Carolina Forest, SC is getting a new Mediterranean breakfast restaurant. Here’s where
A new Mediterranean take on breakfast food is coming to the Carolina Forest area close to Valentine’s Day.
Zeytin is a breakfast-lunch restaurant at 224 Fresh Drive Unit A in Carolina Forest next to Lowes Foods. The eatery will seat about 150 people inside and outside, a bar and should open before Valentine’s Day. Zeytin will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The 3,000 square foot eatery will serve several breakfast staples such as pancakes, french toast, waffles and other treats, but the eatery will also have a Turkish inspiration.
“We brought some Turkish dishes; it’s something that you guys never tried before,” Umut Baris Balkis, who owns the restaurant with a business partner, said in an interview with The Sun News. “Turkish breakfast is very popular around the world, so that’s why we say Americans have got to try our breakfast.”
Zeytin is not Balkis’ and his business partner’s first foray into the Myrtle Beach restaurant scene. The pair previously operated Bosphorus Grill, a lunch and dinner restaurant that also served Mediterranean-inspired dishes, before selling it to finance Zeytin.
Usually served with a cup of tea, Turkish breakfast includes olives, cheeses, meats as well as different sweets, fruits, pastries and other staples according to the Weary Chef. Dishes typically involve spreads, breads, cheeses and eggs.
The name Zeytin has many different meanings, Balkis said. It’s named after his hometown in Turkey and represents peace, as Balkis’ middle name, Baris, means peace. He added Zeytin translates to Olive, which also goes with his daughter’s name.
“So when we combined everything, we came up with this name,” Balkis said.
Examples of Zeytin’s roots include Menemen, a dish where patrons dip their bread in onions, peppers, tomatoes, and three scrambled eggs mixed in tomato sauce. Other Mediterranean staples include Pide, a flatbread plate filled with different fillings like sausage, peppers, onions, steak, spinach, and other ingredients, which The Mediterranean Dish says is sometimes called “Turkish pizza.” Lahmacun, a flat pie with ground beef, onions and peppers baked in a brick oven, is another Turkish standard on the menu.
Zeytin will also have breakfast sandwiches, eggs, Benedict’s skillets, and omelets. The interior will be decorated with interior designs from Turkey, including two artificial olive trees that will sit in the center of the restaurant, accenting the green-and-white aesthetic of Zeytin.
“Every single piece,” Balkis said. “We spent quite a bit of time.”
The restaurant will also have a bar serving cocktails, mimosas, draft beer, and wines. Balkis said the eatery might also feature Turkish wines, although they are still looking for distributors.
The brunch spot is not Balkis’ first foray into the Myrtle Beach restaurant scene. Balkis was a part owner of Bosphorus Grill before selling it.
“When it (comes to) breakfast, everybody has breakfast, and there is a high demand, not enough restaurants,” Balkis added. “So what we decided to say, let’s mix American and Mediterranean flavors, what we already have (at Bosphorus), and open up a breakfast restaurant.”
Zeytin is hiring about 40 people and will hold job interviews at the restaurant Jan. 17 and 18. Balkis added that he hopes to expand in the future, possibly opening more locations as early as 2025.
