The Mediterranean-Armenian fusion restaurant at Bullard and West avenues, next to the Berrock Shop, opened in 2023 and expanded its dining room in January after initially operating as a takeout and catering business.
“It’s been going well, getting a lot of new customers,” said Breanne Swengel, a shift lead at Lily’s Mediterranean Cuisine. “We thought it was gonna be our takeout customers and we do get those to dine in, but we’ve gotten a lot of brand new customers, which has been amazing.”
Swengel said customer demand prompted the expansion after takeout orders continued to grow.
“When that became popular with takeout, then that’s when we kept getting customers like, ‘I want a place to sit,’ ” she said.
Small Business Faces Changing Customer Traffic
Like many small businesses, Lily’s has experienced fluctuating business levels, making staffing and scheduling difficult.
More recently, however, the restaurant has seen business increase on days that are typically slower.
“The consistency is what we need,” Swengel said.
Fresh Ingredients Remain the Focus
Swengel said Lily’s distinguishes itself by preparing meals fresh to order and blending Armenian and Mediterranean influences.
“Lily’s is a Mediterranean-Armenian fusion. We make and serve everything to order. Very fresh, healthy ingredients. Even our sauces are made in-house,” she said. “And that freshness is what we pride ourselves in and the dedication to always improve and still stay authentic to their culture and everything.”
Among the restaurant’s most popular dishes are combination plates featuring chicken kebabs and filet mignon beef kebabs served with rice, sides, house-made sauces and pita bread, along with shawarmas made with filet mignon beef. Swengel said her personal favorite is the chicken lula.
“It’s ground chicken thigh, really nicely seasoned, formed on a skewer, cooked over a flame,” she said. “That’s one of my favorites.”
Family Tradition Shapes the Restaurant
Swengel said the restaurant’s owner, Chef George, prepares the marinades and sauces himself while several members of his family help operate the business.
“His uncle is the other chef that works there and his dad also comes in,” Swengel said. “Sometimes his family comes in and helps us and I think that really promotes this sense of community.”
The restaurant’s name comes from the owner’s daughter, Lily.
“He wanted to build a foundation for her because she’s still really young,” Swengel said. “It’s been really sweet to see her so prideful of” the restaurant.
In addition to serving dine-in and takeout customers, Lily’s hosts private events, including bridal showers, anniversaries, birthdays, memorial gatherings, and other celebrations. Swengel said the restaurant has also booked a wedding reception for October.
“I do believe the passion (here) is something really special,” Swengel said.
Click here to check out Lily’s Mediterranean Cuisine.
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