Business Spotlight: Papouli's brings a taste of Greece to Reeds Spring

Papouli is the Greek word for grandfather. If you visit Papouli's Greek & American Restaurant in Reeds Spring, you can expect to be treated like family.

Owners Tom and Bessie Haldoupis seem to know most of their customers by name, and everyone is greeted like an old friend.

Many customers are indeed old friends and several have been dining at Papouli's since it opened in 1986.

Papouli's is one of the few restaurants in the area that has become popular without really trying. The Haldoupises rarely advertise, and their restaurant is located off the beaten path. Unless you're looking for Papouli's while driving down Highway 248 between Reeds Spring and Reeds Spring Junction, you might miss it.

The Haldoupises said they choose the location out of necessity. Before opening Papouli's, they ran a Greek restaurant in Springfield. In the early 1980s, they sold the restaurant. Later they decided to open another, however, because they had signed a non-compete clause, they couldn't open a Greek restaurant in Springfield. After considering several different locales, they decided on Reeds Spring.

"I've always believed that if you serve good food, people will find you," said Bessie Haldoupis. "We don't want our restaurant to run like a factory. We don't want to have big tour buses pulling in here like they do in Branson. You can't run a Greek restaurant that way. A lot of preparation goes into the dishes we make. I mean, you can only stuff grape leaves so fast."

Rather than try to attract the masses, the Haldoupises try to attract the fine diners those who want each meal to be a little better than the last. Most of Papouli's customers don't mind traveling a little farther to get a good meal, Bessy Haldoupis said.

Many customers live in Springfield. Others come from as far away as Eureka Springs or Harrison, Ark. There's also the occasional tourist, who spots Papoulis while driving and decides to pull in.

The restaurant, which sits back from the road, once was a house. The Haldoupises remodeled the house into a series of small dining rooms, which gives Papouli's an intimate atmosphere.

However, it's the food, not the ambiance, which keeps diners coming back to Papouli's.

Tom Haldoupis, who has worked as a chef for more than 30 years, runs the kitchen at Papouli's. Like his wife Bessie, he's friendly and charming, and his accent leaves diners with little doubt that the dishes he prepares are 100 percent authentic.

Most diners order one of the Greek entres, while those who are less adventurous stick to the American cuisine, which ranges from fried catfish to spaghetti. All the food served at Papouli's whether Greek or American, is made from scratch.

However, if you're going to make the drive, you owe it to yourself to get the full Papouli's experience. This means trying at least one Greek dish, even if it's just an appetizer like the dolmades (stuffed grape leaves).

Entres include chicken and lamb kabobs, gyros, souvlaki, moussaka, pastichio and leg of lamb. The Haldoupises said they serve more than 1,500 pounds of lamb every six weeks.

For dessert, there's Greek coffee and other traditional favorites, such as baklava and galactoboureko (vanilla custard). Or, you can try an Italian dessert, such as tiramisu, or a slice of cheesecake.

Like most European restaurants, the pace at Papouli's is relaxed. A waiter or waitress is never far away, but they don't hover.

Diners also don't have to worry about the courses arriving back to back, which makes for a rushed meal. According to the Haldoupises, paying attention to little details like these is what makes a meal a fine dining experience.

Currently, the Haldoupises are redesigning their menu and expanding the selection of appetizers and side dishes. Papoulis' hours also changed recently. The restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday, and opens at 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 1 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Papouli's Restaurant

Year founded: 1986

Owner's name: Tom and Bessie Haldoupis

Address and phone number: Highway 248, Reeds Spring, MO; 417-272-8243