Restaurant focuses on fresh Greek cuisine

Sandra Greer and Natalie McDaniel never planned to own a restaurant. In fact, one had aspirations to be a dental hygienist, the other was studying to be a nurse. But as fate would have it, these two young women found a lifelong friendship and a calling through Greek cuisine.

The pair met in 2005 while working for Mary and Costa Arabatzis, the original owners of Ziziki's Restaurants in Dallas. Greer handled office management and restaurant operations, and McDaniel, working for Ziziki's since 2000, was the head server at the Preston and Forest location. "Natalie and I became close friends over the years, and supported each other well through various circumstances," Greer said.

In 2010, the Arabatzis family approached Greer and McDaniel with an opportunity to buy the newest location in Lakeside Market in Plano off Preston Road. The deal included the original chef and recipes, and with the Ziziki's name already having the distinction of being one of the better Greek dining establishments around, Greer and McDaniel pooled their resources and took over the keys.

"I don't think it was ever a dream for us to own a restaurant," Greer says. "When Mary and Costa proposed the idea, we took things into our owns hands just to see if it was a possibility. Eight months later, we were able to do it."

Now, the co-owners say it was the best decision they ever made. While running the restaurant takes a lot of time and effort, they treat their guests and staff like family and love being restaurateurs in Plano.

With popular dishes such as the sliced leg of lamb gyro, rack of lamb and the chicken scallopini, diners are coming back night after night, Greer said. While those dishes may not be entirely Greek, she says, "traditional dishes, such as the moussaka, pastichio and the baklava (made from passed-down Arabatzis family recipes), are very popular among the purists." Ziziki's is also friendly to vegetarian diners with options such as a veggie souvlaki, spanakopita and a variety of salads.

"It's nice. It's our little nook," McDaniel said. "We have so many regulars that come in, people we now know as friends and we now know their families."

"That's one of the best things about it," Greer said. "Sure, you have your stressful days, but when the regulars come in, call you by your name and you call them by theirs, that's the highlight of our day."

With many patrons close enough to walk to dinner, Greer said people often refer to their restaurant as a neighborhood gem. She credits that compliment to the fact that Ziziki's is consistent with its fresh food, attentive service and its casual, fine dining atmosphere.

That may sound like an oxymoron, but Greer and McDaniel make sure every guest gets top-notch service without having to suit up. They want their customers to feel like they are on a fabulous dining journey together, but Ziziki's is in the driver's seat, so all the customer has to do is sit back, relax and enjoy. Opa!

Ziziki's Plano

5809 Preston Road, Hours: Sun.–Thu. 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., www.zizikisplano.com