Opa! Greek-Style Kriti Kitchen Opens in West U Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Opa! Greek-Style Kriti Kitchen Opens in West U Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Mezze platter (photo by Ajna Jai)

NEED DINNER IN a hurry, but want something fresh and different? Pondicheri alum Mary Cuclis recently debuted her first café, Greek-inspired Kriti Kitchen, which might be the answer to the “What’s for dinner?” question.


Cuclis started as a caterer, offering handy meals prepped for groups that were announced on her social media platforms. Its popularity segued to her current space located in Weslayan Plaza. Her new counter-serve cafe is blending both by serving scratch-made Cretan food with her own modern twist, and also offering prepared meals for take-away.

“We crafted the menu with the goal of creating quality dishes for individuals and families who are constantly on the go,” Cuclis said in a statement. The cafe offers all-day breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner menus. Dishes are made with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients, so you might find a few surprise selections each time you visit.


Sunny and welcoming, Kriti’s breezy space is decorated with custom-built bronze and marble shelves filled with Greek olive oil, wines, and dry goods like pasta and risotto. Houston designer Allie Wood helped outfit the space. Fresh Greek-inspired baked goods are sold from a counter display, and the cooler is stocked with homemade sauces, dips, and sweets for takeaway. Expect a few covered sidewalk tables as well as indoor tables.

Chef-owner Mary Cuclis

Homemade moussaka

Greek salad

Cuclis said recipes for her Kriti menu items were derived from her own Greek roots. She comes to her new endeavor after spending time at the Michelin-starred Bo Innovation in Hong Kong and at Indian-inspired Pondicheri in Houston.

Menu items include mezze boards with beef meatballs, chicken souvlaki, dolmades, seasonal dips like tahini or tzatziki, and homemade pita or gluten-free flatbread. Vibrant Greek salads, wraps, and protein bowls round out the selections. Daily brunch features items such as the Mizithrapita – a cheese-stuffed pancake with a honey drizzle and nut crumble. To drink, look for Greek beer, wine, juices, and nonalcoholic Greek beverages including mint lemonade and a Cretan herbal tea.

Kriti proffers a rotating selection of affordable "Heat & Eat" takeout meals that can be ordered ahead of time and picked up at the restaurant on the same day. A few recent hits include the Spana omelet, moussaka, and rosemary shrimp with chive aioli and oregano-coriander flatbread. Each meal comes with a list of ingredients and serving instructions.

Winner, winner — here comes dinner!

Food

OVER THE PAST five years or so, Spring Branch, which was founded in the late 1800s, has established itself as one of Houston’s most diverse and foodie-friendly neighborhoods. Newcomers like Blind Goat, Wild Oats and La Cruderia have denizens heading out to dinner more often.

Keep Reading Show less
Food

Alira Med Spa Owner, World Travel Blogger, Influencer, Philanthropist

Med Spa Owner

As a small business owner, I get to wear many hats. I became an Aesthetician to gain more knowledge about the services my business was going to provide, thinking that I will only focus on the administrative side of the business. Soon I became the business administrator and the lead Aesthetician. Currently, I am hands-on with our social media and marketing promotions, in addition to my regular facial clients. As time has passed, I realized I needed it to ramp up my services and technology to keep up with our competitors and now we offer a wide variety of Medical Spa services such as injectables and laser treatments. Visit aliramedspa.com to book an appointment today!

Keep Reading Show less