New Arrivals – February 2023
Posted by estiator at 11 February, at 06 : 09 AM Print
A coast-to coast glance at some of the industry’s newest additions
New York, NY | TINOS | tinosnyc.com This recently opened spot on Manhattan’s Upper East Side is a “very intimate Greek restaurant,” a publicist told a local news site. The 30-seat space was previously home to an Italian joint. Owner Evangelos Vamvakoulas has assembled a menu of Greek staples like gigantes, dolmades, and octopus appetizers; lavraki, tsipoura, and paidakia mains; and desserts like galaktoboureko and baklava.
New York, NY | GREEN KITCHEN | greenkitchennyc.com After 91 years on the corner of First Avenue and East 77th Street, Green Kitchen closed in August. But the family-owned diner resurfaced a few blocks southeast in a shiny new location that had housed a Five Nap- kin Burger. Peter Kasimis, whose family owns Green Kitchen, told Patch that the First Avenue closure was fallout from a “toxic relationship” with its landlord. Green Kitchen’s other location on Second Avenue and East 84th Street also remains open.
Herndon, VA | KNOSSOS | knossosrestaurant.com The twist here is halal Greek food, a rarity in the U.S. The menu is a mix of American bar food and traditional Greek; dolmades, souvlaki, and baklava share top billing with chicken tenders, burgers, and fried mozzarella sticks. The Northern Virginia newcomer has been a hit with locals; every Yelp review since its opening has boasted five stars.
Waltham, MA | THE AEGEAN | aegean-restaurant.com The Aegean, which once had two Boston-area locations, is making a comeback in suburban Waltham, Eater reports. Owner Chris Ntasios is behind the reincarnation, along with partner Christa Bazarian. The latter’s Armenian background is inspiring a new range of Armenian menu additions to complement traditional Greek items. Look for broiled shrimp with feta, lamb gyros, and losh kebabs, or seasoned ground beef served with pita. Ntasios and Bazarian started dating when they both worked at the original Aegean, which Ntasios’ parents opened in 1981.
Chicago | ALEXANDER’S | alexanderschi.com This self-described “old-school Greek diner,” in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood since 1960, has opened a second location on Western Avenue, one of the city’s main thoroughfares. While menus will look similar, “it’ll vary, too. So if we have split pea and chicken noodle at the Clark location, we’ll have minestrone and navy bean at Montrose,” co-owner Diana Mizhquiri told a local news site. Founded by the Katsafaros family, Alexander’s is now owned by the Mizhquiris, Ecuadorians whose patriarch had worked in the business for 40 years.
Carmel, IN | PETOS | petosfamily.com This traditional-leaning new spot promises refunds to unhappy customers. Quoting directly from its web site: “From the Greek Island to Indianapolis without any stop, we open our special restaurant with our special food. Money back guarantee if you don’t like our food, and if you tasted at any other place. Gyros, it is not a sandwich! Yes, in Greek language Gyro (Yero) is the machine of doner kebab and chicken!!! no place here in Indiana made this doner kebab or chicken, You will taste something different.”
