December 31, 2017

Try Strawberry salad in Hanover, MA at The Cedar Cafe

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hanover, MA’s The Cedar Cafe.

So let’s start at the beginning – how’d you get into the restaurant business?
About 12 years ago, my brother Stellios Karastamatis decided to open up The Cedar Cafe. A year or so into opening up the business I, Vivi Karastamatis, his sister joined him. Together along with one of our keys to the success of the business our mom, Nopi Karastamatis, was the one who made all the homemade greek dishes we grew up loving. We always had a love for food, especially growing up in the restaurant business and having a mom like ours. She loves to cook, and we grew up being spoiled by the dishes she made. We wanted to share this type of homestyle cooking, and not just be a typical fast food restaurant. Even though we both have non food college degrees, food is one thing we knew and loved.

What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced over the years?
With every start of a new business, it has it’s challenges. Biggest being, getting customers in to try something new and not common, also hidden in this building that doesn’t have the best signage, we were worried people weren’t going to spot us. We had a friend of our go out to different surrounding business with our menus, and introduce ourselves as being new to the neighborhood. Word of mouth eventually spread. Our lunches today are extremely busy.

What stands out about The Cedar Cafe?
Here in the south shore, we are the only Greek/mediterranean food restaurant. We prepare dishes that you can not find elsewhere. We also make different salad specials daily that people now come to find out what we are dishing out. We try and create different combinations that people often look and tell us hmm I would of never thought to combine these ingredients.

Most Popular Items

Strawberry salad

Fresh strawberries, sun-dried cranberries, almonds, feta, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, carrots, mixed greens and our homemade vinaigrette dressing.
Dietary: Gluten-free
Pastitsio (Greek lasagna)

Ziti pasta, hamburg mixture w/a bechamel topping

Chicken kebab rice & salad

Grilled chicken kebab over rice pilaf w/some sauteed onion and red pepper. Along with a garden salad.
Dietary: Gluten-freeParking Advice:
Plenty of parking