Pylos

Eating out in New York City can be expensive, but reasonably priced restaurants are available. One of my favorite restaurants, Pylos, offers excellent Greek food at prices that won't break the bank.

Located in the East Village in Manhattan, Pylos offers delicious food in a charming setting. Pylos, which is the root word in Greek for clay pots, is decorated with a ceiling of hanging pots. The restaurant seats roughly 40 to 50 people, including a large communal table which seats 10. Service is fast and friendly.

Both lunch/brunch and dinner are offered and I have tried both. One of my favorite options is to order several appetizers to share. The hot pita bread with tzatziki (a yogurt dip) is really satisfying and fills your stomach. You can almost feel the bread expand. I could easily make a meal of this as the bread is so, so good. The garides ouzo (shrimp with ouzo) is fresh with a tangy ouzo and tomato sauce. The spanakopita is a wonderful pastry filled with spinach, feta cheese and herbs.

The price for three appetizers and two glasses of wine is less than U.S. $50, which is competitive for Manhattan. Main courses run roughly U.S. $15-$20 each. Cookbooks are also for sale.

The only downside I can think of to Pylos is that getting to the East Village by subway is not easy. The closest line is the L train to 1st Avenue, which will be a few blocks walk.

Pylos' food is Greek cooking at its very best. It's a taste of Greece in New York City.