Browsing Tag Michael Kaminer
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11 July 2026 at 13 : 28 PM
Upscale Greek Gets a Reboot
COVER STORY NYC’s Nostos is run by women, with an all-star team of partners. By Michael Kaminer Even though their restaurant’s name means “homecoming” or “return,” Stefania Papadopoulos and her partners wanted anything but a rerun of familiar Greek restaurant concepts. So when they opened Nostos—νόστος, in ...
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14 June 2026 at 16 : 48 PM
The Peter Pan Diner Soars Again
COVER STORY After a devastating fire, a beloved family-owned restaurant returns. By Michael Kaminer In Greek mythology, the phoenix is a legendary bird that rises from its own ashes, stronger and more resilient. Bay Shore, New York, has its own phoenix. And while it may be a local legend, it’s not a myth. After a devastating fire that shut it ...
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13 May 2026 at 21 : 08 PM
Chef Nikol Zarbalas Goes Big with Hellenic
COVER STORY Chef Nikol Zarbalas Goes Big with Hellenic: The Food Network star conquers Coral Springs, Florida. By Michael Kaminer “Hands down, the best Greek food I’ve had.” That’s how television personality Guy Fieri raved about Chef Nikol Zarbalas’ cuisine after her 2022 appearance on his Food Network “Diners, Drive-Ins, ...
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13 May 2026 at 21 : 32 PM
For Greek Restaurant Franchises, a Bright Future
“Authenticity and adaptability” are key to success. By Michael Kaminer Restaurants are feeling the pinch as consumers reel in spending, whiplashed by economic headwinds and global instability. But while they face the same challenges, franchise restaurant brands are finding themselves uniquely positioned for the era of pared-back budgets and ...
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15 March 2026 at 17 : 20 PM
Beyond Blue and White
COVER STORY Next-gen restaurant designs offer a cool, confident take on tradition. By Michael Kaminer Even for consumers with zero knowledge of Hellenic culture, blue and white signifies Greece. As a result, Greek restaurants have mimicked the galanólefki—the Greek flag—as an easy way to telegraph their menus. But a new generation of ...
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15 February 2026 at 19 : 49 PM
Meet the Mayors of Gyro City
RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT Meet the Mayors of Gyro City This new fast-casual brand showcases prime ingredients and Greek pride. By Michael Kaminer Nearly two decades into a high-flying career in hospitality and nightlife, George Karavias was craving a taste of home. “I love gyros,” Ikaria native Karavias tells Estiator. “It’s my go-to. ...
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15 January 2026 at 19 : 37 PM
Watch These Trends
COVER STORY Little luxuries and giant flavors will shape menus in 2026. By Michael Kaminer Boot up your AI agents, welcome the flexitarians, crank up dipping sauces, zhuzh up your textures, and “freak up” your salads. ’Tis the season when forecasters dig into data, surveys, and consumer sentiment—and maybe consult an oracle or two—to ...
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14 December 2025 at 12 : 38 PM
Carnegie Hospitality Is Unstoppable
COVER STORY Blending tradition and innovation, Stathis Antonakopoulos builds restaurant brands for the future. By Michael Kaminer As this issue was going to press, news broke that Stathis Antonakopoulos’ Carnegie Hospitality was opening its first location in lower Manhattan—an 8,450-square-foot space that will span an entire city block at ...
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14 December 2025 at 12 : 20 PM
Ones to Watch
Meet Our Industry's Next-Gen Trailblazers By Michael Kaminer With the promise of a new year ahead, we’re excited to spotlight leaders who are taking Greek food, hospitality, and culture into the future. To find our 2026 “Ones to Watch” honorees, we asked Estiator readers, industry sources, PR and marketing pros, and even other journalists: Who are ...
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9 November 2025 at 11 : 38 AM
Gotham Goes Greek
COVER STORY With a slew of openings, NYC celebrates Greek food— and estiators. By Michael Kaminer These days, any restaurant opening is cause for celebration. But when we see a string of Greek restaurants making their debuts, or Greek restaurateurs who are expanding their footprints, it’s even more reason to cheer. • That’s what’s ...
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