Vital to the success of any new restaurant is finding a niche that sets it apart, in order to attract diners who seek something special. Often, subjective qualities that make patrons feel welcome also add a certain seductiveness to the food being served. Such is the case with Agora Salads and Sandwiches in Tolland. A small Mediterranean restaurant with a Greek name that defines a bustling, ancient marketplace, Agora combines the element of friendliness with speedy service. Whether you get take-out or table service , you can be in and out in a jiffy.

As owner of the semi-vegetarian restaurant , Deniz Yalim takes pride in preparing traditional Greek and Turkish meals, making everything from hummus to eggplant dishes from scratch. Breakfasts exclude meat in favor of vegetable or cheese omelets, or crepes spread with rich chocolate and filled with fresh fruit, cream cheese or maple syrup. Paninis, wraps, salads and daily specials are featured for lunch and dinner, and the fixings bar includes green olives, roasted red peppers, greens and seven kinds of cheeses, including brie. Italian cookies and cannolis from a popular Franklin Avenue bakery serve as dessert.

For a hearty, healthy lunch, I ordered the hummus panini with tomato, red onions , cucumbers and basil. A friend enjoyed the grilled chicken Caesar wrap, tasty and tender, with a delightful dressing . Another friend had the grilled chicken Buffalo wrap, dripping with a sassy sauce and topped with tomatoes and blue cheese.

Other menu favorites include roasted turkey and brie, or Tuscan pesto chicken paninis; turkey cheddar, or tuna salad wraps; a signature salad that tosses grapes, apples and pistachios with blue cheese crumbles; and a wild Alaskan salmon salad served hot or cold with capers , tomatoes and red onions.

If you do not see your favorite combinations on the menu, you can choose your own panini, wrap, salad, omelet, crepe or sandwich ingredients, proving that at the Agora, there is something for everyone.

The restaurant’s hours are 7 a.m. - 8 p. m. Monday-Saturday , and 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday.