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Senior Staff Writer
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March 16, 2026
A beloved New York dining institution is sailing into Boston this spring. Avra Estiatorio, the acclaimed upscale Greek restaurant known for its show-stopping seafood displays and coastal Mediterranean design, will open its first Boston location in mid-April at the newly opened Lyrik development in Back Bay.
Founded by restaurateurs Nick Tsoulos and Nick Pashalis, Avra has become one of New York City’s most sought-after Greek restaurants over the past 25 years. Its expansion to Boston marks the brand’s eighth location nationwide—and introduces local diners to the restaurant’s signature blend of Aegean flavors and contemporary elegance.
A taste of the Aegean in Back Bay
At the heart of Avra’s experience is its impressive fish market display, where pristine Mediterranean seafood—flown in daily—is arranged on ice for guests to select. Diners can choose how they’d like their fish prepared, from charcoal-grilled and baked in sea salt to drizzled with fragrant olive oil and herbs. The menu draws inspiration from owner Nick Tsoulos’s hometown of Nafpaktos, a coastal Greek village where fishing has long been a family tradition.
In addition to seafood, the menu will feature lamb, chicken, and steak dishes, along with seasonal vegetables and classic Greek specialties. Favorites include Avra Chips—crispy, paper-thin slices of zucchini and eggplant—and Chilean Seabass Souvlaki over roasted red pepper sauce. The restaurant’s extra-virgin olive oil is hand-pressed at the Tsoulos family farm in Greece’s Peloponnese region.
Mediterranean style meets Boston sophistication
Designed by the award-winning Rockwell Group, the new 250-seat restaurant will occupy the second floor of 400 Newbury Street. The interiors evoke the whitewashed villages of the Greek islands, featuring crystallized salt wall panels, sculptural olive trees, and floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the space with natural light. An indoor-outdoor seating area will offer a breezy, coastal feel ideal for spring and summer dining.
“We’re thrilled to introduce the same warm Greek hospitality and exceptional Mediterranean seafood that have defined Avra for decades to the Boston community,” said Tsoulos. “Boston has long been a city we’ve admired, and we’re excited to finally share our tradition and energy in the heart of Back Bay.”
Opening details
Avra Estiatorio will open seven days a week for dinner, with lunch and weekend brunch coming later in the season. For Bostonians craving a coastal escape without leaving the city, Avra promises a dining experience that’s equal parts elegant, fresh, and authentically Greek.
Avra Estiatorio
400 Newbury Street, Boston (Back Bay)
Opening mid-April
Dining and Cooking