Ask The Pack: Keifer's

[FreeDawg]

Here is the answer. Lou Ann Woodward and her husband John have the downtown store. She is a MS State graduate and runs Medical Center. John worked at Poplar street store 45 years ago and got them to let him have a store downtown but different web site and slightly different name. Different owners for both. The same owner that owns Poplar owns the Madison store.

Isn’t she a big deal at the hospital?

 

[FreeDawg]

Disagree. Aplos has an outdoor space a booze if you want to drink and cut your kids loose. Their food is average at best, like Keifers (except downtown) and in stark contrast to Krilakis which is way better than Aplos minus booze.

Word. I’ve been a big Krilakis supporter for years now but with the man in Clinton it feels a lil different. They held my favorite burger & fries in the metro crown for years. I def disagree that Aplos food is average. Their pizza is good, gyro plate is great, hummus, feta dip, wings… All stellar out of that wood oven. When it comes to counter service restaurants in the Jackson metro, the Ridgeland location is in rare air. There are 1, maybe 2 places in the metro doing comparable numbers. Their Oxford store was doing huge numbers immediately after opening. Aplos is absolutely killing it. Eaton is a top chef in our area.

 

[FreeDawg]

Anyone had the catfish basket at Kristos? It’s top shelf.

The gyro bowl over quinoa is awesome. The baklava is nice as well.

 

[Faustdog]

Keifers as a whole is getting hit from the same thing that has hit Krilakis & Kristo’s and that is that Aplos is badass and kicking everyone’s back in, in the Amerigreek space in the metro. Not the same discussion but shoutout Yai Yai’s for authentic Greek. Need to get across the pond.

I prefer the gyros at Kiefer’s 10 times out of 10 over Aplos. Go to Aplos if you want pizzas and a fancy drink.

 

[FreeDawg]

I prefer the gyros at Kiefer’s 10 times out of 10 over Aplos. Go to Aplos if you want pizzas and a fancy drink.

I guess I never get a gyro there. But I prefer the gyro at Krilakis and Kristo’s over Keifer’s Madison. IMO the Beef and Cheese is the best pita they have by far to the point that I don’t really get the gyro there anymore although I’ve had 100 of them in my lifetime.

 

[Awwhellnaw]

I know of a Mediterranean place in Ridgeland no one has named that beats the hell out of all of these places.

 

[was21]

I figure somebody here knows the answer to this. There's the Keifer's by Baptist Hospital and the new one in Madison, but for at least 30 years there's also been another one downtown on Congress Street across from the Governor's Mansion, I'll call this one the good Keifer's.

The good Keifer's has the same menu items as the others, but also has hamburgers and cheeseburgers and normal french fries, which are fantastic. It also has a completely different website than the other two.

Anybody know the backstory of why there's a completely different Keifer's with an adjacent but similar menu, operated completely differently? I assume there was a split at some point and both sides got to keep the name, but I have no idea.

Who knows the answer?

Don't have the answer. My preference it Freddie's in Flowood anyway.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

I work near the DT location and probably eat it 4 times per year. I eat at the one across from Baptist every few years. I can’t tell any difference.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

I should have read the thread before I answered you guys. I didn't realize how out of touch I was.

 

[patdog]

I know of a Mediterranean place in Ridgeland no one has named that beats the hell out of all of these places.

Hwy 51 just north of Fleet Feet? It’s good. But my go tos are Krilakis & Kristos. Almost never Keifers.

 

[FreeDawg]

Hwy 51 just north of Fleet Feet? It’s good. But my go tos are Krilakis & Kristos. Almost never Keifers.

Lulu Kabob. Really nice Jordanian cpl owns it

 

[graddawg]

Isn’t she a big deal at the hospital?

You could say that. As the other post says, she literally runs the place.

 

[soccerdad]

She is president, director or whatever you want to call it. She is a great person and State Alumnus even though all of her kids went to the other school. She has been President for about 6 or 7 years now.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Disagree. Aplos has an outdoor space a booze if you want to drink and cut your kids loose. Their food is average at best, like Keifers (except downtown) and in stark contrast to Krilakis which is way better than Aplos minus booze.

Amazing how Aplos can be so meh when The Manship is much better.

Are they still owned by the same folks?

 

[doobeeadawg]

You can have my cottage fries, I hate them. Nothing like chewy half-cooked potato in the middle.

Pro tip - ask for your fries cut up and cooked extra crispy. I don’t care for the cottage fries either.

 

[doobeeadawg]

Disagree. Aplos has an outdoor space an booze if you want to drink and cut your kids loose. Their food is average at best, like Keifers (except downtown) and in stark contrast to Krilakis which is way better than Aplos minus booze.

Krilacki’s fries are some of the best in central MS.

Amazing how Aplos can be so meh when The Manship is much better.

Are they still owned by the same folks?

They split up

 

[FreeDawg]

Amazing how Aplos can be so meh when The Manship is much better.

Are they still owned by the same folks?

To be fair, comparing a nice, full service restaurant to a counter service QSR isn’t apples to apples.

The Pack is being tough on Chef Eaton, a MSU grad, and probably the top rising restaurateur in our state. I think for the price point, he’s bringing a really good product.

 

[patdog]

To be fair comparing a nice, full service restaurant to a counter service QSR isn’t apples to apples.

The Pack is being tough on Chef Eaton, a MSU grad, and probably the top rising restaurateur in our state. I think for the price point, he’s bringing a really good product.

Aplos is plenty good. But parking at Highland village is a nightmare. So it’s off my list.

 

[doobeeadawg]

To be fair comparing a nice, full service restaurant to a counter service QSR isn’t apples to apples.

The Pack is being tough on Chef Eaton, a MSU grad, and probably the top rising restaurateur in our state. I think for the price point, he’s bringing a really good product.

Trust me we support him plenty. And he’s a good dude. My kids love it and we eat there often and will continue to for sure. Wasn’t my intention to diss him at all. He’s rolling and got a good product.

 

[Pak Drescott]

Agree with those who said you have to get the Keifers cottage fries extra crispy. If I want a gyro I'm choosing keifers but for anything else I'd go with Aplos between those two.

I will say that Aladdin is my personal favorite Mediterranean place in the Jackson metro. Overall best food plus you can BYOB.

 

[doobeeadawg]

I’m

Agree with those who said you have to get the Keifers cottage fries extra crispy. If I want a gyro I'm choosing keifers but for anything else I'd go with Aplos between those two.

I will say that Aladdin is my personal favorite Mediterranean place in the Jackson metro. Overall best food plus you can BYOB.

lamb chops and swarma

 

[ronpolk]

Here is the answer. Lou Ann Woodward and her husband John have the downtown store. She is a MS State graduate and runs Medical Center. John worked at Poplar street store 45 years ago and got them to let him have a store downtown but different web site and slightly different name. Different owners for both. The same owner that owns Poplar owns the Madison store.

Pretty sure this is correct. I work downtown and eat at that Keifers fairly often since it’s practically the only think open. Pretty sure the gentleman that takes your order is the guy who owns the downtown location and he has no ownership in the other 2.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

To be fair, comparing a nice, full service restaurant to a counter service QSR isn’t apples to apples.

The Pack is being tough on Chef Eaton, a MSU grad, and probably the top rising restaurateur in our state. I think for the price point, he’s bringing a really good product.

The service definitely is not apples to apples but the food at Aplos should be better than it is when comparing to other establishments of its type.

 

[ronpolk]

To be fair, comparing a nice, full service restaurant to a counter service QSR isn’t apples to apples.

The Pack is being tough on Chef Eaton, a MSU grad, and probably the top rising restaurateur in our state. I think for the price point, he’s bringing a really good product.

I really like all Keifers, krilakis and Aplos…

But Aplos is definitely the best and it ain’t even close in my opinion.

 

[Irondawg]

Lulu Kabob. Really nice Jordanian cpl owns it

Sorry but that place is dead last by a mile to me in this space. I’ve given it 2 tries and the gyros were dry and flavorless both times. Nobody else in my part both times cared for it either.

I was not impressed with Filo’s either.

Will gladly go to Krilakis, Kiefers, Kristos or Aplos whenever someone suggests it. All are good and just a bit different from each other.

 

[vhdawg]

Keifers as a whole is getting hit from the same thing that has hit Krilakis & Kristo’s and that is that Aplos is badass and kicking everyone’s back in, in the Amerigreek space in the metro. Not the same discussion but shoutout Yai Yai’s for authentic Greek. Need to get across the pond.

I thought I had cracked a tooth one time at the Greek place up the hill from you when I bit into an olive I didn't know still contained a pit.

 

[vhdawg]

I guess I never get a gyro there. But I prefer the gyro at Krilakis and Kristo’s over Keifer’s Madison. IMO the Beef and Cheese is the best pita they have by far to the point that I don’t really get the gyro there anymore although I’ve had 100 of them in my lifetime.

I like the gyro's but every time I got one (from whomever), when I was done I felt like I'd eaten half a meal and was still hungry. I've mostly pivoted to the gyro salad now, much more meat and the same other ingredients.

 

[vhdawg]

You could say that. As the other post says, she literally runs the place.

Yeah she's the vice-chancellor....the big boss. Only reports to former Hillcrest Christian headmaster Glenn Boyce.

 

[Puppychow]

Pretty sure David Nutt owns the Madison location.

 

[SoJxnVol]

Sorry but that place is dead last by a mile to me in this space. I’ve given it 2 tries and the gyros were dry and flavorless both times. Nobody else in my part both times cared for it either.

I was not impressed with Filo’s either.

Will gladly go to Krilakis, Kiefers, Kristos or Aplos whenever someone suggests it. All are good and just a bit different from each other.

Filo’s is owned and ran by Greeks. The others are imitators.

 

[doobeeadawg]

Filo’s is owned and ran by Greeks. The others are imitators.

Filo’s is gonzo? It is now Miguel’s - who was the chef at two rivers for 23 years …..

 

[BigDogFan]

Back in the mid 80's the Greek Isle on what is now 182 in Starkville had the curly fries and pretty good gyros. I also remember Kiefer's having a place in the Metrocenter food court.

 

[FreeDawg]

Filo’s is gonzo? It is now Miguel’s - who was the chef at two rivers for 23 years …..

Filo’s is in Gluckstadt. He is a Greek. The restaurant that was in Miguel’s was Yai Yai’s which moved across the Rez and is ran by off the boat Greeks. Chef Eaton is Lebanese and technically Aplos is Mediterranean so it checks out too.

ETA- I ran in to my guy from Lulu today at Kroger who has been mentioned in this thread. One of the most genuine nicest guys out. I’ve heard good things about his more middle eastern Mediterranean dishes if that’s your jam. I usually get chicken shawarma & hummus with him.

When he first opened he had a Jordanian & US flag and received backlash because it was mistaken for Iran or something like that. He ended up taking it down which I thought sucked. They are an ally and he’s a nice guy.

 

[doobeeadawg]

Filo’s is in Gluckstadt. He is a Greek. The restaurant that was in Miguel’s was Yai Yai’s which moved across the Rez and is ran by off the boat Greeks. Chef Eaton is Lebanese and technically Aplos is Mediterranean so it checks out too.

ETA- I ran in to my guy from Lulu today at Kroger who has been mentioned in this thread. One of the most genuine nicest guys out. I’ve heard good things about his more middle eastern Mediterranean dishes if that’s your jam. I usually get chicken shawarma & hummus with him.

When he first opened he had a Jordanian & US flag and received backlash because it was mistaken for Iran or something like that. He ended up taking it down which I thought sucked. They are an ally and he’s a nice guy.

You exactly right.

I believe Filo’s is related to Vasilios?

 

[shep9332]

Yeah she's the vice-chancellor....the big boss. Only reports to former Hillcrest Christian headmaster Glenn Boyce.

Dr. Woodward to retire from UMC