The former, once closed Yia Yia Mary's Mediterranean Kitchen has now rebranded and opened its doors this month as Yiayia’s Pappas Greek Kitchen, according to the restaurant's social media.

What’s special about it?

The new concept is inspired by the original Yia Yia Mary's, a former Greek restaurant in the Galleria area that served a Mediterranean menu and closed during the pandemic.

Yiayia's Pappas Greek Kitchen is an homage to yiayiades, or grandmothers, of Greece, who embody the art of hospitality, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Yiayia’s offers a contemporary take on home cooking and honors the Pappas family's roots of authentic flavors passed down through generations.

The restaurant serves elevated Greek and Mediterranean dishes such as:
  • Pasta Lena: A casarecce pasta with fresh clams, basils and pine nuts
  • Lavraki: Roasted Mediterranean sea bass with grilled tomato, skordalia and pearl onions
  • Moussaka: A layered dish, similar to lasagna, with roasted eggplant, sheep's milk bechamel and braised beef
  • Prime Ribeye Souvlaki: Served with blistered tomato, pickled fennel and tzatziki
Dishes can be paired with sides and appetizers such as grilled octopus, hummus, eggplant dip and calamari.


The drink menu

A focused cocktail list leans into Greek spirits like ouzo and mastiha, while the wine program small-production bottles from the Greek Isles and beyond.

Guests can end the night with traditional Greek and Mediterranean desserts, such as Yiayia's baklava, which are delicate layers of buttery phyllo, sugary spiced nut filling, honey syrup served with vanilla gelato, or a bruleed vanilla yogurt panna cotta with citrus honey spice cake.