A Celebration Of Life At New Frankfort Restaurant OPA!

FRANKFORT, IL — There's not really a literal translation for the Greek expression "Opa," but it's often used in the context of something that's being celebrated. And Frankfort residents are about to get a lot more familiar with the term.

OPA! Modern Greek Cuisine opened its doors Dec. 13 at 10235 W. Lincoln Highway and has already generated plenty of buzz in the neighborhood.

As the name of the restaurant suggests, OPA! specializes in fine Greek dining. This is not the place to get a gyro and a hotdog with fries — there are plenty of other places for that. What diners will get at OPA! is authentic Greek food, with its menu derived from recipes straight from the Mediterranean.

The restaurant is the passion project of Chicago natives the Karuntzos family. George, his wife Maureen and their daughter Alesia Karuntzos collaborated on the concept for OPA!, but Maureen said the design and implementation for the restaurant was largely Alesia's doing.

From the moment diners enter OPA!, they are swept up in a Santorini-like atmosphere, complete with Greek music and the Mediterranean island's unique decor. Patrons can dine at one of the tables or belly up to the full-service bar, complete with Greek wines and beers, and all the other spirits that induce a heartfelt "Opa!" And, coming soon, diners will have the option to eat outdoors on the restaurant's patio, once the weather gets warmer, where the Karuntzos have plans for live music and entertainment while customers dine the night away.

"There was a lot of excitement before we opened, and we definitely were pleasantly surprised with the outcome during our first week," Alesia Karuntzos said. "And every day we're relying on feedback to make things better. But, so far, so good."

Some fine dining restaurants can lure people in with the glitz and glamour of the ambiance but fall short when it comes to the cuisine. Not so at OPA!, where Chef Stavros carefully cultivates the menu with the delicacies the Greeks are known for the world over.

The menu features such classic Greek items as: shish-kabobs; a wide variety of lamb dishes; Greek-style salmon, European sea bass (lavraki) and salted cod (bakalao), for those whose palettes prefer seafood ; dolmades; spanakopita; moussaka; pastichio; saganaki; and, of course, Greek dessert staples baklava and rice pudding, among other items.

"All of the recipes are straight from Greece, our chef is from Greece," Alesia said. "We have a few items that have a little bit of a modern twist, but a lot of it is a mix between modern and traditional Greek cuisine."

At the bar, patrons can order up a round of ouzo, or sip on a Mykonos Mule — made with ouzo, ginger beer, lemon juice and lime — or a Greek mojito — mixed with mastiha, club soda, fresh mint and simple syrup — or try out a baklava martini — mixed with gin, Amaretto liqueur, creme de cacao and cinnamon honey syrup — or try the Papou's Old Fashioned — made with Maker's Mark, cinnamon syrup and bitters. OPA! also offers several Greek beers and wines for the discerning connoisseur to sample.

OPA! is still hiring for all positions, and those interested in applying can do so by emailing alesia@opa-greekcuisine.com.

OPA! is open Tuesdays through Sundays (closed on Mondays) from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant is not currently taking reservations. For more information and the latest on daily and weekly specials, visit the OPA! Facebook page, its Instagram account or its website.