LoiThis was my second time atThis was my second time at Loi and both times I loved it. The food is great, the space is pretty but quiet and easy to sit and have a conversation and the service was impeccable. We will definitely return!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWhile we have been to otherWhile we have been to other Greek restuarants in NJ, this was our first time here. Wow this place was fantastic! They give you mini grape leaves, pita and homemade yogurt sprinkled with olive oil to nosh on while you are deciding what to order. Grape leaves and yogurt were excellent. For appetizers I had the baby eggplant stuffed with veggies and melted homemade feta. Delicious! My hubbie had the calamari with pesto. When it was served it looked like pasta because the it had been cut in thin ribbons and grilled. Wow this was the best calamari we have ever had!!! For entrees we shared the red snapper in a salt crust for two. The fish is cooked whole and then they fillet it for you. It was so moist and flavorful.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome!Everything was better than expected at the Loi. Service fantastic, blending of flavors and selection outstanding, a truly outstanding experience. Also deserts wonderful6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMNot badThe atmosphere here was very nice. Really beautiful place. The owner Maria, came by our table twice to see how we were doing. Truly excellent and attentive service. My only complaint was that the food was not amazing. The appetizers were okay but overall everything was a bit heavy for my taste. The spanakopita and the meatballs were quite good. The chicken soup was pretty tasty. The moussaka was very rich and heavy and wasn't my favorite and the dessert was also a bit if a disappointment. It's worth a shot if you want to go to a place with nice atmosphere and good service, but I'd look elsewhere for the best Greek food.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMNeighborhood GemLovely, upscale restaurant with excellent service and warm welcome from owner/chef. Varied menu and excellent wine options.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThe greatest GreekMaria Loi makes everything so satisfying for her guests, because she is running between the kitchen and the front of the house.
You had the lamb last week, try it with eggplant for a change she suggested on a recent visit. I had lamb for lunch the next day because the stuffed eggplant was so delicious, I forgot to switch back to meat. The reason Loi is my favorite restaurant is you always get more than you expect. There are many places in NYC to get a good meal. There are very, very few where you get a good food and a great time each and every time.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently goodAs always, Loi did not disappoint us! The waiters were attentive, ambience superb and food delicious!!!!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is good, but oneThe food is good, but one can get better Greek food and for less money. The dining room, however, is elegant and the service is very good, and mainly: one can actually have a real conversation without shouting. That's rare these days and makes up for the shortcomings of some of the food.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMLoi a Standout!We are fortunate to have this excellent Greek restaurant on Upper West Side -- and conveniently near Lincoln Center on W. 70th.
Excellent service, friendly owner, great food -- most recently we had salmon and lamb with potatoes -- plus little grape leaf goodies before we even ordered, and a yogurt dessert came nicely divided when we indicated it might be shared. Comfy high banquettes, and walls with restful art -- sea views. You will want to make it a regular stop.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMvery good food and friendly chef!!!The food was very good and traditional. I had a fish cooked in salt that was very tasty and melting in the mouth.The service was good and the waitress advised us very well. then the chef introduced herself which was very nice and was very friendly. I would definitely recommend it to a friend.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMAn Upper Westside GemThis is a chef who not only knows the finest parts of her chosen cuisine (Greek cooking that includes delicious beef and lamb to seafood offerings, from great cocktails and a gorgeous bar right out of a movie to creative and mouth-watering desserts) but takes the time to leave the kitchen and walk among and mingle with her very happy and well-fed diners. Things get off to a great start with a dozen or more appetizers and salad items that then lead to daily specials and regular menu preparations that show a steady hand and a grand appreciation of all things Mediterranean. From whole fish and chicken to steak and Greek lamb, everything Maria Loi serves leaves you wishing you had room for more and makes you want to return again and again.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMBest to go earlyHad a very early dinner and everything was on target. Food, service matched each other in quality. On other nights the service has been so amaterurish it has distracted from the wonderful food.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMA wonderful addition to theA wonderful addition to the neighborhood around Lincoln Center. The food is very good, the wine list an education, the knowledgable staff eager to establish a tradition of hospitality.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMDelightfulWe attended Loi after our daughters College Graduation and enjoyed delightful Gteek cuisine. The Salmon was delicious, the ravioli appetizer was a huge hit with my entire family. The wait staff was suburb and the Chef came to say hello and ask how things were.
I would recommend this resteruan to anyone5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMPost Lincoln Center Tasty TreatsThanks to Daniel Boulud it's easy to find expensive tasty treats near Lincoln Center these days. But, what about those times when you want a little something, a glass of wine and your wallet is reeling from those great seats at the ballet. Go to Loi. As they used to say about the Russian Tea Room it's 7 minutes away and they treat you like family. Royal family. Ten minutes after Opispova took her first bow on the great stage of the Met on a cold rainy night I was tucking into a hot bowl of chicken soup and sipping from a cool glass of Rose.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMfree 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 AMFriendly and Fantastic FoodThe only thing better than the welcome at Loi is the food. The salmon both cold as tartare and hot with leeks is delciious and good for you on those nights when no one will share the salt baked fish for two with you. Greeks expect great fish and Loi is filled with them. LIve Greeks in the dining room and Lavraki which begins life in Greece passes through the Kitchen and ends back in the dining room on the plate of anyone whith the good sense to order it. Nice for us.
I was so seduced by the whole baby lamb that was an Easter special I excitedly ordered some, er, elsewhere. Big mistake. But it reminded me that this Greek food like anything "simple" takes real talent and serious effort to be so consistantly satisfying.5/19/2013 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 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 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 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 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 AM