EASTON, Pa. — Complete with a 10-minute blessing from Father Constantine Papadopoulos and more than 60 hungry people to feed, the ribbon was cut Monday at College Hill’s newest Greek street food spot: Gyro Concept.
Papadopoulos, priest of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Wilson Borough, was among the first in line for a spread of pork skewers, lamb, chicken, falafel, Greek salad and more.
After finishing his first plate and heading off to mingle among the crowd, he told LehighValleyNews.com his food was “very good,” with an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Leaving happy, well-fed
Lafayette College students and other College Hill faithful were also packed into the restaurant at 323 Cattell St.
After everyone had a few minutes to try the grub, the consensus was pretty clear: “Really good.”
“The Greek nachos … yeahhh.”
“The gyro chips with tzatziki sauce: fantastic.”
Straight from the mouths of a handful of folks who frequent the establishment — the store has actually been open since March — some recommendations for Gyro Concept first-timers include gyro chips with tzatziki sauce, grape leaves, loaded fries and Greek nachos.
One student — Lafayette is a block away — even described the lamb-and-beef gyro to be a rite of passage for foodies.
A divine dinner, if you will. Here's the menu.
'Very grateful'
Owner Nikitas Bouras, who recommends the chicken gyro, said his partners are happy to serve Easton, especially since the city's people have been so supportive thus far. Yiannis Solomonidis is his fellow partner who manages the location.
“I’m very grateful because the community of Easton, from Day 1, was very welcoming, very warm."Gyro Concept owner Nikitas Bouras
“I’m very grateful because the community of Easton, from Day One, was very welcoming, very warm,” Bouras said. “ … [Gyro] Concept is not only Yiannis and me; there are many people working every day. I would like to thank everybody.”
He said the restaurant specializes in “high-quality Greek food,” operating with the community as the cornerstone.
Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. briefly reflected on his 27 years running Sal’s Meat Market with his family just a few blocks up from where Gyro Concept is now.
“I enjoyed my relationship with the neighbors and with the college,” Panto said to Bouras and company. “I’m sure you will also.”
State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, who presented Bouras with a certificate of recognition, said: “It’s a great restaurant. They have great food, and I think it will be a nice presence here in College Hill.”
Store opening soon in Bethlehem Twp.
Upon entering the restaurant, you’re greeted with a waft of spice and the sound of electric knives whirring behind the counter.
While standing in line to order, customers can peruse a shelf close by with thyme honey, preserves of the orange and strawberry variety, egg pasta, kalamata, hummus, cookies and crackers for sale. The fridge next to it has a number of desserts and even Greek beer.
Construction is underway at the future Bethlehem Township expansion for Gyro Concept — the 2722 Easton Ave. property once home to Johnny’s Gyros — with an opening planned for some time in the next few weeks, Bouras said.
Gyro Concept’s first store opened in Belleville, New Jersey, before an expansion led to the first Lehigh Valley location in Easton.
Another “soon-to-open” location is set to come to Union City, New Jersey, according to the restaurant’s website.
