Ethos Gallery 51
905 1st Ave
New York, NY 10022
(212) 888-4060
Website
Situated in the corner of 51st 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