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Recipe For Success

Zeno’s Is Open Again In Sun ‘N Lake

Jesse Osbourne/Highlands Today

From left: Savannah Garrison, 9, and her father John Garrison waited for their food Thursday. The family had never tried Zeno's before.

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Sue Ann Carpenter

Published: October 7, 2007

It's not only his Greek heritage that creates the welcoming, friendly atmosphere of sharing good food, but also the experience of his 25 years in the restaurant business.

Restaurateur Basil Makris loves food and insists upon meticulous detail in its choice and preparation. His winning formula is to surround himself with people who have the right attitude and work as a team. Their priority is to deliver a superior dining experience that will satisfy a discriminating diner.

After running the landmark Zeno's at Sunrise Plaza for 15 years, Basil Makris has now opened the new Zeno's, located at 4325 Sun 'N Lake across from Florida Hospital.

He offers a wide variety, with meatballs, calzones, and eggplant, chicken, veal or shrimp Parmigiana that are always a hit, as are the popular homemade lasagna, and his famous Greek salad with house dressing. Also available are Rueben's, hamburgers, gyros, chicken wraps, and a wide variety of salads like a spring mix with salmon or a regular Caesars with chicken.

A smaller, more intimate setting, this Zeno's will have specials of the evening like veal Marsala, linguini with white clam sauce, and Fridays will feature prime rib. Free delivery in the immediate area for lunch and dinners is also offered. There are daily lunch specials from $5 like the personal pizza and salad, or the mix and match subs, which are great when trying something new, or for sharing with a guest. Vegetarians also have choices, and for the calorie conscious there are plenty of salads.

Makris is proud of Glen Bartnick as manager of the new Zeno's.

"He's been with me 10 years and is highly competent," Makris said. "He is like-minded, enjoys the restaurant business, and love what he does."

Makris believes in offering a personal touch. Customers are not just numbers through the door. He prefers getting the best quality of food and passing it on at a reasonable price.

"We never gouge, and always try to give the better offer, and that's paid off," he said.

Of course, when a new restaurant opens there are always problems to work out with organization. Because Makris' team has been in business such a long time, he believes their kinks will be worked out quickly.

Newly opened, the dining experience at Zeno's has been well received. Makris notes that some customers have had to wait, but he apologizes for the inconvenience and is hopeful they will give him a second chance to win their business.

Makris plans to open three additional Zeno's locations within the next two years and is looking for experienced and similarly-minded people to partner with. All future Zeno's will be company-owned with managing partners at sites in south Sebring, Lake Placid and Avon Park.

This attitude of teamwork served Makris well when he opened Caddyshack, located at 3122 Gulf View Road across from Harder Hall in December, 2006, with managing partners Gabriel Mendoza and George Karabinis. It is a family restaurant decorated with sports and '60s memorabilia. There is a 160-inch screen that customers enjoy watching on Saturdays and Sundays. Besides smaller TVs throughout the bar, there are videos for children to enjoy. This is family-style restaurant ranging from a children's menu offering hamburger to adult tastes for filet mignon, sautéed caddy legs, Ahi tuna, plus all their Italian specialties. Caddyshack seats 300 and is a great place to reserve for a Christmas party in their private room that accommodates 80.

Makris' focus is to always give quality. Supervising the kitchen, his owner Gabriel Mendoza supervises the daily preparation of all foods and standards of excellence. At Caddyshack, they cut all of their own choice meats and use Black Angus for hamburgers. Gabriel Mendoza cuts, cleans and apportions the New York strips. "We don't settle for second cuts. Our fish are always fresh," Makris said. Everything is done from scratch the old fashioned way. This is not fast food, nor is it brought in to thaw and serve. Prime care is given to fresh soups made daily and salads that are made to order. Everything is hands on.

"At all of our restaurants, the customers get to see the actual owners and are able to talk to them," Makris said. "We are friendly and family oriented. We enjoy knowing our customers, and making them feel at home."

Caddyshack is located at 3122 Gulf View Road across from Harder Hall. Hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday;10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. on Sundays. Call 471-0505.

Zeno's is located at 4325 Sun 'N Lake. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 471-9366.

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