CHEF Q&A

Opa! Greek restaurant Satellite Breeze opens in former Cove, Neptune location

Maria Sonnenberg
For FLORIDA TODAY
The staff at Satellite Breeze restaurant includes top row, from left, server Cory Schuler, owner Tommy Kokoris and cook Mike Melissakis; middle, from left, server Janie Lerma, owner Maria Tsiartas, head chef Andrea Tsiartas, chef Nick Diavatis and prep cook Robert Gonzalez; front, from left, servers Storm Portman and Meaghan Mehalick.

After owning 47 restaurants in New York, Georgia and Florida, Anastasios “Tommy” Kokoris knows that the perfect formula for the industry involves not only serving good food, but also providing a welcoming atmosphere and attentive staff.

Kokoris and life partner Maria Tsiartas got that recipe well in place at their latest venture, Satellite Breeze restaurant, on the site of the former Cove and Neptune restaurants on A1A in Satellite Beach.

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“You can’t open a restaurant unless you have a good team ready,” said Tsiartas.

There is a definite Greek influence to the menu, but there is also American and Italian fare, plus seafood, burgers and breakfast platters. The large restaurant can seat almost 300 folks, and the staff Kokoris and Tsiartas have assembled is courteous and super eager to please.

It takes many restaurants weeks and sometimes months to get to this stage of the game, but Kokoris and Tsiartas accomplished it from the first day of the soft opening.

Satellite Breeze offers an assortment of Greek and American food.

Question: What is the background of these high achievers?

Tsiartas: I was born in Cyprus and Tommy in Sparta.

When I was 12, I went through the bombings in Cyprus and remember asking my teacher what country I could go to where I wouldn’t have to deal with bombings.

My dad came to the United States, starting as a dishwasher. He later became a cashier and then a manager at a Dunkin’ Donut before he had his own diner in Connecticut. I worked at his restaurant and later at his friend’s restaurant. I’ve been in the business since. I worked for Tommy since 1995.

Tommy moved six different families to be with us in Satellite Breeze. We’re here to stay.

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Kokoris: I came to the United States on a Sunday morning in 1969. On Monday, I was off to Long Island to wash dishes. I didn’t know where I was going, so I got so lost, I ended up walking six or seven miles just to get to work.

Four months later, I was a short order cook and a year-and-a-half later, I took over my first coffee shop in the Wall Street area. At one point, I had two shops in Wall Street and two in Park Avenue.

For many years, I would build up restaurants, sell them and go on to the next project. My last restaurant before Satellite Breeze was in South Florida. I retired for a year or two before going back, and I started looking around Central Florida just by word-of-mouth.

A family I knew also knew the owner of Neptune. They knew I was looking for a business and he was looking to sell, so they got us together.

Q: Signature dish?

A: Tsiartas: Our Taste of Greece Combo includes spinach pie, souvlaki chicken and pork, hummus, tzatziki and pita.

Our broiled tilapia platter is served with artichokes, mushrooms, olives and a sherry wine sauce.

Our entrees are served with soup or salad and your choice of vegetable or pasta.

Q: Family?

Tsiartas: My daughter, Kostantina, just finished at Valencia Community College and she helps out at the restaurant.

Tommy has two daughters. Alissa lives in Atlanta with her husband, who is in the medical field. Theodora’s husband owns a famous fish and chips place in New York City.

Several other members of Tommy’s family also work at the restaurant.

Q: Famous person you’d love to see at Satellite Breeze?

Tsiartas: Brad Pitt is to me the king of actors. I’d love to see him here, but, really, to me every customer is Brad Pitt.

Email toastofthecoastfloridatoday@gmail.com.

Satellite Breeze Restaurant

Where: 1462 SR A1A, Satellite Beach

Contact: Call 321-622-6780 or visit satellitebreeze.com.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Of note: Satellite Breeze offers several rooms for parties and special functions, as well as indoor and outdoor full liquor bars. Music by a local DJ is scheduled during Friday and Saturday evenings. The Coffee Bar showcases espresso drinks and Turkish coffee. Made-fresh daily breads and desserts are available to-go.