Manos Paschalis and Howard Rosenbaum have been friends for almost 40 years. For just about as long, shortly after Manos Greek Restaurant opened in 1982 at 17th and Adams streets, the Howard Rosenbaum salad has been a part of Central City’s appetite. 

“Manos’ wife was my neighbor,” Howard said. 

“Howard was in love with her,” Manos joked back about the truth. 

Their friendship was swift, and nearly as immediate was Howard’s insistence on modifying Manos’ Greek Salad. 

VIDEO: Plates & People gets one great salad from two great friends

“He wanted to add this and that. And a little bit of this,” Manos said. “I said, ‘Hey, this sounds pretty good, Howard!’”

Piles of seasoned grilled chicken and spicy gyro meat mound on top of feta, pepperoncinis, Kalamata olives, and fresh romaine lettuce. Homemade Greek dressing is doled out at your own discretion. 

Many patrons order the salad specifically to take half home, so the dressing is often kept on the side almost as more of a dip than a tossed dressing. 

“I share it all the time,” Howard said, adding also, “I can’t order anything else!”

If you had a salad named after you, that’s what you get. If you would like to find yourself in a similar paradox of having a menu item named after you, Howard has a bit of advice.

“Be friends with the guy for a hundred years.” 

For more information, visit Manos online. 

Contact Phillip Kaplan at pkaplan@theblade.com, and follow on Twitter @filkap; Andy Morrison may be contacted at amorrison@theblade.com

First Published April 9, 2018, 2:00 p.m.