Mediterranean Restaurants in Chelsea, NYC Mediterranean Restaurants:

¶ … Mediterranean restaurants in Chelsea, NYC

Mediterranean restaurants: Chelsea

Uncle Nick's Greek Restaurant is located at 747 9th Ave. It offers traditional Greek food such mezze plates, whole grilled fish, staples like mousakas and pastitio and more unusual offerings such as loukanika horiatika (Greek sausage sauteed in wine sauce). Despite its homespun name, Uncle Nick's is not a diner. It is a Mediterranean restaurant that showcases specifically Greek food, although it does include some dishes more commonly found in American restaurants, such as a 'mixed grill' of friend zucchini, eggplants, and peppers. But even these are showcased with a scordalia dip (traditional Greek potato and garlic dip) rather than the usual sour cream found at a diner. Instead of the standard diner 'Greek salad,' Uncle Nick's offers feta cheese and tomato drizzled with olive oil. Along with fries, offered 'sides' include the traditional Greek dandelions, and the desserts span from Greek baklava to more familiar offerings like rice pudding. There is also a wine and beer list.

Nisos' Mediterranean Cuisine on 176 8th Avenue is another Greek restaurant. Nisos means 'island' in Greek. The restaurant is open for brunch, dinner, and lunch. Brunch offerings, despite the name of the restaurant, seem resolutely American, including oatmeal, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and frittatas. Both a la carte and fixed price menus are offered at brunch. Dinner is also more Americanized than one might expect. Main courses include steak, grilled pork chops, pan-roasted chicken, and other staples. The main nods to 'Greek' cuisine include the extensive fish selection and rabbit, the latter of which is described as served in a traditional Greek style. Burgers and smoothies are also offered at dinner. Oddly enough, there is a fairly large selection of Greek desserts, including the more exotic loukoumades and galaktobourek beside the expected baklava.

Aleo Restaurant and Bar on 7 West 20th Street in contrast, focuses on Italian cuisine. It offers traditional Italian-American dishes such as Chicken Parmesan, a wide pasta menu with staples such as penne, and also American crowd-pleasers like steaks and veal chops. The restaurant does not present itself as focusing on a particular Italian region, and few dishes could be characterized as adventurous. Flatbread pizzas round out a menu with many selections designed to appeal to virtually 'anyone.' The restaurant seems designed to please a wide array of fairly conventional diners' palates.