Pappas to reopen Yia Yia Mary’s Greek restaurant under new name

Restaurants at Pappas‘beloved Mediterranean cuisine by Yia Yia Mary, closed during the pandemic, has a new lease of life.

The restaurant renowned for its Mediterranean menu and seafood dishes will be revived as Yia Yia Pappas at the former Pappadeaux site at 2410 Richmond, said Christina Pappas, marketing director for the restaurant group.

Pappas Restaurants closed Yia Yia Mary’s in San Felipe, along with Richmond Pappadeaux and three other restaurants, in June 2020, as the pandemic began to wreak havoc on Houston’s restaurant scene. The restaurant group had leased the Yia Yia Mary’s location in the Galleria district but owns the Pappadeaux site in Richmond, which made it a wise transfer of the Yia Yia Mary’s brand, Pappas said.

“It’s too special of a restaurant. Not only is it important to our family, but it’s such a unique brand, ”she said. “It was a perfect solution – a property we own and a brand that we think will do well in this neighborhood.”

Yia’s new name Yia Pappas is set to open next year with a menu that will feature many of the Greek-inspired staples from the original, Pappas said. This menu included dishes such as grilled octopus, red pepper feta dip, beef and lamb gyro pita sandwiches, souvlaki (beef, chicken and seafood kebabs), Greek salad, oven roasted chicken and fresh seafood dishes.

“Bringing him back will be really special,” Pappas said.

CultureMap first reported the news of Yia Yia Pappas.

Greg Morago writes about food for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter. Send him news at [email protected] Listen to it on our Barbecue Mindset Podcast to learn more about the barbecue culture of Houston and Texas.