Molyvos, NYC

It's pretty embarrassing, but this is only the second time I've ever eaten in a Greek restaurant. It's not usually on my radar since there are a number of key Greek ingredients that I'm not a huge fan of...like yogurt and olives.

In December Alan and I went to a Greek restaurant in NYC to celebrate the holidays with others from his company. Located on 7th Avenue between 55th and 56th, Molyvos is a bustling, casual establishment of fairly impressive size. The restaurant is owned and operated by the Livanos family who also run Oceana and Abbocatto in New York and others in Westchester, Connecticut and New Jersey.

Being a group of eight, appetizers were ordered family style to be shared and then we individually ordered entrees. The appetizers covered a good portion of the menu including hummus, Greek salad, lamb meatballs, grilled octopus, cheese fritters and spinach pites with leeks and feta.

These were all pretty good with the best being the Greek salad, meatballs and the grilled octopus.

For our entrees Alan ordered the clay pot lamb shank with orzo, tomatoes and kefalotyri cheese. Like a stew with a big old lamb shank in it, this dish was great. The lamb was slow cooked, super tender and had excellent flavor with no gaminess. Most likely considered a comfort food, it opened my eyes to the possibilities of Greek homestyle cooking.

Staying with lamb, I ordered the grilled baby lamb chops with potato cake, frisee and roasted eggplant salad.

The lamb was medium rare inside and again, great flavor. The nice thing about baby lamb chops is you never feel like you ate too much - they have a minimal amount of meat on them leaving you satisfied but not stuffed. I enjoyed my dish though I think Alan's was the better of the two since my sides were pretty blah.

Overall, I enjoyed this experience more than I thought I would. I'd even consider trying another Greek restaurant in the New Year since lamb done right is awesome and the Greeks do lamb better than anyone.

Zagat: 23-21-21
Jenn: 80