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Entrepreneurial goals are solely far-fetched till they arrive true. This proved true for Think Greek, a family-owned Greek restaurant in Port St. Lucie, Florida, that began as a meals truck and has since received “Finest Chunk” on Meals Community’s Best Bite in Town. Normal supervisor Rosanne Leo attributes the restaurant’s success to specializing in offering genuine Greek recipes and a particular Greek fusion menu.
“We’re first-generation Greek People, so we knew once we began the meals truck in 2014 that’s what we needed to do,” she says. “However we did not wish to [just] do common Greek meals. We needed to include a fusion menu, arising with totally different gadgets that folks have not heard of earlier than.”
When South Beach Wine & Food Festival requested Suppose Greek to take part in 2020, the workforce instantly knew their authentic fusion menu merchandise, Gyropitakia (Greek wontons), can be successful. Their hunch was right, and so they received the title of “Finest Chunk on the Seaside.” Hearken to the episode beneath to listen to straight from Leo.
“It was simply an unbelievable feeling as a result of that is one thing that we got here up with,” Leo says. “It wasn’t anyone else’s recipe. It was [us] brainstorming someday on the meals truck.”
The next yr, Suppose Greek returned and received once more, serving to it solidify its repute for tastiness and consistency.
Earlier this yr, Suppose Greek participated in one other cooking present, however the stakes have been even increased this time. Meals Community contacted Leo to be on the primary season of Best Bite in Town, a spin-off of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with movie star chef Man Fieri.
“This was our dream to be on Meals Community, however extra particularly, we needed to be on Triple D… I used to be so excited,” Leo shared.
Associated: Guy Fieri, Cable’s Highest-Paid Chef, Hopes to Save His Industry With ‘Restaurant Reboot’
The present’s premise concerned Fieri sending three individuals to a city to strive two dishes from six totally different native eating places, finally selecting one “Finest Chunk” in that city. The dishes have been judged based mostly on functionality, presentation and style. Suppose Greek received “Finest Chunk” of Port St. Lucie after which went on to win “Finest Chunk in City” through the present’s finale with its Gyropitakia.
The judges defined that they’d by no means eaten something like Gyropitakia earlier than, resulting in Suppose Greek’s win. The dish’s novelty and creativity set the native restaurant aside, an enormous testomony to the family-owned enterprise’s efforts.
“That actually made us really feel all of the exhausting work, vitality, brainstorming and every little thing is working and is paying off,” Leo says. “Generally, as a family-owned enterprise and as a mom-and-pop, you get neglected a little bit bit, and it is disheartening. However to listen to that our efforts aren’t being ignored actually does give us that vitality to maintain working.”
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With new consideration from the TV present and increased media visibility got here many feedback from clients and viewers. Leo says that scrolling social media to see the newest suggestions generally turns into overwhelming. She determined to take it daily and maintain house for each optimistic and critical reviews.
“You possibly can’t please everyone, and that is okay. Some feedback are lower than good, and that is effective,” Leo says. “All people’s entitled to their opinion. All I do know is that we’re making an attempt our greatest, and we’re placing out the meals the way in which we put out our meals.”
Leo’s willingness to take dangers and seize massive alternatives, similar to being featured on a TV present, has elevated Suppose Greek’s model. Over time, her persistence helped set up the restaurant’s positive reputation.
Her recommendation for enterprise house owners searching for this sort of success is to remain in keeping with their inventive efforts and values and use social media to have interaction their audiences and uncover suggestions for bettering operations. She additionally encourages enterprise house owners to consider in themselves and what they’ll obtain.
”Generally I am similar to, wow, I am unable to consider it,” she says. “However individuals ought to by no means say by no means. Something is feasible. Some days, you wish to quit, however preserve going as a result of that is your child. That is your dream. That is your alternative to indicate what you are manufactured from.”
For over a decade, Suppose Greek has stood by these easy — however essential — instruments for achievement:
- Seize alternatives as they arrive. Attending native festivals and competitions can result in gaining extra visibility, which might snowball into bigger alternatives sooner or later. Being open to making an attempt new issues can springboard your enterprise into recent and thrilling arenas.
- Embrace innovation to set your self aside. Innovating your services or products can distinguish a enterprise and appeal to clients searching for novel experiences. Creating your own niche may help clients select you over opponents.
- Worth suggestions, however do not let negativity deter you. Receiving criticism might be difficult and requires resilience. Recognizing it is inconceivable to please everybody lets you give attention to giving your finest effort to the issues you realize you are able to do nicely and even enhance.
Subscribe to Behind the Review for extra from new enterprise house owners and reviewers each Thursday. Accessible on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora and Soundcloud.
Editorial contributions by Angela Lee and Kristi Lindahl
This text is a part of our ongoing America’s Favorite Mom & Pop Shops™ collection highlighting family-owned and operated companies.