Agora Yorkville opens at end of summer with 40 seats and 'secret garden' patio for Greek grab-and-go

Agora, the beloved Greek grab-and-go market that opened on Queen West in 2018 near Trinity Bellwoods Park, is expanding to Yorkville at the end of summer.

From the owners of Mamakas and Bar Koukla, Agora Yorkville will serve the brand's popular dishes—grilled chicken, Mamakas dips, prepared foods to take home and heat up like pastitsio and salads, ready-to-go tiropita—in a completely rebuilt and remodelled space with 40 seats, several on a back patio Thanos Tripi affectionately calls the "secret garden."

The move came after a fire destroyed buildings across the street from the team's Scollard Street pop-up during the pandemic. Rather than continue with barbecue, the team saw the opportunity to replicate Agora's model with added seating. "With Queen Street, we have the park, which is like unlimited seats," Tripi says. "We wanted to replicate the concept in Yorkville, but we don't have a park here, so we needed seating. This is the model that we're hoping to expand across the city."

Unlike the Queen West location, Yorkville will feature a "very robust coffee program"—espresso-based drinks paired with fresh-baked pita, sourdough, and Greek-style pastries. Greek sodas, wine, and beer round out the menu. The restaurant aims to open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, closing by 9 p.m. Alongside Agora Yorkville, the team is also expanding Mamakas to Summerville, expected to open next year. Tripi emphasizes the two projects are being "approached very carefully" with a commitment to "consistency and quality."