The Greek Bar opened in February and one bite of the restaurant’s food is sure to transport you to the Mediterranean.
AUSTIN, Texas — In the heart of Travis Heights, The Greek Bar is the latest addition to Austin’s dining scene. It’s a labor of love for Daphne Greer and Dimitri Karabinis, a husband and wife duo who know a thing or two about hospitality.
“We’ve both been in the industry for pretty much forever. Dimitri literally grew up in a pizzeria that his father ran in Greece,” Greer said.
Now the co-owners are taking cuisine to the next level, serving everything from Mediterranean sea bass to lamb chops. Another traditional taste is their classic: horiatiki salad.
“There is no lettuce in Greek salads. So it’s just cucumbers, tomatoes and kalamata olives. We add red onions, depending on the region, baby dill, mint, feta and a little bit of parsley,” Greer said.
While dinner looks delicious, the restaurants’ brunch menu is equally as impressive. They’ve got everything from a feta omelet to fluffy yogurt pancakes with honey butter. They also kick things up a notch with a Greek twist on chicken and waffles called “It’s All Greek To Me.”
Greer says the eatery likes to keep things simple and flavorful.
“We import a lot of ingredients like our feta and olive oil from Greece. We use tallow in our fryers. We don’t use any seed oil, like canola oil,” she said.
Above the mantle in the dining room sits a picture of Greer’s Greek grandmother, or her yiayia. It’s a reminder that every guest should be treated like family.
“We want everyone to have a great experience. We want everyone to enjoy good food, simple food and leave feeling good when they’re done,” Greer said.
The Greek Bar is located at 534 E. Oltorf St. near Congress Ave. The spot is open for dinner and also serves brunch on the weekends.
The Greek Bar serves Mediterranean cuisine in South Austin | Foodie Friday
Dining and Cooking