New Arrivals – June 2022
Posted by estiator at 11 June, at 10 : 36 AM Print
A coast-to coast glance at some of the industry’s newest additions
Bethesda, Maryland | ELA MESA TASTE OF GREECE | elamesatasteofgreece.com
Another opening that bucks the quick-service trend, Ela Mesa Taste of Greece opened in May as a full-service restaurant with an upscale, old-school menu—think pastitsio, moussaka, thalassina, and gyro pitas. Entrees range from $25 for pasta dishes to $38 for beef and seafood, a local magazine reported. Ela mesa, of course, means “come in.”
Dayton, Ohio | GREEK STREET | facebook.com/GreekStreetFoodTruck/
A food truck beloved by Daytonites for Greek specialties has opened a restaurant location. Greek Street, owned by Centerville native Chris Spirtos, launched recently via DoorDash. “We’re going to be doing a week of DoorDash just to work out the kinks,” he told a local news site. The restaurant will offer an expanded menu, with more gyros and des-serts. Spirtos’ mother, Kali, will continue making all of Greek Street’s sweets, he reassured customers.
Los Angeles | GREEKMAN’S | greekmansla.com
During the pandemic, the owners of hip Jew-ish deli Freedman’s experimented with a Greek menu, even renaming their restaurant Greek-man’s. What was supposed to be a short-term fling has become permanent. Greekman’s now serves up souvlaki, gyros, Greek wines, and ouzo; Freedman’s Jewish cuisine will resurface in a new location this year, owner Jonah Freedman told the Los Angeles Times.
Larkspur, California | SOUVLA | souvla.com
This eight-year-old fast-casual brand, with four locations in San Francisco, just opened its first branch in Marin County, just northwest of the city. “Souvla’s menu takes certain liberties with blending traditional Greek flavors for the California palate,” wrote SFGate.com. But founder Charles Bililies said his favorite Souvla dish is the hearty, very traditional avgolemono. “It’s like the cure to whatever ails you,” he enthused.
Baltimore | YEEROS | youryeeros.com
The menu at this downtown fast-casual spot features appetizers and soups such as tzatziki, hummus, spanakopita, and Greek chicken soup. Meats at Yeeros include chicken, pork, and lamb gyros and souvlakis, and bifteki. Riding the plant-forward trend, Yeeros also offers vegan proteins like vegan bifteki and keftedakia balls. According to a local website, the restaurant also offers Souroti Greek sparkling mineral water, Greek lemonade, and a Greek orange drink.
New York City | YASOUVLAKI | yasouvlakinyc.com
This bright, airy Upper East Side newcomer sticks with the classics—mostly. Along with saganaki, spanakopita, and souvlaki, the menu sneaks in surprises like Greek nachos with ground beef and feta bechamel. The 14-table eatery comes from the owners of nearby bakery-cafe Bocado; the space had housed Roma’s, an Italian restaurant that closed during the pandemic.
