Select New Arrivals – May 2026
Posted by estiator at 13 May, at 21 : 54 PM Print
A coast-to-coast glance at some of the industry’s newest additions
Sarasota, Florida
BLU KOUZINA blukouzina.com
Inside Sarasota’s University Town Center mall, Effie and Dennis Tsakiris have opened a second location of their popular upscale-Greek eatery. “Served in a setting straight out of Santorini, the impressive lunch and dinner menu showcases Greek and Mediterranean favorites—prepared fresh and made in-house—like spanakopita, moussaka, grilled whole fish, succulent lamb, kalamaki souvlaki [beef skewers] and kotopoulo fourno [roast lemon chicken],” the couple said in a statement.
After the success of its original location in Tribeca, this upscale Greek spot has planted a flag in the West Village. Oenophiles will find a “thoughtfully assembled collection of Greece’s finest varietals—from crisp, mineral-driven Assyrtiko from Santorini to Xinomavro of Naoussa and Agiorgitiko of Nemea,” according to a press release. Food “draws inspiration from the Greek table—olive oil, fresh herbs, fire-kissed vegetables, and proteins prepared with time-honored technique.” The restaurant’s name, σταφύλι, means “grape.”
Charlotte, North Carolina
THE GREEK EATS & SWEETS orderthegreek.com
At this new fast-casual spot, co-owners Stavros Basmas and Michael Ntourmas based many of their menu items on family recipes, Basmas told a local news site. The pair also sources some foods and beverages from Greece. “We’re as authentic as you can get,” Basmas said. The menu features protein bowls, gyros, salads, and Greek desserts. This is the second location for The Greek Eats & Sweets after its successful debut in Bay Shore, New York.
Brooklyn, New York
KAMPOS TAVERNA kampostaverna.com
The flavors of Chios are celebrated at this handsome new restaurant from brothers Paris and Nikolas Moyseos and partner Michael Bois. The restaurant is named for the island village beloved for its citrus groves. A mural by Greek artist Eleni Misetzis anchors the room, which is “more traditional, and not that typical blue-and-white theme that everyone else does here,” Paris Moyseos told a news site. Thymianoustiko stone from Chios decorates the space, he said.
Fort Worth, Texas
MERAKI merakifortworth.com
What’s the Greek word for “pickleball”? This dining space inside a popular pickleball court features familiar staples like tzatziki, spanakopita, and saganaki from chef Tim Love. A local news site praised the restaurant’s creative craft cocktails, including the Sea You In Santorini, “which is a lovely sea blue and comes topped with sea salt foam and a sprig of sea asparagus, which we were told is native to the Santorini region.”
Lakeland, Florida
LAKELAND DINER lakelanddiner.com
Kárpathos native Lazaros Kosmas is among the newest Greek restaurant owners in Polk County, Florida, and he’s determined to keep the beloved dishes of his childhood on the menu, a local news site reports. Early this year, he bought a breakfast restaurant from local estiators Bill and Rosa Gergatsoulis; after two weeks of intensive renovations, Kosmas reopened it as Lakeland Diner. Alongside a menu of morning classics, patrons will find Greek fare like tzatziki and dolmades.
