Simple menu reflects classic Greek flavors

Striving to provide a cozy atmosphere, owners Ana Marie Karamalegos and Orestis Stavrou found what they call the perfect location for their Greek restaurant in an old house on North Lamar Boulevard.

Karamalegos and Stavrou, who are getting married in May, opened Santorini Caf in January 2013. Opening a restaurant had always been a dream for Starvou, who grew up in Albania near its border with Greece and later moved to Greece. He grew up working in coffee shops and restaurants.

"We decided to take a leap of faith," Karamalegos said.

The menu is small, but Stavrou said that allows him to focus on cooking what he knows. Santorini Caf uses fresh ingredients with plenty of olive oil and oregano.

The lunch special is $6.95 for a lamb or vegetable gyro and side salad.

Entrees include gyro plates served with dolmas, which are grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs, and Greek pizza topped with olives, onions, feta cheese and bell peppers on housemade dough.

Karamalegos said customers, many of whom live nearby, enjoy the Greek salad with lamb ($11.50), dolmas plate with tzatziki sauce and pita ($6.50), and Santorini trio of hummus, baba ghanoush and tzatziki served with pita ($10).

In keeping with the cozy feel, Santorini Caf has free Wi-Fi, an outdoor patio and a coffee and wine bar.

"We wanted to create that [cozy] atmosphere and not rush people out," Karamalegos said.

The owners also import beer and wine from Greece, including Alfa and Marathon beer and Kourtaki and Apelia brands of wines. Happy hour, which is 5–8 p.m. daily, offers specials of $1 off beer, $2.50 glasses of sangria and 20 percent off bottles of wine.

Karamalegos said what has helped the business thrive during its first year in business is the community.

"The community here has been so amazing," she said. "We have bad days, but then we meet the neighbors. It's such an accepting and supportive community."

In December, the couple launched their first food truck that customers can find on the weekends near Lustre Pearl in the Rainey Street district. It serves gyros, dolmas and salads and hummus

Karamalegos said the food truck serves a different crowd than the restaurant.

"It's just different energy levels with the combination of the laid-back family scene and high-energy late-night crowd," she said.

Greek food 101

• Pita: Round, flat wheat bread used for sandwiches or served cut into pieces for dipping
• Tzatziki sauce: Like a Greek version of ketchup consisting of yogurt, cucumbers and garlic
• Gyro: A traditional Greek sandwich of pita filled with tomatoes, onions, tzatziki sauce and a choice of lamb, chicken or falafel, which is a deep-fried patty of ground chickpeas
• Hummus: A smooth chickpea dip with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and tahini, which is a paste made from sesame seeds
• Baba ghanoush: A traditional Mediterranean dip of eggplant puree blended with tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic
• Greek coffee: An intense espresso in which roasted, finely ground coffee is boiled in a copper pot called a briki and served in an espresso cup. Co-owner Ana Marie Karamalegos said that if the coffee drinker saves the grinds in the bottom of the cup, his or her fortune can be read.
• Loukamades: The Greek version of a beignet; fried dough is drizzled with honey and sprinkled with cinnamon
• Kefalotiri cheese: Similar to Romano cheese with a strong, sharp flavor and is typically made from sheep's or goat's milk

Santorini Caf, 11800 N. Lamar Blvd., Bldg.1 512-833-6000 www.santoriniaustin.com Hours: Sun.–Thu. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–midnight