"…a generous portion of tzatziki, fish roe dip, and grilled eggplants with…"
(in 5 reviews)
"the ceiling is covered with hanging clay pots."
(in 18 reviews)
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Pylos
Rating Details »
Categories: Greek, Mediterranean
Neighborhood: East Village128 E 7th St
New York, NY 10079
(212) 473-0220
- Nearest Transit:
-
1st Ave-14th St (L)
- Hours:
Mon-Tue. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Wed-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wed-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
147 reviews for Pylos
Review Highlights
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This business is a Yelp Sponsor
7/14/2009
11/29/2009
11/3/2009
11/28/2009
11/9/2009
11/29/2009
10/16/2009
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10/9/2009
10/11/2009
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8/3/2009
2 photos
10/25/2009
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9/15/2009
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11/7/2009
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8/5/2009
Updated - 1/2/2009
5/15/2009
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
I hadn't had greek food since I was in Greece so I was looking forward to some deliciousness and Pylos was fantastic. Great service. Great ambiance and delicious food and wine. The waiter recommended a white wine that was fantastic. My two friends and I shared a bunch of appetizers and it was the perfect amount of food.
We had (all of which I recommend)
Artichoke heart moussaka, layered with caramelized onions, herbs and three greek cheeses béchamel sauce (AMAZING)
crisp, fried zucchini and eggplant rounds served with tzatziki (not too greasy, and very flavorful)
three greek cheeses melted in a clay pot (really yummy but a little too much cheese for me!)
a trio of greece's three best dipping sauces - tzatziki, the thick, tangy yogurt dip; taramosalata, the robust and lemony fish roe dip; and melitzanosalata, a luscious eggplant condiment made with char-grilled eggplants and extra-virgin greek olive oil (I didn't have the fish roe dip but the tzatziki and melitzanosalata were SO good and came with tons of pita)
cool pear and arugula salad with mild sheep's milk cheese, roasted pistachios and balsamic-honey vinaigrette (so so so good)
I highly recommend this place. Prices were completely reasonable and really great service.
I'd yet to find a Greek place I loved in the city. Until someone recommended Pylos. I saw they took reservations so figured why not. And oh my, was I happy I gave it a shot.
Tucked around the corner from the bustling 7A, it's a nice cozy spot. I loved the decor as we walked in, the ceiling comprised of clay pots. I'll admit I was a little worried they might fall off. Thankfully not the case (whew).
The first time I went, we had the Horiatiki salad, which was the classic Greek village salad. It was good and fresh... but like my salad mixed up a bit more. It was essentially big chunks of fresh tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, olives, and feta cheese, along with some capers and a dressing of olive oil and red wine. It was not quite what we were expecting.
On my second visit, we instead tried the maroulosalata. AMAZING. I may just get that occasionally to go. Best salad I've had in a long time. It was basically lettuce, dill, scallions and feta all diced up into small bits drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and fresh lemon dressing. So good. I'd forego dessert in favor of space for this (serious business!).
The second visit we also tried the saganaki tou merakli, which was basically just three greek cheeses melted in a clay pot. But when has cheese ever *really* been basic? It was melted just to the point that the cheese was slightly crispy on the top. Ah perfection. I'd recommend rationing your bread they bring you with their hummus instead to go with the cheese, as the one thing I'll say is I really do not like their hummus. It's lumpy and lacks flavor. Call me a hummus snob.
For a main course, the pasticcio wins every time. I just can't try something different. I'm hooked. It's like a Greek version of a lasagna. If you haven't tried it yet, you must. MUST! They do not skimp on portion size, for sure, and the good news? It reheats mighty fine, so order away.
This is a great spot for dates, family visits, or any special occasion.
Loved the decor and atmosphere, the hundreds of clay pots dangling was neat and something you can't safely pull off in quake-y San Francisco. The two main dining rooms were quite different, perhaps themed with the seasons in mind, one felt like spring with blue sky colors, the other was more winter-y with warm exposed brick.
The grilled octopus was meaty and delicious, but watch out for their piping hot bread it's like flour-based crack (I couldn't control myself and ate way too much). The baby lamb was quite nice as well, but left me absolutely stuffed so I had to take a pass on dessert.
Definitely worth checking out.
i've had a few great meals here and cannot think of a reason not to give pylos 5 stars.
i would call the decor sophisticated casual - good for a lunch with friends, a date, or family dinner.
the pastitsio was addictingly good. i hate to say this, but if you're unfamiliar with the dish think of hamburger helper (but waaaaaaay better).
the vegetable pita sandwich is also very good as are the greek potato wedges (think fancy fries).
this place gets pretty busy during peak (trendy) hours so if you can hit it up for a slightly earlier lunch/dinner you can walk in without worrying about waiting for a table.
Pylos is a fantastic Greek gem hidden on a fantastic food block in the East Village.
Everything from it's warm, cozy interior to it's not too large dining area to it's authentic cuisine from tasty meatballs, domades, lamb chops, whole fish (simply prepared) to it's impressive Greek-filled wine list.
It's hard to find good Greek in Manhattan ( Astoria is the best!) but I think Pylos is amongst the best, especially for the money.
Overall: A great, romantic date joint that won't break the bank.
Tip: Go to Desnuda for a cozy glass of wine afterwards!
Great apps and affordable wine - great for small parties or a quiet night out for two!
Extraordinarily good Greek food in the East Village -- this place is not to be missed! My first choice for lunch apparently did not serve lunch, so my Yelp app guided me here instead. Apparently that app is useful!
The ambience is wonderful. The ceiling is quite striking being lined with terra cotta pots. The main seating area is along a narrow corridor that is buttressed by a bar at the far end with more seating area in the back. The music was tranquil, yet modern, decidedly Greek in a way that I felt like I could have been having his meal in Athens.
The menu is rather limited for lunch, but I opted for the Pastitsio. Often, in less capable establishments, this can be dismissed as Greek lasagna. Here, however, the dish stands alone strongly showcasing wonderful Greek tastes. The first thing that strikes you about this dish is how aromatic it is. It made me pause for a moment, lovely. Presentation, was monolithic, with a feature rich surface, adorned on the side with fresh rosemary and a lone cherry tomato. The noodles were perfectly cooked. The bechamel sauce was really quite good. The flavors were so balanced, every forkful was identical. And it was so flavorful, and it was not heavy at all. I really enjoyed this dish. I was rather surprised by the skilled execution of the chef. Well done. The dish was accompanied with complimentary pita which was fresh and delicious as well.
My thoughts are that this would make a wonderful place to take a date. It also should be substituted immediately for one of the more lackluster selections on the 1 Michelin star list for New York. I can easily think of three restaurants on that list that fall well short of this place. Bravo. Come one, come all.
I don't know how I could pass by this place everyday since August and today was the first time I've eaten here! Better late than never and boy am I glad I did!
The decor was beautiful especially their ceiling where an array of terracotta pots are placed to give this place the character of ancient Greece meeting modern America.
Wow I am impressed! right when you sit down they offer you a plate of warm pita bread....I am a fan already.
Our waiter was quite helpful with recommendations, but I was most impressed with the octopus! OMG it was so good! Tender, not chewy with just the perfect sauce/seasoning! The tzatiki dip was also yummy cause it was thick and full of yummy Greek yogurt and cucumbers :)
We also got the eggplant dip which was scrumptious on its own and the meat balls and a Greek salad.
The Greek salad was fresh, the feta was beautiful :)
I will definitely be back in no time!
I have dreams about this place. Seriously, I do.
Dishes that make me drool all over myself (in a good way):
- ta afrata keftedakia tis dianas' (meatballs)
- soutzoukakia smyrneika (sausage)
- saganaki tou merakli (cheese in a clay pot)
- horiatiki (classic Greek salad)
- brizola (steak)
If you plan to indulge on the food of the gods, make a reservation in advance. And eat lots of their pita.
Remember to look up and enjoy the clay pots on the ceiling. :)
Wow, I loved everything about this place, from the clay pots on the ceiling to the warm bread that comes with dinner. The photos do neither the decor or food justice. I had the classic Horiatiki salad and it was extremely healthy and filling. My only small complaint is that the staff seems to hover in the middle of the long corridor part of the restaurant where we were sitting. Next time, I will definitely make reservations for one of the back tables near the white wall. Overall, a very good meal and experience.
This place is way over rated. Yelp has failed me. This shouldn't be over 4 stars. It is barely three stars. I had the lamb shank which was fine but really nothing special at all. My friend had the slow cooked beef dish and it was also nothing special. Overall never again.
Thank you Jeremy S. for pointing the way! So right about the hot bread & grilled octopus. Also had incredible, man-sized braised pork shanks w/ the freshest tasting potatos. And the pan seared cod was fresh & meaty. A lot of food and earthy greek wines in funky east village for not much moolah.
All I remember of the food was that it was average, I don't remember what I ordered. The service on the other hand, is excellent. Drinks are constantly topped off in ninja-like fashion (you turn your head and suddenly the glass is full again). The staff is friendly and very attentive.
The tables are very tightly packed together. I might as well have been sharing my food with the person next to me and if you're sitting on the inside, someone would need to slide the table out for you to get up from your seat.
This is really a 3.5 star review, but I'll round up.
Crazy difficult to get a table. We ended up getting "lucky" because we only had to wait 30 minutes, and we got our own table. Honestly, this is fairly common at the good East Village restaurants.
The decoration (e.g. the pots on the ceiling) is very cool. It strikes a great balance between a date spot and a place to get a meal with friends.
The service was not the most helpful. They expected us to know every in and out of Greek food, which I think was a bit ridiculous. I'm half Greek, for goodness' sake, and even I didn't know everything they were referring to.
The white wine we got (don't remember the name, but it was the cheapest one) was really great! We even ordered a second bottle.
The "whole fish" was pretty standard. Didn't blow my mind, but simple preparation decisions rarely do. The spinach pilaf was.... fine. A little too much spinach/sogginess, and a touch too salty.
The shrimp meze was spectacular. I highly recommend it. The haloumi cheese was also outstanding.
We appreciated that the restaurant wasn't too noisy and that there is enough room between the tables to make dining comfortable. This is unfortunately rare in the Village.
Not sure I will be going back any time soon, but I would gently recommend trying it if you're in the area.
Hands down best Greek restaurant in the city. The grilled octopus is AWESOME!!!!!
Thank you!!!
I went to Pylos with high expectations given all the strong reviews. As someone who knows Greek food very well, I can say that Pylos was an enjoyable all around dining experience. However, I would say that the food represents a bit of a modern spin on traditional Greek dishes. We ordered the artichoke moussaka (a spin on traditional moussaka), a cheese pie with beef and tomato in phyllo (a spin on traditional cheese pie), and then the lemon pork shank, and lamb shank.
All dishes were very tasty, my favorite being the pork shank. The service and staff was friendly and attentive, and the prices relatively reasonable. Would definitely recommend.
I would definitely recommend this restaurant. My husband and I are both very picky when it comes to restaurants-especially Greek restaurants and I'm very happy that we found this place and I look forward to going there for dinner.
We went on a Sunday afternoon so we ordered off of the Brunch menu. When going here you can totally walk by and miss it, it's not very big. However, upon entering the ambiance that the owners have created is very warm and inviting.
From the decorations, lighting, soothing music and comfy seating one could sit for hours and enjoy a lovely meal.
We began our meal with the Horatiki salad, which is basically cucumber, tomatoes, feta, onions, capers and black olives. It was very good with the right amount of seasoning and the veggies were very fresh.
I then had the Moussaka which was garnished with a small roasted tomato and a sprig of rosemary. The layers of eggplant, zucchini, meat sauce and bechamel were rich, succulent and hearty, just the way moussaka should taste.
Our waitress was very attentive and overall the store seamed spotless, it is very well taken care of and clean.
I truly enjoyed my first great tasting Greek meal in NYC and can't wait to go back- so I can order dessert!
Between the Bourgois Pig and Caracas Arepa Bar, E 7th btwn 1st and A is as impressive a block as there is in the E Vill - and PYLOS may just be the cream of that crop.
Get the napoleon beets. Holy god get the beets. I had the chicken farci with raisins and kasseri cheese - succulent. Mom had the lamp chops wowww. Dad went with the "traditional" (ie. totally souped up and ridic) mousaka - went down a bit heavy but was just an absolute tour de flavor.
Atmosphere is cool but kind of uncomfortably dark in certain spots. The ceiling is lined with old style pots like you'd see in Aladdin - nice. I'm pretty sure Rachel Dratch was there too, she did not look great (even for her). The hostess was extremely cute and friendly.
Overall I loved Pylos and what stood out most for me was how unusual their menu manages to be while still operating mainly within the frame of flavors that people are used to in more common cuisines like French or New American.
Pylos practically embodies my ideal go-to restaurant: appealing decor, good service most of the time, and pretty enjoyable dishes, albeit not terribly memorable. The lamb and spanakopita are some of my favorite dishes. The prices are normal for greek places, though lunch is slightly cheaper and less busy. The mood of this place makes it suitable for a relaxed lunch, a slightly more formal dinner, or a date.
In a word, it's versatile. I think everyone needs a few of these reserves to pull out at the last minute for any occassion. After all, then you can head across the street to Butter Lane to finish off a satisfying, if not earthshattering, night.
Went this Sunday for brunch. Very quiet laid back vibe. I like their ceiling with hundreds of water pots hanging over, very interesting design.
Ordered tzatziki yogurt dip, classic grilled marinated octopus, pastitsio, grilled baby lamb chops with side dish greek yiayia's fried potatoes. Everything was very very good. Esp the baby lamb chops, might be the best I've had in Manhattan, even better than Taboon and Turkish Kitchen. Home made pita bread is also a plus.
Service was very attentive and friendly.
They raised the price so it's a few bucks more every dish on their real menu compare with the menu on their website. The total meal was about 72 dollars before tips. Not cheap but it's so tasty..
Had a great dinner here at Pylos and love the atmosphere ! Being a vegetarian, I had a artichoke vegetarian Moussaka, delicious . Also the Greek salad was HUGE and Amazing. I would go back again and again !
It can be impossible to find a restaurant to suit everyone's desires in my family. Truly, truly impossible. But give us Greek food and we are a happy bunch of Greeks ourselves.
Pylos was the destination for my birthday dinner this year with the family. As it was guaranteed to please, I suggested that we share all the dishes - I love sharing! More dishes to try without me feeling like a glutton (and not being able to consume it all by myself). We went crazy trying to decide over all the appetizers, but finally we waved our waiter over and started spouting out the list we compiled:
Poikilia: three dipping sauces-- tzatziki (yogurt-cucumber dip); taramosalata (fish roe dip); and melitzanosalata (char-grilled eggplants and extra-virgin olive oil), served with the warmed pita and hummus that comes with the table. Very, very good, portions are small but the flavors for each are robust so you don't need much.
Ta Afrata Keftedakia Tis Dianas: Diane's light-as-air meatballs, pan-fried in olive oil. I didn't partake, but my family devoured them so quickly they probably were 'light-as-air.' Five meatballs that are practically the size of tennis balls, with fresh chopped tomatoes on top.
Sardelles Scharas: grilled fresh sardines served with chopped parsley, garlic and extra-virgin olive oil. Delicious, three sardines that are crispy and fresh - although those larger bones aren't exactly edible.
Avgolemono Me Sampania: a bowl of the classic egg-lemon soup with chicken stock and rice. My dad wanted it all to himself, and we weren't going to argue with him. Clearly very good, coming from the Greek man himself.
Patzarosalata: roasted beets served with extra-virgin greek olive oil and beet greens. I love beets. LOVE. I nearly devoured the entire salad myself, those beets were cooked perfectly.
Kotopoulo Gemisto Me Stafides, Dendrolivano Thymari Kai Kasseri: chicken farci with raisins, rosemary, thyme and greek kasseri cheese, served with briam (zucchini, eggplant, potato). Pretty darn tasty; the filling in the chicken was sweet, not quite for me, but the chicken itself was succulent.
Solomos Ston Atmo: poached salmon served over spinach-rice pilaf with sun-dried tomato and olive sauce. It was ok - the salmon was kind of dry for some reason, and the pilaf had this herb in it I couldn't identify that unfortunately ruined it for me. My dad loved it, he couldn't understand our complaints so it might have just been us.
Overall, a very delicious dinner. I love that Pylos sticks to making the traditional, classic Greek dishes, just better than you would get them in most Greek restaurants. The appetizers are by far where they excel, truly truly mouthwatering. The entrees just aren't as inviting and interesting. Service was exceptional, they were constantly attentive to water and when a dish was finished to be whisked off the table. The decor I absolutely love, rustic chic - the clay vases on the ceiling were amazing, I wish I could do that in my home! A wonderful place for a date or a large group.
Came here on a Saturday afternoon for brunch, it wasn't too busy and was easy to get a table. The atmosphere of the restaurant itself is awesome as there are a lot of things that catch the eye, especially the ceiling.
We got the melted three cheese for an appetizer, and combined with their bread, it makes a great combination. For my meal I got a meat pasta covered with cheese that was great. It had some very subtle herbs added to it that I couldn't really figure out. The appetizer was about $9 and the main dish was about $15.
Overall the portions were a pretty good size and definitely recommend this place. The only knock is that the service was a little slow in getting out the main dishes.
My new favorite restaurant! I had some family in town (aka need to impress & dont have to worry about the check!) so we tried out Pylos, and I have to say, its damn good greek food! We ordered about 6 different appetizers & the lamb shank to share. The appetizers were perfect, sizable & delicious. It was a fabulous way to taste many different dishes without having to order several entrees. My favorite: the eggplant and artichoke moussaka although the meatballs are also a strong contender. The lamb shank was also great, the meat literally just slid off of the bone
I cant wait to go back!
WOW. Amazing. I love it. So, so good. I was just in Manhattan for 5 nights and ate at 8 different restaurants, Pylos was my favorite by far. I was there on Sunday night and it was pretty full but there was no wait. The service was prompt, professional and extremely friendly. You can sit at this huge granite counter if you like for a fun experience. We had 4 delicious appetizers: the Octopus, three cheeses, stuffed red pepper and three dipping sauces. I recommend all of them. The pita is fresh and moist. The chocolate mouse was rich and creamy. I wish I lived in Manhattan so I could go there all the time. The prices were very reasonable. Definitely go there before it becomes the next big hot spot, it will be written up in a magazine soon if it hasn't already. Can't wait to go back!
Oh, Deborah, you queen of the communal table, you! You were so personable and friendly and had such a warm smile and took such great care of the 10 or 12 people eating there that you made my first Pylos experience a lovely one.
You took great care to explain what each menu item I asked about was and made suggestions when I asked if the anginares moussaka, a hot appetizer, was big enough to eat as an entrée. You recommended an appetizer and maybe a side to accompany it.
You even explained the difference between the gigantes sto fourno me anitho kai aromatiki saltsa tomata and the gigantes skordalia me psiti tomata (both involve beans) and pointed out that the latter would be sort of redundant with the anginares moussaka, because both were purées.
So I went with the gigantes sto fourno me anitho kai aromatiki saltsa tomata along with the anginares moussaka.
I thought I would have to ask you where my pita was, for I was seated for 15 minutes and had ordered about 10 minutes prior, before a busboy placed a dish with a covered towel on it along with a square dish of bean dip. I knew this was bean dip because you had explained that the pita came out automatically with the bean dip.
The pita was smoking hot and golden brown and plentiful; I probably could have had two or three orders of pita and called it a night. That's how good it was. The bean dip was addictive, too. I managed to make it last till the penultimate pita piece; alas, the last triangle had to be eaten sans topping.
You weren't wrong, Deborah, about the suitableness of the anginares moussaka/gigantes sto fourno me anitho kai aromatiki saltsa tomata combination.
The moussaka was almost like a custard with artichokes and onions; I thought this portion was a bit small for the price ($11), but it was inarguably delish.
The gigantes sto fourno me anitho kai aromatiki saltsa tomata ($9), Greek giant beans baked in a honey-scented tomato dill sauce, seemed to be a bigger portion in a medium-size skillet-like dish. It, too, was scrumptious, and I scooped up every drop of the sauce. I wished I had had more pita with which to sop it all up; somehow I think you would have hooked me up if I had requested more. I didn't think of it, though, as I was pondering dessert.
You asked me if I wanted to see the dessert menu, and I did, I did, indeed. I had read good things at Yelp about the christos' towering galaktobourekakia, and just at the moment you gave me the menu, another waiter happened to stop at the communal table, and he happened to be carrying a tray of desserts to another table. He seemed to have one of each, but he spirited them away before I could ask him what was what.
I craned my neck in the direction of the table to which he had delivered the goods, not far from where I sat, and asked you if, indeed, there was one of each on the tray he had held. You said there was, in fact, and you described each patiently and said your favorite was the mouzo, chocolate mousse with ouzo.
You smiled your warm smile and said you would give me a minute to deliberate, and I did, I did. But I came to the conclusion I was a little too stuffed for dessert on this night, though the promise of trying the dessert gave me reason to return. You seemed a little disappointed but gently asked if I wanted the check, and I said I did.
I was pleasantly surprised when I noted the check reflected a charge for only one Diet Coke, even though I had consumed two cans. (I thought it was a little odd that there were apparently no fountain soft drinks or draught beer, but it certainly wasn't a hindrance to my enjoying my meal.) So it was nice to see I wasn't being gouged, especially because the charge was a reasonable $2 per. (I noticed on the dessert menu that tea was a fairly reasonable $2, and the desserts were also fairly reasonable at $6. That said, it has been a very long time since I have ordered dessert in a restaurant; I am usually way too stuffed by the end of a meal to contemplate shoveling more calories down my gullet.)
The place was packed, yet there was no one waiting for a table, and the noise level wasn't such that you couldn't hear your companion, regardless of where you were seated. The ambience was, dare I say, conducive to romance, and I could easily see this being a date place. The one restroom I visited (both are unisex) was immaculate, a very good sign, and well stocked with soap and towels.
Alas, after an hour, I had to take my leave of you and Pylos, Deborah. I gave you a friendly smile and a wave goodbye and said, "Thank you! Nice meeting you!" and you smiled and gave a small wave yourself and said, "Bye!"
But I think I have found a new place to put into my rotation.
I must go back, if only to try to save room for the christos' towering galaktobourekakia. It might involve forgoing the delicious pita and dip, but I think I can summon the spirit of sacrifice for my palate's greater good.
Pylos is an excellent Greek restaurant where the service is very pleasant and the food is delicious.
I came here for dinner with a group and a reservation and was seated promptly. The waitress was very friendly, helped us pick out a good bottle of wine, and was very cool. We ordered several appetizers, all of which were very tasty, spicy, and delish. For the entree, my duck breast was perfectly cooked and tasted wonderful. The side of couscous was excellent as well. If you like lamb chops, they were very good too.
I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys Greek food.
The food there was decent. The decor was ok, a million clay pots on the ceiling made it look interesting but that's about it. The food wasn't spectacular. The lamb shank I had was ok, I wasn't immensely impressed by it. The food overall is good, especially if you're into the whole i wanna hang out with the trendsters crowd.
The service was a bit lacking. Apparently if you show up in a large party, the staff has a bit of a freak out. Ok so we were a party of 13. Not a lucky number I suppose. All the soda came in these tiny glass bottles, great for novelty purposes, not so much for drinking as you don't get that much. Oh well no high corn fructose syrup for me then!
The waiter wanted us to order everything immediately, geez so much for chatting and enjoying the ambiance of the place. No you just can't order appetizers now. You have to order everything now. And for some reason the waiter thought that being that two of us wanted the same dish, doesn't mean we're sharing!
The staff couldn't wait to get rid of us. Considering it took us a while to get our food, and geez we'd like to chat, cause that's what a bunch of girls do, oh we're closing the register can you pay now? Wow...you really want us out don't you? Oh and of course tip is already included.
If you're flying solo or just with a friend then great for you! otherwise you might have better luck elsewhere.
Wonderful ambiance, octopus and calamari to die for....but. I was ready to love the place. When you walk in, it has a casual elegance with an artistic flair. It is not quiet, but lively in an energizing way. The kitchen bar in the back is inviting. The food was spotty...although it may have been our ordering. The octopus and calamari are the best in the City...hands down. The giganti beans were a delight. Despite my protestations, my wife ordered lamb chops - average. The salmon on pilaf rice lacked any and all Mediterranean flare. The vegetable sides were pedestrian at best. The waitstaff was good and made helpful wine suggestions - they were well schooled in the many odd grapes that are part of the ancient Greek wine culture. I will go back, but only for the squid and octopus...did I mention that the octopus was delicious!!!!
As a Greek girl, I am fairly difficult to please when it comes to Greek food, but Pylos hit the mark. While the flavors are very much upscale, and I would definitely quibble with the term "rustic" the food is an excellent nod to Greek cuisine while still bringing it to the new world.
I don't have much to add that other reviews have not already covered, but the service is impeccable, the restaurant beautifully decorated and the food lovely. It is, in my opinion, Americanized, but still delicious.
I'd recommend going for the brunch, for a $15 prix fixe you get food, coffee and a mimosa, which is a great deal. Not to mention little to no wait, even on a beautiful Sunday morning!
Difficult to get in, and those terra-cotta pots on the ceiling look like might fall...but food so good. Appetizers more interesting than entrees-but isn't that always the case? I love the beet napolean thing in particular.
Man, this is a great Greek restaurant in downtown Manhattan. This is classic Greek food at its best. While the place is tight the service is great. Very attentive servers and feel free to ask questions. Quality, quality, quality! Great dishes at reasonable prices. They prepare their food the way a Greek mother would. I definitely recommend this place to anybody tired of the Greek fish establishments and is looking for some Greek home cooking in downtown New York.
After a day of running errands around town, I ended off the day with an evening at my best friend's favorite Greek restaurant in the East Village, Pylos. And my friend is Greek, so it has to be good, right?. But of course, to be difficult, I never gave into his wishes when he recommended eating at Pylos. On a whim, I popped into Pylos and made a reservation at their bar. And I can't say enough about how meliphrôn the meal was. Meliphrôn is Greek for delicious.
By their own admission, Pylos "honors traditional Greek cuisine by bringing fresh, wholesome cooking from all regions of Greece to the East Village." And it's no joke. My boyfriend and I started of course with Saganaki, which traditionally is melted cheese that for show, some Greek restaurants blow up in a flame of glory at your table. Our version was made up of three Greek cheeses, served with a lemon wedge in a small skillet. The flavors were the centerpiece of the showcase, and flames weren't needed to draw attention to itself.
For our Main Courses we had Cretan honey-braised lamb shank served with giant bean garlic puree and roasted tomato, and braised short ribs, in spicy Xinomavro red wine, served with porcini mushroom potato puree. Salivating yet?
The flavor profiles sound delicious without ever having to eat the dishes, but you're in for an incredible meal if you venture to the East Village to enjoy the environs of the classic décor with modern twists. And the rustic cuisine is perfectly tempered with contemporary flourishes, making Pylos a culinary destination not to be missed. And if you have a choice, sit at the "bar," which is more like a long banquet table at arms length from their selection of wines.
Wow. Food is great. The BEST calamari in the city...so perfectly crispy, but so al dente...it tasted like it had just been caught. Bravo. The giant beans are amazing. My friend had the lamb chops...4 HUGE portions I had the seafood pilaf...big plate of all my faaaave crustacians. The phylo dough pastries and greek yoghurt for dessert rounded out a VERY satisfying experience. Excellent prices as well! Go Go Go Pylos!
One of the best meals I've had since moving to the city.
I'm sure like a lot of other people, my idea of Greek cuisine was limited to diner comfort food. There's nothing wrong with that, for sure, but the food at Pylos is on another level. I hesitate to call it upscale, because that implies a certain snobbery, perhaps. It's still like food a Greek grandma makes (if that grandma was also a disciplined and innovative chef).
The Greek red wine was awesome, and it made me wonder why Greek wines don't get more play. I could've made a whole meal out of the dipping sauce appetizer -- eggplant, yogurt, and fish roe. But, don't fill up on bread! The sardine appetizer was tasty, although I didn't take the dare of eating the head. The lamb chops were a good choice for a main course, but the star of the show was the moussaka. Seriously, grandma hit a home run with this lasagna-like dish. Dessert was custard wrapped in philo dough and smothered with honey. Like the Greek wine, I wondered why restaurants don't use honey in more desserts. Good God, it was amazing.
By far, my most fave restaurant in the East Village, I have yet to try anything on the menu that isn't positvely BEAUTIFUL to eat! Romantic, gorgeous, excellent service and delish with totally reasonable prices and an amazing wine list makes this a most perfect date spot. LOVE!
Def get a reservation and they'll still make you wait, but it's worth it!
This has to be one of the best Greek restaurants outside of Queens (as we all know,for authentic Greek, every discerning foodie must trek to Astoria). The ambiance was gorgeous, albeit tiny. I love the terracotta pots hanging on the bar ceiling, and the back corner area which is decorated like a corner in a Mykonos tavern, with cerulean blue and whitewashed walls.
We went to Pylos for a dinner party of 10 people. Needless to say the food was plentiful. Trays of calamari, beef sausages, scrumpous phyllo-dough wrapped goodies. My favorite appetizer was the fried eggplant which were wafer-thin, crispy, and perfect. The lamb shank was bone-tender but by the time many of us reached the main course, we were so full, we left much of the delicious food untouched.
tzatziki... the closest thing to what i ate in santorini, mykonos, athens and sounion. i would bathe in it if i could.
the ribs... not a traditional greek dish, but it was oh-so-tender and the sauce was dark and gravy-like. delicous.
i had some fish that i can't remember. it was good, well cooked and all, but not outstanding.
the decor is beatiful. love the terracotta pots on the ceiling.
i was stuffed silly.
It may seem redundant for me to follow-up a 5 Star Review with a 5 Star Review but take note , Pylos is a special dining experience.
We went for their New Years Eve Dinner and were completely blown away by one of the best meals we've ever had out. Pylos cleared all the stragglers out and set up tables for those who had reserved in advance. The menu was prepared by Executive Chef Diane Kochilas and it was outstanding.
Appetizers: Sauteed Scallops with Mushrooms and a fava bean puree. The Scallops were cooked to perfection and topped with a thin layer or dijon mustard. Mushrooms were finely chopped and added a nice woody contrast to the sweetness in the Scallop. The fava bean puree added a nice base to the dish.
Course 1: 1/2 succulent lobster topped with a bechamel sauce and served with a small mixed green salad and dotted with pomegranate. The meat came easily out of the shell. The bechamel was light and almost buttery. The pomegranate acted as a flavorful foil to the greens.
Course 2: Paidakia (Lamb Chops) grilled to a perfect medium rare and crusted with a mushroom-based breading, sitting in a red wine glaze and leaning next to a mound of whipped potatoes - also with mushrooms in the background .
Dessert: A pear soaked in Mavrodaphne and served a la mode with a dollop of whole Greek yogurt. The pear had a layer of the liqueur you could see when you cut into it and the yogurt both in taste and texture grounded this closer.
Wines: A Pelopennesian red - the name escapes me - that was heavy for a Greek wine and comparable to a good California Pinot Noir. With dessert, we had our favorite St. Nicholas - a really tasty port.
Pylos offered everyone a glass of sparkling Greek white wine for toasting at midnight.
Pylos is one of my favorite restaurants in New York and they get a second 5 Star Review for one of the best meals I've ever had.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/2/2008
This is as good as it gets for Greek.
The food is uniformly spectacular. I've been going here for a… Read more »
Delicious food, ehhhh service.
It was our first time to this restaurant and I was impressed by the decor. The ceiling was covered with clay pots, precariously suspended; the room was the typical New York restaurant, dimly lit and with strangers dangerously close to you (stranger danger! Okay, maybe I just don't like people). Apparently, there's a big table in the back where people just sit with strangers. How horrifying. We were lucky to get our own table without a reservation or a wait but, granted, it was also 10:30 at night and we still only got the second-to-last table.
Now, for the service. Our waitress was not overly friendly and seemed to just cease paying attention at times. That's not so bad though because she could have been Russian or some sort of Eastern European and that's just her culture (Is ADD part of any culture?). She was clearly inattentive, except with the check. The worst part, though, was that we asked her for recommendations on the menu and she basically went through the menu and pointed out the most expensive dishes in each category. What. The. Hell. I, too, have the ability to identify which numbers are highest. It was very blatant and very annoying.
We ended up tracking down and asking another server for recommendations which were, by the way, completely different and completely delicious.
We started with the anginares moussaka (something involve artichoke hearts and cheese). It was decadent and delicious. My boyfriend thought it was a little too rich for his taste, but I loved it. I had the cod which was delicious but I think the real winner was the pastitso that my boyfriend got. I call it the winner because the tables on both sides of us got the same dish so it was apparently very popular. It tasted a little like lasagna (bleh) gone Greek to me, but everyone else seemed to love it so I guess it should be highly recommended. i would also suggest wine with dinner (would have been perfect but I supposed to be studious right now) and dessert because they looked fabulous -- I was just too stuffed to order any :(
Overall, I gave it a 4 because the food was great; we just got stuck with a crappy server. I would go back (but request another server). Oh, and reservations are definitely recommended!
