The Founder of Opa

Peter Tsaliamanis

Peter Tsialiamanis opened the location of his wildly popular restaurant, Taverna Opa, In Fort Lauderdale in March 2003. The 275-seat eatery is housed directly on the intracoastal waters, under the Oakland Park Blvd Bridge. The ambiance and location provides one with the feeling of a Greek Island environment.

In July of 2005 he formed Taverna Opa Restaurants Franchise and sold the Fort Lauderdale Location to Anna Varholis, and the Greek-Bork Michael Kasdaglis from the Island of Chios.

A veteran restaurateur, Tsialiamanis opened the original Taverna Opa in Hollywood, Florida in 1998, and in 2003 the south Beach Location. He envisioned the restaurant as the embodiment of the Greek spirit of Opa – a gathering place for guests to celebrate the basic elements of life – good, simple food, drinks and music enjoyed with family and friends.

Philosophy to Practice

That philosophy holds true today in all his rustic and authentic Greek Taverna Opas. The combination of “Ouzo Meze and Celebration” gave wings to one of the fastest growing and highly successful restaurant concepts in South Florida.

An Alternate Approach to Dining

The combination of great food and celebration created a new meaning for the concept of dining. A different approach that energizes and gives the diner a different dimension for his or her entertainment. Previous dining norms are broken, spirits are lifted, with every single broken plate and every single napkin in the air. The marriage of traditional with modern is what Taverna Opa promotes as the most rapidly expanding concept in the United States.