Kokkari Estiatorio

Reviews 4

VE

Velvet Piini

Walking into Kokkari Estiatorio is quite an experience all its own. Coming in from the busy streets of the Financial District, I was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful and welcoming atmosphere.The lighting was beautifully dim and kind of yellow as if from candlelight and it smelled delicious. It was like walking into someones living room, provided that person has a tremendous house and wonderful taste in decor. My party and I were seated in the front room, or Saloni, which had a huge fireplace where they were actually roasting a pig. The tables and chairs were so inviting, so I was happy to be seated there. Our waiter attended to us immediately and told us about their huge list of specials. We ordered some appetizers that were on special, so theyre not on the regular menu and I cannot remember their names. One of them was some mild peppers served with a goat cheese and that was great and there was some bread with olive oil. The wine list was extensive but not overwhelming, and the waiter helped me pick out something that would go well with my entree. One of the entree specials was the roast pork from the rotisserie and I couldnt resist. I feel like the word "amazing " is overused, but I kind of have to use it here. It was amazing...in that I was amazed. The roast pork was served with Yukon gold potatoes and some veggies and the portion was really generous. I was a happy girl. My boyfriend got the Moussaka and was very happy with that. I tried a bite of it and I was halfway jealous for a minute, but then I went back to my entree and all was well. My boyfriend and I are self-proclaimed "foodies" (is that cliche already?) and we are not very easily impressed. However, the attention to detail in the dishes was apparent and the flavors were wonderful. Everything we had was elegantly simple but ridiculously flavorful. The service was great and the restaurant was beautiful. I will definitely be going back to try more of their menu items and hopefully to sit in another one of their awesome dining rooms. For someone in my salary range, the price tag is a little bit steep for a casual dining occasion, but for something special like a birthday or anniversary it is perfect. You will definitely be glad you went to celebrate at Kokkari Estiatorio.

NE

Nei Ng

Zucchini Cakes - Fried really well to give them a really crunchy crust that contrasted with the soft interior. The stuffing was cheesy and gave the zucchini a richer flavor. Yogurt dressing was refreshing and helped round out the other rich and fatty flavors. Saghanaki - Delicious gooey pan fried cheese. It was salty and slightly sharp but generally pretty mild so it wont offend anyone. The crisp edges added more flavor and texture. Great on bread. Grilled Octopus - Grilled well, but I wasnt a fan of the texture. The way they prepared it made the octopus really soft. I think the natural springy texture of octopus is fun to eat so this didnt really do it for me. I guess softening up the octopus helps prevent the tough, rubbery texture when its overcooked, but without the springiness, I thought it was kinda boring. An easy solution to this is to just not overcook the octopus. Then they wont need to soften it. Grilled Lamb Riblets - The lamb riblets were grilled well and had a flavorful sear. The execution was on point as the meat was tender but not to the point where its meat mush. The meat held its structure but still slid off the bones easily. Goat Stew - The waiter described the stew being made with spices like nutmeg and allspice, but I didnt really taste much of that spice component. It still wasnt bad though. The goat was tender, and the cheese gave the stew more richness and aroma. The stew had enough basic seasonings like salt, but it wouldve been perfect if there were more of those warm spice flavors. Moussaka - Pretty good. I thought the stuffing of the moussaka had the warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice flavors that were missing in the goat stew. The creamy bechamel helped layer out the flavors of the stuffing to make them more palatable and easier to enjoy. Grill Lamb Chops - Spectacular. The perfect sear gave them a smoky charred crust, and they had a beautiful warm red center. The simple seasoning brought out the best in the lamb, so it didnt need any fancy spices or anything. I was doubtful about the lamb chops at first, but now I see the light. Good job, Kokkari.

AT

Athena Chang

I have heard amazing things about Kokkari for quite a long time and I finally had the pleasure of dining here last Friday night. It was elegant and surely very popular. It took us 1 month to find an open table on the week night. The décor was Mediterranean with woods and rugs everywhere. The service was warm and attentive. The manager came to check in with us during the meal and right before we left. We were served warm bread with a big bowl of olive oil once we sit down. For appetizer, we indulged in their grilled Octopus and fish roe dip with homemade pita bread. Both are outstanding and the dip is rich, creamy and smooth. It goes so well with their soft but firm pita bread. It was a match made in heaven. For entrée, I was eyeing the lamb chop but decided to go a healthier route of grilled Branzino fish. Both cost over $46 but come in rather big portion. My husband got the lamb chop instead. I had a slide of the medium rare lamb chop and it was full of flavor and excellently seasoned. My Branzino fish came in whole with head, tail and bone. It was a beautiful thing although I cannot finish it all at once. It tastes fresh, sweet and tender. We were really full after entrée but figured an order of dessert will just put us to sleep so why not? We got the Baklava and it came with a scoop of very sweet Vanila ice cream I believe. The baklava comes in two triangle pieces and if you never have it before, you should be aware that Baklava is naturally very sweet since it has a lot of honey in it plus crushed pistachio. We felt like penguins after this meal because our bellies were too full. I would love to come back again and try other items on the menu!

KE

Keira Dazi

Went here a couple years back. My boyfriend at the time, (being a culinary graduate), had complained about my inability to express an interest in good food and try new foods. My response was treating him to a good meal, while aiming to be more adventurous with my cuisine. Upon walking into the pleasantly lit historic but fresh looking, high ceiling building, I knew this was to be an experience I would never forget. The host was very nice and prompt about seating us, and the server was quite simply a breath of fresh air. He was very animated, funny, and knowledgeable. We started with the Grilled Octopus. (Something I wouldnt normally try, but the atmosphere here helped me to stick to my wishes of being more of an adventurous eater.) The lemon, oregano & olive oil made this appetizer pop! It was a great beginning to a fantastic meal. The wine list was endless. Which made it fun to experiment. The grilled lambchops made me a die hard fan. I had never in my life, eaten lamb, and I have to say, this was an orgasmic experience. It actually became my favourite red meat. Only, my standards were set on Kokkaris. The prices are pretty steep but worth the experience and definitely not unreasonable if you were planning on a top notch meal. Overall, this was an unforgettable night at a phenomenal restaurant. If you are looking for a romantic place, this is it. If you are looking to expand your bland taste buds, this is the place. If you are just looking for an opportunity to live a little more.. Then please.. MAKE A RESERVATION HERE, RIGHT NOW.