New Arrivals – February 2019
Posted by estiator at 15 February, at 10 : 36 AM Print
A coast-to-coast glance at some of the industry’s newest additions
Over the past several months, Greek– and Mediterranean-themed restaurants have continued to open around the country, giving fuel to America’s awakening to the healthful and delicious food from this part of the world. Here are some of the recent additions…
Southern California
Evzin
411 E Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA
evzincuisine.com
Husband-and-wife team John Tsoutis and Maria Mertika have opened up their second restaurant in as many years with the establishment of Evzin inside the Caliente Tropics Hotel in Palm Springs, about 100 minutes east of Los Angeles. With an interior designed and built by the two that conveys a “gypsy-bohemian vibe”, the 100-seat space serves up creative and rustic Greek fare along with other dishes from the Mediterranean, such as chorizo sausage from Spain served with wild gulf shrimp, Mediterranean mussels and fried egg. “We’re focused on a Greek format with modern Middle Eastern, Spanish, and Moroccan flare. I’m Greek and Filipino, and my wife is Albanian, so we take traditional dishes and add our own touch to them,” says John.
New York, NY
Fournos Theophilos
45 W 45th St
New York, NY
fournos.com
This creative culinary destination is part bakery, part restaurant, part market and part breakfast place. The element that pulls them altogether is a rustic Greek culinary thread; much like Mario Batali’s Eataly does with Italian cuisine. Located in the theater district, this space occupies two floors and 5,000 square feet. In addition to offering wonderful Greek bakery products, Greek delicacies and signature Greek dishes, Fournos Theophilos promotes Hellenic folk art. The eatery is helmed by Chefs Yannis Tsiakos and Dionisis Liakopoulos
Northern New Jersey
Lefkes
495 Sylvan Ave
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
lefkesnj.com
Stavros Aktipis of Kellari Restaurant Group has worked his magic again at the elegantly appointed Lefkes, a multi-level space that includes an impressive bar, private rooms and an expansive outdoor patio. Known for being among the leading Greek restaurateurs in Manhattan, Aktipis’s culinary team approaches Greek cuisine in the way an artist approaches a canvass—with reverence and passion. The offerings range from the adventurous (moussaka croquettes with feta mousse) to the classic (grilled lambchops with mint coulis and lemon roasted potatoes. A beautiful market display offers diners a glimpse of the day’s catch—with lavraki (loup de mer), tsipoura (royale dorade), fagri (red sea bream from the Medieterranean) and sinagrida (red snapper from the Gulf) rounding out the list. Appetizers also include calamari stuffed with bulgur, and herbs and scented with orange and ouzo. “I’m thrilled to bring traditional and unique Greek dishes created with a gastronomic passion and integrity for time-honored and modern Mediterranean meals to Englewood Cliffs,” Aktipis told the local press.
Northern California
Taverna
800 Emerson St
Palo Alto, CA
tavernarestaurant.net
Taverna opened in March 2018 and is located in downtown Palo Alto on a quaint neighborhood corner. Founded by two longtime friends, Thanasis Pashalidis and Hakan Bala, the restaurant blends rustic origins with modern refinement. Chef William Roberts serves both comforting interpretations of classic dishes and daring new ventures into the uncharted territories of Hellenic dining. Taverna’s interior, designed by Chris Irvine, reflects the old-world charm and nostalgic sentiments of Greece, where Pashalidis is well seasoned in exploring the tastes and feelings of the everyday taverna. Pashalidis worked at Evvia and San Francisco sister restaurant Kokkari for eight years, before his tenure as captain server at the Michelin-starred Village Pub in Woodside and manager at Mayfield Bakery & Cafe in Palo Alto. Roberts worked with Paschalidis at the Village Pub before he went on to the position of Head Chef at Dio Deka, a fine dining Greek restaurant in Los Gatos. Paschalidis and Bala worked together at Evvia. The menu includes innovations such as butternut squash croquettes with manouri cheese and pumpkin-spiced yogurt along with traditional favorites that include octopus with Santorina fava, quince almond relish and Aegean capers. The restaurant adds a 5% Living Wage surcharge to all purchases, 100% of which is used to support living wages for all of the restaurant’s employees.
West Hartford, CT
Balos Estiatorio
46 S Main St
West Hartford, CT
balosgreek.com
Connecticut restaurateur George Chatzopoulos branched out from his Chips family restaurant chain with the opening of two Simple Greek locations (Glastobury and West Hartford) in the last couple of years. In October of 2018, he moved from the fast casual side of Greek cuisine to the fine dining realm. Balos Estiatorio, located in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square, one of Connecticut’s most trendy dining destinations, is helmed by Chef Greg Zapantis (formerly of Molos in Weekawken, NJ) and Chatzopoulos’s partner, Odysseus Rethis. The space seats 170 and is swathed in white and neutral tones, evoking an island ambience that is well-suited to its menu, which has fresh whole fish and seafood as the core of its menu.
South Florida
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill
11300 Legacy Ave
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
thegreatgreekgrill.com
This Nevada-based fast casual Greekery recently opened in a former bagel-shop location, with no less than five more locations lined up to open in the coming year (in Colorado, Michigan and Texas as well as another Las Vegas location and one in Port St. Lucie, Florida). In addition to gyros, the chain offers rice bowls that can be topped with Chicken Breast, Leg of Lamb, Gyro Meat, Steak Tenderloin, Jumbo Shrimp or Falafel. Their Athenian Burger piles feta and tzatziki onto its angus beef patty.
Orlando, FL
Little Greek Fresh Grill
155 Crane Roost Rd
Altamonte Springs, FL
littlegreekrestaurant.com
Little Greek Fresh Grill founder, Sigrid Bratic, started with one location in Palm Harbor, Florida in 2004 and grew the fast casual concept to four corporate-owned and two franchised locations by 2011. After forging a partnership with Nick Vojnovic (formerly of Beef O’ Brady’s) in the same year, Little Greek has flourished to sixteen locations across Florida, two in Arkansas, five in Texas and one in Kentucky. Currently Little Greek Fresh Grill has five locations under development, with this Altamonte Springs location being its second in the Orlando area.
Norther Virginia
Souvlaki Bar
46519 Harry Byrd Hwy
Just two years after opening its first location in Alexandria, Virginia, Souvlaki Bar, a fast-casual Greek concept owned by Christos and Effie Sarantis, has expanded to Sterling. With “Best Gyro” accolades from Northern Virginia Magazine, the restaurant augments its pita wraps, bowls and salads with a daily dose of Greek lentil soup, handmade dips, and Greek yogurt for dessert (with a choice of Greek honey, walnuts and black cherries for toppings). Beautifully appointed with white walls and tables that nod to Cycladic styles, this quick service spot has the ambience of a chic trendspot, with roomy communal tables included.
St Paul, MI
The Naughty Greek
2400 University Ave West
St.Paul, MI
thenaughtygreek.com
Chef/restaurateur Angelo Giovanis left a nearly two-decade career in corporate America to open his first Naughty Greek location in a tiny spot in St. Paul in November 2016. Just a little more than a year later, his second, larger, spot was opened across town. Giovanis, who grew up in his father’s restaurant in the beautiful Byzantine fortress town of Monemvasia in the Peloponnese, has worked hard to give his eatery a hip vibe to match its moniker. With the entire menu made from scratch, Giovanis sources only humanely raised antibioticfree/hormone-free pork, beef and chicken from Midwestern farmers. There are no preservatives and the only thing in the restaurant’s freezers, he insists, is ice cream. The restaurant just started hosting occasional “Big Fat Greek Nights” with live Greek music.
Do you know of a recently opened Greek-themed restaurant in your area? Email us at dinoestiator@gmail.com and let us know!
