Dallas opening of NY Mediterranean restaurant Avra draws society set

Avra partygoers Morgan Alfia, Danielle Apple, Tessa Riley, Melissa Pastora, Sharon Lee Clark, Lauren Alexandra Thomas | Avra

What: Avra Dallas VIP opening party

Where: at The Crescent, 300 Crescent Court

The 411: An unusually high-wattage crowd of more than 500 turned out on September 18 for the VIP opening of Avra Estiatorio, a Mediterranean restaurant concept founded in New York by restaurateurs Nick Tsoulos and Nick Pashalis, who were inspired by seaside tavernas across Greece. They’ve since opened locations in Manhattan and Beverly Hills where they’re a favorite celebrity haunt, thanks to their vibrant energy and lavish design.

Rather than the usual assemblage of Instagram influencers, this opening drew a cross-section of real estate moguls, venture capitalists, fashion designers, and Real Housewives.

Food & Drink: Food offerings included a raw bar with oysters, shrimp, and lobster, a caviar station, a carving station featuring filet crostini with aioli or round pita. Snacks passed included Greek salad skewers, lamp lollipops, tuna tartare, crab cakes, “beefteki” skewers, spanakopita, and Wagyu burger sliders.

Drinks were flowing: In addition to a full open bar, they were pouring Mykonos Breeze martinis, margaritas and Moet Imperial Brut.

Attendees: Avra co-owners Marc Packer, Nick Pashalis, and Nick Tsoulos; Charlotte Jones, Charlotte Jones and Amir Rozwadowski, Crescent owners Cami and John Goff with son Travis and daughter-in-law Shelby, Amy Turner, Darren Blanton, Jen Miller, Andy Beal, Justin Cox, Annika Cail, Kristina Wrenn, Kent and Traci Rathbun, Sharon Lee Clark, Kari Brittingham, Elisabeth Landry, Chuck Steelman, Cathy James, DJ Steffi Burns, and Nicole Forster.

Avra opening | Avra