Good to Go
Miami-Based Chain Pasha’s Spreads the Healthy Fast-Food Concept

“It’s a great place to go, with their chilled-out atmosphere, and eat fresh, non-greasy food.”

By Nicole Alibayof

A gourmet fast-food restaurant is not just a good idea, it is a reality, one created locally by Harvard Business School grads Antonio Ellek and Nicolas Cortes. Pasha’s, a Mediterranean-style restaurant, offers food prepared with fresh or minimally processed ingredients, no trans fatty acids, no preservatives and no additives. The service is quick. Once the food is ordered, it comes out of the kitchen and onto your plate in about six to eight minutes.

From baked pita bread to freshly squeezed tangerine juice, the products at Pasha’s are prepared from scratch daily with their seven-day-a-week shipment service to various Pasha’s locations. Every step is taken to ensure the food’s freshness.

The South Beach Pasha’s, located at 900 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, provides indoor self-service and outdoor table service. They also offer delivery and catering.

A reasonably priced lunch can start off with their most popular appetizer, hoummus, a chickpea and tahini spread ($2.95). For an entrée, loyal customers enjoy the mixed-grill shish kebab ($11.95), a kebab combination of marinated pieces of filet mignon and 100 percent chicken breast with grilled vegetables and tzatziki sauce. Seal your palate with their most popular dessert, chocomousse ($3.50), consisting of rich chocolate mouse with European chocolate.

Pasha’s menu is not the only factor that attracts a wide variety of customers. The restaurants are decorated with large posters of tasty dishes and comfortable couches to lounge on while eating Mediterranean cuisine and listening to Middle Eastern tunes, as well as Latin beats.

“It’s a great place to go, with their chilled-out atmosphere, and eat fresh, non-greasy food,” said Kelly Ochoa, 29, a frequent customer. “Their meat is so tender, not chewy and dry like in some places.”

Pasha’s currently has four locations. The Design District venue caters to the business crowd from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays only at 3801 N. Miami Ave. (305-572-1150). The Pasha’s at 1414 Brickell Ave. (305-416-5116) is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. The North Miami Beach venue is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily at 14871 Biscayne Blvd. (786-923-2323). The Lincoln Road Pasha’s is open from 8 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday, and until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Credit cards are accepted, with no minimum required. Call 305-673-3919 or visit www.pashas.com.