The year is 2017. I'm working in Back Bay on Boylston St. and another restaurant opens at 225 Newbury St., a space that had seen its share of restaurants come and go over the years (RIP Scissors and Pie). Greco, a fast-casual Greek restaurant opens—gyros with fresh ingredients, greek donuts (loukoumades), salads, zucchini chips and more. The lunch spot I didn't know I needed but soon became an instant obsession - especially the veggie fritter pita. Fast forward several years later, we move office spaces and the only way to satisfy a Greco craving is by trekking through the Seaport or paying a pricey premium via Uber Eats. It was the ultimate lunchtime drought.
You can imagine my delight when I learned a Greco was opening in the Burlington Mall. We went as soon as it opened - and I brought the whole family. Turns out, Greco is a hit, even with my kids (they loved the chicken skewers and pitas).
Since the opening, I've noticed several of my readers keep referring back to the original event listing to mark its opening day - weeks later! So, to mark this extra special, long-awaited opening, I posed a few questions to Demetri Tsolakis, the Owner of Greco and CEO of Xenia Greek Hospitality.
1) Where did the inspiration for Greco come from?
The inspiration from Greco came from a childhood memory. I grew up in my family restaurant, and that is where I learned about my culture. I always wanted to relive those memories and share my culture and traditions and that was the genesis of Greco.
2) What is one of the most common misconceptions about Greek cuisine?
One of the most common misconceptions about Greek cuisine is that a Greek salad has lettuce (for shame!), and the gyro in the states looked like processed meat on a cone instead of layered and marinated meats.
3) What is the most popular item at Greco?
The most popular item at Greco are definitely the gyros, which are served the Truly Greek way, of course with fries in them! Everything at Greco is authentic - the food, the vibe, the hospitality. It is important for us to do everything the Truly Greek way!
4) How did you select Burlington for your first suburban location?
We selected Burlington as our first suburban location because we saw the mall as a social center and hub for where families and friends can meet up. We like the energy of Burlington and the fact that it is close to Boston!
5) Some of us love hosting but are over cooking, especially during heat waves - we need a break! Do you cater?
Greco has so many catering options that are individualized and priced per pita, plate or salad. There is also a sharable format for larger groups which are served more buffet or family style. There are four sharable formats: Greek Mother Approved, My Big Greek Feast, Feast of the Gods and Pita Pack. Ordering is easy through our website, too. https://grecotrulygreek.com/catering/
So, what are you waiting for? If you missed the $1 gyro deal on opening day, Greco also has an app that is available for iOS and Android and is offering $3 off first time orders with the code TRULY GREEK. Hop to it!
