New Arrivals – October 2019
Posted by estiator at 10 October, at 07 : 19 AM Print
A coast-to coast glance at some of the industrys newest additions
Washington, D.C.
FAT FINGERS
8213 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD
fatfingerskitchen.com
Traditional, old-school comfort food is at the heart of Fat Fingers Kitchen in the D.C. suburb of Silver Spring, where partners Jimmy Marmaras and Tom Strawser (who is also DO for The Big Greek Café) are specializing in cheesesteaks, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, hot dogs, and more. As the name suggests, this is food that needs no fork or knife. A glorification of classic American drive-in fare, its menu includes shrimp po’boys, fish sandwiches, and appetizers to satisfy the munchiest of appetites—and it’s open until 3AM on Fridays and Saturdays for nightcrawlers with cravings.
Washington, D.C.
AGORA
7911 Westpark Dr., Tysons, VA
agoratysons.com
After first opening over a decade ago, Dupont Circle’s Agora has branched out to nearby northern Virginia with a new sister location that features a tapas-style menu blending Turkish, Lebanese, and Greek flavors. The restaurant, which opened last summer, includes a 12-seat chef’s bar overlooking the kitchen where chefs serve up interesting offerings such as Lebanese steak tartare, zucchini blossoms, kibbeh, shredded duck confit flatbread, adana kebab, and tortellini in a yogurt and mint sauce. The interior is awash in blue, with millwork and art imported from Turkey.
New Haven
FRESKOS
21 Whitney Ave, New Haven, CT
freskosgreek.com
Opened within steps of Yale University on March 25 to commemorate Greek Independence Day, Freskos is the second fast-casual Greek eatery opened by Peter Vouras (the first was three years ago in nearby Hamden). The menu focuses on some mainstays of Greek cuisine: gyro, souvlaki, dolmades, tzatziki, and hummus, along with a traditional (Americanized) Greek salad with lettuce, or the very traditional “horiatiki” salad (sans greens). Vouras, an actor and comedian who has appeared on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (among others), is a Connecticut native who grew up in restaurants.
Upstate New York
KAVOS GRILL GREEK TAVERNA
116 Main St., Nyack
Blue-and-white checkered tablecloths and a tremendous menu that goes well beyond Greek cuisine to include fish, rotisserie chicken, wraps, salads, and burgers can be found at the location formerly occupied by The Greek Kitchen in Rockland County’s town of Nyack. Owned by George Argyros and Dimitris Karampimperis, of New York City’s Three Guys, the eatery’s extensive Greek offerings include four Greek frittatas (one that features loukaniko, feta, and tomato), lamb shanks, stuffed tomatoes and peppers, and zucchini keftedhes. With over 100 menu items, this restaurant has something for everyone.
California
ELA GREEK EATS
307 Lincoln Blvd., Venice
elagreekeats.com
Casual Greek dining at affordable prices is at the heart of ELA Greek Eats, owned and operated by the team from Santa Monica’s Inotheke. Chef Carolos Tomazos, a native of Cyprus who spent time at New York’s three- star Per Se, heads the kitchen here. With a small 15-seat footprint, ELA Greek Eats is primed for takeout and delivery, featuring dishes that run from street food favorites like gyros to serious culinary treasures like soutzoukakia. Tomazos proudly features a good number of vegan dishes, something toward which traditional Greek cuisine is naturally inclined.
Florida
ATHENS FAMILY RESTAURANT
2300 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota
athensfamilyrestaurant.business.site
A mix of Greek specialties and American comfort food is on tap at Athens Family Restaurant, opened by husband and wife Adel and Dina Elostta last June. Relocating from Nashville, where their restaurant of the same name was given national attention by Food Network star Guy Fieri, the duo has a menu that includes a spiced bacon lamb burger topped with Swiss, crushed red pepper, and thousand island dressing. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this all-day affair includes a rotating lineup of traditional Greek fare, including moussaka and soutzoukakia.
