STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — After 13 years in Dongan Hills, the Mitilineos family has closed their Kuzina restaurant at 1458 Hylan Blvd. The decision—effective Jan. 6—marks the end of a long run on the East Shore for the family-run business, known for its homestyle cooking and strong rapport with neighborhood diners.
But there’s good news for Staten Island diners: The family has rededicated itself to its second restaurant at 895 Huguenot Ave., which will become its key focus going forward.
Kuzina closed in Dongan Hills after a 13 year run.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
“Following a transition within our family and after much consideration, we’ve decided to focus our efforts on our Huguenot location,” the family wrote in a public message posted to Facebook. “While we know this is the right step for our family, it doesn’t make saying goodbye to patrons of our Dongan Hills restaurant any less emotional.”
Siblings Leo and Katerina Mitilineos said the decision came after several years of pressures that grew over time: lingering effects from the COVID‑19 pandemic, shifting neighborhood demographics, rising costs, and the challenge of operating a large dining room that never returned to pre‑pandemic activity levels.
Leo and Katerina Mitilineos will go forward with their restaurant dreams in Huguenot. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)COVID-era shifts linger
During an interview with SILive, the siblings detailed how the restaurant industry changed dramatically after the pandemic—and never shifted back in a way that made sense for Kuzina’s Dongan Hills location. They saw sustained changes in customers’ attitudes toward dining out, with more guests opting for quick service and takeout rather than traditional table service. In response, Kuzina eventually moved away from full service and incorporated more self‑serve ordering. This local shift reflected a broader trend seen throughout the industry.
They also noted that while the cost of ingredients and supplies rose significantly, they passed through fewer price increases than competitors.
“We rigorously maintain the quality and quantity of the ingredients we use in our recipes,” Leo said. “We see other places raising prices across Staten Island, but we refuse to do that. Even in the most difficult circumstances, we won’t compromise.”
The siblings said the first signs of neighborhood change appeared in late 2018, as longtime regulars began moving away. The pandemic accelerated that turnover, they said. Not far away, Trattoria Romana closed its doors in October 2020, Those storefronts and a neighboring spot were later replaced by a relocated Indian eatery and a separately owned new Chinese bakery featuring hanging Peking ducks. Meanwhile, a nearby deli transitioned into a small Asian market, then a cannabis dispensary.
“It wasn’t one thing. It was a mix of the neighborhood changing, the impact of COVID and the size of the space,” Leo said. “A lot of longtime customers moved away during the pandemic. You could see the turnover happening almost overnight.”
The change in customer patterns coincided with challenges inside the restaurant. When statewide restrictions forced dining rooms to operate at 25% and 50% capacity in 2020, Kuzina’s large dining room became impossible to sustain. “People were scared to eat out, and the numbers just never bounced back the way we hoped,” Katerina said.
Operational pressures mount
Even after restrictions were lifted, the realities of running a spacious restaurant with reduced foot traffic became increasingly difficult.
“Running a space that big meant higher costs for utilities, insurance, and paying a great staff that met the standards we had set for service. Our customers were very loyal, but there were fewer of them,” Leo said. Staffing shortages added another challenge. “It became very difficult to find reliable staff. A lot of people left the industry altogether.”
At the same time, the family was balancing multiple restaurants and ongoing family responsibilities. “I stepped back when I was pregnant,” Katerina explained. “After I had our daughter, it became a lot for the two of us with our expanded family and multiple restaurants.”
A bus lane outside the restaurant also caused frequent confusion among customers. “People see the bus lane and think they can’t park there, even though it’s allowed after 9 a.m. It definitely confused customers,” she said, calling it a smaller but persistent challenge.
A quick sale, an emotional goodbye
The family listed the business for sale, never anticipating how quickly it would attract a buyer. “We put the restaurant up just to see what would happen — and it sold faster than we ever expected,” Leo said. Because restaurant deals often fall through, they waited to announce the closure until the sale was finalized. They also took time to dispel social media rumors, clarifying that “nobody in the family is ill.”
Closing the doors in Dongan Hills, they said, was deeply emotional.
“We loved being part of that community for 13 years. We’ll miss our customers—they were like family,” said Leo and Katerina. In their Facebook announcement, they thanked diners for their support, writing, “It has truly been a pleasure to serve this community, and we are going to miss you more than we can put into words.”
Mike Zhezha in the foreground packs up orders as Raquel Crespo checks the dinner tickets. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)Staff and the future of the space
Given their focus on the community, the family is proud that no employees were laid off. Staff members—including longtime food industry veteran Mike Zhezha and Raquel Crespo, a former employee of now-closed How Greek It Is—moved to the Huguenot location.
On Wednesday evening at 895 Huguenot Ave., Zhezha and Crespo worked in their regular, steady rhythm, creating an informal assembly line as they packed up takeout orders. As they tucked soufflé cups of tzatziki into bags and sent delivery drivers out the door, the kitchen crew shaved thin ribbons of gyro meat from a rotating spit. Steaming platters slid quickly through the pass‑through window, where Crespo snapped lids into place before stacking orders for pickup.
The former Kuzina space is expected to become another restaurant, though details were not yet available. The Mitilineos family said they may consider opening a second Kuzina elsewhere on the Island in the future, depending on location and how things progress at Huguenot.
Customers can continue ordering from the South Shore location at kuzinaonline.com or by calling 718‑227‑2700.