Fawn G.
Yelp
When in Greece, of course, the fish you will order is the fresh catch of the day. When served, on a beautiful platter, adorned with sea salt and lemon, you feel you died and went to heaven.
Thus at Anassa, the catch of the day, is an option of the fresh " catch of the day". Today's was branzino for two, salmon with a side of lentils and snapper. There are of course grilled or fried calamari, octopus, Chilean sea bass or lobster ravioli.
Today, the last day of Restaurant Week, we decided to visit Anassa for Mediterranean food.My friend dined here recently and raved about the food. The restaurant is quite lovely: beautiful wood tables, long bar, upstairs seating and spacious.
We were seated in the back part of restaurant which upon entering was packed. We reviewed the RW menu beforehand on NYC RW website: $30 for appetizer, entree and dessert. There was a nice selection of apps: grilled portobello mushrooms with garlic, basil and thyme. Entrees included Chicken bruchette served on pita with couscous and for dessert ravani: semolina cake with lemon. The server handed us a Brunch Menu and explained that Anassa ended the RE menu on Friday. Huh? But Anassa was included on RW website, thus why?
So here's the conundrum: I didn't really find anything on the menu that I craved: most of it consisted of breakfast items: Greek yogurt, pancakes, omelets and avocado toast.
I then decided to have the Avgolemono soup ( chicken, egg, rice and carrots) with a Romaine salad.
I'll start with the soup: good taste but the portion was a bit chintzy. The Romaine salad was also small portion: served with scallions, dill, Kalamata olives (2) and creamy dressing. Salad was tasty but for $18 not worth it.
My friend really wanted the Branzino for one person but was told serving was for two people. For $38 a nice portion of fish was served with a side of.. nothing.
The only thing I found really tasty was their home made hummus or tzatziki sauce ( don't know due to no explanation given) with the most delicious bread.
So folks my UES dining experience at establishments near Bloomingdales is quite, how should I say...not great dining experience. Mind you Anassa in next to my other fave, Patsy's ( I say that with the most polite sarcasm).
The waitress couldn't be bothered with us: I guess when we asked for RW menu, we probably weren't the ideal UES customers.
At these prices, $30 for soup and salad plus tip, I might as well buy a plane ticket back to Greece.