OMG, I'm back in Alaska and still thinking about Kiki's. I want to know exactly how they make the moussaka. It is the best I've ever had. Everything was spectacular. The octopus is amazingly tender--not the chewy, rubbery octopus I expected. The salads were top notch, the feta was creamy and wonderful. The gigantes were excellent. So good!
I ate there; it was good. But half the reason I went was the writer's rhapsodic description of the bread with "slashes of char and giant air pockets" - and no such bread was served at kiki's. Just something sliced from a regular loaf.
That's odd. Every time we eat there (and we live up the street so we eat there often) the bowl comes with triangles of pita and that char/air pocket bread. Matter fact as I read the article I though "oh yeah they've described that bread to a T."
2
Greek food is NYC is really really good. Unfortunately I live in Chicago where there well be as many Greeks as NYC but the Greek food falls well short. There may well be over a 100 Greek restaurants here each more boring and alike as the other.
Can you guys open a place in Chicago PLEASE??
Can you guys open a place in Chicago PLEASE??
The gentrification of manhattan chinatown continues; pretty soon it will be just a vestige of what it once was.
2
Most Chinatowns are run by SE Asians, not Chinese, anyway. They actually disappeared a long time ago.
1
The borders of Manhattan's Chinatown continues to grow (as does Sunset Park and Flushing). You can find Chinese and other Asian groups all over the Lower East Side now... and with them comes their food and restaurants. I don't think a handful of "gentrified" spots amongst them will change that. I love that Kiki's is making a nod to it's neighbors, even if it is just on it's awning. Maybe after some time, we'll see a nod on their menu too? I'd love to try Greek/Asian fusion, whatever that may be. One of the great things of eating in New York, you never know what's influenced the Chef. Best of luck to Kiki's, I look forward to eating there.
3
I, personally, wouldn't consider these people as gentrifiers. I've lived around the corner for 10 years and have seen this couple open up forgetmenot a few years ago and then kikis very recently. They've lived down here for a long time and are known in the neighborhood. They didn't just swoop in here from outside of the neighborhood and open up a place blindly to cash in on a hot neighborhood.
Yes, having any new, popular spots open in a neghiborhood causes gentrification but as far as "gentrifiers" go, I would consider them as low on the scale as you can get . There are much, much worse offenders out there to worry about.
Yes, having any new, popular spots open in a neghiborhood causes gentrification but as far as "gentrifiers" go, I would consider them as low on the scale as you can get . There are much, much worse offenders out there to worry about.
5
This food sounds good!! Please transport such a place to my town.
1
Right around the corner from me - a wonderful place with wonderful friendly owners. Try their sister restaurant too: Forgetmenot, mentioned in the article. It is my favorite place in the neighborhood for lunch. Good food, good portions, unpretentious, reasonable prices. What a great addition to the neighborhood.
12
Just ate there and it's all these things - very tasty (the octopus & shrimp appetizers were perfectly cooked), reasonably priced, friendly and accommodating proprietors & staff, great mix of people inside. Great all around!
1
What is the gastronomic and marketing idea behind naming a Greek restaurant in Chinese characters? One would think that a name written on the awning, as far as the space permits, in classic Greek, traditional Chinese, Latin, and some other Middle Eastern and Asian tongues would have more attraction.
Chinese characters: just for fun. It sounds like a terrific place -- tasty, unpretentious, friendly. Next time I'm in NY.
14
Because it's in Chinatown. It's a nod to the neighborhood.