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Dining NYC Uncategorized

Marathi Greek Bistro: Bringing Flavors from the Isle of Crete to Tribeca

Marathi Lamp Chops. Photo: Instagram

Marathi is a cozy Greek bistro that serves up the delicious tastes from the shores of the Isle of Crete, to the heart of Tribeca! 

Your mind will undergo an immediate regional reset as the sleek, yet comfortable, surroundings will make your head swoon with the aromas and tastes of fine Mediterranean cuisine.  

Spring is here! Stop by Marathi’s striking bar after work, for a cocktail.

The restaurant — new to the neighborhood since opening its doors in November — is informed by the memories of owner Andreas Koutoudakis’ roots in his Hellenic homeland and the unparalleled ability of Chef Nicholas Poulmentis’ innovative and creative ability to provide the finest array of dishes the culture. 

Entering the three-level eatery at the corner of Duane and Church streets, you’re immediately struck by the warmth of the room and the staff. 

The full-service environment is reinforced by the breadth of a menu packed with a wide-array of Greek offerings served up with Chef Nicholas’ unique flourishes, that provide a unique tasting experience that is both familiar and exciting in its individuality. 

Marathi offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with both traditional and uniquely Mediterranean meals for each. 

Our visit was for dinner, when the restaurant takes on the feel of a truly high-end New York experience that is uniquely satisfying to all the senses. 

The full complement of appetizers ranging from the expectedly delicious Tzatziki to a siracha and yogurt enhanced calamari are all stunning — and the spicy tempura Shrimp Loukoumades — is a sensory and explosive standout!

The entrees are superior with a Squid Ink Fettucine boasting uniquely seasoned pan-seared scallops with saffron emulsion, providing a distinctive windfall of flavor you won’t find anywhere else. 

The grilled lamb chops with Briam — a stunning array of roasted vegetables Greek — provide a simple, but unparalleled flavor unmatched by the top steak houses in the city. 

Marathi offers a mouth-watering suite of cocktails and Greek wines. Photo: Instagram

Combined with a mouth-watering suite of cocktails and Greek wines, any visitor’s experience will be a vacation your taste buds will want to take again — and again!

Marathi is located at 200 Church Street. For reservations, visit marathinyc.com

Categories
Dining Featured Restaurants

Chikarashi Isso offers a Japanese Kappo-style Meal in FiDi

Manhattan’s Financial District has recently gained a high standard japanese restaurant. After the success of Chikarashi, in Chinatown, the owners of the poke-inspired spot opened Chikarashi Isso. With a minimalist design and cozy atmosphere, their new restaurant offers a kappo-style cuisine, with focus on seasonality. 

Kappo, that means “to cut and to cook”, is a multi-course meal. This kind of japanese cuisine is less formal and emphasizes the proximity between the chef – who takes entire control over the meal – and the client. Traditional Kappo restaurants are usually small and people can watch the chef cooking in front of them. 

Chikarashi Isso interior

Chikarashi Isso menu is very eclectic, with plates developed by executive Chef Michael Jong Lim that highlight the meticulous techniques of Japanese cuisine. Some of the dishes are the A5 omigyu-maki, with crème fraiche and kaluga caviar, the Udon noodles, with Spicy Dashi, Shrimp Kakiage and Tokyo Negi, and a beautiful dessert called Yaki Dango (Grilled Mochi, Toki Caramel and Kinako Ice Cream). 

You can order dishes from the menu or you can choose to immerse yourself in the Kappo-style dining experience and opt for the “chef’s choice”. This option is available at the bar counter and also throughout the restaurant. 

Udon noodles

Yaki Dango

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Categories
Dining Events

Two Thumbs up for the Second Annual Taste of Gramercy

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Truffle Mac and Cheese by The Stand

On Saturday September 13th, the Gramercy Neighborhood Association held its Second Annual Taste of Gramercy Neighborhood event on Irving Place. The event aimed to spread awareness about local businesses and introduce residents of New York City to all the wonderful food options Gramercy has to offer. In addition, the net proceeds were donated to benefit local schools, PS 40 and School of the Future, and the leftover food from the event was donated to the homeless in NYC via the Bowery Mission.

DOWNTOWN representatives headed out to Irving Place to see what Taste of Gramercy was all about and we were delighted with the fabulous array of foods presented. Who would have ever thought that a cheeseburger turned into soup would taste so delicious? Big Daddy’s showed us just how great it could be. Granted anything with a tater tot on top is sure to win some bonus points. The Stand made mac and cheese fancier with truffles so now you can treat yourself to your favorite indulgence with a touch of class. For those of you who are addicted to dumplings like we are, we have found the ultimate flavor. The squash dumpling made with Brown Butter, Truffled Chestnuts and Sage by Ichabod’s was one of our greatest discoveries of the day.

It was a cloudy, gray day in New York City, but that didn’t stop everybody from having a great time. Luckily for all the vendors involved the rain held off until after the event.

Participating restaurants at the event included the 71 Irving Place Coffee & Tea Bar, Barbounia, Bedford Cheese Shop, Big Daddy’s, Breads Bakery, Casa Mono & Bar Jamon, City Crab & Seafood Company, Duke’s, Friend of a Farmer, Go Burger Truck, Ichabod’s, La Follia Osteria, Little Town, Paul & Jimmy’s, Pete’s Tavern, Ponty Bistro, and The Strand.

Check out some of our favorite dishes below and head out and support these great local businesses!

-Lauren Price

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Cheeseburger Soup with Tots by Big Daddy’s

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Great, natural sandwiches by Exki

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Short Rib Sliders by La Follia 

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Sweet and savory by The Stand

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Squash Dumplings: Brown Butter, Truffled Chestnuts and Sage by Ichabod’s

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Smoked Octopus with Watermelon by City Crab

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Savory Sauces by Paul and Jimmy’s

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Luigi Rosabianca of Rosabianca and Associates  Grace A. Capobianco, CEO & Publisher of DOWNTOWN Magazine NYC, Mr. Renato, RE investor, and interior designer Mrs. Gianna Cassano

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 CEO & Publisher of DOWNTOWN Magazine NYC, Grace A. Capobianco, Chef from the Institute of Culinary Cuisine and Editorial Director of DOWNTOWN Magazine NYC, Maya Prejbisz