The Mediterranean diet is rich in lean proteins, like chicken, fish and legumes; fresh fruits and vegetables; whole, unprocessed grains; seeds and nuts; healthy fats like olive oil; and a limited intake of dairy and red meats.

Essid identifies the "trinity" of basic ingredients of traditional Mediterranean cuisine as the olive, wheat, and the grape, yielding oil, bread, and wine respectively.

The family owned restaurant opened in 1986 in New Jersey . Two years later, they moved to the location it’s been in for the last 22 years. The restaurant, which has about 72 seats and 22 tables and is able to accommodate big groups of people by pushing the tables together, resulting in a table fit for a king. For those who want to have parties, there is a private room located next to the restaurant.