212213 Sun Jul 18 00:17:52 -0700 2004 14 18 Manhattan 0 1129312 I eat at Molyvos every few years. Last night, I had the best meal I've ever had there. As usual, my strategy there was to order the fish special, and the roasted wild bass was sensational. The Cretan bread salad, pleasingly light and full of perfectly cooked calamari, was better than in the past. Friends had 5 appetizers, and all were pleased. An apple walnut crisp was excellent (really, the only thing I tried that was less than excellent was a competent but unsensational rice pudding). Prices have crept up, although it isn't near Milos levels. I much prefer eating at Molyvos -- they were patient with our large group, that included a sleeping and utterly quiet child, some folks who ate prodigious meals, and others who ordered only one dish. The place was only half full on a Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. -- our party of six was able to walk right in. Sun Jul 18 00:17:52 -0700 2004 0 Dave Feldman 1 1129322 I was there last night too and felt just the same way. My salad of melon (water and crenshaw), cherry tomatoes (slightly braised in gastrique) and feta was extraordinary. Followed by a lovely piece of halibut atop of sort of Greek succatash. Other stand-outs at the table, the whole grilled fagri and the old-fashioned lamb souvetski. The hostess helped us immeasurably in our wine selection by actually bringing us a glass of her recommendation to taste. I too noted the empty tables. I hope this is a result of summer-weekend flight. Sun Jul 18 09:59:30 -0700 2004 1129312 0 Erica Marcus 2 1129377 I'm starting to think that there has been a change in the kitchen at Molyvos. I've always had affection for the place, but every dish I tried on Saturday was terrific (with the exception of the rice pudding). It's great to see that Molyvos isn't coasting. Mon Jul 19 00:13:01 -0700 2004 1129322 0 Dave Feldman 3 1129398 As I am not a fan of Molyvos (or most other Greek in New York), I am glad to read your post above. There just might be a 'change'. Although Jim B. is heralded by PR as the best Greek chef in the country, your wording above, "I've always had affection for the place, but every dish I tried on Saturday was terrific", is excellent. The word "but" grabbed my attention. Thank you. Mon Jul 19 10:01:23 -0700 2004 1129377 0 Ian Miller 4 1129567 Remember when Molyvos opened? It received three stars from the NY Times very soon after it opened and raised all kinds of expectations for the place. I've always found Molyvos to be inconsistent. I was always attracted to their homey, dishes but was often disappointed. But then I'd try a fish special or a salad and think that the place had great potential. Finding excellent Greek food anywhere in New York to be difficult. I've probably enjoyed Snack as much as any in Queens or Manhattan. But this meal startled me -- everything I tried was delicious. Tue Jul 20 00:17:27 -0700 2004 1129398 0 Dave Feldman 5 1129609 Those homey dishes are what is supposed to excel in Greek cuisine restaurants. Greek cuisine is based on those dishes. The foundation of Greek cuisine. The grilled items are tavern fare. Roadside hamburger type joints serve them up to workers and the passerby. Authenticity aside, the homey dishes seldom work. The chef/cooks just can't seem to get them right. They do (most New York Greek places) grilled fish well. It's simple. That's it. The worst part of the New York Times 3 stars (besides the question of how much it cost the Livanos family to get those stars) is the follow up by, UGH!, David Rosengarten. He went on and on about nothing about the place. What a turn off. He even liked the cramped seating AND the service. PR is a restaurants best friend. A proprietor and a chef have to have great PR first, then, maybe, some edible food. That is just a fact of life dining around. Every "Greek" place around is "inconsistent", sadly. Some claim to find nirvana in a particular dish and the next day it is nothing but leftovers for the rest of us. Although I will definitely NOT try the grilled fish, or even rank the salad as a course, I will, reluctantly, try my best to get over to Molyvos and try it once again. Your posts have sparked an interest in Molyvos. I just hope it's not all smoke and mirrors. Link: http://www.italiancookingandliving.com/icc/guest_chefs/botsacos.html Image: http://www.molyvos.com/images/home_15.jpg Tue Jul 20 10:45:34 -0700 2004 1129567 0 Ian Miller 6 1129807 Just for the record, many of Molyvos's fish specials are not grilled (a la Milos). Wed Jul 21 01:10:00 -0700 2004 1129609 0 Dave Feldman 2 1129426 "old-fashioned lamb souvetski" Sorry, do you mean yuvetsi? youvetsi? Or is this another dish? Mon Jul 19 11:34:53 -0700 2004 1129322 0 Kenny Newman 3 1129480 Yes! Yuvetsi! A little culinary dyslexia. Or syldexia. Mon Jul 19 14:41:51 -0700 2004 1129426 0 Erica Marcus 4 1129560 Yeah, I suffer from the same lysdexia... Mon Jul 19 22:58:55 -0700 2004 1129480 0 Kenny Newman 1 1129325 They serve a "mezze" menu in the bar area, featuring various small plates (stuffed grape leaves, etc) that is perfect for light meals before or after the theater. The same quality of food and service is apparent. Pricy, I'm afraid, but the place delivers consistently. Sun Jul 18 11:23:47 -0700 2004 1129312 0 MichaelZ 2 1129329 How pricey is "pricey"? What does a fish dinner for two with a bottle of moderate Greek wine cost? Sun Jul 18 11:59:28 -0700 2004 1129325 0 Simon 3 1129378 Most appetizers are approximately $10. Fish ranges from high teens to high twenties. So with wine a full dinner will be north of $50 per person, but there are inexpensive wines available. Mon Jul 19 00:14:56 -0700 2004 1129329 0 Dave Feldman 1 1129356 Given its close proximity to Carnegie Hall, we have been there several times over the last year. We are always surprised at this high quality greek place in a neighborhood of restaurants that don't try too hard. Molyvos do amazing things with fish, with my most memorable meal being the whole bronzino grilled and served with lemon juice. Note that their appetizers are all solid preformers. Sun Jul 18 20:39:55 -0700 2004 1129312 0 Domenic Venuto 1 1129357 Given its close proximity to Carnegie Hall, we have been there several times over the last year. We are always surprised at this high quality greek place in a neighborhood of restaurants that don't try too hard. Molyvos do amazing things with fish, with my most memorable meal being the whole bronzino grilled and served with lemon juice. Note that their appetizers are all solid preformers. Sun Jul 18 20:40:57 -0700 2004 1129312 0 Domenic Venuto