As we enter the new year of 2025, the phrase that comes to most people’s minds is, “Out with the old and in with the new.” As the former Maitland restaurant Outpost Kitchen, Bar, & Provisions has come to a close due to their lapse in rent and growing debt of $60,000 back in 2023. As residents of Maitland wave a sad goodbye to their menu as we celebrate a new addition to the Maitland dining scene has arrived. After Outpost’s closure, Maitland offers a chance for people to dine at the newest Greek restaurant: Parea Greek Taverna. Parea was created by the same owners of the popular Turkish restaurant Bosphorus, and their food doesn’t shy away from traditional Mediterranean cuisine.
Parea has been open since Thanksgiving, and their food has become a new favorite in the city. Including their iconic Saganaki dish named “Flaming Cheese,” they offer dishes that are unique, flavorful, and delicious. The idea behind Parea Originated with Mrs. Andrea Southern and her Greek family heritage. The restaurant’s classy dining experience is shown through the delicious assortments of their fine cuisine, the electric fanfare of the entire restaurant, and the welcoming atmosphere.
Parea offers lots of signature dishes, from the Beefteki to the Chicken Souvlaki. Recently, they have begun offering their distinct Parea-style dishes, which include a large variety of meats combined into one single dish. This dish is served with either lamb, chicken, lobster, shrimp, or Phylis potatoes. Overall, the Parea dish is unique and is served on a long cutting board that takes up almost the entire length of most tables in the restaurant. This dish is a popular go-to for large parties who want something easy to split and share.
After the main courses are finished, the best thing to get for dessert is the Bougatsa. This dish is a cream-filled pastry topped with powdered sugar that melts immediately as it is absorbed into the dessert. Along with this dessert, one can never go wrong with the Baklava, one of the most well-known Greek desserts, popular for its sweet and savory honey flavor.
As delicious as Parea’s dishes are, creating and cooking the food is intensive. The food is prepped and made ready by the line cooks in the back of the kitchen. They work very hard and show off their passion for making other people feel happy by creating not only delicious but also eye-catching meals for people to enjoy. Opening Parea was always the Southern’s dream. Greek culture and food holds a special place in their family. When Mr. and Mrs. Southern had the chance to open Parea last November, they were quick to jump on the opportunity. Mr. Chris Southern explained “When I met Andrea almost 20 years ago, I was immersed in the Greek culture that everyone falls in love with. Parea’s Greek recipes are all inspired by our family recipes dating back generations. We’ve always wanted to open a Greek restaurant with the family involved, and finally the timing was right!” Parea Greek Taverna is warmly welcomed into the community of Maitland, and they have absolutely knocked it out of the park with their own creative and delicious food.
The Southern family opened Parea as a way to introduce their cuisine and passed down recipes that have been passed down through generations with those who enjoy food as much as they do. People who come to Parea enjoy the experience they are met with while being able to enjoy a meal made with love and soul poured into it. Overall people need to check out this new establishment because if they don’t, well quite frankly they’re missing out on something that is absolutely bound to be amazing.
