5 /5 Glenn C: As per normal, shortened review such as full dish descriptions due to char limit compared to the other site.
I hosted a meal at this tasty Greek restaurant a few months ago with a large group, having been there years ago, back when they were Stamatis. The staff were very friendly and patient, offering recommendations for our large group on food and drink, whether it was wine or otherwise. I believe I had a glass of Assyrtiko, but Im not sure. We shared a lot of dishes and had a reasonably priced and delicious meal.
We got a couple of appetizers to split first. Our first to arrive was the Krya Pikilia. This is available in either a small or a large size, and we went with the latter, which was $21 and generously portioned. Some cucumber slices separated the various spreads, and they also served delicious toasted pita for dipping. The group as a whole loved the potato with garlic and the roasted eggplant, which had a nice smoky flavor. The fish eggs werent as salty as usual, which was a plus; I liked the spicy feta, though a few others found it a bit too salty; and the yogurt was standard. This was a good mix overall.
Our other appetizer was the Elliniki for $17.50 or $14 for the small. This was simple and fresh, but in retrospect, I probably would have preferred the agourontomata due to the large amount of bell peppers, as the best parts were the good-quality feta and the tomatoes, which the latter highlights. It was still pretty good, but I would only recommend it if you like green bell peppers.
For main dishes, the place focuses on seafood, and we ordered a few. First was the dish I regrettably couldnt eat due to my cephalopod allergy. This was the Oktapodi Scharas for $28.75. The dish came with two meatier pieces, as well as one thinner, more grilled section that focused on the tentacle. I could tell by cutting the dish for the table that it was extremely tender, and everyone loved it, with many people also using some of the remaining pita to dip into the very flavorful oil on the bottom.
The other seafood dishes were two Psari Scharas listed at MP/market price. The waiter went through the various options, and as we were getting some other food, I went with one around a pound and a half and another just over 2 pounds, with the prices at the end being pretty reasonable for the size, from what I recall. They also asked us if we wanted the whole fish or a filet, and we got the former, as many people, including myself, wanted the skin and didnt mind dealing with bones. Our choices were the Tsirpoura and the Lavraki. Of the two, I preferred the texture and flavor of the lavraki, but both were grilled perfectly.
The rest of the main dishes were from the Kreatika Sta Karvouna section and all dishes here came with a choice of vegetable, potato, or rice. The surprise hit of the night came from there, the Sykotaki Moscharisio for $24.50. The liver was grilled perfectly with a wonderful texture and a very mild offal flavor. For the side, I ordered the Patates Lemonates, which were standard.
There was also the solid Biftekia for $23. This came with three reasonably sized pieces of tender beef.
There was finally the Arni Kokkinisto for $23.75. This was the most basic presentation of any of the dishes, with the lamb being tender but not that flavorful, so I probably would get the ground beef version next time. This was partially fixed by the side of spanakoryzo, or rice pilaf with spinach, which was tasty with a good texture.
Sides in preference order- Spanakoryzo Gigantes, Patates Lemonates, Faolakia Yahni, Arakas.
At the end of the meal, they gave us each a free dessert, which I believe was semolina pudding, or halvas simigdalenios. It had a mild sweetness to it and a slightly gritty texture. A few others didnt like it, but a bunch of us did and happily had their portion as well. This place was reasonable, and the food was high-quality. Combine that with the friendly service, and there are obvious reasons why this spot has been around for so long. I would recommend them if youre looking for a casual Greek spot.
