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New Hunters Point Restaurant Serves Up Modern Takes on Greek Classics

By Jeanmarie Evelly | September 17, 2015 8:35am
 Kavala Estiatorio opened Tuesday at 10-07 50th Ave. near Vernon Boulevard, serving up
Kavala Estiatorio opened Tuesday at 10-07 50th Ave. near Vernon Boulevard, serving up "a modern take on classic, authentic Greek cuisine."
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Kavala

LONG ISLAND CITY — Astoria may get all the attention when it comes to Greek cuisine, but neighboring Hunters Point can now boast some Hellenic eats of its own.

Kavala Estiatorio opened Tuesday at 10-07 50th Ave. near Vernon Boulevard, serving up "a modern take on classic, authentic Greek cuisine," according to executive chef Arthur Robert Saks III, whose past jobs have included stints cooking in the Caribbean as well as an appearance on the Food Network show "Chopped."

"I'm very passionate about Greek food," said Saks, who said he honed his skills in the cuisine while working at Kyma, another Greek eatery in Atlanta, GA. "I've been able to apply a bunch of techniques that I learned there."

His menu at Kavala — which is owned by the same team behind several other local restaurants, including SHI, Skinny's Cantina and the future incarnation of the Waterfront Crabhouse — features a number of classic Greek dishes, with a twist.

They include the saganaki, or traditional fried Greek cheese, which they flavor with the Greek liquor ouzo and lemon. A grilled octopus appetizer is served with a pickled red onion salad and a red wine vinaigrette, while spreads like tzatziki and hummus are made in-house from scratch.

Entrees include a lamb duo — with the meat both grilled and braised — as well as a variety of whole fish like branzino, porgy and seabass that's delivered daily from the Mediterranean, and comes either grilled or fried.

I would say the whole menu is very well rounded," Saks said. "The food itself is simple, and the simplicity of it is what makes it so special."

Saks joined Kavala after helping to open Streets, a street food-inspired restaurant in Williamsburg. He was also a chef at Staten Island's Marina Cafe, and in 2011, he appeared in an episode of the TV cooking competition "Chopped."

Though he didn't leave a winner, he described the experience as "humbling."

"I kind of owe all of my success to my failure on the show," he said.

Kavala's operating hours are from 5 to 10:30 p.m., and the restaurant is closed on Mondays.