Ah, Mykonos, Greece. A tranquil island paradise beloved for glorious beaches, quaint villages, a chic lifestyle and of course, the food. It’s no coincidence that Mykonos Grill in Rockville shares a name with this most popular Greek island.
“We decided many years ago when we opened, to create an environment so that people have a feeling when they step inside, that they are in the Greek islands,” said Angelo Mitsotakis, General Manager and owner of Mykonos Grill. “We try to give them the whole atmosphere of an Aegean island,” he added.
Highlights of dazzling blue recall the Aegean and positively pop against glistening white stucco walls and a rustic stone floor. Wall niches and other architectural details contribute to the feeling of strolling through a village, while a single red rose on each white-clothed table beckons visitors to indulge in a special meal. Because, it’s also no coincidence that every meal at Mykonos Grill is special. And, the atmosphere is only the beginning.
“The majority of our customers love the ambience,” said Angelo, who added that service is also special at Mykonos. “We have a friendly approach. Many of our people work with us for over 20 years,” he said. “Customers know servers’ first names and ask for them by name. Also, I am always on hand. People ask for me. I stop by the tables to talk about family. We’ve known these families for years. We know their kids and grandkids, and they ask about my family. People feel comfortable calling my cell to say, ‘Angelo, we have five people this evening. Can we come and can we have this server?’” Angelo estimates that about 80 percent of his business is from repeat customers.
“But,” he added, “food is, of course, most important. We blend the whole package.”
Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner (with coronavirus distancing and capacity restrictions in place, of course), Mykonos offers a menu brimming with options. There is no shortage of Greek classics including feta cheese, phyllo dough, grape leaves, Kalamata olives, tzatziki sauce and kebabs, as these favorites and plenty more are woven into delicacies from the Greek homeland, plus plenty of vegetarian choices, small plates, soups, salads, and much more. Combination meals invite sharing.
“We don’t use any frozen items. Everything is from scratch,” Angelo explained. “We don’t use any cans or preserved ingredients. Fish, meat vegetables: Everything is fresh on a daily basis. That is why we’ve been so popular for 28 years,” he added as he explained that the restaurant is especially loved for lamb and seafood.
“We are well known for our lamb chops and lamb shank. It’s on-bone and served with pasta. Also, we offer mixed seafood of muscles, calamari, shrimp and scallops, in a light tomato sauce,” he explained.
An extensive wine list and endless cocktail selections ensure the perfect accompaniment for everything on the menu.
During coronavirus, Angelo said, “We are doing well, considering the environment. We have been able to maintain our clientele all these years and to maintain our quality. We are able to offer not a limited menu but our full menu and additionally, a lot of specials daily.”
Angelo recommends reservations for those wishing to dine inside (with distancing) or on the Mykonos patio (where the tables are six feet apart). Mykonos can accommodate up to 50 people in a private dining room. The space has its own entrance and restrooms, plus a projector, screens and other technology that make it perfect for any social event including bridal showers and wedding rehearsal dinners, plus business meetings. Or, have Mykonos cater an event at your home. Customers can pick up their catering orders, or have the Mykonos crew set up and serve at your event.
Angelo knows a thing or two about putting on great events. Just ask David Copperfield, Madonna, Jack Nicholson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, President Obama, Jennifer Lopez or other A-listers who have enjoyed parties, meals and events made special by Angelo’s expertise as a maitre’d/event planner/organizer extraordinaire. “I worked for five-star hotels across the globe as executive director,” he said, as he explained that he worked with celebrities for more than 25 years. Angelo had a TV show on the food channel in Greece. “Like a domino, and by word of mouth,” he said it grew from there.
He was the consulting manager for the food in the wedding scene in the movie “Mamma Mia!” He coordinated events at the White House for President Obama and Vice President Biden. His work also includes American television shows as he handled the scene-setting and food art for “The Real Housewives of Athens,” “Next Top Model,” “Top Chef,” and various segments on ABC and Fashion TV.
Angelo’s awards include the Star Diamond Award by the American Academy Hospitality of Sciences (AAHS), the Michelin Star Award, the Relais Chateaux Award, the Chef’s Club of Greece Award, the Maitre De table des Rotisseurs at Chaine des Rotisseurs and the L’Academie de Gastronomie Brillat Savarin Award. The restaurant’s newest accolades include several Open Table Diners’ Choice Awards, and recognition from TripAdvisor as a Travelers’ Choice 2020 Winner, which TripAdvisor says puts Mykonos in the “top ten percent of restaurants worldwide, based on reviews, ratings and saves from travelers everywhere.”
Although Angelo still does parties for David Copperfield and Meryl Streep, his work with stars is currently very limited. Instead, he is focused on Mykonos, which attracts its own celebrity clientele. Senator John Glenn was a regular customer and CNN’s Wolf Blitzer continues to frequent Mykonos. Whether famous or not-so-much, Angelo and his team at Mykonos Grill make everyone feel like a star.
As Angelo strolls the dining room and stops at a table to chat, he might offer a complimentary dessert or an after-dinner drink. He said, “We treat them so they feel like home. And it feels very special.”