Glenn C

a month ago

"I have been to this Greek restaurant twice, though I seem to have forgotten to write my first review from several years ago. My second time was about 2 months ago, and it was a late-birthday meal with two others. The first time we were sat outside, and while comfortable, I would recommend the inside as part of the lovely experience here, as the staff inside are friendly, and the inside is charming. This is especially true of Chef Loi herself, who is a character and makes everyone there feel special. To drink, for the first time, I am pretty sure I got the Xios Spritz which was enjoyable, refreshing, slightly sweet, and with a good anise flavor from the mastiha. The last time I had a glass of white wine. Both times, we were served nice, warm pita bread, which pairs well with their good-quality olive oil, which they sell alongside mezze and other Greek items. First time- Bone Marrow Soup (excellent) and Lamb Shank (very tasty.) The second time, I was with some others, and we shared a bunch of appetizers (honestly, too many, but they always order too much.) Their most unique appetizer was their take on Stuffed Eggplant for $28 with baby eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, onion, tomato, and Anthotyro cheese. The cheese almost served as a semi-soft crust on top of the warm eggplant, with a lightly salty flavor, and the remaining ingredients were soft and earthy. This was good and easily shareable, and I think it could work as a main dish for a vegetarian. Their Spreads/mixed mezze for $27, which consisted of tzatziki, tyrokafteri, melitzanosalata, and hummus, were of pretty good quality. My preference of the bunch was their version of tyrokafteri, a spicy feta dip, which wasn't too salty compared to some other places. The melitzanosalata was also good, with a nice eggplant texture. The tzatziki was good, and the hummus was fine, though I generally prefer hummus from Middle Eastern spots, as the texture is thicker and the flavor is stronger. The toasted pita pieces went well with the dips. There was finally an alright Village Salad/Horiatiki for $26 with tomato, red onion, green pepper, cucumber, kalamata olives, feta, and olive oil. I prefer a bit less green pepper, and other spots have had better quality feta, but the vegetables were fresh, and the portion was large enough for the price point. This was standard, and there are better versions at similarly fancy spots such as Nerai nearby, among others. My main dish was the Seafood Pasta for $49, with the chef's seafood selection, tomato, onion, garlic, and feta over Greek pasta. I ordered this after confirming it didn't contain my usual allergens. The seafood consisted of many mussels, along with shrimp and scallops. The mussels were all open, which is a good sign, though one had a bit of sand. The shrimp were plump, while the scallops were large and tasty. The dish was savory with a bit of sweetness from the seafood and a bit of saltiness from the feta, and was overall pretty good. I believe the other two had the Branzino for $49 with seasonal greens (or horta,) lemon, and olive oil, which they gave me a bit of, which was also great. They had asked us upon arrival whether this was someone's special occasion, and as it was my birthday recently, they brought over a nice little dessert sampler at the end. The desserts included a baklava, yogurt with honey, and a chocolate cake. The baklava was very cinnamon-forward, which was a bit unique and was a tad dry. The yogurt with honey helped with the dryness, with the chocolate cake being dense, rich, and very mildly sweet. This was a kind gesture at the end of the meal, and we appreciate it. While not my favorite fancy Greek place, the food here is still tasty, and there is a certain charm that many of the other spots lack, thanks to the particularly friendly hospitality. I would definitely go back here for another dinner."

Corey Haksch

a month ago

"This is the ultimate Manhattan Greek dining experience. Warm and homey - Chef Maria Loi is a delight. Everything is distinct and fresh. Octopus and Branzino! Kataifi is sublime! Trust me. It’ll cost u but is worth it!"

Colin Merry (merryinc)

a month ago

"Loi is unbelievable!!! When it comes to food, friendliness and flexibility. Myself and my wife were having a micro-wedding in Central Park and wanted something amazing that was close by so we could all walk, following our ceremony at the Ladies Pavilion. Alex and Maria (Loi Estiatorio) could not have been more accommodating and flexible to make our wedding day and reception so amazing and so memorable. First of all, the food is a delight. Greek food that blows Gyro's or kabobs away (those are great too, but Loi is a whole different levl of great). The Octopus appetizer (which we loved having eaten at Loi in the past) was a favorite by all. Branzino and Lamb Shanks were popular dinner options, and the menu had something for everybody. Great shared appetizers to start, beautiful entrees to choose from, and a all encompassing desert with a little of everything (try the Baklava!!). We also like to drink and the wine was amazing, beer crisp, and the cocktails exceptional (try the espresso martini!). We had a few late changes to who was arriving, we also wanted to work with a decor person as well as have a wedding cake dropped off, and Loi couldn't have been happier to work with us and our vendors to pull off the most special day on 10/25/25. I've put a few photos of the ambiance, decor and food in the review. We cannot wait to come back for our 1st wedding anniversary and hope you take the time to read this and give Loi a try on your visit to NYC or if you're looking for something delicious in a beautiful setting. Thank you Alex and Maria for making our day a dream come true. We will be back and can't tell enough people about you! - Colin & Debby"

oya mungan

4 months ago

"What a great service .Chef Maria was very friendly , she explained everything about the food. Everything we ordered was amazing , my favorite was branzino . She is a great human being as well . She is the angel of Manhattan . It was such a honor to finally met her"

Adam

6 months ago

"Chef Maria prepared me the most fantastic meals I've had in an incredibly long time!! She made me feel what it was like to have truly authentic Greek cuisine again. It's been so long since my Papou was around, but I felt right at home eating here! I came back the very next day because it really was that remarkable! Her culinary excellence is representative of the best of Greece! ❤️🇬🇷"