‘Γεια σας and καλωσήρθατε’ to another weekend of Exploring NYC with Eva!
I hope you’re all having a great start to the summer, are soaking up the sun, and looking forward to the next few months ahead.
From Knicks celebrations and a jam-packed Yankee Stadium full of Greeks to the opening of fro-yo spots like Mythos and Myka, a newly opened Greek-owned pharmacy in Roslyn, and more wine dinners and restaurant debuts, this summer has already been packed with exciting adventures – with much more to come.
That said, this week’s focus is on a new Greek restaurant I came across in the Sout Street Seaport neighborhood of Manhattan – Lithos Mediterranean Cuisine.
This restaurant is owned and operated by three business partners, including brothers Dimitrios and Argyrios Cane (Canellopoulos), and opened on March 31, earlier this year.
The bar at Lithos Mediterranean Cuisine (Photo: Evelyn Karatzas)
Upon entering, you instantly feel like you’ve traded New York for a Greek island, where you’re mesmerized by coastal-inspired decor, warm lighting, and an ambient atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re sitting at a seaside taverna in Greece with its indoor-outdoor seating options. They also have olive trees all over the restaurant, paying tribute to the Cane brothers’ roots of Kalamata, Greece.
Olive trees added a distinctly Greek feel to the restaurant’s décor (Photo: Evelyn Karatzas)
Speaking with Dimitrios Cane, he expressed that the restaurant combines traditional Greek food and a modern setting and noted how “we originally chose this area because there is no Greek restaurant in this area – it’s the first Greek restaurant here that’s modern, with a bit of a traditional touch, with great food and a great ambiance.”
“If you go elsewhere, like Midtown or Uptown, there are thousands of Greek restaurants, however here, you have something different – something one-of-a-kind, something unique,” Cane said.
The horiatiki salad and calamari at Lithos Mediterranean Cuisine (Photo: Evelyn Karatzas)
With the goal of offering guests “Greek cuisine and a Greek ambience,” Lithos has crafted a menu that showcases a great selection of traditional dishes from both the land and the sea.
Among the menu highlights are the Mediterranean crudo, oysters, Greek ceviche, and tuna tartare from the raw bar; mezze plates including saganaki, spanakopita, garides saganaki, grilled octopus, calamarakia, loukaniko, and midia achnista (steamed mussels); and a variety of fresh Greek salads.
The entrance to Lithos Mediterranean Cuisine (Photo: Evelyn Karatzas)
The entrée selection additionally features classic dishes such as lavraki, king prawns, paidakia, kotopoulo souvlaki, seafood orzo, ribeye, and the Lithos Burger, among many others.
One thing that stood out to me was the restaurant’s $29 per person lunch prix fixe menu, which includes the choice of an appetizer, main course and dessert – what a great option when out and about in the city!
Another highlight upon visiting was Lithos’ impressive cocktail menu which featured seven signature drinks including the Lithos Pineapple Tini, Aegean Breeze, Paros Paradise, Santorini Sunrise, Mediterranean Spritz, Mykonos Old Fashioned, and the Athenian Garden. The restaurant also offers a variety of Greek wines and beers, adding to that authentic offering of Greece.
The indoor seating area at Lithos Mediterranean Cuisine (Photo: Evelyn Karatzas)
I was lucky enough to try the Lithos Pineapple Tini which consisted of tequila blanco, pineapple juice, agave, lime juice, spicy bitters and Tajin rim, and it was such a delicious and refreshing drink – perfect for the summer. I also enjoyed a serve of the horiatiki salad and fried calamari, and I have to say, the portions were so generous, and the flavors were so fresh.
As someone who has been working in the hospitality industry since the age of 15, Cane expressed what he loved most about it, noting how “it’s never the same day – it’s always something different.”
“You meet different people every day, and it never gets boring,” Cane said.
“It’s something that’s always exciting.”
The Lithos Pineapple Tini and the Mediterranean Spritz cocktails at Lithos Mediterranean Cuisine (Photo: Evelyn Karatzas)
As a restaurant that’s only been open for a few months, Cane expressed how the response so far has been very positive, with people coming from all over New York and New Jersey to taste Lithos’ dishes.
When asked what he thinks sets his restaurant apart from others, he shared: “I believe the food. It’s something nice. The ambience, the service, the lighting – it reminds you of Greece.”
The outdoor seating area at Lithos Mediterranean Cuisine (Photo: Evelyn Karatzas)
He added that the experience one receives upon visiting the restaurant is similar to going to a party in Greece.
“With the food, with the music, with the lights, with the decor – it reminds you of being on a Greek island and sitting outside by the beach and enjoying a nice white wine, with nice food and good company,” Cane said.
The bar at Lithos Mediterranean Cuisine was also quite impressive (Photo: Evelyn Karatzas)
He added, all those who come and visit, “will leave with a good experience, as if they have escaped to Greece.”
Lithos Mediterranean Cuisine is located at 151 Maiden Lane, New York and is open Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 11 PM, and on Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 AM to 11 PM.
To learn more, visit www.lithosnyc.com or visit @lithosnyc on Instagram.
Dining and Cooking