The Tower Inn, at 701 West Cross St. in Ypsilanti, came in second place in WDIV’s “Vote 4 the Best” competition among Greek-themed restaurants in the Metro Detroit area.
The eatery was first nominated for the competition in 1998, when it also finished second.
The restaurant and bar, which is situated right across from campus near College Place, finished behind Kalamata in Troy.
Altogether there were 14 nominees, including six from Downtown Detroit’s Greektown district on Lafayette Boulevard.
Dishes like spinach cheese triangles, saganaki, pastitsio, chicken kabobs, fatoush salad and Greek pitas helped cement Tower Inn’s running in this year’s contest.
Rois Savvides, who owns the eatery with his wife Nathalie, credited big voting turnouts from Eastern Michigan University students, staff, faculty and alumni to help them secure second place.
“It’s bragging rights, and we have everyone at the university to thank in helping get us our votes,” Savvides said.
The owner plans to return the favor.
Savvides, known to staff and customers alike as simply Rois, pronounced like Royce, said he plans to hand out 15 percent discount cards to anyone who attended Wednesday’s homecoming “United We Shop” event.