Eléa

After hearing amazing things about this restaurant, my husband and I finally tried it last Saturday. Make reservations if you are planning on going during the weekend because it gets busy! We had reservations at 8 pm and didn't get seated until 8:30pm. We got the 3 hummus platter with the regular hummus, baba ganouj (eggplant), and the pepper hummus (this was the best one). Then we got the octopus, a must if you come here and Tsipoura fish. Everything was very good. Our server was attentive and gave us great recommendations.

Went there for a private dinner Large group and fixed menu Overall excellent service attentive staff and great atmosphere Dip appetizers were great. Kafteri hot as expected but tasty. The tarama was smooth and creamy and not too salty. Spanakopita was very full had some feta and was really well cooked. The salad was excellent and a refreshing accompaniment My entree was the Branzino with potatoes and Horta. Cooked perfectly with a nice lemon sauce. Potatoes were lemonata and Horta balanced rye dish with some texture and slight bitter lemony taste. Excellent Desserts looked great. Tried rolled baklava and it was good but super sweet- I am not a dessert guy...I recommend this place!

The ambiance of Eléa is great and there is ample indoor and outdoor seating. The decor is all light-colored, mostly white with some flowers. I have gone for brunch and dinner, both with and without reservations, and never had to wait more than a few minutes (though maybe we just got lucky because I do see long lines). A few things to note about the popular dishes include:- Smoked Salmon Benedict: Pretty standard brunch fare, that comes with sides of roasted potatoes and salad. - Wild Mushroom Risotto: This can be very hit or miss. Sometimes, it's super creamy as you would expect, but other times, it seems like rice is a bit too firm. The mushroom flavor is always very pronounced, which I appreciate, but the texture just tends to be inconsistent.- Tasting of Three Greek Spreads: I have tried the hummus, tzatziki, and taramosalata. The hummus was a bit too dry and unseasoned for my preference the last time I had it. The tzatziki was definitely the highlight here, since it was super creamy, yet light. The taramosalata was solid with a mousse-like texture, but a bit on the salty side. The grilled pita was seasoned well and the staff are generous about refilling it!Seafood Orzotto: My favorite entree! They give a generous helping of shrimp, mussels, and clams, an extra bowl and mini forks for the shells. It tasted very fresh and was super filling. They also have a shrimp variant on the brunch menu.I would definitely recommend trying the spreads and seafood dishes here. Staff are always attentive and friendly.

I was at this well regarded Greek restaurant recently celebrating my upcoming (now past) birthday with two others. The space is large with a pretty decent outdoor space along with a bar upstairs as well as a spacious area downstairs which is lightly decorated with some lights and a few sculptures. The downstairs got a little bit loud eventually but overall, it was fine. The female waitress we had was friendly with good recommendations for those who asked and the manager as well as others came around and checked how things were doing. To drink, I had a glass for $18 of the Plano Assyrtiko from Drama. The wine listed as a high minerality assyrtiko was very tasty. All three of us went with the Restaurant Week (or rather month) tasting menu which consists of 3 courses for $60 which was well worth it.They gave some bread to start which was nice and warm and there was a large container of olive oil on the table. The olive oil was of good quality but I preferred dipping the warm bread in my first course.I started with the Dorado Ceviche with royal dorado, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, avocado, Fresno chile, and chilled tomato soup. The dorado had a good chew to it and there was a good mix of textures. There was plenty of the tomato broth/soup which had some richness and sweetness with the bread being a good way to have more of it though they should probably serve a spoon with this dish. Another person had the Horiatiki Salad with vine ripe tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, peppers, olives, and Arahova feta. Tasty salad with very good feta and fresh vegetables (particularly the tomatoes) and the portion was good. The last person had the meatballs/Keftedes with feta sauce. The meatball was tender and the feta added some light sourness though I have preferred some other places as I found it a bit bland.For main dishes, two of us paid an additional $15 supplement for the Lamb Chops. Listed as 3 double cut, dry aged lamb chops with Greek oregano fries, the lamb was perfectly cooked though there was a bit too much fat on mine (though expected as I ordered rare.) There were plenty of fries and they brought over some ketchup for them though I would have preferred some tzatziki or something else to dip. This was a very meaty rich dish and it was solid.The latter person had the Lavraki listed as Mediterranean seabass filet listed as a lean, mild flavor with lemon potatoes and horta. The fish was tender and perfectly cooked. The lemon potato was very solid and the horta or wild greens were excellent. There was some capers and I presume the fish was grilled with olive oil and said capers as per usual for a Greek spot. Very tasty with a big portion just like the lamb.All three of us got the same dessert; the Portokalopita with yogurt ice cream. Said dessert is a type of cake made from dried phyllo dough and orange and it has a mix of sweetness and bitterness from orange peel. I've had this cake before being one of my favorite Greek desserts and this was a particularly good one with excellent texture. The yogurt ice cream had some sourness and paired well and it was on top of a crumble of some type (crackers or something.) Overall, I liked the dessert as it wasn't super sweet. For the birthday, they brought out a sparkler which was a nice touch on the side.Food overall was very tasty. Big portions and well worth the price though I might not get the lamb next time and go with one of the fish. It's not the most nuanced Greek food such as at Nerai or others but just really good versions of standard Greek fare with some notably good dishes. Would go back. Mid 4.

The service and ambiance were lovely. The drinks were delicious ! The food unfortunately, was a miss for me. I ordered the steak and mashed potatoes and was so excited when it got to the table- it looks delicious! However, upon cutting in the steak was not medium rare and had been over cooked to be more mediumWell. That was fine as that wouldn't affect a good cut of meat. The meat was chewy and lacked flavor. The mashed potatoes were just ok and looked better than they tasted.

I recently dined at Elea in the Upper West Side and had a fantastic experience. The mocktails were delicious, complementing the flavorful dishes we ordered. The lambchop chicken souvlaki was perfectly cooked, the octopus was tender, and the tzatziki with pita was a great addition. The ambiance was warm and inviting, making it a great spot for a relaxed meal. The staff was attentive and helpful throughout the evening. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a quality Greek dining experience!

Had an incredible time at Elea with a party of 9. The service was top-notch, which is my thing. From the moment we walked in, the hostess set the tone - welcoming and attentive without being overbearing. The staff kept the experience seamless, making sure everything flowed perfectly. And the food? Absolutely awesome! Each dish was bursting with flavor, and you could tell real care went into the preparation. This place is a great spot for both a big group or a more intimate dinner.

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.

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).

A Romantic, "somewhat hip," gourmet Greek restaurant. SpecialOccassion, date night or just an evening with friends, Eléa will not disappoint. The bar is busy and has a great feel to it, perfect for when you need to wait for a table, or if you can't get a table. Everyone eating here just seemed happy, or relaxed (are we ever happy as New Yorkers?)It's a pretty restaurant, service is friendly and knowledgeable. Greek spirit inspired cocktails are very good, though on the lighter-pour end of the spectrum (which is very good in my view -- one are the days when the buzz was valued more than the craftsmanship). Mezze plate appetizers are great for the table. Main courses are ample (one person cannot eat the moussaka, so share). [see note below]The Lamb chops, the Greek chicken, and short ribs were reportedly excellentWe eschewed dessert though our decaf cappuccinos were on target. [Note: the moussaka was great the next day, both warmed (how my lady companion ate it) and cold right out of the fridge bachelor-style.]