New Chesapeake eatery offers the full Greek experience

CHESAPEAKE

When Panayiota “Pam” Strumpis relocated to Chesapeake a year ago, she sought employment. But, after nothing panned out, Strumpis decided to stick with what she knows best – cooking.

Born and raised near Athens, Greece, Strumpis relocated to the United States in 1968 and made Maryland her home. She and her late husband, Demos, ran Pam’s Deli together for 13 years and Soto’s Grill for seven .

The restaurant business just seems to be in her blood – her parents had a restaurant in Greece and her uncle had one in the United States. Strumpis also ran Julianna’s in Baltimore with her son, Soto .

“I bumped into this and decided to try it,” Strumpis said of Yia Yia’s Greek Café on Eden Way North that opened Jan. 15.

The name means grandmother in Greek, and it came at the suggestion of her boyfriend, Jim Rock .

“He kept hearing the word from my grandchildren,” said Strumpis of Caitlin , 13, Evan , 7 and Jason , 3.

Yia Yia’s, which has four eat-in tables and provides carry-out, offers breakfast, sandwiches and platters, salads, pitas, melts, subs and specials .

“Everyone orders a gyro as soon as they come here because they see it’s a Greek restaurant, but we want to incorporate more Greek food on the menu,” Strumpis said.

Strumpis also makes moussaka, an eggplant dish; pastichio, a Greek lasagna; spanakopita, a homemade spinach pie; and baklava, a pastry.

“We make what people are asking for the most,” she explained. That means gyros and Greek salads are her biggest selling items.

Mike and Joan Kostich are frequent customers

“The preparation of food is fabulous, and there’s plenty to eat,” Joan Kostich said. “Everything we’ve had in there has a wonderful flavor and she makes you feel so at home.”

That’s part of why Strumpis loves what she does.

“I like to cook and I like to talk with the customers,” she said.

Sandra J. Pennecke, Pennecke@cox.net