Kefi, Beloved Greek Restaurant, Opens in Bigger Space

(Katie Sokoler/Gothamist)

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Chef Michael Psilakis (friend of Gothamist) and partner Donatella Arpaia have finally opened the hotly anticipated, bigger location of Kefi, the Greek restaurant hailed by the Times in 2007 as "immensely appealing." The cozy original on 79th Street is regarded as one of the best deals in town, and the new location on Columbus Avenue, between 84th and 85th Streets, has miraculously not instituted a price hike. The $16.95 prix fixe is shockingly reasonable, especially considering the culinary talents of Psilakis, who has also won raves for Anthos and Mia Dona.

We're told that at the new Kefi, "the throngs of hungry 'Kefers'" can make reservations, pay with credit cards and enjoy lunch and brunch, "among other conveniences previously forsaken" at the original. Kefi 2.0 has two floors, accommodates 200 diners, and features a bar crafted from bulkhead-style wood beams. The focal point of the main dining room is a large blue-hued mosaic of a wave (see below), rising up above an archipelago of blue-and-white-patterned upholstered banquets. Turkish tin plates, wall lanterns, and gigantic Greek pottery complete the scene.

Signature dishes held over from the original Kefi include Baccala, crispy-fried cod with garlic potatoes and tomato, Grilled Octopus with bean salad, and Hilopita, baked pasta with rabbit ragout and béchamel. But there are also new additions, such as Grilled Sardines with chopped “Greek Salad” and garlic sauce. You can also order food to go—a family-style take-out menu feeds up to six people for as little as $8 per person.

Kefi // 505 Columbus Avenue between 84th and 85th Streets // (212) 873-02000