A busy, buzzy Greek restaurant in the heart of UWS. This is a perfect date spot with a huge menu, great for mezze shares or large entrees if you are hungry. They have some of the best grilled octopus I've had and I highly recommend the dip trio and seafood orzo! Will be back to try their fish at some point, but everything was quite filling even without a full entree. read more

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Fantastic Greek restaurant on the UWS. Amazing food wonderful service. Be sure to make reservations - they are very popular!

Wow! Amazing amazing experience and restaurant! You never felt like you were in NYC - literally felt like you were at a restaurant in Greece. Service was phenomenal and every person that worked there was lovely and very friendly. Food was amazing. Started with the spreads (spicy feta cheese is a complete must have!). Since I had so much of the spreads I opted for the Elea Chips as my main meal. Which were completely incredible. The cheese was amazing and did not leave a crumb on the plate. Some friends had the chicken souvlaki which was also great. Definitely recommend a bunch of smaller plates here and you will be more then full by the end! read more

Eléa - Elea Chips - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Food was good, the place is beautiful, but the service left a bad taste. Waiter did not check on us or refill our waters and we had to wait quite awhile for the check. read more

Mediocre at best. With so many good Greek restaurants in the city, this one can be skipped. I've walked past here so many times and it's always been crowded. The reviews were good, so when my son suggested it for dinner, we went looking forward to some good food. We were seated outside, it was a little before 7 and it wasn't busy yet. The server came over and we ordered hummus and mussels to start. 20 minutes later she came back to the table. We re-ordered the apps and she walked away. Hummus arrived and we still hadn't ordered dinner. Finally, as we were finishing the hummus, she came back for the dinner order. BTW... mussels never arrived. Now for the food: Hummus was bland. Pita was good and they were generous with the portion. Calamari was ok. Not fried to a golden color as described on the menu, not crispy, and arrived cold. Seafood Orzotto- Shrimp, mussels, clams, saffron, on top of orzo... absolutely tasteless. 3 of us ordered this and we all came to the same conclusion. Moussaka is no longer vegetarian and we were made aware that it is now made with beef. This came to the table and literally tasted like a Greek version of a Stouffers lasagna. It was obviously pre-frozen and was scorching hot on the top and cold in the middle. Service was horrible. We never saw the server during the meal and waited forever to pay. When we finally paid, it was another 20 minutes for her to come back. All in all this disastrous dinner took well over 2 hours and there were people waiting for tables. read more

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Dinner for 6 with some old great friends Friday night. Old college friend reserved the wrong day, oops. The woman at 5he front desk were great, the pre dinner cocktail at the bar great. They were so sweet and so accommodating. Dinner was so great, excellent server wish I remembered this guys name. We shared apps, fried calamari, some spears, Went back to Elea last Saturday. We go out a lot, so when I have a great meal and experience I have to call it out. We had Sarah asa server, a true professional. The entire staff has her back, filling up our water, as well as getting the service set just right. We started with a cocktail at the bar,and it was a real drink, not one of these junior drinks, where they measure their small pour. Food was terrific, we had the horiatiki salad and mussels to start, both were great, loved the mussels sauce, great for dipping. I am not usually a fish guy, but the Lavraki was a generous portion and simply delicious. Wish I lived by, would love to come regularly and just eat and drink at the bar. Run don't walk to this place, read more

Everything was great. The food was delicious. Flavors were spot on. Service was lovely. Wasn't too noisy as some restaurants can be. The video screen at the entrance was a little confusing. It distracted from the overall ambiance of the restaurant. read more

Eléa is a beautiful Mediterranean restaurant on the UWS. Our group enjoyed all of the shared plates. Our favorites were the tzatziki (highly recommend!) and the Eléa chips. I was a bit disappointed with my entree. I ordered the short rib which was cooked perfectly, but the orzo that came with it had an overwhelming cinnamon taste that made it hard to enjoy. We were celebrating a birthday so true servers were kind enough to comp us some birthday desserts which were very tasty! read more

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Four of us dined here for dinner . Delicious food, great drinks, pretty atmosphere. Will visit again!

Great, original food, and wonderful service. Very popular and always crowded but not too noisy and has a lovely ambiance.

I went for the first time with a couple of friends. Walking into the restaurant was very pretty, a lot of white and flowers around. We got dirty martins and a fig martini which were made wonderfully. We had the beet salad, and a few dips. The pita was warm and delicious. We also got vegetables to go with it. We had the Kounoupidi (cauliflower), Keftedes (meatballs) and grilled shrimp. Everything was plated in such a pretty way all the food was very fresh. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. I'll definitely be back. read more

Eléa - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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One of the good places for brunch around neighborhood- Everything on brunch menu is great-especially their fish-Servers are great.Like their ambiance-will visit them again. read more

Eléa - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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SO and I came here for a quick dinner outside and were pleasantly surprised with our experience. We started off with a lychee martini, which the SO enjoyed, and I had the red donkey, which was nice and cold. Soon after, the 3 plates we ordered arrived one after the other. The octopus was fresh and mixed with shallots, tomatoes and capers atop a smooth fava dip...a delicious appetizer! The yellowfin tuna was seared nicely and with enough rare inside to enjoy the contrast...the lentil and black-eyed pea salad was a nice complement. The seafood orzotto was our favorite. There was a nice mix of clams, mussels and shrimp...the orzo was perfectly seasoned and stuck to our ribs. Bottom line, the service was fast, the food was tasty and the ambience is classic UWS. Will definitely return to try the variety of other dishes this establishment has to offer. read more

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It's an amazing restaurant from the food, service and ambiance. Our waiter was great, gave us very nice recommendations and options. The food is delicious, we tried a few of the appetizers and they are a good portion for sharing. Our dinner plates didn't disappoint. We also enjoyed the drinks, especially the Smoke & Fire (if you like Mezcal). read more

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We had a family celebration with 30 ppl last night. I have to say, excellent service, excellent food, excellent staff. Andrew, which I think was our event coordinator was amazing. It felt like he's our close friend who is helping us set up and settle thank you Andrew. ( I didn't call you Anthony, you're welcome hahaha ). All the staff, super friendly super caring. I only have the name of one of them, Paul, who never stopped smiling. Not a fake smile, sincere and heart warming smile ALL EVENING Thank you Paul. It was a great evening, you all made everything look amazing and fun! Did I mention how great the food was? Already made plans with friends to go back soon read more

Came to Elea with my mom and boyfriend for dinner on a Wednesday night. We were able to make a reservation the day of for 6:15pm which I would recommend doing since the place was super crowded from the time we got there up until we left. The evening was beautiful so we decided to sit in their very cute outdoor area that is decorated with lights and flowers, perfect to enhance the ambiance and make it feel very special. The place was busy but thankfully not too loud. Our waiters were attentive and came by right away to give us water and get our orders for drinks. We tried their Chardonnay which was very bright and refreshing. We placed our order and then got a nice big basket of complimentary bread that was so delicious-- it was on the heartier, more rustic side with a nice crust and a soft but dense inside. They have olive oil on every table which was great with the bread! Our food came out fairly quickly afterwards. We tried: - Horiatiki Salad: very refreshing traditional Greek salad. Came with nice chunks of feta, very fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, and kalamata olives (with the pit). This salad was super mild and not too salty, which I find is my issue with a lot of Greek salads at places. The feta was mild and creamy, all the produce was top notch, and the olive oil they used for the dressing was delicate and perfectly tied everything together. - Tasting of 3 Spreads: we got the skordalia, tzatziki, and tyrokafteri. All of these were amazing! The skordalia was smooth, thick, garlicky but also had a nice nutty taste from the almonds. This was a table favorite. The tzatziki was so decadent, refreshing, and creamy! I loved it so much and could eat it straight without bread honestly. Finally, the tyrokafteri (spicy feta dip) was also delicious and spicy which I loved but, considering all the other dishes with feta that we ordered, I would have ordered the hummus or smoked eggplant dip instead for a better balance! TLDR Keep in mind your bigger picture when picking what to order for the tastings so that everything balances out nicely :) Tasting came with generous pita that was very fluffy and had a very nice grilled flavor/ appearance. - Sesame Crusted Feta: another amazing feta dish! 5 chunks of feta that come in this delicate batter with sesame seeds on top, fig jam, and a little honey. This dish hits all the spots: it's a little salty but also sweet, has a crispy texture on the outside with nutty hints from the sesame, creamy inside, and just a gorgeous presentation. Definitely recommend this one! - Lavraki: my boyfriend ordered this for himself and my mom and I ordered one to share. They give you a whole fish which is perfectly cooked and with the most tender flesh. It's mild tasting, feels very lean, and the flavors of lemon, capers, and whatever green oil they use were just divine. They were nice enough to split it table-side for my mom and I before serving it so we didn't have to go through the hassle. Really loved this! - Lemon Potatoes: best potatoes I've ever had at a restaurant. The flavors were just so rich, with a nice spice blend, perfect level of salt, and a firm texture that was just perfect. I don't even love potatoes in general but I would go out of my way to get these. - Brussel Sprouts: another fantastic side. Not sure what they cook these with but, wow, the flavors were so bright! The Brussels sprouts were roasted just enough to still be kinda meaty and juicy but not bitter and with nice crispy layers. A little bit salty but these were so addictive, it was dangerous. We were sadly too full for dessert but I am sure their selection is also splendid assuming their sweets are as good as their savory items. Overall, had a great experience here! I had come a few years ago but don't remember being as impressed as this time around. Service was excellent, and the ambiance was beautiful. A little pricey but that is generally a lot of Greek food. This is a solid greek food in the Upper West Side, especially for a special occasion or nice date. Will be coming back in the future! read more

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ELEA just keeps getting better and better! I had a lovely pre- Christmas dinner there last evening with a dear friend and her little daughter and it was simply fabulous! The service and the food are alyways terrific. My lamb chops were out of this world,so thick and juicy. I can't wait to go back again. Thank you to all the staff there and wishing you another Happy New Year here on W. 85th Street! read more

Great restaurant on Upper West Side and very convenient to our place. Although we did not have reservations the staff seated us straight away in the downstairs dining room. The table settings were very nice, upscale casual. The wait staff were very attentive and provided recommendations and answered questions about the menu. The spreads were fantastic -- don't skip on the almond garlic or eggplant spread -- they were full of freshness and flavor. For our main courses the swordfish skewer with couscous and the moussaka -- swordfish was perfectly prepared (could have been a little less salt for the dish) and the moussaka was a great look back to my 3 years in Athens! Prices were very reasonable and service was well worthy of a generous tip. For a party of 2 you may not need a reservation but for larger groups do yourself a favor and get one. Highly recommend Elea and I have already been back since this initial visit! read more

I hosted a birthday dinner for over 30 guests in the Dionysus Cellar at Eléa, and the entire experience--from my initial inquiry to selecting the menu, drinks, and wine--was seamless and enjoyable. Nadia and Andrew were professional, gracious, and accommodating, and they personally oversaw the event from start to finish. The entire staff was excellent. I've experienced very good service before, but there's a warmth and kindness at Elea that is truly rare. All the guests mentioned not only the fantastic food, but also the wonderful, friendly service. I'm so glad I chose it for this special occasion. read more

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This place knows how to create dining happiness. Eléa shows attractive aesthetics. The dishes were reliably good, I must admit. In my experience, their workers provide superior service. The entire experience works smoothly at this spot. read more

Great seats at quiet table. Waitress was super helpful and accommodating. Food is excellent.

So delicious! The service was lovely and the portions were very big so definitely think we could've ordered less but everything we had was delicious. read more

I have been to Elea more than a dozen times. I always bring my clients here for dinner. The food and service are consistently great!

Beautiful place for lunch or a party downstairs. Great staff all around from wait staff to managers. Get desert too. read more

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Ate outside on a chilly June night (yes you read that right). Elea was highly recommended by locals. It's good but I wanted it to be great. Lahano salad: a pleasing concoction of Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and a bunch of other stuff. Some chestnuts gave it crunch. An unusual cheese. Humus and pita: should have tried the garlic one. The regular was fine but unremarkable. Sea bass: the menu says mild flavor and it's true. The fish to get if you don't like fishy fish. They debone the fish but didn't get all of them. No sides with it which is odd. Seafood orzotto: a Greek version of cioppino (sort of). I really enjoyed the flavor but the dish was on the smaller side. Roasted chicken: generous portion, Solid flavor but nothing unusual. Liked the lemon potatoes. Short ribs: another generous portion, wish it had been braised a bit longer. Good selection of wine and mixed drinks. Staff were all attentive and accommodating. Elea is solid but not spectacular. It's in the rotation read more

Eléa - A Greek drink - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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Very cute ambiance and a solid place place for Mediterranean food! The interior has a really nice indoor/outdoor feel. The food is really fresh. We got the tasting of 3 spreads to start. We got the hummus, smoked eggplant, and fava. Hummus was my favorite! We also got the cauliflower fritters and grilled octopus. I would get the octopus again! We shared the seafood orzotto as a main. This was delicious and the seafood was really fresh. The service was great as well. Overall, solid Mediterranean food in a cute setting. read more

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One of the best restaurants on the upper west side and one of my favs! The dishes are fantastic, the service is impeccable and the lively ambiance make for a great night out read more

Fish was dry. moussaka was kind of mushy. I am disappointed. For the price and quantity it was a poor value

Food was top tier. Service was great. Will be returning soon. Need more wine options. Ambiance is great. Date Night Approved. read more

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Perhaps the most beautiful restaurant on the UWS, with comfortable seating and great service. The food is exquisite with interesting daily specials to accent their great standard Greek focused menu. You should start with the "Elea chips," a must. read more

I visited for a celebratory birthday brunch on a Saturday. What a beautiful location! For Saturday they had a live band which was lovely. As if my group did not love the Disney movie Encanto enough the band played we don't talk about Bruno. What a treat. Now back to the delicious brunch food. We chose the bottomless drinks options. We got the grilled octopus and the Spanakopita to start. Delicious! For entree I order the lamb chop, I promise it was so good I didn't even take a picture. Other entrees were the shrimp orzotto, and the burger. We got a round of desserts, the baklava, cheesecake and chocolate cake. Overall delicious and such a beautiful location. read more

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This place serving Greek cuisine has a beautiful, elegant exterior with plenty of socially distanced outdoor dining. The outdoor dining area has gorgeous pink flowers, as well as ivy leaves and greenery all around, along with pretty lights hanging along the enclosed sides. I ordered the Salmon Burger, served with avocado on a squid ink brioche bun. This also came with a side of Greek oregano fries. The brioche bun was black in color, but didn't really taste differently from regular bread. The salmon was generous and perfectly cooked, tender, full of tasty seasoning. I also really enjoyed the fries, which was delightfully crispy and bold with flavor from the tasty spices. It was a lovely, hearty meal! Service was great throughout. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. I would love to try the Short Rib Youvetsi (on the dinner menu) and Baklava another time. read more

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My family celebrated my mothers birthday here for Brunch on Sunday. The ambiance is great. They were crowded outside, indoors was a little empty. They had a live band playing indoors which was a nice touch. The service was pretty disappointing though. I think they had most of the servers outside and left limited help indoors. The drink orders took forever and we had to ask where the food was. They also got one of our orders wrong. Even though they were fast to replace the order with the correct one, it was still an additional wait after already waiting a long time for brunch food. The food was good but nothing exceptional. read more

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Food 5/5 AMAZING Mediterranean food on the upper west. The octopus was perfectly tender and the flavor really went in. The spreads were unique and memorable, and they gave so much pita bread. It was heavenly. Warm pita bread just kept on coming. Definitely recommend a visit, I definitely want to try their drinks and other dishes next time! An elevated dining experience, despite the fact that I was seated at the bar. Interior 5/5 Very elegant and clean interior, a nice grand bar is located in the middle, with a very wide table area. They were playing live music in the corner, which was really pleasant for brunch. Service 5/5 Friendly staff, nothing to complain about. read more

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Truly enjoyable meal for our first visit to Elea. The food are service were very good. I had the octopus and it was delicious. All the other dishes that people in our group enjoyed. Will return soon read more

Eléa - Seafood Orzotto - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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Randomly spotted this hidden restaurant and decided to give it a try then and there. We came as a walk-in and were seated during a pretty busy time, within 15 minutes. There are two floors (that I saw) and we were seated on the bottom floor, which was an open layout. Our server was super sweet and asked all the best questions to get a feel for what options she would recommend. Service was quick and consistent among all those who were working in the area. They were walking around pretty often and aware of all of their tables. If your wine or water glass looked almost empty, they would fill it for you rather quickly. If there we're dishes not being used, they would remove it for you to make the table more roomy. The food was delicious. Bottle of wine reasonably priced. And there was a wide range of desert options. I would definitely dine here again. I'll even make a reservation in advance this time lol. read more

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Amazing food & service! Very kid friendly too, and staff was courteous Items to order: - Lamb kebabs melt in your mouth! - calamari was great & fresh. And I usually don't eat calamari as often. - I ordered the sea bass which was pretty satisfying read more

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originally came here thinking we'd do bottomless brunch, but ended up just doing regular brunch with work and other duties throughout the rest of the day. The hummus was incredible, the brunch breakfast drinks ie. mimosa... not bad but just alright not very strong but very iced which was nice on a warm spring day. The service was alright also --they weren't very busy at all. Would've been nice to have been checked on a few more times nice to sit on the street side-- i believe there is some construction going on there right now though but they have some decorations that really add to the woody and earthy vibe of the restaurant. overall, it's pretty good read more

We had a really excellent time. I'm not sure our servers name, but we were sat outside in the casita seating last night 9/27, he was amazing and so personable and kind and delivered excellent service, with care for allergies as well. Can't wait to come back again! read more

Good service and good manager. Smooth takeout service with quick preparation. Good lamb burger, spinach pie, cheesecake. Many people eat at the bar . Haven't tried the cocktails but they look good. Price is moderate to high but it's on a better level than a neighborhood Greek diner. I know a well heeled dr who is Greek and agreed that the food is authentic. Plus it's a neighborhood fixture read more