Sandhills diners won’t have to “relish” the thought of authentic Chicago cooking any longer. Priscilla’s Beef, a new eatery in Pinehurst’s Olmsted Village, is bringing a taste of Chicago to Moore County, and the owners say they want it to feel like home away from home.
Priscilla’s Beef, opening in the near future at 101 Central Park Ave., is the vision of husband-and-wife team Priscilla and Dmitri Kouzoukas, who relocated to Moore County from Chicago with their four children and fell in love with the area.
Priscilla told Sandhills Sentinel that in addition to good, authentic food, Priscilla’s Beef will also be “bringing sass and spice to Pinehurst.”
Their menu features Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago-style hot dogs, burgers, salads, fries, slaw, and milkshakes, all prepared with what Priscilla herself says is a healthy serving of “care, tradition, and a passion for flavor.”
Dmitri, who grew up in Chicago, wanted to share the foods of his childhood with his new community.
“Dmitri’s Greek and I’m Colombian; I’m from Miami, he’s from Chicago, so we both grew up in very cultural homes where there were a lot of home-cooked meals,” laughed Priscilla. “Naturally, we want this to be reflected in the experience. I’m excited for Pricilla’s to be the place that the football team wants to go to after practice, where parents can kick back and have a beer, a place where everyone can feel like a family.”
A partial preview of the menu from the restaurant’s official website.
The couple originally purchased the restaurant space in March with plans for light updates, but soon found a full renovation was necessary and turned the project into a bigger challenge than expected. “We weren’t anticipating it, both for time and financially,” Priscilla said, “but it gave us the chance to really make the space our own.”
Both Priscilla and Dmitri grew up with family members operating restaurants, so they’re familiar with the ins and outs of the lifestyle. Dmitri has been in the restaurant industry since he was 18, carrying on a family tradition of restaurant ownership, but this is the couple’s first foray into what Priscilla calls “fancy fast food.” The restaurant seats 50 to 60 guests, but the environment is casual and everything can be packaged to go.
For Dmitri, authenticity is non-negotiable, especially when it comes to Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef.
“He’s going all out,” Priscilla promised. “Vienna sausages shipped in from Chicago, poppyseed buns, that fluorescent green relish—not just any relish. He’s not ‘making it his own.’ It’s all authentic. He’s doing it the way he had it when he was young.”
Priscilla herself has been hard at work, including her role in designing and decorating the space. She describes the vibe as “classy but not fussy,” sporting hunter green walls and gold accents as an homage to Pinehurst’s motif of golf and equestrian life.
The Kouzoukas family enjoys life in the Moore County countryside, where they have two horses—one of which is a recent rescue. Priscilla says that they are a family of animal lovers, but make an effort to be passionate about all they do in life.
Music plays a big role in their household, and diners can expect it to set the tone at the restaurant. “Music drives the vibe of the meal,” Priscilla said. “We’re all about music. At home, we’ve got breakfast music, lunch music, and dinner music.”
Looking ahead, the couple plans to open a bar next door, designed to have the same welcoming atmosphere. “We want it to feel like ‘Cheers,’ where you walk in and know everyone,” Priscilla laughed. “I’m so excited to see the same familiar faces. We want people to eat great food, hear good music, and feel like part of the family.”
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~Article and feature photo by Sandhills Sentinel Assistant Editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
