Ioana Maglaris, co-owner of mána, stands at the La Grange restaurant’s entry. (Photo by Kevin Beese/Chronicle Media)

After 15 years of running a successful farm-to-table restaurant in downtown La Grange, the Maglaris family has opened another eatery.

Celebrating the culinary heritage of the Mediterranean, mána has opened a stone’s throw from the family’s other restaurant, prasino.

The Greek translation of “mother,” mána offers a rustic atmosphere that exudes the charm of Mediterranean hospitality. The restaurant’s patio, which wraps around the building exterior on both Cossitt Avenue and LaGrange Road, provides an outdoor oasis that evokes the landscapes of Greece.

“The concept of mána was sparked by a desire to honor maternal care through outstanding cuisine,” said founder Ted Maglaris. “Exceptional hospitality is deeply instilled in Greek culture and witnessed firsthand by those who’ve had the fortune to visit our beautiful homeland. We aim to bring this level of genuine care to our guests — transforming dining experiences into lifelong memories.”

Having the 88 LaGrange Road storefront before as a craft brewery, Maglaris said he and other family members felt the time was right to open a Greek restaurant in La Grange.

“Greece is in style now. It’s trending. It’s lifestyle,” he said.

Co-owner Peggy Maglaris, Ted’s cousin, said opening across the street from prasino was an easy decision for the family.

“We knew the neighborhood already, and we love the people” she said. “It’s all about the community. If you can survive 15 years, especially through COVID and all the changes, we’re lucky to have the support we do.”

With its head chefs from Thessaloniki and Nikos, Greece, mána’s culinary offerings are a testament to the country’s cuisine, celebrating the nurture and care that Greek mothers have embedded into their recipes for generations. And like the mantra of a Greek mom, you are not going to leave hungry.

The menu features a diverse selection of dishes, ranging from traditional spicy feta and charred beets to exotic bites, like wood-fired tiger prawns and oven-baked moussaka. The beverage and wine menus complement the rich flavor profiles, curated to immerse guests into the Grecian experience.

Interior space at mána’s is flush with beach-washed wooden tones, ornate lighting, and rustic furnishings that deliver an intimate, coastal ambiance.

The Maglarises said the mána’s team is overjoyed about the opportunity to bring the flavors and impressions of Greece to La Grange. They said they are thrilled to be providing the local community with an authentic Mediterranean dining experience.

Guests can visit mána’s, 88 LaGrange Road, from 4-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with valet services available on weekends. Reservations can be made at www.managrk.com/ or by calling 630-601-3113. Restaurant updates can be found at

www.facebook.com/greek.mana and www.instagram.com/mana.greek/

kbeese@chronicleillinois.com