New Arrivals – April 2020
Posted by estiator at 6 April, at 05 : 16 AM Print
A coast-to coast glance at some of the industry’s newest additions
New York
ELENI’S DIVINE GREEK CUISINE
226 3rd Ave, New York, NY
Greek cuisine is so popular in New York that it may very well be that in a short time, Manhattan may have more Greek restaurants than most Greek cities. Eleni’s Divine Greek Cuisine, just a few blocks from Union Square, is a welcome addition. With a traditional taverna menu, Eleni’s is swathed in white, with just enough blue to evoke the Aegean Sea. The menu includes yiouvetsi (baked lamb shank in tomato sauce with orzo), imam (roasted eggplant stuffed with onions and organic tomato sauce), and seftalia (Cypriot grilled pork meatballs).
New York
PIATO GREEK KITCHEN
173 S Riverside Ave, Croton-On-Hudson, NY
piatogreekkitchen.com
Recently opened, Piato Greek Kitchen is an addition to the Greek cuisine scene of Westchester County’s Hudson River shore. Traditional dips, hot meze, lamb chops, bronzino, and a slate of “magiremena” (home-baked) dishes are at the heart of this place, which also has a few interesting burgers (one topped with saganaki) and steaks ’n’ chops on the menu. The restaurant is owned by Gregory Dalietos and Gregory Katehis.
New York
PITA BOWL
280a N. Wellwood Ave. Lindenhurst, NY
eatatpitabowl.com
“Traditional Greek with a modern twist” is the tagline for this build-your-own fast-casual Greek eatery owned by the Leunes family (Steve, Rea, and son Dean). The concept was developed by Dean, a culinary graduate of Johnson & Wales University, with Steve serving as executive chef. The restaurant serves gyros, salads, and rice bowls with a focus on fresh produce. The food is served in eco-friendly compostable packaging. Lindenhurst is a village located within the town of Babylon on Long Island.
Washington, D.C.
KONSTANTINE’S GREEK TAVERNA
12857 Highland Rd, Highland, MD
konstantinestaverna.com
Situated in a stand-alone building that looks as it might have been converted from a large home, Konstantine’s Greek Taverna in the D.C. suburb of Highland, Maryland, is perched in a pastoral setting, with an elegant and expansive outdoor patio bar. This tablecloth restaurant with multiple rooms offers a traditional taverna menu with abundant grilled meats and fan favorites such as dolmathes, spanakopita, pastitsio, and moussaka. The restaurant’s wine list features only Greek wines.
Boston
KRASI
48 Gloucester St., Boston
krasiboston.com
Building on Committee Ouzeri + Bar’s impressive brand, the same team recently debuted Krasi, a Greek wine bar with one of the country’s largest selections of Greek wines. Krasi’s modern menu includes innovative approaches to moussaka (served tartare with filet mignon, eggplant, potato, and a chilled bechamel) and mussels (ouzo battered and fried with tarama and mint oil), among others. It boasts an eclectic selection of rare cheeses, charcuteries made in New England according to traditional Greek methods, and an array of hearth-baked breads that include lagana, a dairy-free sesame flatbread.
Massachusetts
BION GREEK KITCHEN
356 Main St, Fitchburg, MA
bion-greek.square.site
Started in December as a takeout restaurant, this Greek eatery has recently added table seating, allowing visitors to sit and enjoy Chef Violet Labovitis’s homestyle Greek dishes as well as her gyros and pita wraps. According to her son, Nicolas, who serves as general manager of Bion, the business started with the sales of baklava in 2016 and quickly grew to encompass corporate catering. Today, Violet’s desserts have made their way into stores such as Market Basket, while her culinary talents are the centerpiece of Bion’s appeal.
