Brothers serve authentic Greek fare at food court

Kyklos at the Galleria at Sunset mall draws fans from across the valley

LOUIE TRAUB/VIEWAbove, customers order food at Kyklos Greek Cafe at the Galleria at Sunset mall food court. The cafe is owned and operated by, from left, brothers Costa, Sophocles and Yiannis Frangakis. LOUIE TRAUB/VIEWAbove, customers order food at Kyklos Greek Cafe at the Galleria at Sunset mall food court. The cafe is owned and operated by, from left, brothers Costa, Sophocles and Yiannis Frangakis. Advertisement

The mall food court serves its purpose, a pit stop for weary shoppers. But Kyklos Greek Cafe in the Galleria at Sunset mall offers a true dining experience, even if the homemade food is served on a tray.

About six years ago, the Frangakis brothers bought the restaurant and turned the counter service fast-food joint into a family-run eatery.

"It's love, love for what we're doing, love for our customers and love for one another," said Sophocles Frangakis, the oldest of the three brothers.

It wasn't always so easy, though.

"Three male egos in one small place like this, we really got to know ourselves," Sophocles said. "And how to work together."

The first-generation Americans, who grew up in Las Vegas and Henderson, always ate traditional Greek foods that their parents cooked. Later, each brother worked in the restaurant business.

Costa Frangakis has a degree from the UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration. He worked at the Aladdin and the MGM Grand in hotel room and butler service.

Sophocles spent time in Andre's at the Monte Carlo and worked as a sommelier at Caesars Palace.

Yiannis Frangakis, the youngest, has a degree in horticulture from the College of Southern Nevada but worked his way through school as a fine dining food server at the Luxor.

Some of the recipes are passed down from the family and others were modified from the Honey Tree, which served the Greek food before Kyklos opened.

"When we first opened, we developed a way of doing things that work," Sophocles said. "If we picked up and put the restaurant into another mall, it would be a success."

The menu is full of fresh, homemade Greek favorites, including the gyro, with seasoned beef and lamb, served in a toasted pita with fresh tomatoes and thinly sliced onions and topped with yogurt sauce. There also are chicken, Philly and vegetarian gyros.

Many ingredients, including olive oil and the yogurt sauce, are imported from Greece.

"It's restaurant-quality food. We're just found in the food court," Costa said.

Other items include spanakopita, which is spinach pie made with spinach, feta cheese, sautéed onions, eggs and spices baked into buttery, flaky phyllo dough; and souvlaki, skewers of marinated pork tenderloin cooked on an open flame, served as a platter with rice pilaf, grilled vegetables, pita bread and a side of homemade tzatziki. There is baklava for dessert, and, Sophocles said, although hummus isn't actually Greek, people were always asking for it, so it has been added to the menu.

"We divide the cooking so that we're all educated on the ingredients and understand how everything is made," Yiannis said.

Costa said customers come from all over the valley.

"This is a family atmosphere," Yiannis said. "We treat our customers like family, too."

Kyklos means circle in Greek.

"The three of us are a circle of love, of brotherhood," Sophocles said.

The brothers said regulars always ask when they are going to open a sit-down restaurant. Although they don't have an answer, they all said they would be open to any opportunities that come along.

A complete meal is about $10 per person.

Kyklos is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Hours are extended during holidays with the mall hours.

For more information, visit www.kyklosgreekcafe.com.