Loifree wine!There was a wine tasting in the bar area when we arrived for dinner which was a really pleasant bonus! Great music. Lovely restaurant. Excellent food.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMAuthentic and RelaxedHaving been inspired by Marias appearance on breakfast TV and to satisfy our urge to be temporarily transported away from the rude and material world of New York city to the idylic islands of Greece, we booked a table at Loi's on a whim. We were not disappointed the food was authentic and fresh and the service was excellent and sincere. Our guests from overseas thoroughly enjoyed their experience and my wife and I will return to sample more of the menu.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMThe wine room is a fine roomI invited the big man and his wife out to thank him for his help during what was a particularly fraught college application process. ANYWHERE. Classy guy said when I extended the invitation-- let your son choose the place. I knew we'd be BACK at Loi, which frankly doesn't feel so special to me. It's an extension of home, delicious reliable and completely comfortable.
But, Maria Loi divined -- it wasn't our usual once a week dinner.
She changed the tab The five of us ate in splendor in the wine room. The big man and his lovely wife were throughly pleased.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMReturnWe are delighted that we returned to Loi for another splendid, excellent and gracious meal.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMreturn visitThis was our return visit and we are very glad we did come back. The food was tasty, the service attentive and gracious.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWe heart LoiOnce a week we all meet at Loi for dinner. My son comes from high school in Brooklyn, my husband comes from his office in midtown and I come from a laptop two blocks away. We leave together, well fed and much happier. Loi makes us a closer and a more successful family. You should go, bring your family eat some lamb and have the maroulli salad, with crumbled feta. and ask for eckmek (it's the shreded wheat base one) for dessert, it's my son's favorite.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMSslodenVery authentic Greek cuisine. Excellent friendly staff, gave us space but insured all our needs were taken care of. The baked fish for two was fabulous.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAs always - Maria shinesThe best of the west side. Maria Loi serves supreme food with a home style feel. The attention to detail and personal serviced makes this our favorite restaurant in the neighborhood.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGreek as in GreeceAuthentic cooking where spices don't overpower the natural taste of the ingredients. Fish is terrific.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMpasxa!OK, maybe I spelled Greek Easter wrong but Maria Loi and the rest of the Greeks celebrating at Loi for orthodox Easter sure got it right. Baby lambs roasting on spits outside perked up the whole neighborhood. I overheard a woman say to man as they sniffed the air, "I just love my neighborhood!" Who doesn't love a neighborhood with a handsome muscled young man carefully tending an open bbq with roasting baby lambs. OK maybe not vegetarians. But the rest of us were in heaven. I've never seen so many happy people in a restaurant.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstandingMuch much more than I had expected. Outstanding Greek cuisine worthy of Michelin Stars. And a warm welcome as only the Greeks can provide. Memorable moments: octopus; moussaka; osso bucco (or whatever it translates to in Greek); all desserts especially the home made yogurt. Can't wait to return.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThis place is beautiful, theThis place is beautiful, the service was fabulous. Sadly the food was just OK. The prices are sky high. The main courses come with barely anything but the main attraction. We ordered a side of potatoes and out came FOUR small red steamed potatoes for EIGHT dollars. While we had a lovely experience, I would not go back here.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWe love going there!!! WeWe love going there!!!
We make occasions so we can go.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food. Lovely serviceWonderful food.
Lovely service and a delightful chef owner who greets her guests with warmth and appreciation.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Greek food. DeliciousExcellent Greek food. Delicious preparation of branzino. Wonderful dining experience. Perfect before Lincoln Center. Maria Loi does it all brilliantly--cooks, greets, supervises,, even answers the phone.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMFood is so flavorful and theFood is so flavorful and the service friendly and helpful;
The lamb chops are incredible as is moussaka4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a wonderful evening andHad a wonderful evening and can't wait to go back!4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous upscale Greek cuisineFabulous upscale Greek cuisine in a lovely space. Staff is very attentive without being intrusive. Chef Loi greets her guests and makes everyone feel welcomed. Everything we had was scrumptous!4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMLamb baconThe salt baked fish for two and a bottle of Greek Rose was a marvelous way to welcome Spring. Maria Loi is always there, welcoming customers, steering the kitchen and gnerally instilling a strong sense that the Greeks did it right, first.Occasionally, regulars get an unexpected treat, a gift from Maria. Last night was lamb bacon crispy salty tasty adding savory sparkle to some very Kosher friendly appetisers.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved it!Super nice and excellent food. What an upgrade from Compus. This would be an awesome place to have a party as they have several private rooms. So happy to have Loi in our hood!4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was very well prepared.The food was very well prepared. The grilled branzino was one of the best we have had. The stuffed eggplant and crabcakes were delicous. The service was attentive and helpful,4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful, wonderful evening!Wonderful, wonderful evening! The space that Loi is in had a checkered past of mediocrity and failure, but Loi has purged all the demons! We loved meeting owner who is heavily engaged in day to day operations and customer relations, we loved the sommelier who suggested an outstanding wine, and our server was equally lovely, bringing a special birthday treat for my husband.
And the food was divine - we would recommend Loi in a heartbeat.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was great yet again.Food was great yet again. The octopus app is terrific. Lamb and scallops main courses were perfectly done.
The Captain recommended a marvelous Greek pinot noir. So good, we orderd a second bottle!4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMLoi is for friendsThe food at Loi is great, Marcos can always find you a nice bottle of wine and Maria ensures a perfect experience: gastronomically and socially. Word is getting around so you might have the unexpected pleasure of seeing friends walk in..4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMTalented, as well as charminglyTalented, as well as charmingly friendly, chef. Close walk to Lincoln center; staff easily gets you out in time for your curtain.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Greek menu locatedExcellent Greek menu located in a beautiful space on the UWS. Convenient to Lincoln Center. The owner and staff really cared that we were pleased.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMThe chef/owner was charming.The chef/owner was charming. Enjoyed the quiet atmosphere and romantic corner table. Beautiful food. Service could use improvement. Mussels served without fork. Asked waiter for a bowl for the shells.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food, charming chefWonderful food, charming chef who comes around to meet her clientele, great ambiance. Really fun place.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything but the wineLoi is spacious, the ambiance and surroundings are first rate. The food consists of interesting takes on traditional Greek cuisine and is delicious and presented nicely. The service is pretty good, our waiter was full of recommendations that turned out to be useful. He was at times inattentive, but overall was a good waiter. I am trying to put my finger on why it seems a bit overpriced. Certainly the surroundings are gracious and it is wonderful not to be crammed on top of other diners. In NYC, you expect to pay $80 each for two drinks, an appetizer and main course. I suppose one thing is the wine list. I don't mind paying $14 for a glass of wonderful Italian wine, but that is a bit much for a lousy Greek one with sediment.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThe restaurant was very crowdedThe restaurant was very crowded which could account for the service being off a notch. The food too.Our guests thoroughly enjoyed it, though, and that made us happy.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMBar FoodThe salmon tartare appetizer tasted Greek not cliched. Added some feta to marouli salad (romaine/dill/scallions/secret sauce) and a glass of a full Greek white wine, a blend of two indigeous grapes I can't pronounce or spell, but they know at the Loi bar where the generously poured glassful was the perfect accompaniment for a light supper for two exhausted hungry people Normally exiting the subway on West 72nd St we turn right towards home, that evening my husband turned left to 70 Street wanting both dolmadakis and single malt whiskey immediately. His mood was much improved by the time I joined him. My mood was also quickly improved, taking Maria's advice to try something new.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is delicious! AndThe food is delicious! And the decor is sleek and warm. The Moussaka is the best I've ever had, and it is a tough challenge for me to consider anything else on the menu, though my friend who tried the Salmon loved it. The food is exceptionally flavorful -- wonderful seasonsings. Would be nice if some more moderately priced wines were introduced, especially by the glass.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had an excellent experience.We had an excellent experience. A warm greeting from the owner, the waitress was superb, and the food reminded me of my mother's home cooked meal.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent. Fresh food, wellExcellent. Fresh food, well presented, warm greeting, v good service.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat an incredible experienceWhat an incredible experience - service and food was extraordinary, and the staff was unmatched in its hospitality and welcome. Great job, LOI! Cannot wait to go back.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMReal Greek food and feel. IReal Greek food and feel.
I loved their Greek version of "bread and butter" with yogurt dip and olive oil.
Food was delicious. large portion.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMLean in at LoiLoi is like my husband intelligent,dependable and generous. I never tire of him, and he still has the capacity to surprise me with something great. Like the veal shank with tiny homemade pasta I ate the other night at Loi, Osso Buco in another Mediterranean country. The new bar menu is a great excuse to stop after a visit to Lincoln center.Beautiful dry rose and interesting conversation with strangers is another good reason to go to Loi and sit at one of the big tables.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMBeing at Loi made me feelBeing at Loi made me feel like I was in my own dining room - but with a superb chef and very attentive and service. It was a mix of outstanding restaurant experience with the comfort of home.
Maria Loi cares about food and healthy cuisine. I have traveled the world, including many regions in Greece, and it was a delight to find the best octopus and meatballs anywhere right here in New York.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMLove at LoiThere is a lot to love at Loi. This week we loved the special Easter dinner. I've stopped making lamb at home since my family thinks Maria Loi's is better than mine. A recent bout of flue resulted in many quarts of chicken soup being brought home from the restaurant. I improved rapidly enough to get out of bed in time to enjoy Easter dinner at Loi. My son is currently hooked on the cheese croquettes.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and stellar serviceMaria Loi is the real deal. An extremely talented chef, who knows how to cook Greek food authentically. The tastes of her creations are simple, yet wonderful. Her desserts are honestly the best Greek pastries I've ever tasted. Add to that, Maria's warm, kind and endearing ways. She's a mainstay at her restaurant, and her charming personality adds tremendously to the dining experience. I highly recommend this restaurant.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFood is as amazing as the service!Amazing Greek restaurant. Food is very tasty. Service is impeccable!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreek specialLoi is a fantastic Greek restaurant that features upscale Greek cuisine that stays true to its roots. All the appetizers are nicely familiar meze but most delicious and uniquely refined in taste. The fish is always fresh and prepared in flavorful Mediterranean seasonings. The service is personal, warm and the owner often unobtrusively makes the rounds to chat with each table so you feel like you are a guest in her home!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMserendipity and spinach pieSomething magical is taking place at Loi. Maria Loi has created a spot where serendipity thrives along with superb interpretions of Greek food. My husband and I went in for dinner, tired, hungry and cranky.
We ate grilled octopus, a dish we never tire of. Marouli salad with hot peppers added for me. Lamb chops, and horta. Delicious. We had the good sense to get an order of spinach pie to go so lunch the next day was easy and tasty. It's great to live close enough to a restaurant so that you can use their kitchen as your own. As my husband says,what's the difference if you give the money to Fairway or Loi? Either way we have to have dinner and one way I don't have to do the dishes!3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMBetter than grandma"sNo matter what kind of cook your grandmother was (or hopefully still is)Loi is the best place for a family meal.We were 3 and half generations on Sunday. The baby couldn't be pried out of Maria Loi's arms, the toddler got to twirl and get a private tour of the kitchen while the mother ate her way through 4 courses and the grandfather happily paid. The baby found spanakopita the perfect food for eating and wearing. The teenager had a flashback to when he was a toddler and Greek waiters showed him the fish and brought him treats. It was a different town, and a different restaurant but the sincerity of the welcome and a taste for healthy Mediterranean food lasts a lifetime.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMSpace was formerly "Compass",Space was formerly "Compass", and the basic layout remains: long illuminated bar in front, an area with a bistro-like feel, then two (of the three) private rooms that can be curtained off and can easily seat 10 or 12, and then the capacious bi-level main dining room. Tables arranged to give lots of space. Food was superb, very fresh and flavorful and somehow very light; delicious olive oil used sparingly. Many Greek classics on menu, but every one I tasted was a revelation of what those dishes can be. In many ways the feel of the restaurant reminded me of Athens. Highly recommended; I will be back. Prices were moderate for the quality. We ate very well for about $50 each, including wine. The chef/owner Maria Loi visited every table.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulust Romantic RestaurantEverything was perfect. Its a romantic restaurant with fabulous food. If you want a private romantic conversation with your love one, this is it! I'd go back as often as I can!!!3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMLoi PolloiLoi is the kind of restaurant you dream will open in your neighborhood. A place you can go once a week. The food is delicious and plentiful. The wine list contains some well priced gems you never heard of, so ask Marco for advice. The private dining rooms are calling my son's name.Too bad he couldn't convince the rest of his grade to abandon the prom idea and go out for a really nice dinner at Loi. I'm sure Chef Loi would find a red carpet to pose each kid on for an embarassing photograph to be displayed for years to come.3/8/2013 12:00:00 AMLoi RulesA sublime reminder of what food tasted like on your first trip to Greece. Fresh, simple, delicious. If the braised rabbit special is available: order it, there is enough space between table that no one will notice if you can't help sucking the last bits off the bone.
There is something for everyone to eat at Loi, pasticcio for the pasta lovers, real efforts emerge from the chef at Loi to seduce the vegetarians to joining you and always lamb chops or a simple piece of fish.3/5/2013 12:00:00 AMChef Maria Loi is a TV StarChef Maria Loi is a TV Star but you would never know it! so kind and gracious.
I went for dinner with my parents who were in form England, my wife and my 3 1/2 year old son. My son who is not a big eater was scooped up by the Chef, whisked into the kitchen. Given a personal guided tour of each section of the kitchen, introduced to all the chefs as Alexander the Great! Fed on cookies. Basically he owned the restaurant for the night as we enjoyed the great food delivered by "want to please you" front of house waiters. More ouzo please!2/25/2013 12:00:00 AMFriends & FamilyLoi is the restaurant we've always dreamed would be in our neighborhood. Delicious and friendly. The menu is braod enough that nearly any taste can be satisfied.2/16/2013 12:00:00 AM