The Triangle’s biggest restaurateur expands his empire with 2 new spots in North Hills
After three decades in the restaurant business, prolific restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias opened his first Raleigh restaurant only two years ago. By the end of 2022 he could have four in the city.
Bakatsias announced plans Monday to open two new restaurants in Raleigh’s North Hills development, joining his 2019 debut Rosewater.
The new restaurants are Giorgio Pizza Bar, a stone oven pizzeria that will be Bakatsias’ most casual spot in his empire, which will grow to more than a dozen concepts by the end of next year.
The other is the Spanish tapas restaurant Las Ramblas, inspired by Bakatsias’ time in Barcelona, he said.
Bakatsias said construction on both restaurants should begin early next year.
For his pizzeria, Giorgios said he wanted pies that were more consistent than the delicate doughs coming out of wood-burning ovens, but not a pizza only meant for takeout.
“This is something you could have on a date with the full dinner experience,” Bakatsias said.
The pizzeria will be the larger of the two, with space for 100 indoors and a small patio with room for another 25 diners.
Las Ramblas will be more intimate, named for the bustling La Rambla street in Barcelona, with space for 90 indoors and another 30 outdoors.
Giorgios also has two other restaurants in the works, the casual Asian spot Krill in Durham, and the French East End Bistrot in Raleigh. Both are scheduled to open next year.
This story was originally published December 13, 2021 at 12:50 PM.
