Greek – Rays Picks NYC

Ethos Gallery 51
905 1st Ave
New York, NY 10022
(212) 888-4060
Website

Situated in the corner of 51^st and First Avenue, is a Greek restaurant that specializes in seafood and Mediterranean fare called, Ethos Gallery 51. With its close proximity to the United Nation headquarters, the restaurant is frequented by foreign dignitaries. The UN patrons are most likely to be found bustling in around the lunch hour.

Ethos Gallery 51 occupies a sizeable space on the ground floor of an apartment building. The restaurant interior is clean and bright. The dining room has exposed beam ceiling, and its walls, along with uncovered tables and chairs are all awash in whites. The floors on the other hand are made from weathered wood. For additional seating, the front part of the bar can accommodate several guests right by the entrance.

The lunch and dinner menu is extensive, and divided in different categories. For starters, the Keftedes-Traditional Greek Style Meatballs, Tomato Sauce was filled with comforting flavors. The Octapodi Sharas-Sushi Grade Mediterranean Grilled Octopus, Onions, Capers, Fava Purée, Lemon & Herbs was beautifully done. The octopus meat was tender with a nice charred texture. Fava puree and its creaminess were a wonderful complement. Providing the pleasant citric acidity to the octopus were the capers and lemon. Another good dish was the Patzaria-Roasted Beets Served with Skordalia Sauce, Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The roasted beets sweet earthiness went extremely well with the sauce distinct garlicky taste.

Entrée like the Lavraki-(Imported – Whole) “Bronzini” Lean White Fish, Mild Moist Tender Flakes and the Tsipoura – (Imported – Whole) Royal Dorado. Mediterranean Fish with a Mild Flavor and Firm Flakes were served as a whole and prepared in the simplest form. Both fish were seasoned with herbs and olive oil then skillfully grilled to allow their natural flavors to shine. Served as the perfect side to these dishes, was the tasty spinach rice. The Solomos-Grilled Scottish Salmon, Leek Rice Pilaf was a plate of a properly cooked fish. The salmon here was moist and extremely juicy.

Though the restaurant specializes in seafood, the kitchen did a fantastic job with the Arni Youvetsi-Baby Lamb Shank Oven-Baked with Orzo, Fresh Tomato Sauce and Feta Cheese. The lamb meat was extra tender. So much so that it gently comes off the bone. In this hearty dish, the tomato sauce provided the right amount of saltiness, while the orzo helps cut down the lamb’s fattiness.

At Ethos Gallery 51, my meals started with toasted bread and hummus spread that are so good that you can easily fill up if you’re not careful. The meal was sealed by a complimentary custard dessert at the end. The custard’s milky sweetness was particularly delightful.

The food at this restaurant is simple, light and pricey. But the $31 lunch prefix is a great value since it includes most items that are on the a la carte menu. The ingredients are fresh, especially the fish which are delivered daily and are displayed on ice in the restaurant for guest to see.

There are plenty of restaurant out there that specializes in seafood and justifies charging high prices but will leave you disappointed after a meal. Ethos Gallery 51 is not one of them. They are as good as advertised. They stand by their specialty and their execution of each meal reflects their expertise

Thalassa
179 Franklin St
(between Greenwich St & Hudson St)
New York, NY 10013
(212) 941-7661
Official Site

Thalassa has always been on my radar as a restaurant to visit; when I did, I was very impressed and returned a few times, for drinks, then lunch and finally dinner. The restaurant, located along Franklin St. in TriBeCa, is among the most beautiful restaurant’s that I’ve seen in New York City.

Thelassa, which means “sea” in Greek, explains the maritime inspired interior and decor. Upon entering this restaurant you are greeted by a sleek mosaic marble bar lit with oceanic colored lights with white cloths hanging above that give the image of a boat’s sails. At the end of the bar and toward the dining room is a marble table with exquisite fresh sea food in ice. This massive bi level restaurant showcases a luxurious main dining room with exposed red brick, white leather chairs and perfect lighting. Diners can witness Executive Chef Raphael Abrahante prepare their dishes from the open kitchen. Thalassa’s downstairs section, “The Wine Room” has a more casual setting. The room is equipped with its own bar and gorgeous custom made dark wooden tables; wine bottles are displayed on the walls from the restaurant’s extensive wine list.

Thalassa serves contemporary Greek cuisine with some of the freshest sea food found in NYC. The last time I was here I came for dinner. I started with one of their signature dishes, the Maine Diver Scallops wrapped in kataifi filo with sheep’s milk butter and a Kalamata balsamic reduction. I’m not a fan of scallops but this was delicious and the balsamic reduction really added to the flavor. My friend and I also order Fried Zucchini and Eggplant chips made with Tzatziki sauce and saganaki graviera cheese, it was recommended by the bartender and boy was he on point. The chips with the sauce melt in your mouth with every bite. For my entrée I had the grilled Mediterranean white fish and New Zealand langustine with lemon potatoes and haricot verts. The fish and langustine were cooked to perfection. To finish off the meal I had the Kataifi with cream, pistachios, and chocolate. The dessert was as good as the rest of the meal. Our server selected for us a bottle of sovignon blanc that superbly complimented our meal. The food at Thalassa is a bit pricey, entrées will run an average of $25-$35 dollars, but it is definitely worth the price.

The restaurant prides itself on its extensive wine list, but their small list of in-house cocktails is equally impressive. Their signature drink, The Agave Rocks, made by their friendly and knowledgeable bartender “Spiro” was amazing. The drink is made with Mango Muddled with Organic Agave Nectar, Combier, Cynar, Lime Juice and Silver Tequila, on the rocks. It’s sweet but not too sweet and very fruity – the combination of mango and agave nectar brings out the natural sweetness.

The service at Thalassa is great and consistent; everyone was friendly and very professional. I received the same service at each of my 3 visits. It’s massive space is ideal for events such weddings and fund raisers. It’s also great for a nice quite dinner . Thalassa has everything that a restaurant should have, great food, amazing service, an extensive wine list and last but not the least, the WOW factor – the incredible ambiance and décor. I truly recommend Thalassa to anyone who loves great sea food or great food in general.

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