The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill brings authentic Greek cuisine to Midlothian

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has brought authentic Greek cuisine to Chesterfield County's Midlothian area, and 8News sat down to hear the exclusive story of its beginnings from the owners of the restaurant. 8News sat down and spoke with the franchise owners of the newly opened restaurant, Heather and Ken Tell, as well as David Esposito, Business Advisor of Great Greek Mediterranean Grill -- who shared their vision of bringing authentic flavors and a warm atmosphere to the community. The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill -- located at 11458 Belvedere Vista Lane, Suite 11 in Midlothian -- is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Currently, this is the only location in Central Virginia and the second location in the state, with the other location in Falls Church. The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has a rich history rooted in culinary traditions from the Mediterranean. "It started out in Henderson, Nevada from an Armenian-Greek family with their recipes being passed down from generation to generation," Esposito said. When asked about their signature dishes, the owners highlighted their must-haves like the lamb gyro and baklava -- showcasing dedication to quality ingredients and traditional recipes. "The most popular dish on our menu is the gyro," Heather said. "It does come with your choice of meat... but the most popular is the gyro meat, which is a combination of beef and lamb. It comes with tzatziki sauce, tomato, red onions and wrapped in a deliciously grilled pita." The owners expressed that at Great Greek Mediterranean Grill guests will experience an enhanced fast-casual dining experience that offers a variety from appetizers to entrees, to succulent salads and savory meats, as well as desserts. "One of the appetizers here is the Four Dip Combo, it gives you a variety of all of our dips in one plate," Esposito said. "We have our featured tzatziki, which we make in-house. Our hummus, and my personal favorite, which is the tirokafteri, if you like a sweet heat, I'd highly recommend that. And our melitzanosalata, to some it may be known as 'baba ghanoush,' its our roasted eggplant puree dip." Signature menu items at Great Greek Mediterranean Grill (Courtesy of 8News - Kendal McAuley) Signature menu items at Great Greek Mediterranean Grill (Courtesy of 8News - Kendal McAuley) Signature menu items at Great Greek Mediterranean Grill (Courtesy of 8News - Kendal McAuley) Signature menu items at Great Greek Mediterranean Grill (Courtesy of 8News - Kendal McAuley) Signature menu items at Great Greek Mediterranean Grill (Courtesy of 8News - Kendal McAuley) Signature menu items at Great Greek Mediterranean Grill (Courtesy of 8News - Kendal McAuley) Other signature items at the Great Greek can include the avgolemono, which is a chicken, rice and lemon soup. In addition, the souvlaki plates have become a staple menu item -- which comes in steak, lamb, chicken, salmon or gyro meat and your choice of sides like rice pilaf, lemon potatoes or feta fries. "For all the sweet tooths out there, we have a something really wonderful called the desert sampler," Esposito said. "It gives you a little trio of our deserts we are known for in our restaurant. We have our baklava, rice pudding... 'moms rice pudding,' and our homemade baklava ice cream." The owners expressed their eagerness to welcome the community and said they are excited for everyone to experience their food and hospitality. They said they believe that Great Greek Mediterranean Grill will become a beloved spot for locals and visitors. As they embark on a new journey, the Great Greek Mediterranean Grill Midlothian location is seeking to build a dedicated team -- the restaurant is hiring for various positions from cooks to cashiers. Those interested in applying can do so here.