New Greek Restaurant Opens Its Doors In Williston Park

WILLISTON PARK, NY — A new Greek spot, Skara Taverna, opened its doors recently in Williston Park.

Co-owner and Astoria native Dino Philippou said he's excited to open another restaurant, this one closer to his home. He has a Mexican spot in Astoria, Las Catrinas.

He said Skara Taverna is family-run and has influence from his parents.

"My parents are from Cyrus," he said. "I love my mother's cooking, like my mother's meatballs. I want to try to make the food as similar to how she makes it. My mom definitely influenced Skara Taverna."

Dino and his wife own Skara and said that with the help of their three children, they were able to open. They said they were met with an overwhelming response from their community.

Philippou said Skara has an emphasis on authentic meats with its charcoal grill: "Skara means 'to grill.'"

Some of the menu items include Cyprian sheftalia, Argentinian chorizo, kalamari tragano, honey baked feta, spanakopita, grilled octopus, pistachio baklava, bougatsa, and grand marnier chocolate mousse.

He added that his goal for the restaurant is to keep prices affordable so people can come multiple times a week to enjoy Greek cuisine at a lower cost. He also said they have the classic Greek cuisine, as well as some dishes that are more outside the box.

He said he's always been an entrepreneur and enjoyed the restaurant industry. Phillippou had a lounge in Astoria, Cavo, that closed in 2017. He said his knowledge and experience come from there.

Phillippou added that his family loves their Williston Park and Mineola community.

"When we see repeat customers, we know we're doing something right," he said.