Myrtle Beach couple to open Greek restaurant after missing food from their homeland

A Myrtle Beach couple will open a Greek restaurant in the Grande Dunes area.

Co-owners and married couple Lav and Kristina Hysa’s restaurant, Santorini, will be in the former Beach Cafe space at 7223 N. Kings Highway. It is located next to the Crane Patch Driving Range.

Lav Hysa said he wants customers to feel like they’re in the Greek island Santorini when eating at his restaurant.

The restaurant has been painted a light blue and white and there are various house plants scattered around. Outside, Hysa has placed a lemon tree and olive tree, as well as assorted herbs.

“We want our customers to see the fresh oregano and smell it, the same thing with basil, and then they can actually taste it in the plate,” Hysa said.

He’ll be importing many ingredients from Greece, such as feta, olive oil and sea bass — also known as branzino.

Hysa wants to keep the menu small and provide high quality food. Menu highlights include the grilled octopus, the lamb shank youvetsi and the flaming saganaki, which is a fried cheese that is set on fire. Each dish is designed to be enjoyed with a glass of wine.

“We grew up in Greece, we know all the flavors,” Hysa said. “All recipes (are) from our grandmothers.”

The Hysas also own Zardin Healthy Eatery, a restaurant in Myrtle Beach’s Market Common that offers salads, sandwiches and cold pressed juice.

Hysa said he expects Santorini to open in March.

“Being from Greece, you know, we miss our food, we miss our culture,” Hysa said. “We would just love to help create that environment where we all gather together as friends and family and we go out to eat together.”