Café in Pinecrest Community Center

The Pinecrest Community Center, on Killian Drive right next to Pinecrest Gardens, offers an ever-increasing array of great classes and physical spaces. Until now, you could get almost anything there, except a bite to eat.

A concession area was part of the master plan and subsequent construction plans approved by Village Council between 2014 and 2016. That vision is about to become reality with the opening of Elia Pinecrest, a 70-seat café that will offer light fare Mediterranean food with Greek influence, slated to soft open around the end of June. The grand opening will be mid-July.

Elia means olive in Greek and the Greek owner explained, “I’m very, very excited! The moment I saw the place, it came into my mind that this was a great fit,” explained restauranteur Dimitris Harvalis. “We make everything fresh. Salads with dressing created on-site. It’s light, healthy and refreshing food with high nutritional value. We’ll will be serving breakfast items, wraps, sandwiches, bowls, smoothies and desserts.”

They will also include vegetarian options and a kid’s menu. There’s even plans to offer catering for kids’ parties and delivery into the community. Another Elia exists across from the Frost Science Museum and has been community-oriented since it opened 6 years ago.

“We’re excited about the near-completion of the expansion of our community center which now will include this great new amenity,” remarked Pinecrest Mayor Joe Corradino. “Together with the new café, these gathering spots are part of what makes the Pinecrest Gardens complex the hub of our community.”