New Arrivals – December 2023
Posted by estiator at 22 December, at 11 : 50 AM Print
A coast-to coast glance at some of the industry’s newest additions
St. Petersburg, Florida • TAVERNA ON THE BAY
tavernaonthebay.net
A mix of Greek, Italian, and American staples, the menu of this newcomer emphasizes meat and seafood. Greek stuffed chicken, “Greek-seasoned” baby lamb chops, and fresh fish “Greek-style” share the menu with pastas, veal parmesan, chicken piccata, and even shrimp and grits. Galaktoboureko and rice pudding share the dessert lineup with crème brulee and cheesecake. The bar features a full cocktail, beer, and wine selection.
New York City • MYKONIAN HOUSE
opentable.com/r/mykonian-house-new-york
A year after he announced it was coming, Gregori Politis has finally opened the doors of this airy, bright Greek spot. The traditional menu covers the bases with spanakopita, shrimp saganaki, chicken souvlaki, and fish imported from Greece among the selections. Politis, a native of Lefkada, also ran Yefis and Korali on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Larkspur, California • SOUVLA
souvla.com
Estiator’s May 2023 cover star, Charles Bililies, just opened the first location outside San Francisco of his wildly popular “fast-fine” Greek concept. In early 2022, Souvla had announced the store would open that summer. “It’s been quite the journey for sure,” Bililies told a local news site. “It took quite some time for us to get all of our permits.” The new Souvla, Bililies’ sixth location, is part of the rustic-chic Marin Country Mart shopping complex.
Los Altos, California • BARBAYANI TAVERNA
barbayanis.com
The fourth eatery from local restaurateur Dino Tekdemir opened in October. “The name ‘Barbayani’ has a lot of meaning,” he told a local news site. “In Greece, you don’t see too many people working at the restaurant. One person—‘barba’—cooks for you, serves you. It’s like when someone comes to your home and it’s a home-style serving.” Barbayani Taverna will offer live Greek music on its patio on weekends. The restaurant is a reincarnation of Nemea Greek Taverna in San Jose, a Tekdemir restaurant that closed after a fire in 2020.
New York City • PITA YEERO
pitayeero.com
In September, this quick-service mini-chain opened its sixth location, a block from Grand Central Station. Gyros, salads, pita sandwiches, and bowls are the stars of the menu, along with Greek yogurt and baklava for dessert. New Yorker Ioannis Choumis is the brand’s founder and owner; other stores include Union Square, the Financial District, and Midtown West’s Urban space food hall.
Bend, Oregon • THE GREAT GREEK MEDITERRANEAN GRILL
thegreatgreekgrill.com
On opening day in September, this new location of the popular fast-casual franchise was such a hit that it ran out of food. According to QSR, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has seen significant franchise development in 2023, with the opening of eight new restaurants, including its first in California. The brand has also signed 26 franchise agreements to develop locations in states including Florida, Texas, and Alabama. Great Greek Mediterranean Grill now has 31 locations in 11 states, with another 280 units in its pipeline.
