New Arrivals – November 2024
Posted by estiator at 11 November, at 16 : 35 PM Print
A coast-to coast glance at some of the industry’s newest additions
Gwinnett, Georgia ⦿ MY BIG FAT GREEK TAVERNA
bigfatgreektaverna.com
The owners of this suburban Atlanta newcomer grew up in Greece, “surrounded by rich culture, beautiful islands, and most importantly delicious food!” according to their site. With recipes inspired by their grandmothers’ cooking, offerings include kebabs, souvlaki, pastitsio, and salads. While they don’t claim a connection, “My Big Fat Greek Taverna” is also the title of a 2023 memoir by South African diplomat- turned-restaurateur Costa Ayiotis.
Brooklyn, New York ⦿ GUS & MARTY’S
gusandmartys.com
Husband-and-wife team Sarah Schneider and Demetri Makoulis, who founded New York’s popular Egg Shop sandwich stores, named this new Greek spot after their fathers. The primary source of inspiration was Makoulis’s family, who hail from Naousa in northern Greece. After meeting them, Schneider realized «all the stereotypes about Greek families are true—especially when it comes to food. You eat all the food. And you drink all the drinks. There’s warmth and hospitality and love,” she told Resy.
Johnson City, Tennessee ⦿ GREEKO’S
getgreekos.com
“My grandmother is Greek, so food and family have always been the center of my life,” says Mustafa Ahmed, who opened the second location of his fast-casual restaurant in August. The menu offers traditional favorites like pita sandwiches, dolmades, spiced “feisty feta,” and wraps, along with burgers, salads, and fusion pastas like spaghetti with moussaka. A long dessert menu includes baklava, walnut honey cake, and kataiffi.
Columbia, Maryland ⦿ BIG GREEK CAFÉ
biggreekcafe.com
This Maryland chain, whose slogan is “Just like yiayia used to make,” opened its ninth restaurant last month. You’ll find tzatziki, dolmades, and spiced feta starters; Greek, gyro, and shrimp salads; pita sandwiches with souvlaki, falafel, or beef; and larger mains like moussaka, spanakopita, and grilled salmon. Greek immigrant Vassilios Marmaras opened the first Big Greek Café in 2007; son Simos now co-owns the restaurants with his twin brother, Nikos.
Shepherdstown, West Virginia ⦿ PANAGIOTA’S TASTE OF GREECE
https://www.facebook.com/people/Taste-of-Greece-Food-Truck/100083332269305/?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Partners in business and life, Emanuel and Lindsey Spano have operated Taste of Greece as a food truck since 2021; this new restaurant in downtown Shepherdstown is their first brick-and-mortar eatery. To differentiate the two businesses in customers’ minds, the Greek name of Emanuel’s 100-year-oldgrandmother – Panagiota – was added to the name of the new location, according to a local newspaper. Emanuel started his culinary career in the kitchen of Club 4100, his maternal grandfather’s restaurant on the outskirts of Baltimore.
Enid, Oklahoma ⦿ MR. GREEK HOUSE
yelp.com/biz/mr-greek-house-mediterranean-kitchen-enid
The owners of a popular Enid food truck have opened a sit-down restaurant with the same name inside a Ramada hotel. The menu leans Mediterranean as well as Greek, with baba ganoush, falafel, and kebabs sharing the stage with tiropita, spanakopitas, and dolmas. Gyros, wraps, and salads round out the selections, along with sweets like baklava, tiramisu, and cheesecake.
