New Menu, New Look at Oliv Pit Athenian Grille

(PRESS RELEASE)_BOCA RATON, FL, December 6, 2018 --  Oliv Pit Athenian Grille, a fine casual authentic Mediterranean restaurant, has new owners, a refreshed look, new menus and new chef. Located at the Shoppes at Village Pointe on Southwest 18th Street in Boca Raton, the menu has been greatly expanded.

The restaurant is now owned by one of the original owners, Emmanuel Vlahos, along with new partners Yuri Tsyganov and Konstantin Galkin. The new executive chef is Ayal Kitches from Tel Aviv who has brought his recipes for pita wraps and hummus to Oliv Pit.  International restaurant consultants, KnowHow, provided guidance on giving diners the best possible experience.

The new menu includes a variety of salads, as well as gyros, small plates, appetizer spreads, and pita wraps, as well as top quality beef, lamb and seafood. 

Vegetarians and vegans will enjoy the new plant-based Impossible Foods gyro, pita and burger. Additional dishes that are vegan, vegetarian, paleo and gluten free are available at the restaurant.

Family style dining, with an expanded selection of dinner platters, is now available for take-out. There is also a new kid’s menu and a new catering menu.

The menu features 16 starters ranging from $5 to $15, including Paprika Spread with roasted red peppers, red wine vinegar and herbs; Zucchini Croquettes with fried zucchini, dill, feta and herbs with tzatziki; Wood Grilled Octopus with capers, a preserved lemon vinaigrette and parsley; and Smoky Grilled Eggplant with bell peppers, green onions, parsley, Greek olive oil and garlic.

Salads range from $9-$11 and include a Greek Caesar Salad, Signature Green Salad and a Beet Salad.

Pita Wraps are $9 and include New York Strip Steak, Gyro, Lamb Meatballs, Pork Skewers, Chicken Breast, Chicken Thigh, Salmon, Sautéed Oyster Mushrooms, Grilled Vegetables and Impossible Burger.

The menu features nine main courses ranging from $16-$38. Choices include Mixed Grille Platter for Two with lamb, gyros, New York strip minute steak, chicken breast and pork; Seafood Platter for Two with prawns, octopus, fried calamari and salmon; Lamb Chops with Australian grilled lamb chops, lemon potatoes, olives and a garlic confit; Grilled Branzino with lemon, capers, preserved lemon vinaigrette and herbs; Roasted Prawns with tomato and garlic confit and an Impossible Platter with impossible burger, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, garlic confit and olive oil.

Desserts are $5 and are Greek Yoghurt with Greek honey and salted pistachios, Baklava , Orange Cake and Chocolate Cake.

Of particular note are the Blue Zone menu items. Blue Zones are areas in the world where people live to be over 100 years old in good health on a regular basis. Ikaria, an isolated Greek Island is one of the five Blue Zones in the world as identified by National Geographic and some dishes from that island will be featured.

Fine Greek wines are available along with select Greek beers.

The restaurant is the first in the United States to use barbecue briquettes made of olive pits for grilling its meats.  This process is popular in Greece and elsewhere in Europe, as the olive pits do not contain carcinogens found in charcoal.  

“We are excited to relaunch the Oliv Pit concept and believe the delicious new menu, along with the outstanding new chef, will fill the void in fine casual Mediterranean dining in South Florida.”

The 84-seat restaurant features an open kitchen and outdoor seating in both the front of the restaurant and in the back courtyard.  The restaurant was designed by Greek architect and designer Maria Mergoupi. 

Oliv Pit is located in the Shoppes at Village Point, 6006 SW 18th St, Boca Raton, FL 33433, phone: 561.409.2049.  The restaurant is open daily and the hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.   

For more information please visit olivpit.com or follow on social at:  Facebook.com/olivpit, @olivpit. 

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