Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill (multiple locations)
A few months ago, I was happy to discover Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill. I was even happier to find out they are popping up all over town. I was nearly beside myself to hear that they were instituting a kid’s menu. OK, “beside myself” is an exageration but it is a good thing because I wanted my children to experience the good, fresh food.
Turns out, Garbanzo is related to Panera Bread which is a place I dearly love. With the decent food, wi-fi and classical music, I feel positively calm and yet extra intelligent hanging out at Panera.
The thing I like most about Garbanzo, besides the decent prices and healthy Mediterranean cuisine, is that I can create my own masterpiece of add-ons. For instance, diners can choose chicken, steak, falafel, veggies or “falarma” (steak or chicken AND falafel) in either a pita, a wrap or a plate. The plate is the best deal, by the way. After choosing the form and protein, we, the diner, get to choose from humus, babaganoush, various salads, sauces and pickled things to add on. I have them pile on as much as possible and then mix it all together in a multicolored mess of Mediterranean goodness!
As for the kiddos, they can join in too for $3.99 and play it safe with a PB&J on a half-pita or grilled cheese on a half-pita or get more adventurous with a chicken, steak or falafel half-pita or a chicken or steak over rice bowl. All come with homemade potato chips or apple slices and a drink. The pita or rice bowl are better deals but the portions on the PB&J and grilled cheese may be better for little kids.
New is their VIB club (Very Important Bean) to accumulate points towards free food.
The restaurants are low-key, colorful but can get really noisy, especially with kids and businesspeople.
Overall rating: (out of 4 forks)
Messiness factor: (out of 4 napkins)
GUF (Grown Up Fun) rating: Yes, you’d want to go there even without the kids
Everyone Around the Table 
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