MOLYVOS in NY City just next to Carnegie Hall (www.molyvos.com - 871 7th Avenue at 56th St) has long been considered one of the top Greek spots to dine in NY City and has historically carried top prices as well.
We dined there the other night before a concert which began at 730pm, and we had a 530pm reservation, as did many other folks. The front doorway was crowded and drafty (the temps were way below freezing) as people gathered to be seated since they don't open until 530pm. We were actually not seated until about 5:40pm (even though we had checked in by 5:20pm). This was not so bad, except that my Mom can't stand long and had to take a seat at a nearby table since there was no place to sit other than the bar with very high stools. We quickly ordered a bar appetizer of TARAMOSALATA which we had both remembered over the years as the best around; it isn't anymore. Somebody changed the recipe, and while it is GOOD, it is no longer AMAZING; it got less creamy than it was. The warm pita and olive bread chunks were super, and the accompanying Red Pepper Puree was as good as the Tarama; we just could have had that!
My mom ordered her drink which was good-sized for its price ($10 for call brands) and I asked for a glass of ASSYRTIKO-ROBOILLA, Kallista from Domaine Mercouri on Ilias which was $13 and the pour was easily UNDER 4 ounces. I mentioned this to the server and he did not offer to fill the glass much more, but my second glass, an XINOMAVROS AKIKIES Ktima Kir-Yianni Rose from Amyrideon was filled to the brim of the mini-carafe. Both wines were superb, by the way, just be sure the carafe is full.
I was pretty hungry, so I ordered the appetizer of OCTOPUS SALAD, and the server asked me if I wanted the "cold salad," and I said yes, not realizing there were two. Well, there was only one, and it was deliciously warm (not hot) and loaded with chunks of tender sliced octopus, roasted peppers, lots of fresh ripe tomatoes, greens and a lemon and olive oil emulsion.
We both ordered fish for our entrees, and I think this is one of Molyvos' specialties. My Mom's Herb Crusted ARCTIC CHAR was slow cooked with a super tasty, super crunchy skin and served with BLACK EYES PEAS, Red Onion, Tomato, Dandelion Greens, Extra Virgin olive Oil, Lemon & Dill and she could not stop raving. My SAUTEED SKATE PASTOURMA with Basmati Rice, House Pickled Peppers and an amazing WALNUT AVGOLEMONO (that fabulous chicken lemon soup so famous in Greece) sauce was simply spectacular.
It was still early, so I ordered a dessert that said, "please allow ample time." I asked the server how long it took, and he said no more than 15 minutes. Over 25 minutes later as we were telling them we needed to go, a plate of LOUKOMADES arrived that were fritters (just fried dough really, and bland at that) soaked in CINNAMON THYME HONEY with Walnuts that was so sweet we could barely eat more than a couple each. We left over 1/2 the dish and headed out, happy about our entrees, but regretting the dessert.
