Former diner is transformed into classy Greek restaurant and wine bar

Yahoo

27-05-2025

Mike Karipidis brought an authentic taste of his homeland to East Rochester when he opened El Greco by Mike, a Greek restaurant and wine bar, in October 2024.
Karipidis grew up in Thessaloniki, a port city in Greece. He moved to the United States in 1982, but regularly heads back the sun-soaked country. 'I go and get ideas and refresh,' he said.
He's recently found reason to visit Greece even more often, as his 19-year-old daughter, Maria, plays for the national soccer team there; she also plays for Mercer University. (He is equally proud of his older daughter, Eleni, who works as an EMT in Rochester.)
When Karipidis first arrived in the states, he found work cooking in the kitchens of diners. "Because I love food, I became better and better by the day," he said. For 13 years he owned New Yorker's Pancake and Grill, a diner on West Commercial Street in East Rochester; he purchased the building in 2003.
He closed the diner when he was suffering from back problems. After that, he leased the space, but none of the establishments seemed to find success there; four different owners opened and subsequently closed restaurants in the span of six years. "That's enough," he thought. "I might as well do something on my own here – something I really love.'
He gutted the space and no hint of the previous diners remains. A large bar that seats 22 is the focal point of the room; a second bar is in back, facing the window to the kitchen. The remainder of the space is arranged into intimate clusters of seating: some high-top tables near the bar, as well as standard-height tables with white tablecloths and high-backed white upholstered chairs. The lighting is soft and the soundtrack, of course, is Greek. "Music and good food go together in Greece," Karipidis said.
When the weather cooperates, El Greco by Mike has seating for 25 outside. Umbrella-covered tables wrap around the outside of the building, with olive trees and Greek music adding to the vibe.
The menu at El Greco is entirely Greek and the menu is cooked from scratch daily. Some ingredients, like olive oil and octopus, are imported from Greece. "I use quality products because that's what makes the difference," Karipidis said.
The most popular dishes are the ones Rochesterians find familiar: the gyro plate as well as the souvlaki plate (the lamb souvlaki is sublime but the dish is also available in chicken, pork or beef).
Other standout dishes include:
The dips, served with with cucumber slices and triangles soft pita bread. I've especially enjoyed the tzatziki (the yogurt-based dip with dill, cucumbers and garlic that people associate with gyros) as well as the tirokafteri, made with feta, garlic, crushed red pepper, olive oil and cream.
Bougiourdi, a warm appetizer with baked tomato, feta, hot peppers and kasseri cheese, into which you dip pita bread.
The tender octopus appetizer, which is grilled, then seared in a pan and served in a lemony sauce and sprinkled with feta.
The lamb chops are marinated and cooked on a lava rock charcoal grill. 'It makes a big difference," Karipidis said of his grill.
The lemony roasted potatoes, which come alongside every main dish, are tender and comforting.
The bar is limited to beer and wine, which is partly due to the restaurant's proximity to a church. But Karipidis said that was the way he wanted it. 'I like the concept of a wine bar. It's more classy.'
While the wine list features a few Italian and American wines, the best sellers are Greek. "It seems like everyone loves them," he said. "They come here for the Greek experience."
It has a happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, when beverages are half price. It offers no corkage fee on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with a limit of one bottle per couple or four bottles per party.
While Karipidis is chef and owner, Natalie Masten, his life partner, is a "big asset in this operation," Karipidis said. She runs the floor, works at the bar and even makes some of the dips and the baklava. The couple is ably supported by servers Dimitri Kiriazis, who is also from Thessaloniki, Greece, and Noah Brysten, who is an American of Greek heritage.
El Greco by Mike, 165 W. Commercial St. in East Rochester, is open 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Parking is on the street and a public lot is across the street, a bit down the road. Reservations are accepted; call [phone].
It hosts private events and offers catered lunches to nearby offices, for a minimum of 10 people.
Accessibility: A ramp of sorts leads to the front door; it is fairly steep and is not level. The seating is a mixture of high and standard height tables. The music gets louder after 8 p.m.
Tracy Schuhmacher is food and drink reporter for the D&C. Email her at [e-mail]. Follow her on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: El Greco Greek restaurant in East Rochester offers authentic experience