"The Lefteris restaurants are well-known for their Greek cuisine in Westchester, but other upscale options are beginning to emerge. Meraki is poised to be a strong contender in this growing market. We were warmly welcomed by our server, who had a grandmotherly demeanor and provided a level of service that felt rare after the pandemic.
To start, we enjoyed a generous serving of grilled pita accompanied by a dip. Our server's white wine recommendation was excellent—fruitier than many typical Greek wines. However, there was a downside: on the night of our visit, the grill was out of service, which meant several menu items were unavailable.
For our appetizers, we chose the fried Cypriot meatballs and the gigandes beans. The meatballs were expertly prepared, combining juiciness and crispiness in every bite. The gigandes beans, served in a light tomato sauce, were far superior to canned versions.
Our main course selections were limited due to the grill being down. I ordered La Portena's Pargi, which came sautéed over spinach. The server described the fish as Mediterranean snapper, which seemed accurate. It was a generous serving of firm, white fish cooked to perfection atop a lovely bed of spinach.
However, my special roast lamb dish fell a bit short. It arrived as three pieces, each partially wrapped in foil. Although it appeared to be a large portion, it was deceiving; each piece contained a fair amount of bone, fat, and connective tissue. The meat itself was tender, savory, and moist, but there simply wasn't enough of it. The three accompanying potato slices lacked flavor.
I did enjoy a Cabernet Franc, recommended by our server, which turned out to be better than I had expected. We took home our dessert, galaktoboureko, which was a generous portion—enough for two. It was nearly perfect: not overly sweet, with well-prepared pastry and fresh-tasting custard.
I look forward to returning once the grill is repaired so I can try out more dishes from the extensive menu."
