Welcome back to another week of one of your favorite columns, by your favorite Greek-Australian, AKA me – Eva!

I hope you’re all having a blessed week, and staying dry, cool, and also warm – seriously – what’s with the weather this week? We went from 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit), to 16 (60 degrees Fahrenheit), in a matter of two days…I don’t get it. I love you, New York, but your weather…well it’s currently a little too unpredictable for my liking.

Although the weather has been very up and down, there’s nothing like a good meal with good company to fix it, which brings me to this week’s ‘Exploring’ adventure – Meraki Greek Bistro.

Tucked away in the vibrant and bustling borough of Brooklyn, among the cute boutique stores, art galleries, cozy cafes, and trendy restaurants of Williamsburg (which is apparently an Aussie hotspot) you’ll find this Greek island-escape of a restaurant.

Its name essentially translates to ‘to do something with soul, love and passion’ – and that’s basically what the restaurant’s owner, Alexandros Karavias, had in mind when he first opened the Greek eatery back in March of 2024.

The blue and white exterior of Meraki Greek Bistro in Brooklyn. (Photo: Evelyn Karatzas)

Speaking with The National Herald, the Greek restaurateur from Lefkada, Greece, who moved to the U.S. to for his studies, and has been in Miami ever since, revealed how he first opened Meraki Greek Bistro in Miami 10 years ago, and after its great success, he expanded to a second location there two years later, in 2018.

With the dream of expanding to New York always in his mind, two years ago it became a reality, and that Greek eatery now continues to thrive in Williamsburg, too.

Now if you’ve never been to Meraki Greek Bistro – let me paint the picture for you.

Picture classic blue-and-white island decor, a beautiful outdoor patio, dimmed lighting, artwork, and small tokens and pieces from Greece that make you feel like you’ve been transported to Santorini. Not to mention the Greek music, which adds to the ambience of the space, creating that authentic Grecian experience.

In a few words, Karavias described it as a “laid back and comfortable Greek eatery.”

“We’re a casual place – a Greek tavern-style restaurant in a neighborhood like you’d find on a Greek island,” Karavias told TNH.

With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Karavias explained how he comes from a family with a strong restaurant background – his father previously owned a restaurant when they were living in Charlotte, NC.

The decor in Meraki Greek Bistro transports guests to Greece. (Photo: Evelyn Karatzas)

Although he completed a degree in Management Information Systems, Computer Science, and Business, he ultimately ended up pursuing a career in hospitality. He’s lived in Miami the last 22 years, and now travels back and forth to New York several times a year, since opening Meraki Greek Bistro in Brooklyn.

When asked what the Greek eatery is most known for, Karavias shared: “We have very good octopus and excellent fish like lavraki (sea bass) and branzino.”

“We have a lot of experience with fish in general, which also aligns with my background coming from the island of Lefkada. And we also have a very good lamb kebab.”

“These are some of our top signature dishes, however we also have some other specialties, like lobster pasta, seafood pasta, and the classic dishes you would find on a Greek menu – like lamb chops, flaming saganaki, horiatiki salad, moussaka, pastitsio, and giouvetsi.”

The bar at Meraki Greek Bistro. (Photo: Evelyn Karatzas)

As well as offering delicious Greek specialties, you’ll also find an array of imported wines from all over Greece, as well as a cocktail menu full of unique flavors and spirits including mastiha, Metaxa, and ouzo. Some of the cocktails include the Baklava Sour, Meraki Martini, Meraki Margarita, Spartan Spirit, Freddotini, and the Greek Odyssey.

The Meraki Greek Bistro owner expressed how the restaurant is “memorable both for its food and for its hospitality.”

“The service we provide is very good – we are very friendly with people, and if you look at our reviews, you’ll see that it’s reflected. There’s many that even specifically mention our restaurant manager, Eleni Nastou, and the great service she provides,” Karavias said.

“Overall we try, and have succeeded, to become part of the neighborhood and the community, and be a place where people feel comfortable and are reminded of Greece.”

“What we want, and what we enjoy the most, is helping people feel transported to Greece through food, through hospitality, through music, through visuals, and through the whole ambience. We just want our guests to feel at home.”

The patio at Meraki Greek Bistro. (Photo: Evelyn Karatzas)

When asked what Karavias loves the most about being in the industry for more than 25 years, and operating Meraki Greek Bistro in New York and Miami, he simply responded: “I love the relationships and connections with the people.”

“My degree, as I mentioned, was in computer science, but I never pursued it, because when I started out, I was in front of a computer, in an office, and in a cubicle – and I quickly realized that what I was missing was the interaction and connections with people,” he said.

“To talk, to laugh, to exchange ideas, to have conversations, and to promote Greek culture and Greek hospitality in the way we know best.”

Now, he happily expressed that he truly loves what he does, and looks forward to growing his business across the country.

To learn more about Meraki Greek Bistro and make a reservation, visit www.merakibrooklyn.com, or @merakibrooklyn on Instagram.