Plaka Grill brings Greek food to City

By Stephen Siegel
Falls Church Times Staff
July 28, 2015

Plaka Grill, a Vienna-based Greek restaurant, has opened its second location in the former Cosi’s space in the Byron.

The restaurant is something of another coup for the City, which is continuing to attract a number of local or independent restaurants to its 2.3 square miles, rather than just more national fast food chains.

Based on a single visit, it appears Plaka is doing well. The so-called quick service style restaurant was doing a brisk business on a Thursday evening, and a number of the outdoor tables were occupied with couples as well as families with children.

The restaurant features cafeteria style ordering, with the food quickly brought to a customer’s table. It offers many standard Greek dishes, such as a gyro sandwich, souvlaki, and, of course, baklava. Quality seemed high, and the dishes were tasty and well-spiced.

It will be interesting to see if Plaka can do well in a location where Cosi couldn’t. The Byron has had trouble leasing some of its spaces, but Cosi’s problem could have been related to the presence of the similar Panera just across the street.

Additionally, Cosi is more of a lunch place, and the lack of a strong office market near the Byron could certainly hurt a business that relies on a strong mid-day rush. Plaka appears more likely to gain a dinner following, which may help it survive and prosper. The addition of outdoor tables can only help the business as well.

Plaka joins other recent establishments, such as Mad Fox, Sfizi, Moby Dick, Cafe Kindred, Lazy Sundae, Little City Creamery, Pizzeria Orso, and The Locker Room among the newer crop of City restaurants that are independent or representatives of local, Washington-area chains.

Additionally, the owners of the Northside Social, a popular eatery in Clarendon, plan to open a similar restaurant soon at 205 Park Ave.