New Arrivals – August 2024
Posted by estiator at 11 August, at 07 : 57 AM Print
A coast-to coast glance at some of the industry’s newest additions
Henderson, Nevada ⦿ ORTIKIA ⦿ ortikiagvr.com
Ortikia means “quail” in Greek, but seafood is the star at this splashy new restaurant inside the Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa and Casino just outside Las Vegas. The restaurant, off the casino floor, seats about 170, with a bar and lounge, elevated banquette seating with views of the dining room and kitchen, branched globe chandeliers, a mural of a quail and an octopus, and a curved ceiling recalling Greek rooftops. Quail does make an appearance on the menu, along with htipiti, lavraki, and spanakopita. Greek wines include sparkling Amalia from Ktima Tselepos and an Assyrtiko from Skouras.
La Grange, Illinois ⦿ MÁNA ⦿ managrk.com
Mána means “mother,” and the concept of this newcomer “was sparked by a desire to honor maternal care through outstanding cuisine,” owner Ted Maglaris told a local news site. “We aim to bring this level of genuine care to our guests—transforming dining experiences into lifelong memories.” Promising “authentic, contemporary Greek cuisine rooted in heritage and sustainability,” the menu includes dishes like spicy feta and charred beets, wood-fired tiger prawns, and oven-baked moussaka. The restaurant’s patio wraps around its entire building.
The Woodlands, Texas ⦿ NIKO NIKO’S ⦿ nikonikos.com
Dimitri Fetokakis’s parents turned a fruit stand into the first Niko Niko’s in 1977. Now a beloved local chain, Niko Niko’s has opened a 400-seat location in this Houston suburb. Along with its indoor space, private dining room, and patio, the location will feature Niko Niko’s first drive- through, along with a dedicated entrance for pick-ups and to-go orders. Fetokakis took over the restaurant from his parents in 1994; he teamed with two cousins to open his newest location. The menu skews traditional, with twists like baklava French toast. Niko Niko’s chicken avgolemono was voted “Best in Houston” by Houston Press.
Austin, Texas ⦿ ATLAS SANDWICH COMPANY ⦿ atlassandwich.com
This Greek food truck is a new addition to Austin’s buzzing food scene. Owner Joey Polychronis has been in Austin since 2018 after growing up in Salt Lake City. But his family hails from Sparta; his great-grandparents immigrated to the U.S. and opened a butcher shop and restaurant after arriving. It runs in the family—Polychronis’s father also owned a brewpub and restaurant in Salt Lake City. Slow-roasted lamb made using the family recipe is the main ingredient in many of Atlas’s sandwiches. “I want my customers to feel like they are getting the same flavors they would in my Yiayia’s house or any small-town Greek Taverna,” he said.
East Northport, New York ⦿ TWISTED GREEK ⦿ twistedgrk.com
“Yiamas!” exclaims the web site for this new Long Island casual spot. “Literally a wish ‘to our health’ and the Greek way to say ‘cheers!’” The menu is more traditional than twisted, with gyros, tzatziki and tirokafteri dips, avgelemono, and Greek salad. Mythos and Fix beers from Greece make an appearance, along with desserts like portokalopita and ekmek katayifi. “Best Greek food on Long Island (coming from a Greek)!” enthused one Yelp reviewer.
Mesquite, Nevada ⦿ CHICAGO GREEK ⦿ chicagogreekmesquite.com
First things first: Chicago Greek isn’t in Chicago, but in Mesquite, Nevada, about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas. Now the news: The eatery, open since 2017, has new owners. Founders Tassos Spentzos and Laura Andrews last month sold Chicago Greek to newcomer Story Simon and her sons, Dylan and Austin. “We are keeping things the same,” Chicago-born, Utah-raised Simon told a local news site. “We moved here and just fell in love with the restaurant.” In a local media company’s annual Best of Mesquite awards, Chicago Greek won Best Family Restaurant, Best International-themed Restaurant and Best Sandwich for 2024.
