Gianni’s opens in Newton; will feature crepes for dessert

Upscale food with family prices. That’s how owner Gianni Miras describes his new restaurant, Gianni’s, which opened Friday at 2002 First Avenue East.

Miras is from the “Hellenic Isles” of Greece, and has served as a deck officer on a cruise liner. His daughter is an attorney in Des Moines, and he has seen plenty of action in the restaurant business.

“I’ve opened more than 100 restaurants,” Miras says. “I’ve always liked Newton, so I opened Gianni’s here.”

In fact, Miras had operated Steak-O-Rama, one of a chain of restaurants he owned, in the Newton Mall during the 1970s. He also owned the East Side Restaurant on Euclid in Des Moines, as well as restaurants in West Des Moines, Ankeny and Grimes.

Gianni’s (pronounced Yanni’s), features an international selection of appetizers, sandwiches and chicken, steak, pasta and seafood dishes. Greek dishes include the traditional gyro and a Greek style lamb chop. Other specialties include eggplant parmesan, Steak DeBurgo, and a Mediterranean salmon, grilled with chopped tomatoes, special herbs and sprinkled with pine nuts.

Another traditional Greek dish, spanakopita, is missing from the menu for now, because Miras said he wasn’t sure how well it would be received by Newton residents.

On the menu but not yet available are a variety of dessert crepes. Miras said he miscalculated how long it would take to get the crepe maker to arrive, which he has ordered from France.

Gianni’s is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. A buffet is a lunch option each day. Wednesday’s buffet featured a homemade Mediterranean soup, Spanish chicken valverde, chicken cacciatore, and a pork chop Italian style, as well as pasta and salads.

John Jennings can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 425 or via e-mail at jjennings@newtondailynews.com.