I’m always in awe of how many restaurants there are in New York. As much as I love exploring new places, I am a creature of habit and go to the same places over and over again. I guess everyone has their usual spots, right?
The other week for a special occasion, I went to Periyali, which is an incredible Greek restaurant. Because someone else chose the location, this was especially fun for me because Greek food is something I so rarely have. And after the wonderful dinner here, I think I should have it more often.
The décor of this place is very cool. It has a summery vibe and is light and airy. We sat in the back under a skylight that made the feel just right. I think everyone started with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, which perfectly matched the scene. My boyfriend and I shared the octopus to start and I didn’t realize that he had never had it before! A moment of panic set in but as soon as he took the first bite he loved it. If I could have made an entire meal out of that, I would. It was so incredibly good. In all honesty it kind of tasted like chicken, but it was the best I’ve ever had for sure.
As a main course, I ordered the salmon which was baked in phyllo with spinach. It was so perfectly Greek—I loved it. I love phyllo and salmon and spinach so really I couldn’t have gone wrong here. I couldn’t finish it though—it was massive! It came with a side of okra which had I known, I would have asked for asparagus or potatoes but considering I couldn’t even finish the fish, it was ok in the end.
Periyali
35 W 20th Street
New York, NY 10011