Tommy Karakostas is on a roll. He opened his popular Lakewood eatery Greek Village Grille — voted Best Greek Restaurant by Scene readers — in 2009. He followed that up with a new Greek Village in Broadview Heights in 2013. This week he opens his third Greek Village, this one in Medina. And by the end of October he will open Santorini, a modern Greek restaurant in the Warehouse District.
“This restaurant will be more similar to Broadview Heights than Lakewood,” Karakostas explains.
For starters, it’s much larger. The former BRGR 9 spot, which closed in late 2013, is 4,500 square feet, with a large bar, roomy dining room, and small patio. A complete interior renovation will leave the place looking as sunny as a Greek isle, with the trademark white-washed walls and deep sky blue accents. Windows that had been boarded up will be revealed, introducing more natural light into the cavernous warehouse space. The kitchen will be opened up as well, giving diners a glimpse of the action.
At lunch, Santorini will offer the same type of quick, affordable pita sandwiches that Lakewood is known and adored for. Dinner will feature a more ambitious menu comprised of Greek-style “meze,” or small plates, as well as shared platters and both traditional and contemporary Greek entrees.
“I’m going to Greece in two weeks to bring back some new recipes,” Karakostas says. “Times change and I want to bring some modern flair in addition to the more traditional dishes.”
Santorini will be open seven days a week. Karakostas is hoping to mimic the late-night hours of Lakewood, which is open until 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and is a popular post-bar stop. Going further, Karakostas says that he’s even entertaining staying open 24 hours a day on weekends, which will roll right into breakfast and brunch.
