Since opening on Queen West in 2018, Agora has built a loyal following as the go-to stop for picnic-lunch staples — puffy pita, charred kebabs, and a lineup of decadent dips. Now, from the team behind Mamakas and Bar Koukla, the brand is opening a second location in Yorkville.
The new spot came together in an unexpected way. During the pandemic, owner Thanos Tripi’s team had launched a barbecue-inspired pop-up on Scollard Street, only for a fire to tear through several neighbouring buildings across the street. Rather than rebuild the barbecue concept, the team pivoted, seeing an opportunity to expand the Agora brand instead — which, Tripi notes, was always envisioned as a multi-location, quick-service concept from the start.
The rebuilt space will seat 40, including a backyard patio area Tripi affectionately calls “the secret garden” — a deliberate answer to the built-in park seating that the original Queen West location benefits from. The menu sticks close to the brand’s greatest hits: grilled chicken, Mamakas’ signature dips, and a rotating lineup of prepared foods like pastitsio, salads, and ready-to-go tiropita. New to this location is a more robust coffee program, pairing espresso drinks with fresh-baked pita, sourdough, and Greek-style pastries, alongside Greek sodas, wine, and beer through the rest of the day.
Agora Yorkville is slated to open at the end of summer, with the team also expanding Mamakas itself into a new Summerhill location expected sometime next year — a sign the group is scaling deliberately rather than rushing.
Craving your Agora fix but tired of the Queen West line? A Yorkville location — patio included — is on the way.