Miami-based Meraki Hospitality Group is opening its third bistro in Williamsburg this fall. This will be the fifth restaurant in the hospitality group’s portfolio, as well as its first New York outpost.
The hospitality group’s owners Alex Karavias and chef Giannis Kostos opened up Meraki Greek Bistro in Downtown Miami and Coconut Grove, as well as a gyro and bakery in South Beach and a bar in Downtown Miami, in 2016. The new space in Brooklyn will be owned and operated by managing partner Michael Georgoulakos. It will offer indoor and outdoor seating, a Mediterranean menu and is slated to have a full bar pending approval on its license.
“Chef Kotsos wants people to come to Meraki on any random day and be able to find exactly what they would find in the streets or islands of Greece,” Georgoulakos told Greenpointers.
Kostos was born in the country’s capital city of Athens, which is surrounded by the Mediterranean sea, according to the Food Network. He has two decades of experience cooking Grecian food and formerly served as the executive chef at Kouzina Greek Bistro in Midtown Miami and culinary consultant of Freshko Gourmet in Downtown Miami. Prior to emigrating, he owned and operated eateries in his home country, where he also imported meats and fishes to the United States.
Its menu at its other outposts include mezedes like halloumi stuffed eggplant and crispy fried calamari, meze plates, salads like goat cheese and beet salad and fig spinach salad, psita like souvlaki platter and lamb chops, thalassina like grilled salmon platter and creta seafood pasta, sides like greek fries and oven roasted lemon potatoes and desserts like baklava and the chef’s signature lava cake with vanilla ice cream.
The brand’s namesake Meraki means, as written on their website, “To do something with soul, creativity, artistry or love. To put something of yourself into your work.”
