April Culinary Corner: Chef/Owner Manny Maherkis, DEMOS, Watertown, MA

Posted by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

By Phyllis M. Cahaly, CMD, Director of Partnership Marketing, Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

Jump to recipe for Tzatziki

“It’s all about the kebabs, of course, that’s the go to!” says Manny Maherkis, Chef/Owner of Demos in Watertown. “I always suggest that new customers  try the mixed Kebab dinner to mix and match different flavors.” Without a doubt, the Kebabs are a must-try at Demos, located at 64 Mount Auburn Street in Watertown, Massachusetts. The grill has been fired up, and the famous kebabs have been cooking at this landmark since 1971, when John Demos first opened the doors to this authentic Greek restaurant.

Manny grew up in Arlington, Massachusetts, and Greece. He  knows the restaurant business through helping his father, who owned a bakery and three restaurants, including Fisherman’s Net in Quincy Market at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. He admits he wasn’t sure if he wanted to work in the restaurant industry because he saw how hard his father worked and wanted to learn about real estate. Yet, his father sent Manny to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Cambridge, Massachusetts (closed in 2017), and eventually, he just fell in love with the industry.

Manny inherently knows the hard work and dedication it takes to run this successful restaurant and loves every minute. He exudes a tremendous sense of pride in carrying on the Demos tradition. “I feel like I am a Demos; I’m so close to the family,” says Manny. “I know how much it means to them and the Demos customers to keep this restaurant going. The Demos family gave me a framed picture of Mr. Demos, which hangs on the wall so customers can see it upon arrival.”

Manny and his brother George purchased the restaurant in 2018 from, ironically, two brothers, George and Nick Delegas, who had purchased it from Mr. Demos. At one point, the Delegas Brothers planned to change the concept to a burger restaurant and later decided to sell the property, and that’s when Manny stepped in. His lifelong affection for Demos won out, and he and his brother rolled up their sleeves and got to work on their vision to create a newer, modern Demos anchored by, yes, those kebabs!

The first project for the Maherkis Brothers was to lovingly renovate the restaurant in the best ways possible, giving it a total facelift and bringing it into the 21^st century. This meant everything new: an outdoor façade, electrical, flooring, tables, chairs, plumbing, and installing first-floor bathrooms (previously on the second floor). They added online ordering, curbside pick-up, delivery, and catering services and installed TVs in their two dining rooms. Once the physical changes were made, and here’s where it got tasty, they concentrated on the second project, the menu and, where some might have discarded original items, they chose to enhance and embellish what works.

“We kept all the favorite classics and added a new twist; we took what was already there and updated it. The original kebab menu offered lamb, chicken, or beef and now includes a choice of pork, turkey, veggie, and the newly-added shrimp Kebabs, all of which can be ordered as a lunch plate (1 Kebab and Greek salad with pita bread) or as a dinner plate (2 Kebabs, Greek salad, pita bread, and a side),” says Manny.

“At Demos, our customers walk right up to the counter to place their order, which is later brought to their table. We studied this system and decided to keep everything in place, just the way our customers like it,” says Manny. “One of our chefs, Venisio, has been here over 25 years and Marvin nearly 10 years; all our cooks are related, and it’s like one big, happy family. When they see a regular customer opening the door, they already know what to start preparing.”

All customers are greeted with a warm hello and that big, famous smile from Manny, who is seemingly always there and refers to Demos as his second home. This sincere greeting is the best part of the renovation, making everyone instantly feel welcome at Demos. The friendly environment is casual, and the flavorful food is affordable and abundant. “When you come to Demos, I want you to leave with leftovers you can enjoy later at home. Everyone who comes here leaves with a box full of food! We can’t order enough take-out boxes,” jokes Manny.

Even before you enter Demos, the wafting of the grill greets, you and if you are a regular, you start that internal negotiation: should you get your regular or try something different? It’s a tough decision because everything on the Demos menu is delicious, shareable, quality consistent, and craveable. While the portions are substantial, you’ll likely order another crisp, crunchy Greek salad. It’s their flawless mixture of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, Feta cheese, and kalamata olives dressed to perfection with an unparalleled, you-just-can’t-get-enough of that Greek olive oil and vinegar-based salad dressing, and always served with soft Pita bread to create your Pita-perfect pocket sandwich.

Everything is made from scratch at Demos, and all produce and meats are sourced locally. The salt, olive oils, vinegars, and wines are imported from Greece, providing that truly authentic Greek cuisine. You’ll want to start with one of their homemade appetizers, like the dolmades, (stuffed grape leaves packed with a mixture of meat, rice, and warm spices), the grilled octopus, the tzatziki, served with warm pita bread, or the comforting avgolemono chicken, lemon, and rice soup.

But wait, there’s more! While the kebabs are definitely the showstopper, be sure to take a look at the other mouthwatering choices, like the gyros, falafel, and souvlaki sandwiches, all served with fries, or the Greek classics like the moussaka, (beef and eggplant lasagna), the pastitio, (beef, tubular pasta, and bechamel sauce), the baked lamb, and of course the spanakopita (spinach pie) ordered as a dinner plate or a la carte.

Demos also offers a hamburger or feta cheeseburger plate, served as double burgers on a grilled brioche bun accompanied by a Greek salad and French fries. Other dinner plates include lamb or pork chops, meat loaf, chicken cutlets, and even knockwurst, all prepared the Demos way and served with that famous Greek salad!

The diverse menu has omlettes, an amazing array of sides, and a curated beer and liquor selection of domestic and imported Greek wines, beers, and spirits through Yaiannis Distributing Company in Palmer, Massachusetts. Manny’s special touches and eye for detail have even expanded the beverage menu to include an impressive choice of sparkling waters, fountain favorites, and EPSA Greek flavored beverages in cherry, orange, lemon, blood orange, and pink lemonade.

If you have kids and are wondering if they would like Demos, the answer is yes, yes, yes, because Demos loves and welcomes the little ones with a kid-friendly menu! There’s kid spaghetti and sauce, or hamburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and chicken fingers, all served with fries.

Truly, Demos has something for everyone, including desserts like Greek yogurt and honey, galaktoboureko (Greek custard in a crispy, butter-based phyllo pastry), and two of Manny’s favorites, rice pudding and baklava; they even sell baklava cheesecake and ice cream. “I have a huge, sweet tooth, and when I get home, I might be known to raid my five-year-old twins’ candy stash, maybe grab some sour patch, but without a doubt, you’ll find me with a couple of pieces of baklava or rice pudding,” says Manny.

The last several years have been busy for Manny between getting married, having twins, reopening Demos in 2019, and then coping with the COVID pandemic. “When we had the twins, I’d go to work, leave Demos at 10 p.m., go see my wife and kids in the hospital, and I’d bring food to feed the hospital staff. This went on for days!” said Manny, who is a devoted husband and father. “My wife is from Watertown, and we live less than a mile from Demos; that’s my world”, says Manny. “When we have some free time, we go to Boston, visit my father’s restaurant, and enjoy the city.”

Manny’s favorite part of his job is conversing with his patrons about Greece or hearing their stories about their Demos connection. “Everyone’s story is unique; it’s just amazing. They tell me about their experiences coming to Demos while they were in college, then how they would bring their children and grandchildren to our restaurant,” says Manny. “It’s generational; we host and cater parties and celebrations of all kinds, milestones like graduations, weddings, and funerals. I have a running joke with the Demos family, and they tell me, ‘Make sure you tell everyone that you are a Demos! I was recently with the family and Mrs. Demo’s at her grandson’s wedding. I guess it was meant to be, and I’m so grateful I can continue the Demos legacy.” We’re grateful for that, too, Manny!

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Recipe of the Month

Tzatziki – Courtesy of Chef/Owner Manny Maherkis, Demos

Ingredients, mix:

• 16 cucumbers
• 3 buckets of yogurt
• 1 ½ pint of oil
• ½ pint of lemon juice
• ½ pint of white vinegar
• 3 Tablespoons of chopped garlic
• 5 ½ Tablespoons of salt
• 3 Tablespoons of black pepper
• 3 Tablespoons of mint

Download a PDF of this recipe

All photos courtesy of Demos Restaurant, Watertown, MA

TOPICS: Culinary Corner, Watertown