By Lauri Lee
Northside Economic Development Coalition

Delicious Mediterranean food at affordable prices is the vision of Athens Grill, a new restaurant that opened in December 2017 on the Northside of Madison. The farm-to-table comfort food is locally sourced and made-from-scratch, using original recipes. The flavors are rooted in the tradition of Greece and surrounding Mediterranean countries. In addition to gyros, the menu includes burgers, sides, sandwiches, salads, vegetarian selections and incredible soup. The all-natural gyros are a blend of lamb and beef mixed with Mediterranean spices, without fillers or additives. The gyros cones are handcrafted in a USDA facility downstairs in the restaurant. The cones are also sold wholesale to restaurants throughout Wisconsin and the upper Midwest.

Andy Ziegler, the chef at Athens Grill, has 17 years of culinary experience. While working on his international relations degree, he worked in small kitchens and developed his sense of world cuisine and culture by immersing himself in the lifestyle of Rome, Italy and Chambery, France. In Madison he’s worked at L’Etoile, Café Soleil, Kushi Bar Muramoto, The Haze and Nostrano. In Colorado, he helped open The Laundry restaurant in Steam Boat Springs and then was a chef for the Steamboat Mountain School, an elite private boarding school with a global immersion studies program for competitive skiers and those training for the U.S. ski team. While there, he started a sustainable agriculture program.

Being able to dine with family and friends and be a part of a community is so important to the ownership team that Athens Grill was designed with a casual, friendly atmosphere to give diners an eatery where this can happen. The 3,000-square-foot space has high ceilings, yellow walls and sunlight flowing through a bank of windows. Large groups can be accommodated and a retractable glass pane garage door closes to create a private dining or meeting space. In season, diners can enjoy the patio with table umbrellas. Quick-service style ordering is available at the counter and the food is brought to customers. Traditional food service is served at the bar where craft cocktails, tap beer, fine wine, whiskey and imported Greek spirits are featured. The drive-through is popular for commuters and local workers to grab lunch while boaters and those living nearby often call ahead for carry out.

The new freestanding building is next to where it all began as Athens Gyros — in a Shell Gas Station in the town of Westport on Willow Road along Hwy. M, near Hwy. 113. The humble beginning introduced their brand, guaranteed foot traffic and provided low startup costs as they grew a loyal customer base for 10 years. The Ladopoulos family owns the property surrounding Athens Grill and followed a three-part development plan. First, they built apartments and a combined use building with small business spaces. Next came the Shell gas station that included Athens Gyros. The long-range plan was to sell the station to a major gas company in order to construct Athens Grill. In 2015, the gas station sold to Kwik Trip Tobacco Outlet Plus, which launched the restaurant construction phase. The Ladopoulos family contacted their lifelong friend and chef, Andy Ziegler, to move back from Colorado and become part of the ownership team to handle restaurant operations during the transition and be the chef for Athens Grill. To continue serving gyros during construction to loyal customers, Ziegler purchased a 30-foot food truck and a green house for seating and warmth. The food truck is now used for off-site catering at private parties and celebrations, as well as for business and community events.

If you’ve been dining al desko — eating alone while working at your desk — or have a family going in too many directions to eat together, bring your family and friends and eat in good company at Athens Grill.

Athens Grill is co-owned by the Ladopoulos family and Andy Ziegler. It is located at 5430 Willow Road, Waunakee in the Town of Westport. For hours and a menu, visit theathensgrill.com or to order takeout, call 220-3340.