New Arrivals – November 2022
Posted by estiator at 9 November, at 11 : 37 AM Print
A coast-to coast glance at some of the industry’s newest additions
Secaucus, NJ | CARNEGIE DINER & CAFÉ | carnegiediner.com No relation to the legendary Manhattan deli of memory, this 199-seat, 6,600-square-foot megadiner opened in August. It’s the second Carnegie Diner location for owner Stathis Antonakopoulos, who began his culinary career working at his grandfather’s hotel in his native Greece. Antonakopoulos worked at upscale New York taverna Kellari before opening his own kebab restaurant in 2012; he’s now CEO of Carnegie Hospitality, which owns and operates New York’s Pizza & Shakes and Carnegie Catering alongside three local ghost kitchens—Organic Burger House, NYC Pancake House, and NYC Pastrami House.
Clarendon Hills, IL | THASSOS AUTHENTIC GREEK RESTAURANT | thassosgreekrestaurant.com Nikolaos Fatouros opened the second location of his popular eatery in October. With 190 seats and a 100-person private-events space, the restaurant offers “traditional Greek cuisine, and with our concept and service I believe people will want to come here,” Fatouros told a local newspaper. Its offerings include a dozen cold appetizers, nine desserts, and Thassos specialties like lamb yiouvetsi, lamb aginarto, stuffed peppers and tomatoes, and biftekia.
Detroit | SYMPOSIA | atheneumsuites.com/symposia This fine-dining spot opened inside Greektown’s AtheneumSuite Hotel and Conference Center in October. Behind it is the Papas family, Detroiters who also own Greektown’s Pegasus Taverna, A Bar, Mosaic, and Santorini Estiatorio. In a press release, the family said Symposia “will build on our commitment to preserving the cultural aspects of the area, as well as enhancing the community.” On the menu: plates like roasted beet with whipped feta, prawn bucatini with Greek olive oil, and an olive oil cake with Greek yogurt. “I twist authentic recipes by taking liberties with unexpected juxtaposition,” chef Elliot Patti told a local web site.
Middleburg Heights, OH | THE GREAT GREEK MEDITERRANEAN GRILL | thegreatgreekgrill.com This fast-growing franchise opened its second Ohio location in September. The store is owned and operated by by Adnane Ouarzazi, “an avid traveler and food enthusiast who has visited over 70 countries,” the company said. The Great Greek has won a fan base with a crowd-pleasing menu featuring gyro, lamb, steak and chicken souvlaki plates, house-made dips, and made- to-order feta fries. The Great Greek Grill was founded in Henderson, NV, in 2011; with nearly 70 locations, it’s now owned by franchising giant United Franchise Group.
Blair, Nebraska | GREEK TO ME! | grk2me.com Balls Out Motors is a golf-cart dealership in Blair, Nebraska; it’s also one of the local spots where you might find Greek to Me!, a new food truck serving gyros, gyro bowls with rice, and Greek nachos, according to a local news site. Co-owner Chris Antonopoulos and brother Tony own Greek to Me! restaurants in Sioux City, Iowa, and South Sioux City, Nebraska. The pair is applying for a permit to operate the truck in nearby Omaha as well. The truck is recognizable by its huge image of the Acropolis.
Pensacola, FL | ZAYTOUNA GREEK AND LEBANESE GRILL | zaytounafl.com With their first Florida restaurant, the owners of Louisiana Greek-Lebanese chain Albasha have brought their successful formula across state lines. Under a new name, Zaytouna, they’re serving the same gyros, shawarma, moussaka, and kebabs. Online reviews have been ecstatic since Zaytouna’s September opening. “We decided to try this place and it is definitely worth a try… Everything tasted fresh and homemade,” one Yelper enthused. “Absolutely delicious. Very excited to add this restaurant to our rotation,” another local raved.
