Meze is a relic of the Greek restaurants that I have come to expect. A loud, friendly atmosphere, exceptional food, exorbitant portion sizes (and prices, but that is to be expected), and an overall positive well being threatening to destroy the balance between man and mind.
The restaurant is about a ten minute walk from the 62nd Street/New Utrecht Ave subway station on the D and N lines, which is good because you will have to walk this off when you are finished. I ordered plenty of food here, and do not regret any of it. I am hoping to return again and get more, because it is all remarkable.
My server, Emilio, is a true spark plug. He is full of energy and charisma. As I was winding down with my food, he was still at top speed and form. He was ready for me and anticipated my every move.
Wanna know what I ordered?
Grape leaves: Ten to an order, way too many to a fault, but I am not complaining. They were fresh, delicious, delicate, and well balanced. I also played these well with the free bread that comes with your table. A must for any large party.
Greek sausage: When every table is ordering these, I have to as well. The sausage has great flavor, a perfect size for an appetizer. The dipping sauce is first rate, and I powered through these like a champ. A great complement to the grape leaves. The grape leaves even set these up pretty well.
Grilled Octopus: My oh my, the octopus is outstanding. It is HUGE! I cut this up to make it more manageable and I still could not finish it. This is no laughing matter. I thought I would inhale this thing but instead this came back on the attack. Overall the octopus and I came to an agreement to leave some of it alone.
Veal Youvetsi: It started out rough, but gained traction as the dish cooked. It was as if the dish was still cooking in its own sauce as I was eating it. The dish is served with crumbled cheese, but it needs a different kind of cheese. The orzo is a little overcooked but is still pretty tasty. The veal is a bit dry, but overall has a nice earthy texture and taste to the dish that feels heavy. This would be great in winter. The dish reminds me of an Ossobuco, with no marrow.
I savored it all with a glass of Pinot Noir, which goes well with all the savory dishes due its subtle sweetness.
When I was finished, I said to Emilio, "I think I did I good job considering the circumstances." "You did great," he responded.
But I am not done.
I figured to end on a high note and order a dessert. I got the loukoumádes, or honey balls, in Greek. Six to an order, they are super sweet, and super delicious. I only ate three because I would be in Maimonides Hospital if I ate them all. Perhaps it could have used a bit of pistachio topping to offset the sweetness a little, but I got an apple juice in hopes of mitigating things and it did just that. After that, I was finished.
Sure, the bill is high, but I had to give this restaurant a fair shake; they gave me more than it's just due in return. I was treated not just as a customer, I was treated as family.
That is what Greek restaurants are all about and what they should represent.