Pithari Taverna | |
---|---|
Restaurant information | |
Established | September 2006 |
Owner(s) | Tassos and Chrisanthe Stefanopoulos |
Food type | Greek |
Street address | 28 Woodbridge Avenue |
City | Highland Park, New Jersey |
County | Middlesex County, New Jersey |
State | New Jersey |
Postal/ZIP Code | 08904 |
Country | United States |
Website | http://www.thepithari.com/ |
Pithari Taverna is a Greek restaurant located in Highland Park, New Jersey. The restaurant was founded by Tassos and Chrisanthe Stefanopoulo in 2006; the two had gained experience after operating a Greek foods store next door, New Athens Corner.
Reception of the restaurant included multiple favorable reviews in The Star-Ledger , [1] [2] the New Jersey section of The New York Times , [3] [4] and New Jersey Monthly . [5]
The restaurant was founded by Tassos and Chrisanthe Stefanopoulos. [3] They gained experience in the food industry by operating a Greek foods shop, called New Athens Corner, [6] and opened the establishment next door in September 2006. [4] The indoor dining room of the facility sat 60 people in 2007. [4] Tassos Stefanopoulos commented to The Star-Ledger on the opening of the restaurant in 2006 that he wished to share the tradition of Greek cuisine with others. [7]
The establishment is a neighborhood restaurant; Greek food is prepared in the form of an open kitchen. [3] Dishes include "grilled octopus in oil, vinegar and oregano ... lamb-and-orzo casserole sealed with Greek cheese and baked" and "yogurt with nuts and honey". [3] Eggplant is a frequent ingredient on the menu at the restaurant. [8] [9] "Ultimate Greek Spread" dishes include " dolmades (grape leaves), tzatziki (yogurt-based sauce), taramosalata (caviar dip), and melitzanosalata (eggplant)". [6] For the recommended seafood option, the restaurant displays the "catch of the day", on ice in the dining room. [10]
In November 2006, The Star-Ledger highlighted Pithari Taverna as a local Greek restaurant and among "favorite places to eat" in Highland Park, New Jersey. [1] In a December 2006 review of the restaurant for The Star-Ledger, Peter Genovese commented, "The appearance of a Greek restaurant is welcome news enough; the fact that Pithari Taverna serves up top-notch food in a colorful, casual setting is cause for celebration, with or without a bouzouki." [2] A 2007 review in The New York Times included the restaurant in a piece, "Standouts Among the Year's Best", giving the restaurant a rating of "very good". [3] Zagat Survey listed Pithari Taverna as "top listed" in "Greek Tops". [11]
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