Wichita’s Meddys opens first restaurant in Kansas City area, and more are planned

Wichita’s Meddys Mediterranean Eatery & Craft Bar has opened its first restaurant in the Kansas City area, and more are coming.

The new 2,800-square-foot restaurant is in Corinth Quarter, 4105 W. 83rd St., Prairie Village. It can seat 65 inside at tables, booths and bar, and another 70 on a spacious covered patio on the south end with heaters for the winter and “monster fans” in the summer. It will have live music in nicer weather.

The menu is based on the meals founder Alex Harb grew up on in Lebanon. It has vegan and gluten-free items.

Entrees include falafel patties, Spanish eggplant, garlicky chicken and grilled citrus salmon. It also has tabbouleh salad, lentil soup, tomato soup, hummus, fattoush salad and more.

Harb moved from his native Lebanon in 2000 to attend Wichita State University as a computer science major. But he worked at area restaurants to pay for school. After graduating, he opened Ribbit Computers in Wichita and then the first Meddys in 2014. He now has five of the restaurants in the city.

“I’m originally a computer guy so I started this restaurant and went to hell and back for the first three years,” he said. “But we finally perfected our product. I’m so happy to see the smiles on people’s faces. It’s a very tough business, but when you have a good team and happy customers it is very rewarding. I’m so blessed.”

Harb is currently looking at area sites in Brookside, Lenexa, North Kansas City and Olathe, with plans to open four more restaurants in 2023, one by April.

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In October, he was named Restaurateur of the Year by the Kansas Restaurant & Hospitality Association. But he said the award really honors his team.

“They get up in the morning and work in unison for a common objective, and they hold each other accountable,” Harb said. “They get stuff done and are proud of the results. I’m proud of them and honored to be on their team.”

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