Jan. 10 — Giggling Greek brings Greece to Puyallup

New Greek restaurant in downtown offers welcoming family atmosphere, fresh Mediterranean meals

Chris Albert / of the Herald

For 48 years, Dean Lucas has been dreaming of owning a Greek restaurant.

Seven months ago, when Lucas and his wife Mary opened the Giggling Greek in downtown Puyallup that dream began to materialize.

“For the longest time there hasn’t been a Greek place in the South Sound,” Lucas said.

Previously, the couple owned and operated a Greek sandwich place in the Supermall in Auburn. When stores started to leave the mall they moved on to serving Greek food at different summer events and festivals as well as owning and operating several espresso stands.

They had been looking for a place to open a Greek restaurant when the location in downtown Puyallup opened up.

It took three years to find it, but it was the perfect location, Lucas said.

Having the city’s support in revitalizing downtown has made it a destination where businesses and people want to go, he said. There are some chain Greek restaurants around Western Washington, but having a family owned restaurant in downtown fits into the atmosphere and can offer a unique experience.

“That’s kind of what we wanted to do,” Lucas said. “We wanted it to be a place like walking into somebody’s house.”

Everyone who works at the restaurant is either family or has become extended family from long lasting friendships. One daughter helps serve and another is a cook in training, while the couple handle the kitchen duties.

“It’s a family affair and people like that,” he said.

The manager has been with him for about 10 years. She worked at some of their espresso stands.

“We all know each other’s quirks and buttons,” Lucas said.. “That’s what makes it fun.”

Bringing customers into the family is part of the experience at the Giggling Greek.

Customers are welcome to wander into the kitchen to see their meal prepared or just chat, Lucas said.

“They’re very hesitant because most restaurants don’t want you back in their kitchens,” he said. “We want to be friendly.”

But people open up to it pretty quickly and it’s commonplace for a regular customer to go back to the kitchen. Lucas even keeps a few bottles of wine close by so they can have a drink while they watch their food being prepared.

The kitchen is where Lucas likes to socialize with customers.

“This is where it happens,” he said.

The kitchen is where he is in his element. It’s a passion for cooking that goes back to the summer days he spent in his grandparents’ kitchen in Sacramento learning about Greek food.

Tony Shuler starting going to the Giggling Greek about two months ago. Ever since, he’s there every Friday.

“I never had gyros before this place,” he said.

It became the item he’d order every time, but a few weeks ago he branched out and tried the Corfu Shrimp.

“That might be the new dish for me now,” Shuler said.

Besides the food he really likes the home atmosphere of the place, he said. It’s fun to talk to the family or go back to the kitchen.

“You never get that kind of opportunity,” Shuler said.

He tries to bring new people in to try the food and some of his friends have become converts to the place. They like the food and really enjoy the warm welcome they get by everyone who works there, Shuler said.

Keeping a small family atmosphere is something that Lucas wants to continue, but only in location size. They’re working on adding more menu items that are Greek but with a little bit of an American flair, as well as trying out more authentic Greek dishes.

“People have had gyros before,” Lucas said. “There are just very few places that do it right.”

Greek cooking uses items like olive oil, lamb and stays away from using a ton of salt, he said.

“We use all the greens,” Lucas said about using green spices like parsley and oregano.

The care that goes into each meal makes each dish unique, he said.

“You can really taste that,” Mary said.

Pretty soon they will expand their hours to offer late night appetizers with an ozo bar, which is a Greek liqueur that tastes like liquorice. It’ll compliment the Greek beers and wines that are on the menu.

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The Giggling Greek

The Giggling Greek is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and for private parties on Sunday. Catering is also available.

> Address: 109 S. Meridian St.

> Phone: 770-3256

> Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.