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time last Friday and we plan on doing it the
first Friday of every month. It went very well
… a lot of local talent. There were some poets,
some musicians.”
“It’s mostly an open platform for anyone
who wants to perform,” Hatzopoulos said.
From comedians to trumpeters, anyone with
confidence can show off their chops at Arcadia
Bar and Kitchen.
And speaking of the kitchen, chef Fred
Zullo, Alatsas’ childhood friend, whips up
dishes that are both Instagram-worthy and
delicious. The menu was created in one
think-tank-like session between the Georges
and Zullo. Regarding the wide array of options
Alatsas said, “My father is also a chef
and he told me one thing I’ll never forget.
He said when you’re designing your menu,
if the food is good enough for you to really
enjoy it, then it can be on your menu. Don’t
overthink it.”
This philosophy applies to most aspects
of their operation, Hatzopoulos explained:
“We don’t overthink it because
we know what we’re doing. Most of the
time we’re on the same page, and that
comes to the food, drinks, running the
place, anything.”
If one thing is certain, both Georges
are committed to making Arcadia a go-to
neighborhood institution. They consistently
work with the Old Astoria Neighborhood
Association to make sure they
do whatever they can to support the community,
and they emphasize the use of
products sourced from the five boroughs.
Their signature cocktail, aptly called
George’s Old Fashioned, blends aged
bourbon with Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur,
made right down in Brooklyn.
And of course, above all, they want to
serve the community on an individual level.
They both bartend every night, in the
hopes that they can better get to know
their customers.
“We talk to them. We get to know them,
and they get to know us,” Alatsas said.
If you find yourself in the Old Astoria
area, stop by for a drink and a bite to eat;
you’ll be a regular in no time.
Photos by Spyridoula Panagiotopoulou
/BOROMAG.COM
