Dallas Morning News - July 2004, by Kristen Holland

After a decade, change still stirring at bistro
Ziziki's in Uptown to be expanded for fourth time

    The menu hasn't changed much, but locals who haven't been to Ziziki's since it opened in Travis Walk might be surprised.

    Proprietors Costa and Mary Arabatzis, who also own and operate the Ziziki's at the Shops at Spanish Village in North Dallas, have overseen three expansions and are planning a fourth at the original Uptown spot in celebration of its 10th anniversary.

    "We opened 10 years ago this month," Mrs. Arabatzis said.

    Though a decade may not seem like a long time, it's a lifetime in the Dallas restaurant industry, Mr. Arabatzis said.

    The Dallas Observer just honored Ziziki's with its Best of Dallas award, and Wine Spectator has presented its Award of Excellence to the restaurant for the last nine years. Accolades have poured in from D Magazine, The Dallas Morning News, Park Cities People, Dallas Voice, Southwest Spirit and Texas Monthly.

    The couple is hoping their newest addition to Ziziki's - a Greek coffee bar - will be just as successful.

    "It will offer espresso, cappuccino and Greek coffee, which we always get requests for," Mrs. Arabatzis said, adding that they're also expanding the Travis Walk site to include a private dining area with seating for up to 20.

    Though Mr. Arabatzis doesn't spend much time preparing food anymore, he oversees the staff and occasionally updates the menu. The cuisine blends traditional Greek dishes with Mediterranean, Italian and Hawaiian influences.

    Mrs. Arabatzis, who has a marketing background, said that their attention to details also helps woo back diners.

    She said that the first line of their business plan reads, "We want every customer to feel like they're going to a friend's home."

    Joni Linton, who helped open Ziziki's in 1994 and is now the wine director, said she recently returned to the restaurant because it's so comfortable.

    "I can't leave it," she said. "Coming to work isn't like going to work."

    "We're kind of that restaurant that people find and we're their restaurant."

    Mr. Arabatzis' mother, Carol Hawlett, recently started working at the North Dallas location, and his stepfather, David Hawlett, works at the Travis Walk site.

    "It's pretty much a family business," said Gabriela Rojas, one of the hostesses. "We call them [Mary and Costa] mom and dad. They make you laugh a lot."