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“My chicken and pork souvlakis are absolutely the best on Long Island — maybe even all of New York.”
That’s the level of confidence from Alex Katehis and his Souvlaki Street brand, which officially opened its doors at 180 Merritts Road in Farmingdale over the weekend.
After growing up in Greece, Katehis told Greater Long Island that he is focused on doing one thing — and doing it better than anyone else.
“If you told me to make a pizza or pasta, I wouldn’t know how,” Katehis said with a smile. “I wouldn’t even make it for myself. I know Greek food. I know souvlaki.”
The new space, in the former home of Irving’s Pastrami, comes four years after the first Souvlaki Street location opened in North Bellmore.
Both places will have the same menu.
“People say that it might be tough to deliver the same great quality at two different places, but we absolutely will,” said Alex’s son Kyriakos. “What you get there is what you will get here.”
“We make it fresh. We buy the meat, cut it and marinate it here,” added Alex. “The same way I used to do it when I was little, living in Greece.”
That approach has helped build a steady following, with customers traveling from all over Long Island for his food.
“People tell me they drive pretty far just to have our souvlaki,” he said. “You have to try it to understand.”
And while the menu will be the same, don’t expect to see any familiar faces at the new spot.
“People told me I should bring some of my staff from Bellmore over to Farmingdale to help with the opening,” said Alex. “I said no way. They know my customers, so we are starting with a fresh team here, except for me, my wife and my son.”
Wall Street to Souvaki Street
Katehis’ journey to restaurant ownership began long before Souvlaki Street.
“I came to this country when I was 17 years old,” he said. “I didn’t go to school. I sold hot dogs on a cart near Wall Street. That helped me get ready for this.”
Now, with two locations operating, Alex is already thinking ahead to what comes next.
“We will eventually open a third location,” Katehis said. “I don’t know where yet, but I have a couple of towns in mind.
“I just need to find the right spot.”
The hours
Souvlaki Street is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. On weekends, it opens at noon, closing at 9 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 p.m. on Sundays.
From the archives:
Top: Ismini and Alex Katehis with their son Kyriakos at the family’s newly minted Sauvlaki Street location at 180 Merritts Road in Farmingdale, which opened this weeked. (Both photos by Andrew Rappaport/GLI)
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