New Arrivals – March 2024

Greek desserts take the spotlight at this café, bearing a name reminiscent of loukoumades. True to its name, the menu features an array of delicious Greek donuts, with inventive twists such as dulce de leche with caramel drizzle and crushed walnuts, as well as the tantalizing Stuffin Good, filled with Nutella, white chocolate, and crushed Oreos. Complementing the sweet treats are flavored coffees and a selection of teas. The owners have ambitious plans to franchise the brand, with opportunities already available.

Georgetown welcomes the inaugural D.C. location of Boston’s Greco Truly Greek, with plans for a second outpost underway. This fast-growing chain is renowned for its overstuffed pitas filled with meats or veggies, alongside traditional specialties like souvlaki, avgolemono, Greek salads, and horiatiki. Patrons can also peruse the retail section, offering imported sweets, sea salt, Nescafe, and Greco’s own private-label olive oil sourced from farms in Sparta. Boasting a 2,000-square-foot space with seating for 30, the restaurant is an expansion of the successful Boston-based chain founded by owners Demetri Tsolakis and Stefanos Oungrinis, who are also behind popular establishments such as Krasi Meze + Wine, Hecate cocktail bar, and Bar Vlaha.

After over four decades, Jimmy Tsolis decided to close his family’s cherished Seven Seas Diner in 2023, transforming the space into Paros, an upscale Greek restaurant. Paros offers classic Greek dishes and seafood sourced from Marine Fishery, a trusted supplier of Seven Seas. The restaurant’s ambiance has undergone a transformation, featuring minimalist design, vibrant colors, and captivating photos of the Greek coastline. Valet parking is available in the evenings, and the menu emphasizes cocktails and imported Greek wines, including varietals like Xinomavro and Assyrtiko. New additions to the menu include slow-braised lamb shank yiouvetsi with orzo and market price fish, with most entrées priced between $35 to $55, marking a significant departure from the diner days.

Jayna Gyro expands with its second location in Roseville, specializing in gyro chicken or beef, lamb pitas, house-made lavash wraps, and house-made dolmades. The menu also features a variety of dips such as hummus, baba ghanoush, and tzatziki, with over half of the offerings dedicated to vegetarian dishes. General manager Demetri Gregorakis expressed excitement about meeting the restaurant’s new neighbors, as many regular guests had requested a closer location.

In December, the Livanos family, known for their ownership of restaurants like Oceana and Molyvos in Manhattan, partnered with longtime friends Peter Malo and John Stavros of Terre Medi Foods to launch this expansive market and eatery. Featuring a menu that traverses the Mediterranean, offerings include a Greek salad, Nonna’s Meatballs, and roasted cauliflower. Moderne Barn, the Livanos’ original restaurant in Armonk, garnered the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence in 2012, just two years after its opening.