New Arrivals – November 2020
Posted by estiator at 11 November, at 11 : 49 AM Print
A coast-to coast glance at some of the industry’s newest additions
The Greekish
NYACK, NY
thegreekish.com
A fixture in Nyack, seasonal-Mediterranean spot 8 North Broadway closed this summer. But chef/owner Constantine Kalandranis didn’t stray too far on the map. The space reopened in September as The Greekish, a stylish “meze and ouzo bar” where Kalandranis is whipping up what he calls “the Greek version of tapas.” On offer: house-made pita, dips, and dressings; a wine list that spotlights “the next generation in Greek winemaking,” like Assyrtiko from Santorini and Black Sheep Blend from Drama; and an ouzo-fueled cocktail program. “Greek food tends to be so serious in presentation and ritual, but at The Greekish, we’re going to offer a bit of fun,” Kalandranis told news site Lohud.com. “While we’ll still take the execution seriously, look for dishes that have twists on ingredients, making it more approachable.”
Mazi
WEST READING, PA
mazigreek.com
Mazi, of course, means “together,” and the name of Eleny and George Zeppos’ new Greek-chic eatery has special resonance now. “It means together in people and life with your loved ones and friends,” George told a local newspaper. “To be together, eat together, live together.” A planned April opening got derailed by the pandemic; instead, Mazi finally opened on September 2. Its twist-on-tradition menu includes gyros with pulled lamb shank and olive relish, char-grilled loukaniko with orange zest, and fig salad with kaseri cheese. The Zeppos, children of Greek immigrants, own a group of restaurants in southeastern Pennsylvania,
Yianni’s Taverna
BETHLEHEM, PA
facebook.com/YiannisGreekTaverna
Three years after a devastating fire forced it to close, this beloved eatery was scheduled to reopen at press time. Proudly traditional, Yianni’s served favorites like spanakopita, souvlaki, and saganaki. The old room’s white walls and bright blue chairs, “reminiscent of the Greek island of Santorini,” have been replaced with a more neutral color scheme of tans and grays, according to the Morning Call newspaper. “We still have some decorating to do, but everything’s been redone,” co-owner Maria Zannakis Manakos told the paper. “We had to go down to the studs.” Yianni’s originally opened in 2009 at the site of the former Gus’s Crossroads, which Manakos’ parents, Greek-born Gus and Eleni Zannakis, operated for more than 35 years. Yianni’s original menu gained local fame for listing most of its items in Greek, with translations.
