P.O. Box 632 Findlay, Ohio 45839 Phone: 419-420-9327

Restaurant Reviews
The Greek Garden Will Make You Say "Opah!"
By Beth Richards
Nov 1, 2005, 00:00

 "Opah!" means cheers in Greek, and if you have ever eaten at The Greek Garden, you probably understand the definition.  Most of us are familiar with hummus, baklava and even moussaka, especially if you've seen the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding; but until you've also tried Dolmadas (stuffed grape leaves), Saganaki (fried, flaming cheese, an impressive presentation) or Spanakopita (spinach pie), you haven't reached "Kefi" (the spirit of extreme joy). 

The atmosphere in the Greek Garden is quaint; soft, authentic music accompanies the traditional fare.  The colors and ambiance are pleasant and while the restaurant appears small, there is ample seating and has a sizeable overflow section in the back, so no one has to wait.

Owners Geri and Lou Kish have called Findlay home for over 30 years.  They bought the already established Greek-cuisine restaurant in 2000, after retiring from their long-time careers; Geri had worked at Intersil and Lou commuted to Maumee every day for his work at an industrial supply firm.  Long work hours kept the couple from being able to really become acquainted with their community.  The restaurant has changed all that.
 
Even though they still work long hours, owning the Greek Garden has given the Kishes a chance to meet lots of people and they've made many friends through the restaurant.  In fact, Geri says that the best thing about The Greek Garden is "getting to know the people of Findlay."  

The Kishes wanted to start a family business when they retired, and even though neither had experience in restaurant management, they took the plunge and it's been a successful undertaking.  Their son Joe is the main chef and their grandchildren help out, also, so it really is a family affair.

Most patrons assume Geri and Lou are Greek, but they are both from completely different cultural backgrounds.  Geri is Hawaiian and Lou's background is Hungarian.  Geri admits that she had to not only learn to cook Greek food, she had to acquire a taste for it.  Citing the many health benefits of a Mediterranean diet, Geri explains that everything they prepare is fresh. The result is authentic, delicious and nutritious.  Now, Geri loves the food and eats it every day.  Asked if she really enjoys the daily staple, her reply is "It's all Greek to me."

The Greek Garden is open for lunch Monday through Friday, 11-2 and dinner, Monday through Thursday, 5-8, Fridays and Saturdays 5-9 and is located on South Main in downtown Findlay.