A successful hospitality team is preparing to change the face of fast-casual dining in the Lehigh Valley. Cousins Michael L. and Michael P. Dontas, the duo behind the Copperhead Grille, will be debuting their new concept Utopita this winter, reports local media outlet WFMZ.
The restaurant will be giving the fast-casual treatment to Mediterranean cuisine when it opens at 3650 Nazareth Pike. A precise opening date is not currently available, however the Dontas cousins are hoping to begin feeding customers in February of this year.
Utopita will be a part of the Bethlehem Village Shoppes and will have seating for up to 30 patrons.
Michael L. Dontas explains to What Now Philadelphia that the concept will allow him and his fellow Michael to expand their horizons in new and exciting ways. He states: “We always wanted to do a third restaurant and we wanted to bring the Greek Mediterranean diet to the forefront of that concept… we just thought the fast-casual approach was the best way to deliver it.”
The Bethlehem neighborhood will provide Utopita with a wealth of prospective customers. Dontas explains of the fast-casual restaurant’s first home: “It’s the right size, there’s plenty of parking, there’s other food establishments in the center that will make it a destination for dining. It’s a centrally located area for delivery which we feel a big chunk of our business is going to be- delivery and take out. Demographically, there’s businesses so there’s daytime traffic.”
The Utopita menu will feature an array of Mediterranean favorites, including falafel and avgolemono soup. Additionally, guests will be able to curate their own bowls, ala Chipotle, selecting proteins, bases and greens.
Visitors with a sweet tooth will be able to round out their meals with Greek frozen yogurt, complete with a variety of toppings.
The Dontas cousins first made a name for themselves in the local dining scene when they opened Copperhead Grille in 2002. The pair have since launched a second location, and Utopita sees the next evolution of their already fruitful hospitality career.
Dontas reassures Copperhead Grille fans that Utopita does not mean the end of the former establishment’s growth. And indeed, this first Bethlehem location may prove to be a launchpad for further expansion for Utopita. Dontas says “Ideally we’ll open up multiple locations; that’s our game plan. We don’t want to put the cart before the horse, we want to make sure we’re firing on all cylinders, since this is the first time we’re doing this concept and this style of restaurant. You’re always tinkering and always making adjustments as trends change and flavors change. We’re never done training.”
While the opening date is somewhat tentative, Dontas is confident of a late winter opening. He states: “We don’t have an official date yet-we still have a few things that we haven’t had final confirmation on exact delivery dates. Middle to late February, potentially March. We’re on the final stretch.”
Locals interested in getting in on the ground floor for this exciting new concept can fill out an application at utopitafresh.com. Dontas states that the eatery will begin hiring in the next week or so.
