Mythos Kitchen opens in Roslyn
A horiatiki salad appetizer at Mythos Kitchen, a Greek newcomer in Roslyn. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
Jimmy Theodoropoulos overflows with nervous energy as he tends to diners seated in the warm dining room of his new restaurant, Mythos Kitchen. Located in Roslyn, long a testing ground for city restaurant expansion, this is the first Long Island location of Queens mainstay, Mythos.
Celebrating 26 years in business, the Flushing flagship was founded by Jimmy’s father, the late Peter Theodoropoulos. "I’m just continuing his legacy of Mythos," Jimmy Theodoropoulos said. Theodoropoulos’ mother, Athina, operates the family’s first location. She also bakes the bread that arrives warm, alongside herbed olive oil and soaked olives in which to dip. "My mother makes that at 6 o'clock in the morning every single day, and then delivers it to us."
The Theodoropoulos’ came to the States as Greek immigrants. "They started with nothing, you know, the story," Theodoropoulos said. The Glenwood Landing resident recently moved out from Bayside, and was looking to expand. The Roslyn location, right on Main Street, a storefront away from PopUp Bagels, "was the best fit."
With its value-driven $25 lunch menu, Theodoropoulos explains that the family is "trying to get affiliated with the community, so that everybody knows that we're here and we’re at a good price point." Choose an appetizer salad (including traditional Greek, horiatiki and prassini), an entree like pastitio, moussaka, or bifteki, chicken or pork kebabs, salmon — all of which come with a side like rice or roasted lemon potatoes — and baklava for dessert. Those same options are available a la carte alongside a full menu including apps like saganaki ($17) and shrimp saganaki ($22), Greek meatballs or keftedes ($18), and stuffed grape leaves, or dolmades ($18). Additional entrees include a souvlaki platter ($$26), grilled chicken, shrimp, calamari and salmon, as well as lamb chops ($55), branzino ($45) and a mixed grill for two ($85).
"It's the same concept as Queens, it's the homemade cooked meals, it’s the steam table with all the food that's ready for take away," Theodoropoulos said. The design of restaurant is wholly inviting, outfitted in classic light and dark blue shades against white walls. There’s requisite pink bougainvillea and plenty of evil eyes to ward off anything but a pleasant dining experience. The original Mythos has "a large following in the Greek community, at many of the churches, so when people found out that we were coming here, it was a great reception," Theodoropoulos said.
Mythos Kitchen, 1380 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn, 516-399-2222, mythosnyc.com; Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.
