BROOKLYN – A new Greek restaurant, named Kampos Taverna, has opened its doors in Bay Ridge, offering a taste of the island of Chios in the heart of Brooklyn.
If you’re a local living in Bay Ridge, or have visited it enough times, you’ll know that among its large Greek population there is also a significant number of ‘Χιώτες’ – Chians – living here. And despite this, there was something missing – a restaurant that truly feels like home.
This is what inspired family members, friends, and business partners Paris and Nikolas Moyseos (brothers) and Michael Bois (Paris’ brother-in-law) to come together and create Kampos Taverna – a concept that pays tribute to their beloved island of Chios.
Kampos Taverna, located at 8413 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn, opened on Friday, February 27, and held its grand opening party on March 11.
It is described as a Greek restaurant offering traditional flavors and specialties of Chios with every dish they serve, and is named after the village of Kampos in Chios. This village is most known for growing citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, and for its large areas of orchards.
A mural inside Kampos Taverna painted by Eleni Misetzis. Photo: Evelyn Karatzas
In an interview with The National Herald, the three partners discussed how the business came about, what it offers, their inspirations, as well as their hopes for the future.
“The three of us always wanted to do something together, and the opportunity had come up when Blue Door [a former Greek restaurant in its location] was being sold, and so we decided, why don’t we open our own Greek taverna and serve authentic food,” Paris Moyseos told TNH.
“Michael is actually the only ‘Χιώτη’ – Chiote – among of the three of us, but so is my wife, who is Michael’s sister, and so we decided we wanted to do something Chian (‘χιώτικο’) here in Bay Ridge as we love Kampos.”
When asked how the Greek and Cypriot business partners would describe Kampos Taverna, Micahel Bois said “the atmosphere we wanted to bring to the restaurant was an authentic Greek and Chian taverna.”
“We want people to feel like they’re at home when they visit,” Bois told TNH.
The dining space inside Kampos Taverna. Photo: Evelyn Karatzas
“The space is also very warm and inviting, and we designed it so that the tables are quite close to each other, as we wanted to reflect that feeling that is found in taverns throughout Greece, where everyone is sitting next to one another on wooden seats, eating good food as Greek music plays.”
Paris Moyseos added, “we also wanted to make a restaurant that’s more traditional, and not that typical blue and white theme that everyone else does here.”
“Kampos offers a more authentic, Chian village-style experience.”
At first glance of the restaurant, you will see little pieces of artwork, décor, and displays that make you feel like you’re in a traditional tavern in Chios. It even features a beautiful and intricate mural painted by the talented muralist, Eleni Misetzis.
The bar at Kampos Taverna. Photo: Evelyn Karatzas
Bois added how everything throughout the restaurant is built with a special ‘Thymianoustiko’ stone that is imported from the small town of Thymiana in Chios.
“We have used Thymianoustiko stone throughout the restaurant, and this is the stone you see at the restaurant’s entrance and around the windows,” he added. “It is a very unique stone and it can be seen in Kampos, as well as other parts of Chios…and it’s really a trademark of the village.”
The tables and much of its decor have also been imported from Greece.
Discussing their menu, the business partners explained how guests dining at Kampos will find traditional dishes as you’d find in Greece, including traditional dips, horiatiki and dakos salad, grilled octopus, fried calamari, bifteki, pastitsio, lamb chops, braised beef with pasta (kokkinisto) and more, as well as the traditional Chian Mastelo cheese.
Although there’s no official dessert menu, the Kampos owners explained how they have a Greek chef, Dimitris Gatsos, who makes a new dessert each day, and most recently, they have served delicious portokalopita and mastiha-flavored panna cotta. They also hope to introduce a mastiha-flavored ice cream in the future.
The interior shot of Kampos Taverna. Photo: Evelyn Karatzas
At Kampos Taverna, you’ll also find an all-Greek wine menu, Chian beers, Zagori water, and specialty cocktails.
Nikolas Moyseos explained how the cocktail menu is currently a work-in-progress, however since they opened, they’ve introduced three specialty drinks.
“We have our Mastiha Spritz, our Kampos Sunrise which is made from ouzo from Chios, and we also have our Dirty Greek, which is our version of a traditional dirty martini,” Moyseos said.
“We make it with Kalamatta olives which are stuffed with feta, and Kalamatta olive juice.
“Our menu incorporates Greek names and Greek elements. For example, we’re trying to introduce an espresso martini that’s very popular and trendy these days, but with our own twist, and we will make it with Skinos Mastiha liquor.”
Left to right: Paris Moyseos, Michael Bois, and Nikolas Moyseos, the owners of Kampos Taverna in Bay Ridge. Photo: Courtesy of Paris Moyseos
When asked about their ultimate goal as a new Greek restaurant in Bay Ridge, Bois revealed, “we want to be a restaurant where families, friends, couples, and groups of people can gather and enjoy the food, drinks, and company.”
“When you think about summers in Greece, all you think about is going out, eating, talking, and having fun with your ‘parea’ – your crowd – so we wanted to bring this concept to America as well, and bring Greece closer to us,” Bois said.
Nikolas Moyseos added “we are trying to bring the most traditional Greek flavors here that you only experience when you go to Greece and eat at a village tavern. We also want to offer an opportunity for non-Greeks to experience this side of the Greek cuisine, and of a Greek tavern.”
Eleni Misetzis, the Brooklyn-based artist who painted the mural at Kampos Taverna, at the Grand Opening Party. Photo: Evelyn Karatzas
“Everyone has this idea that all Greek restaurants are blue and white, but as people have been coming in to the restaurant, they’ve been saying ‘oh wow, this is different’ – and it’s not something they expect, but it still feels like Greece, it’s just a little bit different and more traditional, which is what we wanted to showcase.”
The Kampos team revealed how the feedback they’ve been receiving since opening has been exceptionally positive, with customers being happy with the food, the service, and the unique offerings, as well as the ambience at their restaurant. They added how they look forward to growing their menu and introducing an outdoor backyard dining area as the warmer months approach.
To find out more about Kampos Taverna, visit www.kampostaverna.com.
