NYC’s High-End Greek Restaurant Avra Making West Coast Debut This April

After signing a lease in the empty Hakkasan space, and moving forward with an aggressive buildout, it appears that New York’s AVRA Estiatorio could start serving posh Greek food by the second or third week of April.

Hakkasan proved to be a challenging business model, which had a bit of an identity crisis as a club and lounge. Complaints were consistent about the exorbitantly priced drinks and Chinese food, and Vegas-style vibe. Hakkasan closed after two underperforming years in 2015. The 10,000 square foot space was unable to attract tenants in the ritzy Golden Triangle, and sat empty for two additional years. In August, AVRA’s owners filed paperwork for demolition, and signed a lease in October to build the club into a restaurant. The upscale AVRA has two New York locations in Midtown and Park Avenue.

The New York AVRAs consistently attract business and trendy crowds by serving pricey salads, oysters, and fresh fish flown in daily from places like New Zealand, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Florida. AVRA first opened in 2000, when restaurateurs Nick Pashalis and Nick Tsoulos partnered with Tao Group’s Marc Packer.

• NYC Greek Restaurant AVRA Expands Into Former Hakkasan Space in Beverly Hills [ELA]
• BREAKING: Hakkasan Closing This Weekend in Beverly Hills [ELA]
• Sky-High Prices, Scantily-Clad Servers, and A Great Interior at Hakkasan in Beverly Hills [ELA]