We headed to Avra just north of Rockefeller Center for their prix fixe $34.50 lunch. Its elegant space and good food make it worth the stop.
My dining partner had their fish soup, described by Petros, our fabulous server, as similar to a beef stew with potatoes, carrots, celery and tomato sauce, with Chilean seabass instead of meat. Flavorful and hearty.
I sampled their keftedes, meatballs with fresh herbs in a light tomato and feta sauce.
Their yummy bread service includes a pile of crispy flatbread, diced radishes, olives and hummus.
We both selected the fish of the day, the fillet of Mediterranean seabass with sauteed artichokes, carrots and green peas in a lemon butter sauce. The fish was wonderful, not so those delicious-sounding veggies. Sadly, they were mushy, like over-cooked camp ones. The staff said it was a classic Greek dish; it was just not to our liking. That said, the service, ambiance and all other food were worth the trip.
With lunch, I suggest a glass of their own Assyrtiko from their vineyard in Cyclades, Greece, 2020 ($17).
For dessert, do try their decadent chocolate yogurt cheesecake. Also good is their baklava.
I recommend Avra for the prix fixe lunch.
Avra
Midtown
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
(212) 430-8888
We just returned from Brunch at Avra at Rockefeller center. The food was good but the service was very, very slow. It wasn’t as if we were there during lunch because we were served past 3pm. We sat down to eat the apperisers at 2.15 but were served the Entree past 3 pm. By that time we had already lost interest in the rest and asked to have it boxed up to carry out. Not a sign of a top rated restaurant.
Thanks for sharing, Michael.
Perhaps the service was slow as it was between regular meal times. That said, if they seated you, they should have had service personnel to attend to you.
Thanks again.