Business Spotlight

NEWPORT COAST — Zov Karamardian doesn't stop celebrating Mother's Day. To her, every day is Mother's Day because the local business owner gets to see her family daily at her restaurants.

More than 20 years ago, while her daughter and son were young, the then-stay-at-home mom decided she would take her passion for Mediterranean cuisine and turn it into a business. She started a catering company from her home with recipes she had previously kept for her family and friends.

But eventually the catering business grew and Karamardian hit a point where she had to expand or fail. So in 1987 she opened her first restaurant in Tustin, an eatery that has grown by tens of thousands of square feet over the last two decades.

In March, Karamardian opened a Zov's Bistro in the Newport Coast Shopping Center with the help of her husband, daughter and son.

Armen Karamardian said the family has been overwhelmed by the warm reception they've received from local families, just the people the Karamardians were hoping would be their customers. On Friday, couples, friends and families ordered and chatted in the restaurant, open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Irvine residents and Concordia University students Skylar Matson and Cassie Thornbury had a hearty breakfast in front of them that included pancakes, hash browns and other morning fare.

Matson said it was his second time at the restaurant and he liked it so much he brought a friend.

"I really like the atmosphere, but the food is just great too," Matson said.

The Newport restaurant is different from the Tustin location in that it has a more casual, relaxed atmosphere, Armen and Zov Karamardian said.

"When you're tired and don't want to cook or go to a place that's not kid-friendly, this is the place," Zov Karamardian said.

Along with its cupcakes, cookies and pastries, the restaurant specializes in hummus dishes and grilled Mediterranean-style dishes. Visit www.zovs.com for more information.