NEW ARRIVALS
Posted by estiator at 7 September, at 09 : 00 AM Print
Charleston, NC
PHILOSOPHIA
philosophiamtpleasant.com
Hospitality executive Dimitri Hatgidimitriou and former French Laundry chef Justin Hunt—long-time pals—opened this upscale spot in a strip mall anchored by a Whole Foods. Hunt would join Hatgidimitriou’s family on annual trips to Karpathos: “This restaurant is built on a friendship which holds its fondest memories and experiences looking out over the Aegean Sea, sharing mezethes and white wine,” Philosophia’s web site says. Brunch is a highlight, with “Greek mimosas,” bright salads, and whole fish.
Queens, NY
BARAKI CAFÉ
barakinyc.com
This all-day café comes from the family behind popular Greek eatery Avli. The menu taps Greek cuisine as the foundation for experiments like a cocktail flavored with feta-infused mastiha and a Mediterranean “tortilla” with whipped feta and pimenton. Baraki’s “sexy/chic” space will feature a retail component; DJ nights and artistic collaborations are on tap. After a soft opening in August, Baraki is set to open officially this month.
San Francisco,
CASOUVLA
souvla.com
Since launching in 2014, fast-casual Greek mini-chain Souvla has sprouted in San Francisco’s hottest dining neighborhoods, including Hayes Valley, the Mission, and the Marina. “It’s become a part of the cultural fabric of the city in a way I couldn’t have expected,” founder and CEO Charles Bililies told Eater. In August, Souvla opened its first new restaurant since the pandemic, an airy spot in the Dogpatch neighborhood. Unlike the company’s other locations, Souvla Dogpatch will serve a new list of hot and cold meze, plus an expanded list of Greek wines.
New York, NY
ARGO TRIBECA
www.instagram.com/argo_tribeca
Konstantinos Kvasilava is executive chef at this elegant new spot, which was slated to open this month after a soft opening in August. An online reviewer praised the restaurant’s Greek watermelon and feta salad, moussaka, and cauliflower steak. Niko-las Ntatidis and Roudolf Kalaitchev own the 15-table restaurant; the pair told a neighborhood news site they plan to specialize in hard-to-find regional wines. A wall in the restaurant displays its name spelled out in Greek.
South Tampa
FL CRAFT KAFE
Craftkafe.com
Teddy Skiadiotis comes from a family of Florida restaurateurs; his kin own Gulfport’s Neptune Grill and Skidders on St. Petersburg Beach. With the third location of Craft Kafe, Skiadiotis is building a mini-empire of his own. Everything here is gluten-free, including pizzas, breads, and cakes. “Before this, when I would Google ‘gluten-free bakeries,’ they’d maybe have a muffin or a cupcake,” he told a local news site. “I wanted to do everything gluten-free, so people don’t even have to ask.”
Cincinnati, OH
SEBASTIAN’S GREEK RESTAURANT
facebook.com/sebastiansgyros/
It’s not exactly a new arrival, but this Cincinnati mainstay has a new owner after 46 years. Sebastian’s Greek Res-taurant founder Alex Vassilou announced he has sold his longstanding eatery to his friend and fellow restauranteur Adel Samaan, a local news site reported. Vassilou has owned the restaurant, and the building that houses it, since 1976. “After close to 50 years of serving the commu-nity here at Sebastian’s, I am finally ready to retire and spend more time with my family, especially my grandchil-dren,” said Vassilou. The restaurant is famous for its gyros.
