Filo’s Mediterranean serving authentic cuisine

Filo’s Mediterranean owner Pete Efstratiou's goal is to serve simple, quality Greek food fast. 

“We’re doing pretty good,” Efstratiou said. “We’re serving the community, helping out with church events, and more.” 

Efstratiou was born in Greece and moved to Madison when he was 4 years old. His parents got into the restaurant business in his eighth grade year and opened Vasilio’s, right down the hill from Mama Hamil’s on Highway 51. 

“Vasilio’s is still in operation today, and that’s where I cut my teeth and learned how to cook,” he said. “My family was always in the kitchen cooking, so I was raised in that world.” 

Efstratiou attended culinary school in Palm Beach Florida, and went off to New York City and  worked in Manhattan after graduating. 

“I came back here and regrouped with my older brother Steve and a friend of ours, Nicholas Brown, and we opened Trio’s restaurant in Ridgeland,” he said. “In 2008 we flipped that into Crab’s Seafood Shack, which I sold out to Steve. He has since moved it to the Reservoir, right next to Cock of the Walk.” 

After selling Crab’s Seafood Shack, Efstratiou decided to open another restaurant and wanted to keep the food close to home, and chose Greek cuisine.

“For the name, ‘Filo’s’ in Greek means ‘friends,’” he said. “If you call someone a ‘filo’ in Greek, you are calling them a friend.” 

Filo’s offers traditional gyros with a unique flare, salads, and rice bowls. The gyros have an interesting twist, with options such as a barbecue gyro or a Philly-style gyro. 

“We wanted to keep it simple but good, and we chose counter service,” Efstratiou said. “All of our food is made fresh in house daily.” 

Efstratiou lives in Gluckstadt and enjoys spending time with his wife Laura and two daughters, Zoe and Katherine. 

Filo’s Mediterranean is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information and to order online, visit their website at www.filosmediterranean.com.