The hospitality of the Greeks never fails to amaze. I may be a little biased, but still, the Greeks know how to welcome the stranger- it is in their very nature with their ‘Philoxenia.’
I have written about this word before. Philoxenia. It literally translates to love of the stranger or foreigner. It is the Greek way of hospitality and what we should strive to achieve every day with our own businesses.
I recently spent time in Greece and it reminded me how powerful the meaning of Philoxenia really is. I’d only been in Greece for maybe 24 hours when I noticed just how hospitable every restaurant and store I visited were. I was welcomed with such warmth. Even though my Greek language was sub-par and my complexion was a bit paler than the typical Greek, I was still treated like family. The excitement and eagerness to serve always surprises me when I visit Greece. I would say it is because I had my beautiful wife with me, but I travel with her in America all the time, and still no service compares to Greek service.
My favorite experience was at a relatively famous restaurant in the town square of Monastiraki. This restaurant sees so many different tourists on a given day due to its prime location. But, don’t be fooled. Just because there are tons of tourists eating at this restaurant- it is not a “tourist trap.” I would argue few restaurants in Greece are. Still, just because the restaurant has ample clientele- my wife and I were treated as if we were the only guests in the entire restaurant. The restaurant owner greeted me like I was his best friend returning to his home after a long trip away.
The owner did not sit back in the kitchen, or at a table, watching all his servers and cooks do the work. He manned the register and seated every person, greeting them with the same excitement and happiness he greeted me. The owner walked around the restaurant constantly, making sure things were running smoothly, his guests were happy, and his servers were greeting people in the same way he was.
There was live bouzouki music, amazing food, great drinks, and he even offered my wife and I complimentary raki and dessert. I was so overjoyed with the love I felt from this stranger who was serving me, I even asked him for a few pictures so I could remember this great feeling- like I was coming back home.
It was clear that the mission of the owner was to make his home our home. Let that sink in. In America, it is hard to find this same level of hospitality, the same warmth, the same excitement this owner had to have us in his restaurant. Every establishment within the hospitality industry should strive to provide this kind of service. Make your guests write an entire blog about how much they enjoyed their experience…wink.
Even if our guests are strangers, let them become our best friends as soon as we see them. Let us love them. Let us welcome them like they are coming into our homes after a long trip away. Let us show them Philoxenia.
