After a Lake Street sandwich shop closed late last year, a fast-casual spot with a healthy eating focus has filled the downtown Oak Park storefront.
Romaine Greens and Grill, at 1053 Lake St. in Oak Park, opened in early February. Mousa Al-Sheikh, who owns the restaurant with his brother, Mohamed, said the menu focuses on salads, sandwiches, wraps and soups, with most prices under $10.
The brothers were already familiar with Oak Park: They’re also the co-owners of the 11-year-old Jerusalem Café.
Max Austin-Williams, executive director of the Downtown Oak Park business association, said he’s thrilled the Al-Sheikh brothers chose to open another business downtown.
“That definitely shows a loyalty to the district,” he said.
Romaine Greens and Grill is the only downtown Oak Park business with a salad bar: “The one thing that we don’t have, and now we do,” Austin-Williams said.
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A self-serve salad bar features greens, fruit, seeds and nuts. Grilled chicken, steak or salmon can be added to salads or wraps, Al-Sheikh said.
Al-Sheikh said they believe a salad-focused concept will do well in the Oak Park area, as clean, healthy eating has become especially popular. At Jerusalem Café, “We noticed a trend: The salad platform was growing faster than anything else on the menu, and by a lot,” he said.
The idea had been brewing for some time when 7 Sandwich Shop closed in November, so they pursued the space. They took possession of the space — conveniently located across the street from Jerusalem Café — in mid-December.
“We anticipate it will take off in the summer,” he said of Romaine Greens and Grill.
In the next year or so, the brothers plan to open a few more locations in the Chicago area, Al-Sheikh said, and are eyeing downtown Chicago and downtown Naperville.
“We think this is something people in the Loop would like during their business hours,” Al-Sheikh said.
Romaine Greens and Grill is open for lunch and dinner, although Al-Sheikh said they’ve been busier during the former than the latter, so they’re looking for ideas to improve the dinner crowd.
“We need both to do well to make it,” he said.
Al-Sheikh, who left Jerusalem in 1982 to come to Chicago for college, said they appreciate the diversity and open-mindedness of Oak Park area residents.
“Making people happy, making people enjoy the food — that is our joy,” Al-Sheikh said.
Caitlin Mullen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.