Greek-American restaurant serves classics up front — with a speakeasy-like bar in back

KALAMAZOO, MI — The outside of the building at 502 S. Burdick St. looks about like it did in 1991, with faded white letters on an old blue sign.

It’s the home of Blue Dolphin, a Kalamazoo gem hiding in plain sight.

A step through the doors introduces a calm, white interior with blue accents: paying homage to The Stamos family’s Greek heritage.

The walls tell a history of the Stamos family. Family photos hang next to photos of other restaurants the family owned. Which hang next to a map of Greece, which hang next to a photo of Gibson Guitars, the original Checker taxi cabs and the Clydesdales on Burdick Steet.

The walls are a family tree, intertwined with Kalamazoo history.

After spending a lifetime in Kalamazoo in the restaurant business, owner Steve Stamos has seen and learned it all –– but it started with his father, the late Pete Stamos.

Before Blue Dolphin

When Pete Stamos was 14, he got onto a boat in Greece, alone.

For two weeks, he rode that boat to America. Upon arrival, he connected with his Uncle Gus in Kalamazoo, who sponsored his trip.

Pete Stamos fell in love with America.

“I’ll tell you. He was more loving this country than the guy born here ... He loves his heritage, don’t get me wrong, but he’s American,” Steve Stamos said of his father. “He loved America. Loved the aspect of working hard, couldn’t speak the language at first.”

Soon after his arrival, Pete Stamos started working at his uncle’s restaurant: The Rex Cafe, which opened in 1945.

Then, Pete Stamos opened his restaurant: Char-Steak.

“He married the waitress,” Steve Stamos said with a laugh, about his parents.

In 1978, Pete Stamos took over the Rex Cafe.

It was in these two restaurants that his son Steve Stamos learned to love the business.

“I never wanted to do anything else,” Steve Stamos said. “I peeled potatoes at the Char-Steak. I washed dishes at Rex.”

Eventually, Char-Steak’s location was bought out by the city and closed. Today, the downtown Radisson sits in its original location.

In 1990, when his father got sick, Steve Stamos bought Rex Cafe.

He moved it to Burdick Street and in December 1991, Blue Dolphin opened.

The family has had various other bars and businesses in Kalamazoo, but it’s Blue Dolphin that stuck.

Blue Dolphin’s menu

Open from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Blue Dolphin can seat up to 150 and specializes in Greek food.

“He always wanted a Greek restaurant to serve our Greek food,” Steve Stamos said.

The best-selling appetizer is the saganaki –– a cheese dish set ablaze right at the table and served with pita bread.

The cheese comes in giant blocks from New York, Steve Stamos said.

The best-selling entree is the beef and lamb gyro, served fresh off the spit with fries. Blue Dolphin runs through more than 20 pounds of gyro meat daily.

But the menu expands beyond just Greek food. Homemade pizzas and the half-pound burger are among the other favorites.

There is also a rotating menu of specials, including soups and sandwiches.

Papa Pete’s

Each evening, just a step through the unmarked back door of the Blue Dolphin, another world opens for business.

Named after Steve Stamos’ father, the speakeasy-esque Papa Pete’s is a bar in the back, open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

For the past 11 years, Steve Stamos’ son and Pete Stamos’ grandson –– Peter Stamos –– has run the bar.

The venue is spacious, with pool tables, a full bar, and a stage.

“He’s just exploded Papa Pete’s,” Steve Stamos said of his son. “He’s made it his own.”

Each night brings something different inside the bar. Whether it be a DJ night, EDM night, goth night, metal night or something else, there’s no shortage of fun on the backside of Blue Dolphin.

Passing of a torch

Next year, Steve Stamos is passing down all of Blue Dolphin to his son.

“It’ll be his vision,” Steve Stamos said.

Peter Stamos has been working there for almost his whole life.

“Started coming here, washing dishes, bussing. Working little jobs, whatever I could do,” Peter Stamos said. “Kind of just grew into it and just always wanted to be around it. I talked about maybe doing a different career or something, but I just knew this is what I wanted to do.”

While his dad would try to talk him out of it, Peter Stamos was all in on the business.

He still remembers the conversation, when he told his father he wanted to go into business.

Initially, Steve Stamos told his son no. He told him to finish school and try some stuff out. The Blue Dolphin would be here when he got back.

So Peter Stamos finished school in Chicago and played football in Europe, but he had his heart set.

“It’s another home,” Peter Stamos said. “It feels like I’m still working with my grandfather.”

Peter Stamos has plans for renovations, but wants to keep the spirit of Blue Dolphin alive.

To him, that’s the family spirit.

“You’re serving the community as well,” Peter Stamos said. “So it’s like you’re growing your family by bringing everybody together in it.”

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