Seeking outdoor dining venues re-opening in Los Angeles, I discovered that the Mediterranean-inspired Daphne’s California Greek Restaurant is open for takeaway and al fresco dining. This fast-casual dining venue offers an array of healthy starters, salads, bowls, pita sandwiches and plates. I visited the Pasadena location during my lunch hour.

Walking inside I noticed a sign that reads “No mask, no service,” reminding guests of proper COVID-19 protocols. The friendly Daphne’s employee Adriana Aguila, welcomed me and offered some recommendations. She told me business has been picking up since their reopening, and that she takes the cleanliness and safety protocols very seriously. Wearing a mask and gloves, she fills guests drink orders with ice, tea and soda, located inside the closed dining room.

At the grill a chef wearing a mask started my order of crispy phyllo spanakopita filled with feta and spinach, and made one of Dapahne’s new strawberry salad. All were boxed for me to take outside to eat or bring home.

The spanakopita arrived in four bite-sized pieces alongside a generous portion of mixed greens topped with freshly chopped strawberries, candied walnuts, feta and grilled and sliced chicken. Aguila, who said that the chicken is antibiotic free, included a container of honey vinaigrette dressing to toss to my liking. Salads also come with a container of tzatziki sauce and warm pita with the words “Happy is Healthy” on the paper bag.

Other salads on the menu include a Greek salad, falafel salad and a Mediterranean salad with mixed greens tossed with lemon tahini dressing, tomatoes, cucumbers, red cabbage, chickpeas, artichokes, feta, kalamata olives and a grilled chicken skewer.

Three bowls on the menu, including a creamy hummus bowl, Greek bowl and gyro bowl, are served with a few pieces of warm pita bread.

Sandwiches include a spicy grilled chicken pita that has a fire feta sauce to spike the flavor, as well as a classic pita with a choice of either gyro or grilled chicken for protein. For vegetarians, they make a chickpea falafel pita filled with red cabbage, hummus, cucumber-tomato salad and lemon tahini dressing.

If you want to feed the whole family, Daphne’s offers a family feast special for $34.99 offering diners the option to select two proteins, two sides, a sauce and pita bread.

Proteins include hand-carved gyro that is lean, tender and melts in your mouth, or grilled chicken or falafel. For $4.99 extra, you can select grilled steak, seasonal fish or shrimp skewers.

Select from side dishes that include seasoned basmati rice, Greek salad, french fries, tabbouleh, cucumber-tomato salad, roasted vegetables or pita chips. Sauces include tzatziki, hummus or, for $2.99 extra, fire feta.

The menu also features a Mix & Match plate that includes two proteins, a Greek side salad, seasoned basmati rice, tzatziki and pita. I ordered the grilled Mediterranean fish plate that had half of a grilled lemon and fresh herbs sprinkled on top. Accompanying this entrée was a Greek side salad, seasoned basmati rice, tzatziki and pita slices. They also offer a Surf & Turf plate that includes grilled shrimp and steak skewers served on a bed of seasoned basmati rice with roasted vegetables, tzatziki and pita bread.

For vegetarians, there is a plate of tabbouleh, chickpea falafel, spanakopita, hummus, Greek side salad, tzatziki and sliced pita.

For kids, they have four menu items that come with seasoned basmati rice and warm pita for $5.99. Kids can select hand-carved gyro, grilled chicken, chickpea falafel or cheese pita pizza. On Sundays, kids eat for free when an adult entree is purchased.

Save room for their crispy baklava phyllo dough drizzled with honey and chopped walnuts for dessert.

Daphne’s has also partnered with Uber Eats, Postmates, Grubhub and DoorDash to deliver fresh Mediterranean cuisine to your door.

What I like most about Daphne’s Mediterranean-inspired fare is the menu offers healthy items that appeal to everyone seeking a low-fat, low-carb, high protein diet, as well as for those vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets. $-$$

7100 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste 130, West Hollywood, (323)969-8225. Take a drive and visit other Daphne’s Restaurant locations at 3573 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, (626)351-5005; or 2700 Marine Ave., #109, Redondo Beach, (310)355-0535.

This review was featured in the Beverly Press and Park LaBrea News