A new Greek Mediterranean restaurant is set to swing open its doors at 1551 N. Wells Street in Old Town on September 26, bringing gyros, grilled meats and beef-tallow fries to a neighborhood already known for its dining scene. Ela Modern Greek Taverna was founded by entrepreneur and television personality Shaina Hurley, known for Netflix's Love Is Blind, alongside Executive Chef and Partner Daniel Garabajiu.
The restaurant's name, Ela, means “come” in Greek, according to knoxnews.com, and that invitation is meant to work whether diners are stopping for a quick coffee or settling in for a date night. Per the same announcement, the restaurant is designed to work for a business lunch, family dinner, date night, coffee stop or meal on the go — an ambition that lands somewhere between a quick gyro counter and a special-occasion sit-down. As whatnow.com reports, that in-between positioning is intentional: the team says they saw an opportunity between traditional fast Greek food and special-occasion dining, per the desmoinesregister.com release.
A Chef Rooted in a Family Taverna
Garabajiu's path to Old Town runs through Greece. He grew up in his family's taverna in Lefkada, Greece, and later cooked at Principote in Mykonos, according to a report from newcity.com. From there he built his career in Chicago, working at Nisos, Andros Taverna and Athena before joining Ela as executive chef and partner.
The menu will span gyros, grilled meats, fresh salads and bowls, plus fries cooked in beef tallow, Greek yogurt soft serve, Greek-inspired sweets and handcrafted coffee, per the knoxnews.com release. The kitchen's approach centers on high-quality meats, fresh vegetables and Mediterranean ingredients, with a focus on simple preparation and no seed oils, according to a separate release published by desmoinesregister.com. Hurley has said that Greek culture brings people together around food, a philosophy the restaurant's menu and design are meant to reflect.
Ownership Group Blends Restaurateurs and Investors
Behind Hurley and Garabajiu sits an ownership group with deep ties to Chicago's Greek dining scene. Chris Lardakis, a Greek American restaurateur and developer who founded Kanela Breakfast Club, is leading the restaurant's development through his firm CL Development. Joining him are Aristotle Loumis and Anthony Papagikos, both members of Ela's ownership group.
Loumis has said he wants a great meal made with ingredients he feels good about without always spending two hours at dinner, capturing the everyday-but-elevated pitch behind Ela's concept. Papagikos, for his part, brings a Greek Orthodox upbringing, community involvement and investment experience to the project. The whatnow.com report also notes that Hurley and Lardakis are expecting their second child, per People.
Design, Collaborations and What to Expect Inside
Inside, the space is planned to feature Mediterranean blue tones, white oak, natural stone, woven textures, greenery and warm lighting, aiming for a look that fits both a quick lunch and a slower dinner. Ela is also collaborating with Anastasia Ganias Gellin, founder of Fancy Peasant, on select products, according to the knoxnews.com report.
Seating capacity is described differently across accounts: the knoxnews.com release puts the restaurant at approximately 70 indoor seats and 50 outdoor seats, while a report from newcity.com describes it as a 120-seat restaurant. Either way, the restaurant plans to operate seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with later weekend hours under consideration.
More details, including menu updates, are expected to be posted at elataverna.com as the September 26 opening approaches. For a neighborhood already dense with dining options, Ela's bet is that Old Town has room for one more spot built around the idea that a proper Greek meal shouldn't require a special occasion.
