Operations
Photo: Gyro City
January 19, 2026
Gyro City, a fast casual Greek concept, is hoping to elevate Manhattan, New York’s street food scene with an emphasis on organic ingredients and traditional cooking methods. Founded by three longtime friends with backgrounds in Greek and Italian hospitality, the restaurant opens Saturday at 99 MacDougal St., in Greenwich Village.
The founders, who spent a decade working in the industry, say the brand was born from a belief that fast casual dining has historically compromised on ingredient integrity.
“Gyro City is about intention,” co-founder George Karavias said in a company press release. “We’re not trying to reinvent the gyro; we’re trying to respect it. We use better ingredients, real cooking methods, and a hospitality-first mindset.”
The menu prioritizes “clean” sourcing, featuring USDA organic produce and pita bread imported directly from Greece. In a departure from common industry practices, the restaurant cooks its fries in beef tallow rather than seed oils.
Protein options include traditional beef and lamb, chicken and pork souvlaki, as well as specialized offerings like loukaniko (Greek sausage), shrimp souvlaki and vegetarian falafel.
The Greenwich Village site is the first of several planned locations for the brand. The company confirmed that additional outposts are already slated for Astoria and other neighborhoods across the city.
Dining and Cooking