The Papanikolaou family, owners of The Greeks Authentic Mediterranean Deli, have signed a lease at 890 Town Center Drive in Mayfaire Town Center.

The space, located next to the Regal Mayfaire Stadium 16 movie theater, has been vacant since Towne Tap & Grill closed in August 2015. The Papanikolaous' new restaurant will be named Symposium Restaurant and Bar.
 
Symposium will feature Greek-inspired European cuisine with recipes and techniques that Chef George Papanikolaou collected throughout his career in Europe before coming to Wilmington in 2011.
 
Yanni Papanikolaou, George’s son, described the new venture as a departure from The Greeks in that the focus of the food will lean more toward fine dining than fast casual. Papanikolaou said all of the restaurant’s seafood and meats will be sourced locally, as well as much of the produce. There are also plans to create a garden for herbs and small vegetables on a portion of the building’s existing outdoor patio.
 
“Symposium will definitely reflect the way people eat in Europe, where farm-to-table has always been the way,” Yanni Papanikolaou said. “Everything local, always fresh, and made to order.”
 
He said that he and his father are working now to develop relationships with local farmers, butchers and seafood purveyors.
 
Symposium will serve lunch and dinner with a full bar and daily specials. It is expected to seat about 120 guests and have space for private parties.
 
“We like the foot traffic that this part of Mayfaire offers,” Yanni  Papanikolaou said. “It’s a great gathering space, and we think Symposium will only add to that. A symposium after all is an ancient Greek tradition of gathering for the exchange of ideas after a banquet or party.”
 
Symposium Restaurant and Bar is expected to open in early January.
 
Have a tip for Restaurant Roundup? Email [email protected].