New Arrivals – August 2022
Posted by estiator at 8 August, at 14 : 59 PM Print
A coast-to coast glance at some of the industry’s newest additions
New York City | AVRA | theavragroup.com
The Avra Group’s investment in its third Manhattan location—inside Midtown’s former Time + Life building—was north of $10 million, partner Nick Tsoulos told the New York Post. The restaurant’s three floors cover more than 16,000 square feet. “The design echoes those of the earlier Avras, with acres of white oak, limestone, bronze, stone and linen to conjure the Greek islands. Whole fish are on abundant display,” the Post wrote.
Taunton, MA | GRILLA GREEK KOUZINA | grillakouzina.com
George Tambasidis and Olta Joxhe are the owners of the new Grilla Greek Kouzina in Taunton, MA, a former Dunkin’ Donuts the pair transformed with fresh blue-and-white décor. Tambasidis’ grandmother, Stavroula Vantsouris, gets almost all of the credit for the recipes, he told a local newspaper. “Thank God. My grandma’s recipes worked out,” said Tambasidis, who estimates, “95 percent of it, definitely, my grandma’s recipes.” Traditional favorites dominate, including avgolemono, dolmades, and moussaka.
East Windsor, NJ | GYRO KING AND GRILL | gyrokingandgrill.com
This small but growing New Jersey chain roams across the Mediterranean, with a menu that show- cases gyros, kebabs, falafel, kofta, and even Pakistani specials like chicken malai. The restaurant is decorated in a cricket theme—the game, not the insect—and East Windsor mayor Janice Mironov cut the ribbon for its official opening in April. Gyro King and Grill’s first location, in nearby South Brunswick, opened in 2019.
Birmingham, AL | TASTY TOWN | eattastytown.com
Nick Pihakis, a star of Estiator’s 2022 “Ones to Watch” list, opened this airy, modern Greek eatery in June. It’s a contemporary spin on Birmingham’s long history of Greek food and hospitality (see “Kalos Irthate, Y’all!, Estiator, December 2021). Tasty Town merges “old world flavors, techniques and recipes with the spirit of hospitality and progress that is part of Birmingham’s history,” its site says. The menu bridges the old country with the South, too, from spanakopita to fried Gulf fish.
Jersey City, NJ | ELA GREEK KITCHEN | elagreekkitchen.com
George Makrogiannis owns Jersey City’s Buddy’s JC, best-known for burgers and cereal-stuffed pancakes. He’s taking a different tack with his new spot, “a traditional restaurant” with “the best ingredients and a great atmosphere.” The straightforward menu covers gyros, kalamakia, dips, and soups, along with old-school desserts like yalatopouriko, ekmek kataifi, and baklava. After months of teasing on social media, the restaurant opened in July.
Lynbrook, NY | RED APPLE DINER | redapplediner.com
After 90 years, the beloved Lynbrook Diner closed in 2019. In June, Vasillios Kefaalas reclaimed its legacy with Red Apple Diner, an all-day spot with a huge menu. “I decided to open the restaurant because the village people, they really loved this place,” Kefaalas told a local news site. “They were so sad when it closed down.” Along with diner staples like burgers and omelettes, Red Apple Diner specializes in crepes, from vegetarian to Nutella & Oreo.
