Couple swap JCB and New Look to open Hanley's newest eatery

A couple have swapped New Look and JCB to open a city centre eatery. Husband-and-wife Mariola Gkioni and Aggelos Arapi moved to Stoke-on-Trent from Crete five years ago and had always dreamed of opening their own restaurant and takeaway.

Now Meraki Greek Street Food has opened on Trinity Street, in Hanley. Diners can expect to indulge in a variety of tasty Greek staples, ranging from pork and chicken gyros, grilled halloumi, and feta salad, to tirokroketes – a type of delicious golden-fried cheese ball.

Mariola, aged 32, said: “The business is owned by me and my husband, with my brother-in-law helping us out in the kitchen. When they’re off from school, my kids are often here too. It’s a true family business and we want to give people a taste of our home.

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“We’re trying to make a difference with what we’re doing here. We want to help to add to the city centre by bringing a taste of something new that customers can’t get anywhere else. We’ve been working in the food and hospitality business back in Greece for many years. We wanted to bring that here with us. We do everything fresh, and we only use authentic Greek produce. Even the drinks we have on offer are from Greece.

“Our special mixed grill gives you the chance to try enjoying a bit of everything: everybody has different tastes, as we’re all human, that’s natural. We know it can be hard picking from a new menu when you don’t know what everything is, so this item is a good way to find something you’ll like.”

The belly-busting special mixed grill includes chicken and pork gyros, one mpifteki (a type of Greek beef patty stuffed with feta cheese), a variety of suvlaki meat skewers, one traditional Greek sausage, two pieces of pork belly, a Greek feta salad, fries, two pitta breads, and homemade tzatziki. Customers can also try out skepasti – a type of club sandwich which uses pitta instead of sliced bread – or satisfy their sweet tooth with traditional Greek desserts, such as baklava and ferrero mousse cake.

Meraki Greek Street Food is open every day from midday to 11.55pm.

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