Good Eats: Pylos
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At this intimate East Village Greek eatery, get ready for some ambrosial treats.
Located along a tree-lined street off of Tompkins Square Park, sits one of NYC’s best Greek restaurants, Pylos. Spartanly decorated with a bit of Greek flair, including hundreds of Hellenic clay pots hanging from the ceiling (‘Pylos’ is the root word for clay), the delectable food is rightfully allowed to take center stage. Veering away from the typical Greek menu that American restaurant goers have come to expect, Consulting Chef Diane Kochilas, Athenian cuisine extraordinaire, has guided Pylos' menu towards the more traditional home-cooked Greek fare, offering fresh selections from all regions of Greece.
Be sure not to fill up on the pillowy homemade pita brought to your table, which is very difficult to stop once you break into, especially since the just-baked aroma fills the air. With such an incredible meal ahead of you, you are definitely going to want to clean your plate.
To accompany the pita, we recommend ordering the ‘Poikilia’ for the table. This includes a trio of Greece’s three best dipping sauces— ‘tzatziki’, a thick, tangy yogurt dip; ‘taramosalata’, a robust and lemony fish roe dip; and ‘melitzanosalata’, a luscious eggplant condiment made with char-grilled eggplants and extra-virgin greek olive oil. Try following this up with another appetizer like the ‘Anginares Moussaka’, an artichoke heart moussaka, before taking on your entrée.
Choose your main course from either the ‘Kreata’ options (meat specialties) or the ‘Psaria Kai Thalassina’ (fish and seafood). The Cretan-honey braised lamb shank and the Pan-seared cod cooked with roasted tomato, dill and orange from the Peloponnese, happen to be two personal favorites. Accompany your meal with some help from Dionysus by choosing from among the Greek-only wine list, and you will surely be satisfied.
Having eaten a meal suitable for the Gods, you are sure to leave Pylos with a newfound appreciation for the Greek palate.
Pylos
128 East 7th Street
(between Avenue A and First Avenue)
212-473-0220
What's your favorite Greek treat?