Gyros, Turkish tea, spinach pie: Mediterranean restaurant opens in Johnson County

Amir Mediterranean Grill & Bakery had a short stint in Mission.

It opened in August 2018 for dinner only because it couldn’t find employees. Owner Adam Kayyali and his son, Fadi, ran it alone until the end of that year, when it closed.

Now Kayyali has reopened the restaurant at 8216 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park (just north of Mr. Gyros Greek Food & Pastry). His brother, T.K., is his only employee.

“People don’t want to work. They want to spend all their time on their phones, even when they come to work,” he said. “I have had a help wanted sign up since we opened two months ago and nothing is happening.”

Amir has a variety of plates — chicken or beef kebab, veggie, shawarma, gyros, gyro salad, Greek sampler, hummus — that come with soup or salad. It also has sandwiches, kebab burgers, soups and Turkish tea or coffee. Bakery items include gyro pie and spinach pie. And for dessert there’s baklava with walnuts.

“With COVID, people really don’t want to come in and eat, just some, so we do carryout more than sit down,” Kayyali said.

He also is limiting the hours until he can find more help. For now it is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 5 to 8 p.m. Sundays and Mondays.

This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 10:34 AM.