Travel to Greece with Periyali

For those of you who are not familiar with Periyali, the restaurant has provided an authentic Greek experience to the Chelsea neighborhood since 1987 (36 years!) and even initially introduced the cuisine and Greek wine to the city. The concept was a response to the demand for a classic Greek restaurant from regulars at Periyali’s sister restaurant Il Cantinori.  The name references a romantic Greek word for coastline or seashore, because that is where most of the food originated from.

The restaurant recently took a brief pause to get a facelift. The interior reminds you of the neighborhoods in Santorini with bright white walls and windows, complete with a skylight and new artwork from Greece. Close your eyes and the food transports you just as easily and so does the staff. You will not find a more attentive dining service than at Periyali. Mack was our server for the evening and he remembers the last time you were in the restaurant, where you sat and what you ate!

We started our meal with Mack’s recommendation for white wine, the Mezzo platter with Taramosalata, Melitzanosalata Pikilia. Hummus and Tzatziki. The spreads were super fresh and were served with soft pita bread. We wanted to put these on everything!

You also must get the Oktapodi Sharas, the grilled octopus. There was a perfect char on it and it was a large portion. For entrees, you can’t go wrong with choosing a fish and lamb dish, which is well known in Greek culture and also a must order at the restaurant. Everything is fresh and again, portions are hearty. Lastly, you need to end on a sweet note. The restaurant shows you a visual of all of the homemade Greek desserts you can order, but you can’t go wrong with the walnut cake, which is a traditional Greek dessert. It’s served with a side of ice cream and the perfect way to end the meal.

Periyali is really perfect for any occasion; you can bring family, a date, business dinner, or meet your friends here and it will be a great experience for all.  The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week and on weekdays offers a prix fixe menu for $39 during lunch that includes an appetizer and entree.  Its sister restaurants In addition to il Cantinori include Amali, Bar Six, and The Bar Room. 

 For more information on the restaurant and reservations, please visit periyali.com. 

-Photos courtesy of Liz Clayman and Stephanie Carino