Local hospitality veteran Giorgios Bakatsias has yet another concept in the works to add to his extensive portfolio of restaurants in North Carolina. Bakatsias, who owns his own restaurant group, Giorgios Hospitality Group, will be opening Naos Hellenic Cuisine at 2800 Renaissance Park Place in Cary this October.
The 10,000-square-foot building formerly belonged to Ko.an, a restaurant that closed last summer.
Bakatsias is naming the restaurant Naos, which means temple or shrine in Greek, because he wants the spot to be a sanctuary for gathering and hospitality, according to the Triangle Business Journal.
The Greek concept will feature a main dining area, a bar, an outdoor garden and private dining rooms. The large space will have the capacity for 400 guests at a time.
The menu will focus on proteins like seafood and generous lamb and beef cuts. Offerings will also include small plates and vegetable-based dishes. Bakatsias intends to focus on ancient Greek cooking methods and simple ingredients.
Bakatsias has many restaurants in the Raleigh-Durham area, so choosing a spot in Cary was a natural progression because of its proximity.
“Cary, of course, has evolved and has so much to offer from the point of view as a community, but also of business, of lifestyle, of people from all over the world,” Bakatsias told the Business Journal.
Bakatsias has several other projects in the works, including Giorgios Epicurean Market, slated to open this month in Raleigh.
Emily McGinn is a passionate writer from the Los Angeles area. She has experience reporting on local news and the restaurant industry, and in multimedia writing for podcasts and videos. In her free time, she enjoys exploring restaurants and finding new coffee shops to try.
