Press Release: Symi Taverna

Insert: Mike Angeliades with his grandchildren outside the family home on Symi

843 Fort Salonga Road, Northport
631-380-3252
symitaverna.com

For Irena Angeliades, SYMI Taverna is more than a restaurant. It’s a connection to family, tradition, and the Greek island that has always felt like home.

After two years in Northport, Angeliades says SYMI has found its rhythm. Northport’s relaxed waterfront spirit—warm, social, and unpretentious—felt familiar, reminding her of the Greek island of Symi. That connection has inspired the restaurant’s next chapter: on September 15, SYMI will officially become SYMI Taverna.

For Angeliades, Symi is both an island and a family history. Her father, Merkourios (Mike) Angeliades, was born in 1941 in the family home pictured here, which the family still owns. Irena and her family return every summer, and her daughter has been traveling there since she was a baby. “I wanted to bring my love of Symi here,” Angeliades says. “The island is simple and the food is just amazing. It feels like home.”

That feeling is now visible throughout the Northport space. Sweeping hand-painted murals cover the white stucco exterior, while inside, photographs of Symi and Angeliades’ family and friends—some dating back to the late 1800s—
line the walls. Behind the hostess desk hangs a large painting of Symi created more than
50 years ago by her maternal uncle, Stanley Maris.

While “Taverna” reflects a warmer, more relaxed approach, the quality of the food remains at the heart of the experience. The original chef from KYMA, part of Angeliades’ family-owned restaurant group, helped open SYMI and develop its menu. Today, SYMI Taverna blends KYMA favorites with traditional recipes inspired by the island.

Guests can begin with grilled octopus or SYMI chips—paper-thin slices of zucchini and eggplant, lightly fried until crisp and served with tzatziki. The horiatiki salad, made with ripe tomatoes, fresh vegetables, and feta imported from Greece, is another standout. Entrées include moussaka, grilled lamb chops, and a popular pork chop. Guests may also select whole fish flown in from Greece and other regions. Dessert is not to be missed. SYMI’s cheesecake has become so popular that guests have requested it be shipped nationwide.

Diners agree: SYMI holds an Exceptional 4.9 rating on OpenTable.

Designed by the same Greek designer behind the KYMA restaurants, SYMI remains crisp and upscale while embracing Northport’s waterfront rhythm. Several times a year, live Greek music and dancing begin at 9:30 p.m.—so a nap beforehand is recommended.

Many in Northport may have not yet fully discovered SYMI’s daily $15 lunch menu, which features approximately 15 generous entrées made with the freshest ingredients. Looking ahead, Angeliades shares that “chapter three” will include transforming the front windowed room into a SYMI bakery offering fresh coffee and homemade Greek desserts. The main dining room and larger private event space will continue to host christenings, birthdays, and other celebrations.

SYMI Taverna’s grand opening is September 15.

“When SYMI first opened in the summer of 2024, I celebrated with my family and friends. This time, I want to celebrate SYMI Taverna with Northport,” Angeliades says. From 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on September 15, each guest will receive one complimentary entrée from SYMI’s special grand opening menu. Can’t make it on the 15th? Visit another day and discover the food, generous portions, and just how affordable a trip to a Greek island can be.

When you arrive, ask for George, SYMI Taverna’s general manager. And if George isn’t there, don’t worry—just ask for the other George. Apparently, in a Greek restaurant, one George simply wasn’t enough.