You're family at Popi's Place
SUN PHOTO/LOUISE BOLGER
Emmanuel and Popi Ameres offer large portions of
good quality food at affordable prices.
Greek mythology is one of the reasons the Greek Islands remain both fascinating and mysterious to many of us, but to a couple who emigrated from those islands over 40 years ago it was just home.
Emmanuel and Popi Ameres started their American adventure in Cleveland, Ohio, relocating to St. Petersburg, Fla., within four years when Emmanual was offered an excellent position.
By 1975 the Ameres were partners in several restaurants before striking out on their own 10 years later. Now the Ameres and their family own five restaurants in Florida, with the most recent Popi's Place VI opening in February on Manatee Avenue.
Popi's Place VI is a large bright restaurant with tables and comfortable booths serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. The breakfast menu includes three egg omelets – Greek and Philly cheese – among others, biscuits and gravy, breakfast burrito, eggs Benedict, pancakes, waffles, French toast, breakfast sandwiches and more starting under $5.
For lunch and dinner you can choose from a variety of appetizers, soups, salads, seafood sandwiches, wraps and burgers. Lunch sandwiches also start under $5 with dinner slightly higher. Entrees starting under $10 include steaks , prime rib, liver and onions, country fried steak, meatloaf and fried chicken, among many other choices. There are several Italian-style entrees including chicken or eggplant Parmesan and meat ravioli as well as jumbo shrimp, grilled mahi mahi, grouper and other seafood choices. Homemade desserts and pies are available as well as soft drinks, wine and specialty beers.
Popi's has daily specials and on Sundays they add lamb shanks to the menu. They also offer take out service and catering services, especially during the holidays where you can take home a full turkey dinner or a pie and everything in between. They can accommodate private parties and have a banquet room at their Ellenton location.
The Ameres have a large family, three sons and a daughter plus grandchildren, and each one of their children run one of the family restaurants. Popi Ameras, whose name is a shortened version of Kalliopi one of the nine muses of Greek mythology, encourages her family to treat all customers with a personal touch and make them part of their family. Some customers come in on a daily basis to take advantage of the large portions and good quality food at affordable prices. Like they say on their website, "Popi's bridges the gap between a tablecloth restaurant and fast food."
If you want to feel like you're part of a big Greek family, come to the new Popi's Place where the Ameres will greet you warmly and the food will satisfy both your hunger and your wallet. As close as you can get to the Greek Islands this side of the equator.
Popi's Place
6409 Manatee Ave.
Bradenton
941-761-7674
www.popisplace.com
Opened every day
6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Visa, MasterCard,
American Express