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Ithaka Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Seafood Greek, Seafood [Edit]
308 E 86th St(between 2nd Ave & 1st Ave)
New York, NY 10028
Neighbourhoods: Yorkville, Upper East Side
(212) 628-9100
- Nearest Transit:
-
86 St (4, 5, 6, 6X)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 4 pm - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 12:30 pm - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
54 reviews for Ithaka Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"I had the flakiest spinach pie as an app, then the pasta of..." In 4 reviews -
"...you feel like you've been transported straight to Greece." In 11 reviews -
"For a meal, I had the Arni Youvetsi (Lamb cooked in a clay..." In 2 reviews
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54 reviews in English
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Review from Bill K.
Jersey City, NJ
1/11/2012
Once in a while you find a restaurant that redefines your scope of ethnic cuisine and sets the new bar. This is definitely that place for me and greek food. I had a lot of dishes from fresh fish, lamb, flambeed cheese, to the best octopus salad I ever ate.
I've been thinking about this place for over a year now. That's how good my meal was there. I can't wait to go back.
edit: I should state that my review was based on me going on there in 2010. -
Review from Glenn C.
Fair Lawn, NJ
5/19/2012
Short review: 4.5 level food partially ruined by a bad Spanikopita, some service issues, and some overly high prices, 3.5. I really wish I could give this a 3.5 but it is definitely closer to a 4 than a 3 so oh well. Really on the border between a 3 and a 4, really not sure.
"High"lights:
Possibly the best vegetarian plate of ----ANY---- Greek or potentially non-only vegetarian/vegan restaurant in the city
Best Saganaki I have had yet
Waiters were speedy and generally good (generally)
"Medium"lights:
Solid Pasticio: specifically the bechamel
Solid Dip
Prices were ok for excellent food
Good bread/olive oil
Waiters were fast
Medium loud service
General upper-end Greek-style dining room, nothing too special
"Low"lights:
Really bad spanikopita
Soda's cost 3 dollars for a 12 oz glass
Waiter kept on insisting over and over again for us to get wine..and over..and over..etc.
Not much else, prices were kinda too high for certain dishes
Long review
Party of 3. We had:
Drinks:
Two cokes and a ginger ale...all 3 dollars? Really? 3 dollar for a little 12 oz glass of coke/ginger ale with tons of ice? Thank you for not showing a drink menu and just insisting to get wine over and over again. I might have gotten something alcoholic if you actually showed a proper drink menu.
Appetizers/given stuff
Olive Oil: Solid with big chunks of olives: 4 stars
Bread: two types, a generic french one and some generic pita: 3 stars
Skordalia 6.00 Potato, garlic, almond, an olive/cucumber is on top also:
Think of highly flavored mashed potatoes and you get this dish, Spicier than I thought it would be. Portion was more than enough for three people, probably two if both people really enjoyed it, price of the dish makes sense. 3.5 stars
Saganaki 11.00 flambe 12.00, Kefalograviera lightly fried with butter and lemon or flambe: We had the flambe.
Best variation of Saganaki I have had yet and I have tried this dish in multiple restaurants. Seemed to have a filo-dough like crunch outside which was different than in any other place, great texture contast. Very good sized portion, was enough for two people realistically (price is kinda high) 5 stars
Main entrees
2 Chef's Vegetarian Plate 19.00
I really wish that this place properly advertised this dish. It is by far the best deal on this menu. Very filling and way worth the price. For anyone who likes appetizers, get this. This plate consists of a sample of all of these items (I might be remembering wrong) with each given basic ratings (I ordered the Pasticio so this from a small sample from someone else):
Tiganites Piperyes: Green Pepper (cheese stuffed,) 4 stars, 2nd best
Kolokythakia: Fried Zucchini: 4 stars
Spanakotiropita: Spinach pie, 2 stars, the irony of the plate, the normal Greek appetizer was by far the worst, kinda tasteless
Gigantes Fournou: Lima Beans, 4 stars, just very solid
Melitzana Santorini: Stuffed Eggplant (vegetable stuffed,) 4.5 stars, best on the plate
Dolmadakia: Grape Leaves, 4 stars, very solid, tons of flavor
and Melitzanosalata: Eggplant Dip 4 stars
4/5, a way worth it 4/5 that would have been a 5 if not for the bad Spanakotiropita)
Pasticio 19.00 Pasta layers with chopped lamb and beef meat, topped with bechamel
Not the best one I have had but a solid one nonetheless. There wasn't too much lamb/beef. The Bechamel however was extremely solid and the macaroni-ish pasta was well cooked. Rice/vegetables were generally throwaways. 3.5 stars, would be 3 but the Bechamel bumps it up
Dessert: None, went to (advertisement incoming) Andre's instead for strudel (see my review here! http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Dinner with tax/not tip came out to 92/93 for 3 people. Around 30/31 per person without alcohol for two appetizers, three dinners, three overpriced drinks, no desserts, not cheap.
Service: As said, probably lowers down this place just from the alcohol issues/rushed nature alone, repeated a few dishes, rushed us a bit
Overall:
There were a few issues but overall, excellent, fix the badly flavored Spanikopita, properly label the vegetarian plate, and fix the incessant waiters and this will get a solid 4 or higher. -
Review from Aris S.
New York, NY
12/5/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Ithaka is a solid Greek restaurant with the perfect ambiance and authentic delicious Greek food. You can't go wrong with it.
The food menu is a good representation of authentic Greek cuisine. The ingredients are fresh and of high quality and the fish is fresh and nicely cooked. There's some room for improvement with the wine selection and the desserts, but since they're not the main point of focus it doesn't really matter.
What really impressed me was the efficiency of the staff. Everyone was working fast and attentively like a well-coordinated machine. You can tell management has its eye on this.
Great experience and a great b-day dinner. -
Review from Elizabeth B.
Brooklyn, NY
3/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Beautifully fresh seafood, great service, supercute decor, nice selection of Greek wines, octogenarian clientele. The menu is a little disappointing, lacking in certain classics like hummus and sigar borek, but my seafood souvlaki brought me two large skewers laden with shrimp and scallops redolent of wood fire. Oh, it was fantastic. It came with very plain steamed vegetables that were fresh and cooked perfectly. This was my second excellent meal here, and my dad was also pleased, and he's the kind of picky UES old guy this restaurant excels in satisfying.
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Review from Tani T.
Poughkeepsie, NY
3/29/2012
I had the most horrible experience I ever had.
Service was terrible .the manager told us it was because the waiter was new. My husband order sea food yiouvetsi which t
In the menu was printed as a food you had to order ahead because was taking time to get prepared.my husband tried to order that first and the waiter insulted him by saying.. You want to eat first ahead of the rest
We order odeurves which they never served but when we asked for the check thou the manager says he was not charging us for my husbands food he was charging for food he never served.
When we pointed that out the manager took the bill to correct it and brought it back billing us more money than the previous bill
Any way we would never go there again and spread the word to all of our friendsComment from George H. of Ithaka Restaurant 4/1/2012
The guests where 13 and called on Sunday March 25 which is… More » -
Review from Dimitrios D.
New York, NY
9/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
After reading a review by my good Yelp (and 'real life') friend, Peter E, who gave this place glowing accolades and 5 stars, I thought, "I have to come here!"
Horiatiki salad. The only disappointment of the evening. While it was fine, it was nothing special and only had three Kalamata olives in it, and two relatively slender chunks of feta cheese in it. I would have liked to see a bit more of both. Otherwise, it was fine. Oh- and we asked for it without the romaine lettuce (which the menu says it has in it), as lettuce is never served in actual horiatiki salads in Greece.
Grilled octopus. Things have quickly turned quite positive. Easily some of the best octopus I've had recently. Puts many Astoria establishments to shame. It was flavorful and nicely charred in parts. There was a healthy mix of both the slender and twisting ends of the tentacles as well as heartier chunks of the upper parts of the tentacles. Squirt some fresh lemon over it and you're there.
Saganaki, liqueur flamed. Served to us flaming, in my excitement I found myself saying, "Opa!" aloud. Delicious. It's a salty, fried goat cheese- what else must I say?
Now on to the main courses which we shared.
Garides Grecolimano. My pick. Shrimp in an aromatic tomato sauce (seasoned with oregano and cinnamon and more?) and topped with feta. Rice on the side (also topped with the tomato sauce and feta). Light and delicious.
One of the specials of the day: burek with crab meat, spinach, almond, with a tomato cream sauce over it all. My girlfriend's pick. Also quite delicious. Certainly unique and something I've never seen in any of Greek restaurant, or in Greece, for that matter. As strange as it sounds, it looked liked a Greek take on egg rolls, as the shape of the two bureks resembled more of a cylindric shape, rather than a flatter shape that I would normally associate with burek.
Attentive service. The owner is from one of the Greek islands and thanked us on our way out. We had a good conversation with a talkative and friendly Albanian host (who speaks fluent Greek) who spoke to us after we finished our meals. The servers and busboys were all efficient and polite. We never had to ask for water or wonder where our food was at any point.
The place is clean and nicely decorated. The tables and chairs, the white washed and sky blue paint- all give this place a nice Greek island flair. -
Review from George T.
Manhattan, NY
3/10/2012
Authentic Greek food that reminds me of mom's cooking. Staff
is friendly and knowledgable. Try the Greek meatballs, egg and lemon soup and dips as appetizers. The fish is fresh and cooked and boned to perfection. Try the fried dough for dessert.....they're light and so tasty! -
Review from Peter E.
Astoria, NY
7/8/2011 1 photo
I was very impressed with everything about this restaurant! The food was fresh, the ambience was welcoming and clean, and the service was great! I went with my sister. We started off with the kolokythakia appetizer (fried zucchini slices), which were lightly battered and perfectly fried. For a meal, I had the Arni Youvetsi (Lamb cooked in a clay pot with feta cheese and tomato sauce). It's usually my favorite Greek dish and they prepared it perfectly. It was one of the best I've ever had! My sister had the paithakia (Lamb chops) and they were also cooked perfectly! Very juicy, soft and flavorful.
I will definitely be going back and bringing more family members! Some of the best greek food I've ever had in NYC! -
Review from Loren G.
Oceanside, NY
3/27/2012
Have been quite a few times and always have had very enjoyable food but last nite was just wonderful we had a VERY picky eater with us and they went overboard to make sure she enjoyed her meal great service great fresh fish prepared exactly as ordered cant wait to get back and try other dishes
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Review from V Z.
Manhattan, NY
3/19/2012
I have dined here several times over the past year or so and not sure why I hadn't posted my thoughts earlier. Anyhow- Ithaka is wonderful. The menu provides for a broad selection and is sure to cover most persons dietary needs. I personally have enjoyed a couple lamb dishes, recently the calamari and last night the appetizer octopus that they kindly created into a full serve portion. The lamb dishes were seasoned very well and the flavor profiles were deep and succulent. The calamari was grilled to perfection. Last evening the octopus was sublime, fork tender, grilled just right and a dash of fresh lemon juice sealed the perfect flavor. Keep up the great work! I will be back again- no questions.
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Review from Erika G.
Manhattan, NY
8/15/2011
When you walk into Ithaka you feel like you've been transported straight to Greece. Rarely do restaurants get their decor so right. The little things make this place awesome - the service is really good (at any given moment you have three people waiting on you), they have a fresh fish tray so you can see all the options and the portions are more than fairly sized. The food was definitely good - my grape leaves were the best I've ever had and my husband had sardines (which he would never normally order) which were really tasty (albeit boney). For entrees he had the lamb clay pot and I had the seafood clay pot, both of which were good but not great. The sauce was really interesting though. Oh and the pita bread comes hot by the basket - yum!
I would definitly recommed Ithaka for dinner! -
Review from Ash C.
New York, NY
3/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent selection of fresh fish, and you can dictate how you like it cooked and whether or not you would like it on or off the bone. The feta they used in a couple of the dishes we ordered had a really pungent smell.. .a sign that it was kept out in the air too long. Not very appetizing.
This is not a romantic place, and the food seemed to get lost somewhere between mediocre and standard. The service was an absolute train wreck.
I would recommend Peri Ela (turkish food though) on Lex and 90th over this place in a heartbeat.
And so my search continues for an authentic Greek restaurant that can match the food and soul I experienced in Greece.... -
Review from Saira K.
10/7/2011
Such a beautiful restaurant! The white walls and the stone floor take me to the lovely Greek Isles. The cold appetizers - tzatziki, melitzanosalata, taramosalata, and skordalia - are perfect, and the rabbit and lamb dishes sound good, but I loved the fresh fish baked with feta, fresh tomato sauce, herbs, onions and garlic. Delicious!
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Review from Jessica N.
Portland, OR
9/20/2010
This was one of the worst dining experience I have ever had. As a frequent traveler and self proclaimed foodie, I have experienced and enjoyed a very wide variety of restaurants in different cities. I understand that all servers have a bad day every now and then but the service at Ithaka was appalling.
There was only one other table in the restaurant when we were there. The waiter brought water and then disappeared into the back of the place for over 10 minutes without taking a drink order. When we finally ordered a bottle of white wine, he brought it out and it was very warm. He said nothing about this and even seemed annoyed when we asked if he had something cold. He then brought us 5 bottles of different whites and set them on the table and left. We had no clue what the price was on any of them. Finally he came back and we asked for a wine key. He then left it on the table without opening the bottle or taking the bottles we werent going to drink from the table!!! I mean seriously? We opened and poured our own wine, I had to remove the other bottles and put them on an unused table. Terrible.
Then the food comes and its not great. He never comes back once to check on the food. He finally comes to pour water and spills it on my friend's silk dress, no apology, just walks away.
At the end of the meal he hasnt discounted anything, and again gave us major attitude when we asked to have the wine taken off the check. To have that kind of service when the place wasnt even busy was just inexcusable. To make matters worse he didnt seem to understand how bad it was and never once apologized, and even gave us attitude a few times. It was terrible and the food wasnt even great. I wouldnt recommend this place to anyone. Horrible. -
Review from Lee G.
9/28/2011
This food is delicious and tastes amazing. Only downside, delivery takes a while. WORTH THE WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Review from Tan N.
12/25/2010
When you enter this restaurant, you really are transported to a Mediterranean looking environment. For a moment I really did think I was on a summer Greek island and not in cold and dreary winter manhattan. Five stars for interior decorating.
But wait, yelp is a food critic place! I got the mousaka, and I was really excited to taste a fusion of eggplant, lamb, and beef. Unfortunately, the meal didn't taste as magical as my minds wanted it to taste. Sure it tasted like lamb and eggplant, but it wasn't anything special. I definitely eat with my eyes, and it looked like lasanga. Maybe that's what moussaka is and I'm really bad at being greek. I definitely didn't break any plates while I was there. Not on purpose anyways.
My other friends said that their meals were really good, and I should have gotten a meal with a clay pot. I imagine I would have given four stars if I did that. Ah well.
Ps, their Greek beer tastes like normal beer. You might as well go classy and get wine. I poured my beer in the wine glass and pretended I was something I'm not. -
Review from Cara A.
8/28/2009
Something I don't like: When the waiter accidentally brushes my hand and almost makes me drop my bread as he picks up and moves the plate from which I am currently eating.
Something I do like: A nice, warm, flaky, spinach-y spanikopita.
I experienced both at Ithaka last night. I'm pretty sure I can get the latter elsewhere, though.
[See also Natasha L's review... and add a +1] -
Review from Arlene B.
New York, NY
6/8/2006
They just started serving lunch about six months ago, with a somewhat more limited menu than dinner, but with all the essential Greek dishes. My husband had the Kotosoupa Augolemono, which he said was the best soup he ever had (see Gourmet G's review); then the lamb stew. I had the flakiest spinach pie as an app, then the pasta of the day, delicious fettuccine with jumbo shrimp and scallops.
There were a few tables occupied for lunch but, understandably, not crowded and noisy as at dinnertime. For those in the neighborhood midday, this is a great choice. -
Review from Natasha L.
Washington, DC
Updated - 10/5/2009
oooh a two star upgrade! Okay so I decided with the encouragement of a new friend I met on Yelp to give them a try again. Since he goes there often and he's always had a great experience, I said, what the hey. So we decided to go on a Saturday night. It was quite busy and I must say, as we walked through the door, I was a little nervous about going back but I got over it. I mean these people don't run my life, why am I nervous?
Well, we walked in and were seated promptly. We had a different waiter than I had the last time we went although he was working. This waiter was quite pleasant and courteous. I have to say I did not feel any strangeness this time around at all. Even though I was the only Black person in the joint, which usually never bothers me anyway. I had fun with my dining companion and we chatted away without worry. I ordered the same thing as last time and it was decent, not inspiring but a-okay.
I am glad I decided to give Ithaka another try if only to see if service was really as awful as it was the first time and I'm happy to report that it was not. I wouldn't mind going back again someday.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/28/2009
The first thought that ran through my head as I stepped through the doors of Ithaka Restaurant as… Read more »
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Review from Jason H.
New York, NY
2/25/2008
My parents were coming into town and it was my responsibility to pick a restaurant for dinner on the upper east side. Due to my fear of traveling past 72nd street, I had no idea where to go. So I did what I always do when I don't know where to eat.... I turned to Yelp.
My parents' favorite vacation ever was the trip we all took to Greece so I was very happy when I saw this restaurant reviewed so highly. I had high hopes for the food based on the previous reviews, and I was not disappointed. The food was absolutely delicious. Probably the closest to the food in Greece any of us have had yet. Very authentic... definitely not your average gyro restaurant.
Not the best restaurant in the city, but the best greek food I've had here. -
Review from Jason G.
3/29/2010
Came here, ordered the Moussaka. Meh. It tasted like cheap lasagna. I've had good Moussaka and this wasn't it.
I sat down next to a table of two middle-aged ladies from the Upper East Side. They started asking me a lot of probing questions, like "are you single?" After a while, they declared me a "nice, handsome man" and "hard to come by" and wanted to set me up with someone.
They gave me change in the form of a ten-dollar bill, and I almost decided not to tip. I got one of the other waiters to give me change in a more tippable form... what an annoyance. -
Review from Jill P.
Sunnyside, NY
11/3/2007
This is such a wonderful little gem. The atmosphere, food, and service is impeccable, a delight for all the senses, truly. I especially appreciate the live music.
Unfortunately it's a little too pricey for me (main entrees run about 20-30), but the house wine is affordable and lovely, and they have a wide range of more affordable appetizers. [note that if you're a vegetarian that doesn't eat fish, there are some salads and appetizers, but only one 'chef vegetarian platter' for an entree, that I guess changes each night]
Still my lack of money doesn't take any stars away from this delightful, authentic and welcoming Greek treat! Enjoy! -
Review from Marysa M.
New York, NY
9/17/2007
So amazing!! The food is excellent - I'm guessing anything would be great, but we had the spinach pie, cheese flambe (can't remember the exact name), a great lamb special made in the clay pot and my boyfriend had a whole fish.
In addition to the excellent food, the atmosphere and staff just made us feel so welcome. The waiter helped us with our wine selection...I never knew Greek wine was so yummy. And the live music made me feel like I was in Greece.
An overall great experience...I will definitely be back for more. -
Review from Karl S.
Manhattan, NY
1/24/2012 Seated via OpenTable
More desert choices, especially a chocolate one, could help. Otherwise service is attentive and the food is delicious.
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Review from Katie G.
New York, NY
2/12/2009
Ithaka could have been a 4-star contender, but under the circumstances, I've got to give it 3...
Went last night on a whim with the bf, and we were a little surprised to see the restaurant was all but empty--just one other couple was there. Granted, it was a Wednesday night at nearly 10pm, but still, a restaurant's emptiness definitely impacts the experience. I actually felt a little self-conscious at times because our voices were basically the only noisemakers in the place, and really, no one wants to feel awkward when they're paying to eat at a restaurant.
The service was good--they mainly let us be, but they brought our wine out quickly...always a good thing. Never make 'em wait too long for the booze, that's what I always say.* The food was delicious, if a little pricey for what you got: we split the grilled octopus, which had charred, crispy little tentacles and a tender inside; the bf got the moussaka, which was fantastic; and I got a cup of the lemon soup and the Ithaka salad with radicchio, arugula, olive and avocado, and both were great. (I know this wasn't the most adventurous order ever, but I hate eating a big dinner late at night.) Definitely scored points on the food front...
Had Ithaka been a little more crowded, I think it would have been a 4-star pick. It was just hard to get a good read on it with it being so empty...the food was definitely there, though. Maybe go on a Saturday night...and go with a bigger group so you can share the yummy (well, I assume they'd be yummy) dips with friends...
One thing to note: I'm not one to concern myself with how much everything costs at a restaurant, and I didn't find the entrees to be crazy ($25 or so), but I was fairly surprised at the rest of the prices here. The octopus was $13--not out of control, but it was only one tentacle--although I know depending on the market price, octopus can get a little pricey, and I'd rather pay more to have good octopus than save a few bucks and have it suck. So forgive that one. My soup, though...it was like $8! And the small salad (no protein) was $10. They were all good, but...seems a little steep.
*Not really. But I should, because it's true. -
Review from Sarah T.
San Francisco, CA
2/18/2008
Yum yum. I had some delicious lamb cooked in a clay pot. Although the lamb was a tad on the dry side, the whole dish (which included tomato sauce and an orzo pasta) was truly delicious. I was very excited to have enough for a lunch leftover, and plan to try to get there again.
My only negative is that I did feel like the menu was a little more on the pricey side than I think the dining experience warrants. Dinner was $60 (plus tip) for two of us, but all we ate was an entree each: neither of us had an appetizer, dessert, or drink of any kind. -
Review from Pete M.
Yonkers, NY
10/14/2009
I used to go to Uncle Nick's for my Greek fix till I found out about Ithaka, which I somehow haven't reviewed yet despite having gone there frequently over the past several months.
I have never had to wait for a table at Ithaka, and possibly because it's not crowded, I find the service personal and attentive. I walk in to Ithaka, and I am greeted warmly and the waiter (Christos, usually) asks me if I want the usual, and I say yes, and it comes out shortly thereafter. It's that kind of place, where your face, if not your name, and order are remembered. Nice.
In terms of ambiance, Ithaka has a cool-Mediterranean-blue vibe going on that's sometimes loud but more often comfortable and intimate, and there's sometimes a guitarist who plays and sings softly in the background. He's never obtrusive, though. In fact, sometimes you might hear him and look over and see him and be surprised that it's a live human instead of a recording coming from speakers.
It's bright enough to read in but not so bright that you feel you are on an operating table.
Ithaka is a bit pricey, I will say that. The vegetarian plate is $19, and 12-ounce Diet Cokes are $3. Your bill can add up in a hurry. Then again, this is the Upper East Side, and rent must be paid.
I've never had room for dessert, what with the delicious warm bread basket with an interesting tomato-based dipping sauce that comes out before your order is taken. Need olive oil for that pita? Just ask, and it will be graciously provided. Maybe one of these days I will save room for a sweet coda to my meal.
Ithaka provides solid Greek food in a comfortable, moderately upscale ambiance with friendly wait staff. If you keep an eye on your tab, you will leave with your hunger sated after a satisfying meal. -
Review from GarGuPi L.
Flushing, NY
10/17/2009
4 stars for a lunch experience. I like to go against the grain sometimes. I like to have lunch at places that are known for their dinner menu just because I don't prefer crowdiness when I'm in a hermit mood. As read from the other reviews, Ithaka is a popular dinner spot for a date, family gather, or just hanging out with friends. To be honest, I was attracted to this restaurant because they offer a free Greek dessert (take note everyone!) when you mention Yelp by the end of October (Yay!), but be sure to mention this when you place your order because my waiter was clueless and I pushed for him to ask the manager.
If it wasn't for a reserved group event in the back area, their lunch hour was a dead scene. My companion and I would've owned the entire place. There were only two waiters, but they were very efficient with my order and water refills.
From their website, the prices are quite high, but the lunch menu is actually much cheaper, so do keep this in mind. I ordered an Ithaka salad (hold the olives) for $7.50. A decent portion, but definitely won't fill you up if not for the complimentary bread. I also had a side order of horta. I love steamed greens and yes, I don't mind the 'sogginess' because I prefer that over a greasy plate. For $5, it's not a big plate, but decent for a restaurant of this caliber.
My companion decided on a shrimp dish cooked with tomato sauce and feta cheese and a small scoop of orzo. The feta was a bit too salty, otherwise, this plate came with 4 medium-sized shrimp. If you liked the sauce, there are plenty of pita bread for you to soak up the goodness. Finally, we chose to have revani (semolina cake soaked in sweet syrup) for dessert. We also got coffee and tea so not to look cheap since we received the dessert for free. The cake was moist and very sweet from the syrup. The waiter was kind enough to place two plates for us to share.
So under $40 for two people for lunch. Not too bad. It's not mind-blown Greek food, but I would go back for lunch for a quiet getaway with a friend. It's nice to leave the hectic brunch scene for awhile. -
Review from Nioka W.
Bronx, NY
4/19/2011
If you like grilled fish, fresh, clean, lightly seasoned veggies, bread and wine this is the place to go. We even get take out. Fresh grape leaves, Homous, eggplant, delish. Fantastic service, pleasant...intimate meeting place. Great place to bring your relatives from out of town. Moderate prices.... not cheap.
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Review from wsl l.
Brighton, MA
9/4/2008
I came here for the very first time last Sunday and was very, very pleasantly surprised.
I made reservations for 6:30PM but of course everyone was running late. Called to let them know and pushed it
to 7PM for party of 13. No fuss.
When we arrived, the restaurant was pretty much full, but we still had our long table in the back nicely set up for our large group.
The atmosphere is quaint with the white and blue colors well known to Greece adorned with Greek plates and paintings.
Our waiter recommended a few bottles of Greek wine- both red and white - they were delicious.
The appetizers were mouth watering and very delicious. We ordered a few of the calamari which was whole- tentacles and all, mussel's in white wine and stuffed hot peppers (for the vegetarian). apps were sooo good and highly recommended.
As a main course, I shared a whole grilled red snapper with some vegis and rice pilaf. It was good but not as good as the other dishes my fork dipped into that night. The grilled salmon steak was very good and cooked perfectly at medium. The vegetarian platter with stuffed eggplant was very tasty. the seafood and lamb orzu.. also very good...
at the end of the meal we ordered our coffees but they also gave our table complimentary dessert !! overall a very delightful experience and I will deff be back!! -
Review from Evan P.
New York, NY
2/14/2010
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner at Ithaka. It was a place that I had always walked by on occasion, and from the outside it is easy to pass by. Inside, I found myself peering at the walls, which had some beautiful paintings, plates, and other knick-knacks that showed how beautiful the Greece is.
The wait staff was very attentive, my water and wine glass were always full, and they engaged with us in some good-natured banter. The waiter, with a thick Greek accent, helped us to pronounce the wine, food, and dessert, since my friend and I certainly did not have a Greek tongue.
The food was very good- she had the lamb which I sampled, and I ordered fish. We also ate the Spinach pies as an appetizer, and chose the strangest sounding dessert (something starting with a G- it was like a custard pie).
Overall, it was a really good dining experience, and I would be happy to try it again. -
Review from Eugene D.
Waltham, MA
6/16/2011
Excellent Greek food, nice atmosphere, and solid service.
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Review from Arnab M.
Manhattan, NY
6/15/2011
Went here with a bunch of friends. The ouzo was amazing as usual as was the pita and dips. I had the lamb chops, a little salty and a but overcooked. Too expensive for what they offered. A friend ordered chicken which was also overcooked. Service was good but the place smelled a little funky.
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Review from Summer Y.
New York, NY
8/19/2008
Amazing!!
It was like being back in the Mediterranean.
I especially like the Live guitarrist.
The lamb is good here, as well as the meatball appetizer, Greek Garden salad, and yogurt dip.
Magical but pricey. Save this one for a special occasion. -
Review from Wu Z.
New York, NY
3/1/2011
Nice environment, nice service, nice foods. I love seafood risotto.
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Review from Gourmet G.
San Francisco, CA
7/12/2005 1 photo
Upon opening, Ithaka became an instant hit among the many German restaurants in the neighborhood. Its white and blue exterior is a hint of what's inside - enter the front door and you find yourself within a typical Greek taverna, thousands of miles from the traffic noise and shoppers of Manhattan's busy 86th Street. The restaurant is narrow and very deep, with exposed brick walls - both natural and painted white - and a stone floor. The decorative touches scattered throughout seem to have been placed haphazardly, a painting here, a brightly colored plate there. Tables are covered with blue undercloths topped by crisp white linens. The only complaint I have about the decor are the very hard-bottomed cane chairs, which can become uncomfortable as the meal progresses. The menu is rather extensive and includes everything one would hope to find. No matter the season, whenever I dine in a Greek restaurant I always start with Kotosoupa Augolemono, the national soup, a lemon-flavored chicken broth, with vegetables and rice, into which an egg is beaten. Here the citrus tang is stronger than I've tasted elsewhere, but that's to its credit. We ordered a variety of appetizer plates to share family-style - Melitzana Santorinis, baby eggplant stuffed with freshly sauteed vegetables and herbs; Tiganites Piperyes, green peppers stuffed with three kinds of cheese and drizzled with olive oil and lemon; Loukaniko Sparta, char-grilled Greek sausage with orange zest, fresh herbs, and spices; and Spanakotiropita, spinach pie rich with the flavors of sharp feta cheese and dill. Each dish had its own distinct flavors, and everything was outstanding. With few soft surfaces to absorb sound, the volume can get high at times, especially since this is a place popular with groups that get increasingly boisterous with each new round of ouzo. Some tables tend to be a little too close to each other, so you can be drawn into conversation with others, like it or not.
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Review from B 'n' J i.
Manhattan, NY
2/19/2011
Overall a good dining experience. We started with the trio of dips - portions were generous, dips were delicious and the bread was warm. Our appetizers were good but not amazing (we had the octopus legs and sagenaki) but the highlight of the evening was the veal special, slow cooked with leek and spinach.
The service was friendly and attentive. We would come back again. -
Review from YUP K.
Oakland, CA
4/13/2007
This is probably the best Greek restaurant I've ever been to, inside or outside of Greece, even when I was being taken out by shipowners my father worked with.
It's that good. Way better than Kokkari Estatorio (a more expensive upscale Greek restaurant in San Francisco).
Try the Loukaniko, the Fava, and get the Galatobouriko for dessert. Oh man, I can't wait to go back to this place. -
Review from your n.
New York, NY
12/4/2006
The best Greek joint in the Upper East Side......Fresh Fish and good Music....
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Review from Ashling H.
New York, NY
10/15/2010
It's one of those places that I've walked by a hundred times but I finally decided to give it a try this past weekend. My husband and I were looking for a relaxed place to have a quiet Friday night and this hit the spot. We ordered the lamb special and it came out in the big piping hot dutch oven and was served family style. Excellent food, and so much of it! The wine is decent, nothing too exciting, but something to enjoy dinner with. If you like Greek food, or are looking for a hearty meal out, this is th spot.
