Saloniki Brings Greek Fare to Harvard Square

Casual Greek restaurant chain Saloniki, co-founded by award-winning chef Jody Adams, opened its doors last Wednesday in the recently renovated Smith Campus Center.

The opening event was announced on Eventbrite and offered customers free Greek sandwiches if they ordered through Saloniki’s app. According to Blaise Cohen, the chain’s general manager, the opening day at Harvard was “crazy.”

Students were among the many visitors clamoring for free sandwiches with the app order.

“The restaurant has absolutely delicious food and managed to feel authentic,” Heather E. Brown ’19, who was at Saloniki for the opening event, wrote in an email.

“I give it an A!” Brown added.

Saloniki is among several eateries that have recently moved into the Smith Campus Center since its re-opening in early September, including Blackbird Doughnuts, Pavement Coffeehouse, Bon Me, and Swissbäkers. Several parts of the center, including the lobby, underwent a two-year renovation to install new collaborative study areas, outdoor spaces, and student meeting rooms.

Saloniki’s co-owners include Adams, Jonathan Mendez, and Eric Papachristos. Adams is no stranger to local foodies: the chef had opened Rialto, a longtime Harvard Square restaurant that closed in 2016. Her other ventures include the Boston restaurants TRADE and Porto, which she co-owns with fellow Saloniki owner Eric Papachristos.

Saloniki’s Harvard Square location is the brand’s third and latest installation. The chain also cooks up Greek flavors in Fenway and Central Square. Unlike the restaurant's other two locations, however, the Smith Center Saloniki is a sit-down venue.

“Our other two locations are more assembly line style, similar to a Sweetgreen or a Chipotle,” Cohen said. Customers eating at the Harvard Square store can take their food to-go or opt to eat there, Cohen added.

According to Cohen, restaurant aims to become a go-to venue for Harvard students, faculty, and staff. Over the past week, it has already “seen a steady stream of students and faculty,” she said.

“We’ve got some regulars coming in already, which is awesome.”

To draw in students, Saloniki currently offers free french fries for customers with a college ID who order meals over five dollars.

Cohen added that Saloniki’s bar scene has picked up over the past week. Saloniki is “the only restaurant in Boston with an all Greek wine list, and our beers on tap are all local beers,” Cohen said. “We also have some Greek bottled beers and curated Greek style cocktails.”

—Staff writer Isabel M. Kendall can be reached at isabel.kendall@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter @IsabelMKendall.