Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Stuart Wilson

New Greek restaurant Gyros hitting the heights after opening in Ayr

A restaurateur is pledging to bring the flavour of Greece to the streets of Ayr.

Colourful character Tony Kyrcikos has opened a traditional diner boasting a touch of the Med in Newmarket Street.

Named 'Gyros,' it specialises in the famous meat wrap dish with customers already flocking for a taste of the action.

Made from meat such as chicken or pork cooked on a vertical rotisserie, the mouthwatering Gyros are wrapped or stuffed in pita bread along with ingredients such as tomato, onion, fried onions, chips and tzatziki sauce.

And Tony, who hails from Larnaca in Cyprus, insists his new venture can help open eyes — and mouths — to a new type of cuisine.

He told Ayrshire Live: "I believe we're Ayrshire's only authentic Greek restaurant and I'm very proud of that.

"I've been in the UK for 25 years and spent most of that time in London.

"Down there, you will find quite a few restaurants specialising in this type of cuisine, but it's not something you get up here as much.

"I firmly believe you should do one thing very well and that is what we are doing here — the food is cooked with passion and I hope the customers will see that."

(Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post)

The family business is headed by Tony and wife, Sophia, who prepares all the restaurant's specials and 'mezes' — small plates of food.

And what began as a small takeaway in the town's Sandgate has quickly morphed into bigger plans.

A move to Newmarket Street has involved a quick rapport with the street's pub boss, Jim McSherry, himself a former star of Cypriot football side Pezoporikos Larnaca.

Tony, 45, of Irvine, explained: "We only spent four weeks in the takeaway and realised we needed something bigger, we were so busy.

"The chance came up for this property and it was perfect. I really love Ayr, I think the town and the people are fantastic.

"I have received a very warm welcome in the street — wee Jimmy is great and tells me all about his times in Cyprus.

"I just really hope that people see our passion for what we're doing here."

Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.