Yia Yia Mary’s in the Houston Galleria Area Now Has Happy Hour

Beet Carpaccio at Yia Yia Marys

Greek restaurant Yia Yia Mary’s from the Pappas Restaurant group has served Houstonians for years at its prime Galleria spot, located at 4747 San Felipe with easy access from 610. It recently added a new happy hour to its features, complete with refreshing cocktails, half-priced small plates and an expanded Greek wine and beer list. Happy hours runs Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. in the bar area.

Yia Yia Mary’s Kefta Kabob with Olive Bread. Photo by Julie Soefer.

Standout small plates include the Beet Carpaccio (a must-have for beet lovers), the housemade olive bread, which, like all their bread, is made fresh daily, and the kefta kabobs. Even at half-off, the happy-hour small plates are amply sized and three or four selections can easily leave a party of two satisfied.

Cocktails created by Pappas Restaurants’ beverage manager Matt Tanner, such as the Strawberry Aperol Spritz, made with strawberry-infused Aperol and Prosecco, and the Fountain of Youth, a blend of Wheatley vodka, cucumber, mint and lemon, are refreshing choices to beat the summer heat. While the happy hour menu only offers two specially priced wine selections, a daily red and white, wine director Robert Smith works closely with importers to offer diners an easily accessible and affordable variety of Greek wines on the regular menu.

Smith explains, “I want to have a representation of the quality wines being produced in Greece — wines that are pleasing to drink, well-made and elevate the dishes we serve. I want our guests to become more acquainted and comfortable with Greek grape varieties.”

Lovely wines and delectable appetizers at the bar aren’t the only reason to revisit Yia Yia Mary’s. The dinner menu is inspired by the Pappas family’s Greek heritage. Traditional dishes like the baked feta, souvlakis and gyros incorporate family recipes. And don’t overlook classic like the dolmades — grape leaves stuffed with beef and lamb or lemon rice and drizzled with tzatziki sauce — or the selection of fresh seafood. All of the fish served at Mary’s is flown in daily or sourced from Gulf fisherman. The branzino, served on the half shell, is flown from the Mediterranean within 24 hours of being caught and the red snapper, also served on the half shell, is caught in the Gulf of Mexico exclusively for Pappas.

Freshly flown in Branzino. Photo by Julie Soefer.

For guests who stay for dinner, we suggest the branzino with a glass of Greek white wine such as the Ktima Gerovassiliou Malagouzia.

Yia Yia Mary’s is open for lunch and dinner Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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