Located in the heart of downtown Vienna, Skorpio’s Maggio’s is a local favorite among many Viennans who enjoy great Greek food in a small family style setting. At Maggio’s one can find an assortment of traditional Greek food including classic gyros, moussaka, and souvlaki. Since opening in 1999 and expanding in 2004, this two-named restaurant has sold over 150 gallons of tzatziki (a yogurt dip which is a staple of Greek and other Mediterranean foods), in addition to a wholesome selection of Greek delicacies. Alongside traditional Greek columns, the walls of this family restaurant are filled with memorabilia of nearby high schools, newspaper clippings of local reviews, and pictures of close family and friends of the owner, Chris.

At Maggio’s, almost every menu item comes with at least one side and a free drink. Meals are served on disposable plates atop plastic trays. This style of service gives customers a warm and relaxed experience rather than one filled with frills and nonsensical formalities. It is one of the reasons I find it so charming as it is a truly honest style of service. During my visit I ordered the classic gyro and eggplant moussaka.

As for the food, the classic gyro, a quintessential Greek sandwich which consists of beef and or lamb strips served in a pita bread, was enormous in size yet delicious. Ribbons of juicy meat piled high with a cool tzatziki spread all in a warm pita bread hit all the right spots. The moussaka, a baked eggplant dish with cheese and noodles, was deeply rich and comforting, although may have been just slightly greasy. Accompanying the moussaka was a Greek salad with a layer of feta cheese and olives and warm portions of rice pilaf, which were both just as good as of everything else that was served. After my main meal, I was tempted enough to also get a small box of pastries from the tantalizing dessert display near the front entrance. The cookies were flaky and crisp while the baklava was rich and decadent with honey syrup and chopped nuts. The small pastries and baklava were the perfect complement to the inviting entrees and rounded off an overall charming dinner.

What separates Maggio’s from other Greek restaurants is its emphasis on providing a personal experience. Often customers and servers are on a first name basis, and the server knows exactly what the customer wants to eat. I had not been to Maggio’s in some time, but I was still greeted like a regular after coming in for the first time in months. The staff are truly familiar and friendly, sparking lively conversation and offering suggestions on meals.

-ARM