Check out “Racine’s corner of Greece,” the new family-run downtown restaurant Kouzena 220 | Local News

RACINE — As a Journal Times photographer was leaving Kouzena 220 for the first time Thursday afternoon — with two to-go gyros and sides of Greek potato salad or coleslaw in hand — a customer at the bar made sure to call out “This food is so good.”

In the kitchen at Kouzena (which means “kitchen” in Greek) you’ll often find Paul Maheras, the owner, smoothly switching between English and Greek as he mixes a salad and talks to Mary Luccas, his cousin, preparing pita.

Unlike a lot of Americanized “Gyro places,” Kouzena’s menu goes far beyond just gyros and yogurt. There’s also pork souvlaki (which directly translates to mean “meat on skewers”), saganki (a flame-seared cheese usually served as an appetizer) and dolmathes (specifically seasoned ground beef served over grape leaves).

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The restaurant at 220 Sixth St. has been open since spring.

Maheras’ family has owned the building since 1985, he said. The building had been home to Acropolis, which operated from 1985-2009. Getting Kouzena 220 open has been a yearslong process dating back to at least 2018.

Current hours for dine-in are 5-9 pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Carry-out hours currently are 11 am-7 pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and noon-9 pm Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

in photos and video: the 57th annual Greek Fest at Kimissis Tis Theotokou Church

GRANDPA!

Pictured letf to right: Elena, Jimmy and Matt Luccas prepare a saganaki, a traditional greek cheese dish breaded in flour and fried in brandy.

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Watch now: Jimmy and Matt Lucca’s show how they make saganaki, a traditional greek cheese dish.

Demitri with Gyro

Demitri Seroogy holds up a gyro dish Saturday at Greekfest.

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Michael Rendulic

Michael Rendulic holding up a cupcake with a little Greek flag Saturday at Greek Fest.

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Greek Fest

Kimissis Tis Theotokou Church, 1335 S Green Bay Rd, welcomed guests to their 57th annual Greek Fest celebrations over the weekend.

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Willow and Sierra

Willow Zavaleta, left, and Sierra Swann hang out on the hang glider ride at Greek Fest Saturday

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Jose, Alessandra and Azucena

Pictured left to right: Alessandra Velaquez, Azucena Vazquez, And Jose Vazquez ride in the car ride Saturday at Greek Fest.

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Susie Barto

Susie Barrto operates the duck pond game at Greek Fest Saturday

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Levi collects ducks

Levi Weiss plays the duck pond game Saturday at Greek Fest

Ivory Durkin

Ivory Durkin rides the tear cups Saturday at Greek Fest.

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Gravatron

Pictured left to right: Lucas Thielman, Skyler Ingle, Samarra Heredia and Savannah Speener ride the gravatron Saturday at Greek Fest.

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Owen Schommer

Owen Schommer gets a right from his father Saturday at Greek Fest.

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Nolan Rothering

Nolan Rothering slides down a slide Saturday at Greek Fest.

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Anderson and Powells

Pictured left to right: E’shawn Anderson, Dontabeon Powell and Keyarrah Powell hang out on the hang glider ride at Greek Fest Saturday

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Asher and Brian

Asher Niemiec, right, and his father Brian hang out on the hang glider ride at Greek Fest Saturday

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Greek Wines

Pictured left to right: Diona McGuire, Georgia Golfinopoulos and Christopher Galetsis show off a selection of Greek wines at Greek Fest Saturday.

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James and Juliana

Juliana Rendulic, left, and her brother James show their moves on the dance floor at Greek Fest Saturday.

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Ashton Coolidge

Ashton Coolidge holds up a plate of Greek pastries at Greek Fest Saturday.

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Philip and Helen

Philip Evreniadis, left, and Helen Golfinopoulos holding up a plate of Loukoumathes Saturday at Greek Fest.

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