Thomas Fado can count on his Greek mother to make the sauces, yogurts, tzatziki, salads and drinks at his Petrino’s Greek Restaurant in La Mesa, California but he’s got influences from an Iraqi father too.

His father came from Baghdad, his mother from Kalamata on the Peloponnese, home to perhaps the world’s best olives, and he’s incorporated a decidedly Greek traditional menu into his offerings – with twists, said SD News.

“All of our recipes have been passed down from my mother’s parents. My mother is an old-fashioned cook and wants to make everything from scratch,” Fado said.

There are Mediterranean favorites on the menu such as shawarma, gyros, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), kabobs and falafel. They also offer a variety of sandwiches such as a chicken cream chop (marinated and breaded chicken) or a chicken shawarma.

“We try to cater to a variety of tastes,” Fado continued. “The younger people like a lot of sauces with heat and a zing and older people prefer that their food has enough flavor to not need sauces.” It offers an Opa Sauce that’s hot while you’re eating but fades when you’re done.