New Arrivals – January 2023
Posted by estiator at 15 January, at 12 : 38 PM Print
A coast-to coast glance at some of the industry’s newest additions
Chicago | VIOLÍ | tavernavioli.com The second spot from Chicago group DineAmic Hospitality, Violí bills itself as “a Mykonian escape in the Chicago suburbs.” A taverna-style restaurant inspired by sister restaurant Lyra (see Estiator “New Arrivals,” March 2022), Violí sprawls across a 6,300-square-foot interior and a 2,000-square-foot outdoor patio. Violí, like a traditional Greek taverna, is “casual and approachable, with shareable plates and a friendly vibe,” its owners said in a press release. Like its big sister’s moniker, Violí’s name is inspired by the violins often played by per- formers on the streets of the Greek islands.
Novato, California | NICK THE GREEK | nickthegreek.com Marin County’s first Nick the Greek, the 47-unit California restaurant franchise chain, fills a Greek-cuisine void in the area, according to a local newspaper. Nick the Greek him- self is actually three guys named Nick Tsigaris, cousins referred to as Baby, Little, and Big Nick. The cousins, second-generation restaurateurs, opened their first Nick the Greek in San Jose in 2014. By next year, they expect to have 80 locations.
New York City | MOLYVOS | molyvos.com After nearly 25 years on Seventh Avenue and 55th Street, this Greek restaurant has found a more intimate home in the former Esca space at the southern edge of the theater district. “We wanted something smaller,” Nick Livanos, who owns the restaurant with family members, told The New York Times, “and this gave us the opportunity.” There’s still a wall of family photos—the Livanos family is from the village of Molyvos on Lesbos—and another of painted plates from Rhodes. Along with Molyvos’ homey signature dishes, the restaurant will offer raw fare like marinated sardines and hamachi crudo.
New York City | 9 JONES | 9jones.com Call this one Greek chic. This supper club in Manhattan’s West Village doesn’t bill itself as a Greek eatery, but the menu is almost entirely Greek-inspired, with plates like grilled octopus and saganaki. The heavily Greek wine list also includes rarely seen choices like Aoton Win’ry’s cabernet/mandilaria, Troupis Winery’s Agiorgitiko, and Magoutes’ Xinomavro. Bonus: NBA star Carmelo Anthony is an investor, and there’s a VIP room in the back with a one-way mirror and its own “secret” entrance.
Lodi, New Jersey | JERSEY GYROS | instagram.com/jerseygyros After losing his New York City restaurant job in early 2020, Michael Tolos had a brainstorm. “I always had this vision in the back of my head of opening my own restaurant,” he told a local web site. The result: Jersey Gyros in Lodi, an 1,100-square-foot spot watched over by a hand-painted mural of Artemis, the Greek deity. “She’s the goddess of the hunt,” Michael says. “So, since I sell meat, it goes together.” As a bonus, Tolos’ mother makes all of Jersey Gyros’ desserts from scratch.
Salt Lake City | JEEVA’S GREEK CAFÉ | jeevasgreekcafe.com From a compact spot in a mall food court, Jeeva’s is dishing up tzatziki, dolmades, and spanakopita, along with souvlaki, gyros, and falafel sandwiches. Desserts include house-made baklava. “Don’t get it twisted, just because they’re inside of a food court,” one Yelp reviewer enthused. “Lamb Gyro was delicious! Their pita bread is soft and fresh. Their sliced lamb was very tasty.” Another praised Jeeva’s as “some of the best Greek food in Salt Lake.”
