Estia Florida Brings the Heart of Greek Cuisine to North Naples

By Cheryl Mandell

Estia interior

Lovers of Greek and Mediterranean cuisine will be thrilled to learn of the new hotspot Estia, which opened its doors in the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt in north Naples on April 17. 

Estia brings the freshest flavors and elegant yet inviting homestyle of Greece and beyond to the Southwest Florida food scene. Gus Pashalis, along with his sister Anastasia and their cousin Dean Pashalis, own the Estia restaurant group that hails from the East Coast, with locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The Estia group also owns restaurants with an Italian concept and a unique Greek-Asian fusion restaurant.

Estia Naples marks their seventh location. This family-owned gem offers a menu filled with authentic Greek and Mediterranean dishes and fresh European fish, flown in daily.

“Estia means hearth in Greek, the warmest part of the home,” said Gus Pashalis. “We chose Naples because we wanted to diversify, and we loved that Naples matched our demographic the way we wanted for this brand.”

The restaurant’s open, airy ambiance invites guests to take a brief visit to the Greek Isles. Whitewashed wood, exotic stone, and rustic urns capture the essence of the Grecian lifestyle. The 400-seat space features a wrap-around patio for outdoor dining with water views and beautiful stone arches.  An olive tree lives in the center of the dining area, which symbolizes the Greek goddess Athena’s gift to the citizens of Athens.

The Pashalis family’s commitment to quality and authenticity is apparent in every dish. Guests are easily lured to the impressive ice display that showcases the day’s fresh catches en route to the main dining space.

Estia’s specialty is the premium quality fish flown in from the Mediterranean and beyond, procured from independent fishermen. Whole fish, simply grilled, is their forté, according to Gus. The fish are charcoal-grilled, with Estia’s signature ladolemono (olive oil and lemon sauce), capers and oregano, for a marvelous Mediterranean dining experience.

Popular seafood fare includes the Mediterranean delicacy karavides, also known as langoustines, which are small crustaceans resembling lobsters or shrimp, but have a sweeter and firmer meat. They are butterflied, grilled in the shell, and served with the signature ladolemono sauce. The menu also features classic Greek dishes such as dolmades (rice-stuffed grape leaves) and spanakopita (spinach pie), to name a few.

Estia boasts an extensive wine list from Greece and around the globe, as well as cocktails containing fresh juices and native Greek spirits, including the sweet liqueur Mastiha, the unique blend of Muscat wines known as Metaxa, and Ouzo, a Greek anise-flavored aperitif that is widely consumed in Cyprus and Greece.

When searching for a new home for their latest venture, the Pashalis family did their research. “We looked in Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach,” Gus said. “We checked all different cities and found that this was the best fit for us.”

Estia is open Sunday through Thursday from 3-10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 3-11 p.m., with live entertainment on the weekends. Stop in to marvel at the beauty of the transformed space, and you’ll be sure to stay for the authentic Mediterranean cuisine and warm hospitality.