First Look: EVOO, Opening in March at Legacy Village in Lyndhurst

Brad Friedlander and Michael DuBois, the operators behind a handful of Northeast Ohio restaurants, are putting the finishing touches on their latest creation. EVOO, an upscale-casual Greek bistro, is expected to open later this month at Legacy Village in Lyndhurst.

The former California Pizza Kitchen property has been reshaped into a bright, airy and inviting coastal escape. Blonde woods, sky blue-striped booths, exposed beams, faux olive trees and warm lighting combine to create a laidback Mediterranean vibe. The rooms are simple but satisfying, much like the cuisine that will be awaiting diners.

“I spend a lot of time eating at restaurants in Miami and I find myself frequently in Greek restaurants, often three or four times in a week,” says Friedlander. “I fell in love with the food, the freshness and the simplicity.”

Since opening his first restaurant 45 years ago, Friedlander says that his food philosophy hasn’t shifted: “Fresh food done well,” an approach that puts ingredients and technique before flash and gimmicks.

Working in an open kitchen, chef Scott Stiving will offer a menu rich in wholesome grains, colorful vegetables, grilled fish and seafood, and a small selection of meats, all judiciously seasoned with vibrant herbs and flavorful olive oil. Diners seated at the lengthy chef’s counter can watch as fresh-baked pitas are pulled from the eye-catching pizza oven in the heart of the space.

Meals will start with an assortment of meze such as hummus with roasted garlic, baba ghanoush, and tirokafteri, a spicy feta dip with roasted red peppers, all served with warm pita. Starters include Greek-style crudo, crispy calamari, chili-spiced shrimp, grilled octopus and flaming saganaki. There will be herby Greek salads, grilled chicken and lamb kebabs, and whole-roasted fish. Other mains include moussaka, rack of lamb, roasted chicken and a few steaks.

To drink, there will light, bright whites by the glass, with a heavy emphasis on Greek and French varietals.

EVOO, which is expected to open in late March or early April, will be dinner-only to start, with lunch service to be added down the road.

The new restaurant is part of a recent restaurant resurgence at Legacy that includes the newly opened Saffron Patch, the soon-to-open Shinto, and another Friedlander and DuBois restaurant that will open later this year in the former Bar Louie space.