Mezze Mediterranean Cuisine, a restaurant on North Hamilton Road for about 15 years, closed Aug. 31. A new restaurant, Cedar Mediterranean Grill, opened in the same space at 5326 N. Hamilton Road on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Former owner Stephen Warwick told NBC4 he sold the restaurant around June 2025 after a heart problem forced him out of the business.

"I sort of had to sell it quickly because I was having a heart problem and I just couldn't work in the restaurants anymore," Warwick said.

Warwick bought the restaurant in 2013, when it was called Mezze Middle'Terranean, and renamed it Mezze Mediterranean Cuisine. The spot originally opened in 2011. He ran the concept for about 12 years, including a second location at 2051 Henderson Road in Upper Arlington that opened in 2016 and closed roughly two years later.

After selling, Warwick said longtime customers contacted him to say quality had declined under the new ownership. The most recent owner of Mezze did not respond to NBC4's request for comment on why the restaurant closed, NBC4 reported.

The address sits on the Gahanna side of the Gahanna-New Albany border, according to a Visit Gahanna listing. Who owns Cedar Mediterranean Grill has not been publicly identified.

What Cedar Mediterranean Grill offers

Cedar keeps the build-your-own Mediterranean format that Mezze was known for. Bowls come with a base of rice, salad or French fries and can be topped with chicken, falafel, lamb and beef gyro, plus vegetables and dips like tzatziki and tahini. Pita wraps follow the same customizable setup, with the same protein and topping options.

The menu also lists appetizers including hummus, spicy feta and grape leaves, along with desserts such as baklava and tiramisu.

Cedar Mediterranean Grill is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 5326 N. Hamilton Road.