Tsevis' Pub and Grill to Open at Former Martello’s Location

Will it be second time’s a charm for the former site of Martello’s restaurant at Mackenzie and Heege?

That’s the hope of the Tsevis family, who are working to open Tsevis' Pub and Grill in time for the start of spring next month.

The Mackenzie location is the latest venture by the family of Pete Tsevis, who years ago owned Pete’s Fountain Café on Gravois (where we now have Family Dollar) and a Tsevis' Pub and Grill in Concord Shopping Center (where we now have Joey B’s). The new restaurant will be designed and managed largely by Mario Mehmeti, Tsevis' grandson, who grew up in South County and has worked before on his family's restaurants. Mehmeti's father is the official owner of the new location.

Mehmeti said the restaurant will have a Greek and Mediterranean theme and will stay open late enough to service as a neighborhood bar for the area. Tsevis' will serve a variety of American and Italian dishes, but will specialize in Greek food. Mehmeti said he plans to complete the unfinished patio area, and may even bring in belly dancers on the weekends.

“I’m not trying to make it like every other place,” Mehmeti said. “It’s going to be different.”

Mehmeti also stressed that Tsevis' prices will be on the cheap side.

“I’m not trying to get rich in a year here. I’m going to be reasonable,” he said.

The location first opened in October as Martello’s Italian Restaurant by John Hammers. However Martello’s closed just a few months later in January. Patch readers commenting on Facebook said they had not been impressed with the food at Martello’s.

But when asked if they were planning to try Tsevi’s, Patch readers were heartened.

“Definitely,” said Laura Harmon Lanemann. “Assuming it's the same family that had a restaurant with the same name located across from Ronnie's, it should be fantastic food.”

Tsevis' will open in March at 8025 Mackenzie Rd.