| Pithari Taverna | |
| Slogan: | Eat greek... live long |
| Established: | September 2006 |
| Current-Owner: | 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 |
| Postcode: | 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, the New Jersey section of The New York Times,[1] and New Jersey Monthly.[2]
The restaurant was founded by Tassos and Chrisanthe Stefanopoulos. They gained experience in the food industry by operating a Greek foods shop, called New Athens Corner,[3] and opened the establishment next door in September 2006. The indoor dining room of the facility sat 60 people in 2007. 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.[4]
The establishment is a neighborhood restaurant; Greek food is prepared in the form of an open kitchen. 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". Eggplant is a frequent ingredient on the menu at the restaurant.[5] [6] "Ultimate Greek Spread" dishes include "dolmades (grape leaves), tzatziki (yogurt-based sauce), taramosalata (caviar dip), and melitzanosalata (eggplant)". For the recommended seafood option, the restaurant displays the "catch of the day", on ice in the dining room.[7]
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.[8] 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."[9] 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".[10] Zagat Survey listed Pithari Taverna as "top listed" in "Greek Tops".[11]