“Eat Greek, live long!” That’s the motto of Yia: It’s All Greek to Me! Located at 300 West State St. in the borough’s West End, Yia celebrates authentic Greek cuisine.
Yia, pronounced “yeeah,” means “hello” and “goodbye,” equivalent to “ciao” in Italian. It’s a laid-back, welcoming eatery owned by a group of cousins who have roots in Athens, Greece—Marina Liapis; her husband, Argyrios; Sotirios Bampalis; and his wife, Katerina.
The family’s thrilled to be in the heart of Media.
“You have so many eclectic dining options here and we wanted to be a part of it,” says Marina. “My cousins and I would go to other Greek restaurants in the area and found the food to be Americanized. We’d leave disappointed. So we decided to open our own place where you can grab a sandwich and enjoy our meats slow-cooked on a spit.”
Yia, she explains, is a traditional Souvlatzidiko, or restaurant that serves meat on a spit. One of their top-sellers is the Pork Yeero, pronounced “yee-ro,” but translated to “gyro.” While they offer beef, lamb and chicken, Marina says pork is the main staple in Greece. All the meat is marinated, cooks as it spins and is finished on the grill. All the pita sandwiches are made-to-order. The layered meat is served on pita bread with fresh onions and tomatoes and drizzled with tzatziki, a creamy blend of yogurt and cucumber. The sandwiches are served with hand-cut fries, seasoned with Greek oregano and salt. For an extra special kick, order the Greek fries, topped with crumbled feta cheese.
“Another popular dish we serve is homemade Moussaka. Think of lasagna. It’s layers of eggplant, potatoes and ground beef topped with bechamel, a flour-thickened white sauce,” says Marina. “Another specialty we offer is Spanikopita, with a blend of spinach, feta cheese, herbs and spices wrapped in light layers of handmade filo.”
Also on the menu are fresh Greek salads, including the Dakos. It’s a rusk, or hard biscuit, topped with chopped tomatoes, onions, Kalamata olives, feta, capers, EVOO and balsamic vinegar. Yia has a signature Souvlaki (skewers), a variety of wraps and dips and dessert, too. Try the rice pudding, a traditional savory Greek rice pudding dusted with ground cinnamon.
Yia doesn’t serve cocktails, but you can bring your own.
“We like to say it’s ‘BYOO,’ or ‘bring your own ouzo!” laughs Marina.
“We’re hoping you’ll come in and feel like you’re in a serene spot in Greece. The chairs are imported and the tile inspired by a Greek isle,” she adds. “Our hope is for guests to feel calm, relaxed and enjoy a nice meal.”
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Find Yia at 300 W. State St. in Media; phone: (610) 565-3000.
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