Trendy Greek on Bleecker: Nisi Estiatorio | NYC

Located in the heart of the West Village, I was excited to dine at Nisi because it kind of sounds like my name, Nisha.

Nisi translates to island in Greek. As you walk into this gorgeous restaurant, there is a bar to the left. 

The blue and white colors of the Greek flag set the tone throughout the entire space. A trendy restaurant with a neighborhood feel where the service is warm and friendly, and the food is good.

Cocktail + Complimentary Starter
Starter: Creamy garlic & lemon hummus dip along with bread. Light and delicious starter.
Sangria: The sangria lacked the light fruity lightness I was looking for and was quite strong for me. Just okay.

Spreads
Choice of 4 (left to right): My favorite dish of the night. I absolutely loved the 4 dips we chose which came with a side of warm, soft pita bread. A must-do!
   Tirokafteri: A spicy cheese dip with a kick, almost looks like hummus, but softer. A favorite!
   Tzatziki: Yogurt, cucumber and garlic dip. Creamy and yummy.
   Melitzanosalata: Greek version of Baba Ghanouj, essentially roasted eggplant with garlic, olive oil and lemon. The roasted eggplant had a light sweetness which was nice. A favorite!
   Skordalia: A incredible potato and garlic dip blended with nuts. Creamy and delicious. Outstanding dip and a favorite!

Mezes
Nisi Chips: Fried paper thin zucchini and eggplant chips served with tzatziki sauce. Although the chips and sauce were incredibly delicious, this dish was quite greasy. I wish some of the oil was absorbed on a paper towel before serving this dish. A favorite, but oily!
Stuffed Manitaria: Mushrooms stuffed with bacon, roasted pepper and melted mozzarella cheese. This dish was both creamy and smoky. If you like bacon, this is your dish.

Cheese Saganaki: Pan-fried sheep’s milk cheese that is slightly salty and absolutely amazing. The tomatoes to the side were slightly sweet which balanced out the saltiness in the cheese. Divine, and a favorite.
Grilled Octopus: A highly popular dish at Nisi that is prepared with red wine vinegar, lemon, capers, oregano and EVOO. The octopus was light and tender, it sort of just melted in my mouth. A favorite.

Salad
Nisi Salad: Mixed greens with cherry tomatoes, rusks, grilled vegetables, basil, balsamic vinaigrette, and grilled manouri cheese. The grilled vegetables and manouri cheese took this salad to a whole new level. This salad was good, but overwhelmingly oily. I really wish they toned down the oil/dressing in this salad.

From the Sea & Side
Solomos: Organic salmon served with a side of lemon potatoes. The salmon was good and perfectly cooked, but underwhelming in flavor. The potatoes on the side were tender, lemony, light and yummy. The fresh rosemary was a nice touch.
Grilled Asparagus: Perfectly grilled asparagus with olive oil. A favorite side.

Dessert/Cappuccino
Walnut Cake: Such a pretty cake, but on the dry side – I’m not sure if that was intended. The cake had a hint of orange and wasn’t too sweet. The ice-cream nicely balanced the flavors in this cake.
Cappuccino: Good, solid.

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Nisi Estiatorio
COST: $$$
CUISINE: Greek/Mediterranean
FAVORITES: Spreads (Tirokafteri, Melitzanosalata, Skordalia) | Cheese Saganaki | Grilled Octopus | Asparagus
VERDICT: 4 / 5
There is a shortage of good Greek restaurants in New York City, and thus I was pretty excited about Nisi opening up in the West Village. Greek and Mediterranean cuisines happen to be one of my favorite cuisines because I find the flavors to be light, fresh and healthy. Overall, I enjoyed the food at Nisi. The spreads were easily the highlight of the night, specifically speaking the Skordalia which is essentially Greek mashed potatoes, absolutely incredible. Furthermore, the Mezes were delicious and flavorful. Now although I found most dishes to be good, a couple dishes were overwhelming oily which is something that could have been easily avoided. The staff at Nisi is warm, friendly and attentive, however certain dishes took a while to come out. This trendy restaurant was packed on a Friday night and perhaps that may have attributed to the slow service. While I waited for my food, I most certainly enjoyed the music, the music at Nisi is HOT! Perfect lively date spot or make it a night out with the girls with some wine and mezes.
Food: Very Good | Drinks: Average | Décor: Trendy/Modern | Service: Friendly/Warm/Slow |Value: Certain Dishes Slightly Overpriced

LOCATION
302 Bleecker St., New York City
(West Village)

Have you been to Nisi? Thoughts? What’s your favorite Greek/Mediterranean dish?

Nisi Estiatorio | NYC