Kellari Taverna
“He had the grilled octopus and chilean sea bass which may sound strange but the sea bass was pure heaven.”
“Mom and I didn't want to overeat so we split the Seafood Yiouvetsi (oven roasted orzo with shrimp, scallops, mussels and clams).”
“The food was delicious- I don't remember what type of sea bass we ordered but it wasn't the typical thick filet.”
Kellari Taverna
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range $31-60
8 reviews
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I stopped into Kellari Taverna for dinner one night and had an ok meal.
Décor: I only sat at the bar so I didn't see the entire interior of the place but it seemed nice. They do a good job of keeping close to the name, as it really does have a tavern feel to it, and the place was just inviting. Overall it was well lit, homey and warm, and very low key. It was enjoyable.
Bathroom: unknown
Staff: The greeter was super nice, even taking my umbrella so I wouldn't have to juggle it (it was soaked from it pouring outside). And the bartender was friendly.
Food: I didn't have anything to drink, just an app and dinner. My options were limited as I was informed, promptly upon sitting down at the bar, that they were "out of steak, chicken, and chicken soup." No matter as I was going to have seafood anyway. I started with a shrimp cocktail (which was so-so… the shrimp were pretty dried out and not that large) and then had salmon. The entrée was very tasty and the portion size was decent.
Value: This place is pretty expensive for what they provide.
The meal was just so-so… I'd go other places before returning here for another meal.
Outstanding warm and attentive service. They start the meal with delicious bread and antipasti including hummus, olives and radishes. The lavraki was fresh with a simple lemon sauce. Also the asparagus side was crispy and flavorful.
Large portions, classy presentation and fresh food, would definitely recommend.
Had lunch at Kellari Taverna this past Sunday. Here are my thoughts:
Ambiance is nice. The place is classy and large. The noise level was quite high though, due to two VERY large parties – a baby shower and a bridal shower.
Service was nothing short of terrible. I believe this was due to the aforementioned large parties and minimal weekend staffing. Our waiter took at least 15 minutes to appear, and our food took an entire hour, despite constantly being told it was coming out shortly. We were very frustrated.
Food was pretty good overall.
— Royal Dorado was excellent, although it came with bones and the head intact. This after the waiter confirmed the fish would be (mostly) deboned and would arrive without the head. As I don't like to see my fish in it's original state, the presentation was a bit disappointing.
— Husband had the Horitiki omelette and enjoyed it (I didn't try it).
— Daughter had the Thalassino Proino, which she didn't enjoy because she said it was lacking taste. I also thought it was a bit bland and needed salt but the shrimp was good.
Ultimately the manager comped our entire meal, due to the ridiculous wait time. This was very nice of him, especially since we didn't ask for anything. And this is why the restaurant gets 3 stars instead of 1.
Will we go back? Maybe not as prices are on part with many other excellent Greek restaurants in NYC, including Avra, Milos, and Limani, where we've never had an issue. I'm not sure it makes sense to give it another try.
NOTE: I visited this establishment in 2006. This review was copied from a travel site I previously blogged for.
We stumbled on Kellari walking back from Times Square. As we stepped in the door, a large Greek man sitting at the bar welcomed us in. We must have looked out of place, he said 'Come on in, have a drink!'. This place was gorgeous- beautiful colors, dramatic draperies and fabrics, warm lighting, minimal but modern decor. The service was a little slow, but friendly. The wine list was interesting- a lot of wines I didn't recognize. I don't even remember what I ordered, but my glass was only $8. Not too bad. I'm not sure if I would go back, the menu wasn't easy to understand or recognize.
Decided to go here before a Rockettes show because most places had too long of a wait. Definitely a very Greek-esque restaurant, but the menu is very limited. Other than a pre-fixe menu that has actual dishes, the regular menu has appetizers and fish by the pound and a few dishes, not too many choices. My friends and I had the pre-fixe menu. I had the soup of the day, which was lemon chicken and it was tasty. I decided to splurge and get the lamb with potatoes. The lamb was a bit dry and not as flavorful, but the potatoes were amazing with a hint of lemon and oil and herbs.
This is by far one of my favorite Greek restaurants in New York. The restaurant is pretty big and it's not too far from Bryant Park so if you're visiting from out town, definitely come here for dinner. The decor is classy and so I recommend dressing up a bit such as a dress/button down shirt and shoes.
Here are my recommendations for dinner:
You're meal comes with bread, hummus, radishes, and olive oil
Appetizers:
Octopodi – Sushi grade grilled Octopus
Plevrakia – Roasted lamb riblets
Entree:
Astakos – Grilled Lobster (You can also get stuffed with Crab Meat)
Sinagrida – Red Snapper
Branzino – Classic Greek fish with capers and lemon
Dessert:
Sokolata – Warm chocolate cake with mousse
The beauty of Greek cooking – just like other Mediterranean cooking – lies in its simplicity. Fresh ingredients and some EVOO are really all it takes. Kellari has long departed the sunny, rocky coasts of Greece for the New World. Fat filet has replaced grilled fish. The only Greek thing is the name. But, if you want some solid, unexciting, theater-dinner-crowd fare, this is just fine.
I came here for a co workers bday and we had reservations for 12:30. The first thing I noticed was how busy this place was. I understand a lunch rush but I was surprised how busy this restaurant got during the day. As other reviewers mention, this is a very upscale and spacious restaurant with beautiful décor.
We sat down and were greeted by our server who was nice, but very slow. I personally think that people should be able to get in and out in about an hour during the day, but our whole meal was about two hours due to the slow service. Maybe they just don't want to rush people.
Onto the food, I chose the pick three prix fix business lunch and had the following:
Bread for the table- this was super yummy! Tasted fresh and came with olive oil and hummus.
Spanakopita- this was the best part of the meal. Very flaky and yummy, just how it should be.
Kotopoulo- I don't like seafood, which is unfortunate because this place seems like a great spot for seafood. That being said, if they have an item on their menu, they should still know how to cook it to perfection. My chicken breast was so over cooked, almost burnt. The lemon sauce that it came with was tasty, but there was no saving that chicken. The French fries were good, and they came with crumbled feta on the top. But sadly, fries should not be the best part of an entrée.
Yogurt cake- this was recommended by our server and I would describe it as a bland cheesecake. It came with raspberries and a cherry sauce which did make it sweeter, but I still wouldn't order it again.
Everyone in my party who ordered seafood enjoyed it, so I guess this place is worth checking out if you're going to order that. I personally will not be back though.