January 25, 2024 / By mobanmarket
UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Under The Bridge is now above ground, revived by one of the owners who started it years ago.
But now it’s got a new name — George Southern Greek — and will have more of a Sparta influence under the watchful eye of “perfectionist” Lenox Hill restaurateur, George Kalogerakos.
This new Greek spot at the corner of East 63rd Street and First Avenue will be a mix of carryovers from the beloved Under The Bridge, which closed at the start of the year following the death of the owner and Kalogerakos’ former business partner, Dimitri Sarantopoulos, and new touches from Kalogerakos’ home back in Greece.
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“It’s about a 60/40 mix,” Kalogerakos explained. “A lot of old favorites on the menu, a lot of the old staff from the other restaurant.”
“He’s a perfectionist,” said one longtime worker, Americo, who said he’s worked for the Sparta native for over 30 years, following him from Kalogerakos’ late beloved Lyric Diner in Gramercy to Ritz Diner across the street on First Avenue, and now to the new eponymous spot.
“He’s very passionate, always looking for ways to be better,” said Americo.
One of the ways Kalogerakos is looking to make George Southern Greek better is to make it more… George.
When Patch visited this week, the causal restaurant was hosting a tasting prior to its opening on Saturday, with a handful of people sitting in the eatery’s 55 seats.
A person walked in asking to speak with George.
“Which one?” an employee asked.
Laughing, Kalogerakos began to count.
“There’s four Georges in here right now,” he said, pointing to himself and a trio of men seated at a nearby table.
Then he motioned to the ceiling: “and this makes five.”
But here, it’s the first George that counts.
Born in Sparta, Greece, but in New York City since he was seven years old — and working in restaurants since he was 15 — Kalogerakos is looking to finally bring his home cooking to the menu.
Back in Sparta, Kalogerakos owns the family home he grew up in — and over 1,200 olive trees surrounding the property.
“Soon, all the olive oil here will be from those trees in Sparta,” he said, plus the oregano he also grows.
Over a plate of Spanakorizo — a spinach and rice soup swamped in flavor — and Pastitsio — like a Greek beef lasagna in a bechamel sauce — Kalogerakos explained how he always wanted to have a spot like this.
“I’ve been eating these recipes ever since I was born,” he said, “it’s all from the village. I want to introduce this homestyle Greek kitchen cooking to the neighborhood.”
Other dishes Kalogerakos pointed out include Kouneli Stifado — a Greek rabbit stew, branzino and what he calls the best feta cheese on the market.
This isn’t Kalogerakos’ first foray into Lenox Hill.
In 1999, he opened the always bustling 24-hour Ritz Diner with his then-partner Sarantopoulos across the street. Kalogerakos also owns the popular sandwich shop The Hungry Hero next door to George Southern Greek.
After the two partnered on Ritz, a name he took by the suggestion of a diner owner in New Jersey who ran one with the same name, the pair opened Under the Bridge in 2015.
He also partnered up with Sarantopoulos to open the beloved Lyric Diner in Gramercy, which closed in 2016. For the most part, Sarantopoulos ran the diner and Kalogerakos ran Under the Bridge — until 2019.
“Then we decided to split up, and I went from Under the Bridge to the diner and he came from the diner to Under the Bridge,” Kalogerakos explained.
When Sarantopoulos’ family decided to close following his death and after the lease was up on East 59th Street, Kalogerakos decided this was a chance to make a new and unique southern Greek spot for the neighborhood while also reviving a beloved neighborhood spot.
“The neighborhood needs a place like this,” Kalogerakos said.
“It’s going to be the best Greek restaurant in the area,” he said, “we have dishes you’ll never find anywhere else.”
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