Heading to Greece next week. I’ll be in Mykonos (most of my free time is already filled up there) and Athens. Anyone have any recos, especially in Athens. I think we are staying sorta near The Acropolis.

[dbl post, pls disregard]

tommy wrote: Heading to Greece next week. I’ll be in Mykonos (most of my free time is already filled up there) and Athens. Anyone have any recos, especially in Athens. I think we are staying sorta near The Acropolis.

As of two years ago, Atlantikos in Psirri served simple, quality seafood at gentle prices. It's popular and very tourist-friendly but not exclusively touristy.

Volvi, outside Varvakeios Market on Evripidou, is a window for better-than-normal souvlaki and meatballs made w/(for once) good ingredients. The market itself is worth a look as well (the surrounding area is wonderful for herbs, spices, tea, beans, grains, and soap to take home), and the old-school famous lunch restaurant in there w/the tripe soup is also solid.

For a hell of a dinner and outstanding wine (w/an emphasis on natural and/or traditional producers), spend a little money and go to Materia Prima in Koukaki. Greek food w/international influences and an avant-garde edge w/o being corny or needlessly fancy.

You probably know that Greeks eat late, so dinner before 9pm looks a little odd outside of tourist joints.

Athens is big, gritty, smoggy, and a huge mix of Greek and immigrant cultures, so it's often more hectic and urban than one might expect. But I totally love the place. Classical monuments mixed in w/that stuff is very cool. Hike around the Anafiotika quarter, just behind the Acropolis, if you're an active sort, and admire the old houses. Exarchia is the historic bohemian neighborhood, although it looked a little spent a few years ago b/c of hard-drug spillover from adjacent areas and the closure of so many clubs, record stores, and shops. Might be a little livelier now w/the pandemic in the rearview, dunno? Do watch your pockets on the metro, especially coming from the airport.

I just did the touristy stuff when I was in Athens and had a blast. I also stayed in Koukaki and found it delightful.

The only thing outside of the obvious tourist stuff that I would recommend is, if you see what looks like a large pastry filled with spinach and feta BUY IT and EAT IT. Spanakopita is absolutely incredible and they put herbs in it that you don't seem to be able to find outside of Greece (believe me, I've tried to find it here many times...). I still dream of the ones I had for breakfast/lunch over there. (The place I went to was called "Doux Cook@ki". I don't know if it's still the same after 3-5 years, but it still has good reviews!)

I also really enjoyed the food at Kalamaki Bar (also in koukaki). It you'd like somewhere cheap to eat traditional Greek food e.g. meat on skewers, bread salad, and maybe have a drink it's great, and absolutely delicious. Seems to still have a great rating too.

Meteora is absolutely worth the 2-day trip (you overnight at a hostel there), but it sounds like your calendar is already full so maybe next time.

Thanks for the Athens info, gents. Planning on checking some of these out. Will report back.

Going to NYC for a few days in less than 2 weeks. Last time I was there was almost 20 years ago.

Those of you familiar to the area, give me some restaurant recommendations.
I've heard that Joe's is a good spot for pizza.
We're staying at a place a few blocks south of the Empire State Building.

zircona1 wrote: Those of you familiar to the area, give me some restaurant recommendations.
I've heard that Joe's is a good spot for pizza.
We're staying at a place a few blocks south of the Empire State Building.

Joe's is, or at least used to be, pretty ok for a street slice. Many decades ago, it was even a platonic ideal of sorts. Although I'm not as familiar w/it since it has expanded to multiple locations across the city. Prince Street Pizza is similarly famous but for its Sicilian slices, although I think it fell off a bit some years ago and it might not be worth dealing w/the crazy-ass lines.

I'd check out Song'E Napule (I've only been to the original location) or Una Pizza Napoletana for individual, sit-down Neopolitan pies. This is more of a real meal than an on-the-go situation. Both are about as good as pizza gets anywhere. But strictly Italian in style rather than Italian-American.

For an NYC street slice, Grand St. Pizza is great, kinda what every walk-in place should be but rarely is. Although it's not next door to where you're staying.

Restaurant-wise, what are you looking for? Fancy? Cheap? Any specific type of international cuisine? Does wine matter?

Joe's is very good.

The New Kid on the Slice Block is called Upside, which is very good and not too far from your hotel.

https://www.upsidepizza.com/

You're also near Koreatown, that's worth looking into if you like Korean BBQ and stuff like that.
There's also a lot of Sichuan places (in Central Midtown near Bryant Park) that specialize in dishes featuring the mouth-numbing peppercorns.

I also recommend a ferry ride (either on East River or to Staten Island & back).

You might be here for Giglio, check this out: https://www.olmcfeast.com/
Ancient old world tradition transplanted to Brooklyn, featuring sketchy carnie rides and fried dough.
The Dancing of the Giglio is something to behold, I gotta say. The neighborhood strongmen carry an ENORMOUS tower down the street.
The tower platform has a whole band on it.

If you do go to the Giglio, you'll be right where Best Pizza is which is another relative newcomer bringing top-notch slices. Williamsburg has a millions bars / restaurants / venues.

OrthodoxEaster wrote: Thu Jun 22, 2023 8:44 am

zircona1 wrote: Those of you familiar to the area, give me some restaurant recommendations.
I've heard that Joe's is a good spot for pizza.
We're staying at a place a few blocks south of the Empire State Building.

Joe's is, or at least used to be, pretty ok for a street slice. Many decades ago, it was even a platonic ideal of sorts. Although I'm not as familiar w/it since it has expanded to multiple locations across the city. Prince Street Pizza is similarly famous but for its Sicilian slices, although I think it fell off a bit some years ago and it might not be worth dealing w/the crazy-ass lines.

I'd check out Song'E Napule (I've only been to the original location) or Una Pizza Napoletana for individual, sit-down Neopolitan pies. This is more of a real meal than an on-the-go situation. Both are about as good as pizza gets anywhere. But strictly Italian in style rather than Italian-American.

For an NYC street slice, Grand St. Pizza is great, kinda what every walk-in place should be but rarely is. Although it's not next door to where you're staying.

Restaurant-wise, what are you looking for? Fancy? Cheap? Any specific type of international cuisine? Does wine matter?

Nothing fancy like $$$$, more in the $ - $$$ range for a meal for 2.
No seafood (wife doesn't eat it).
I'm not a big wine person, but she might have a glass or 2.

zircona1 wrote:Nothing fancy like $$$$, more in the $ - $$$ range for a meal for 2.
No seafood (wife doesn't eat it).
I'm not a big wine person, but she might have a glass or 2.

I'll do my best. Nothing here is above midpriced (for NYC) or upper midpriced, especially if you're not ordering bottles of wine. A few are way cheap. You can cross-reference prices on websites or via reviews, as well.

Most (not all) are downtown from where you're staying, but if so, they're a relatively quick subway ride away and you'll wanna see other parts of Manhattan anyway.

Kafana in the East Village is an excellent Serbian place w/a unique atmosphere and one of the few restaurants where you can get food from the former Yugoslavia in a nice but unpretentious atmosphere. Big meaty things like lamb shanks w/salad, ćevapi (grilled, skinless sausages), white beans w/homemade sausage, pork shoulder w/red cabbage salad, puffy spinach-and-cheese pie. Desserts are worth it, as well. Deep Balkan wine list for her, beer or rakija for you. You'll need to reserve on the weekend (especially when there's live music on Friday and it gets rowdy), but otherwise, you should be fine.

Cafe Katja is similar to the above but a little pricier and maybe slightly more refined. Modern Austrian (no kitschy beerhall style or ladies in dirndls) here, w/a handful of American dishes thrown in. Pork meatballs, sausages, or spätzle and a few mugs of German or Austrian beer will set you right. Cute rooms w/exposed brick and a slate bar that feels good on your hands. Outdoor seating setup is also quite pleasant.

If you wanna get a little fancier and more expensive (but not too trendy or pricey), Wildair is a natural wine bar on the Lower East Side w/really creative small plates, sort of modern American but w/heavy Nordic, French, and Asian touches. Like a New York version of someplace in Copenhagen or Paris. It's popular and fun. You could make a very light dinner out of the little gem lettuce salad w/pistachio cream, beef tartare w/sour plum, and Toulouse sausage w/beans and mustard, then order a couple of the celebrated, sometimes deliciously freaky desserts. Requires a bit of an adventurous palate, but it's won over some of my squeamish friends, as well. Dinner only, although there are doughnuts during the day, but those sell out in minutes.

Great N.Y Noodletown is a classic Cantonese/Hong Kong dive in Chinatown w/low prices, solid roast pork and duck on rice, and some of the best wonton noodle soup around. Noodle dishes and fried rice are decent, too. Service is gruff and efficient, food can be salty, and there's no atmosphere, but this makes a great lunch or late-dinner option. (The cauliflower w/Chinese sausage is still under $10.) There may be a wait during regular dinner hours.

Wu's Wonton King is similar--better for some dishes, not as good for others--but more focused on dim sum (lunch only) and seafood, although you can easily make a fine meal of meat and vegetables here. It's also a little tidier.

Speaking of lunch and Chinatown, Bánh Mì Cô út makes my favorite Vietnamese sandwich in Manhattan, for takeout only. Roast pig and charcuterie options are amazing, but even the tofu or chicken are pretty good.

CheLi (Shanghaiese) and Szechuan Moutain House (Sichuan) are right next to each other in the East Village. You'll get somewhat refined yet pretty hardcore versions of their respective regional Chinese cuisines w/o having to take a trip all the way to Queens (although an afternoon in Flushing totally rules, as well).

Potluck Club serves some of the best Chinese salt-and-pepper fried chicken in the world (w/a scallion biscuit), charred rice noodles, and a hell of an endive salad. Looks like a Chinese movie theatre exploded inside, cool décor. Reservations are hard to come by, but you should try.

Teacher's Pet also mentioned the Sichuan places near Bryant Park, of which I favor a place called (what else?) The Best Sichuan. Not far from your hotel!

There's also a historic, hole-in-the-wall Dominican lunch counter near Times Square called Margon, recommended for a plate of roast pork or stewed oxtails w/yellow rice, plantains, and red beans or maybe a Cuban sandwich. Ask for the garlic-and-vinegar sauce. No dinner, so crack a mid-day beer among office and construction workers.

That enough? Have fun!