A new restaurant opens in Salem on Wednesday.
Apollo’s Cafe is located in the Orchard Shopping Center on Route 37 South in Salem. It is owned by Dr. Seth Hahs and his brother Joe Hahs.
Dr. Hahs says the restaurant idea the result of providing a market for lamb being grown by himself and a partner and an interest in the farm to table concept.
His brother Joe has moved to Salem from the St. Louis area where he worked in food service and management before his job was eliminated due to COVID-19.
Joe explains the concept of Apollo’s.
“What we really wanted to do is make sure we had a high quality primary product in the gyro sandwich. But also provide several things that would be unique or at least uncommon to the area. So having an internet bar with a nice café feel. Greek American eatery concept, nice nugget ice that people seem to be drawn too. A selection of components that would be uncommon in a way that would be appealing.”
In addition to the Gyro sandwich, the restaurant will feature Yacos which is a type of Greek taco, a Gyro Bowl, and a Greek Salad. There will be chips and a wide variety of drinks available as well.
Dr. Hahs says they have been working to make the recipes just right.
“My wife Leslie and I and Joe, the three of us have trialed different recipes with a combination of spices and tried to work these ingredients so it’s appealing to the local palette and fits this niche market. So it’s all more or less as local and unique as we could possibly make it from raising our own meat to polishing off the recipes to the exact way we like them.”
Joe Hahs says as a transplant to Salem he is impressed with the enthusiasm for the new restaurant and his welcome to town.
Apollo’s will be open from eleven am to ten pm Wednesday through Friday.
