Ethos Gallery 51 Reviews

A couple of friends I knew invited me to dine with them at this Greek restaurant. When I arrived and met up with them we were promptly seated near the bar area. This place is very noisy to say the least which makes carrying on a conversation a bit difficult but I managed. We were given hummus with complimentary pita bread. We each had a glass of wine and decided to share appetizers or what they call small plates. We ordered octopus which was outstanding! The other I guess seemed like they were eggplant rolls. Those were good as well. We shared a Greek salad and the tomatoes were to die for! I had never tasted tomatoes as good as these and I can only stand tomatoes to a degree in a meal. Not these, they were delicious! The waiter went over the daily specials and I was in the mood for swordfish. It came with a cream sauce and rice along with mixed vegetables. I thought it was alright. One of the friends had scallops and the other had roasted lamb. I got to sample that and it was very good. During our meal the room was darkened for a few minutes while they brought out a sparkly cake and sang a Greek song for someone's birthday. Now that was really unique! I finished my swordfish and knew I couldn't eat another bite when out came dessert that appeared to be a baklava and a custard tart. Served with them was chocolate mousse for dipping. One of the desserts really had no flavor to it but the other seemed good. Needless to say I was stuffed that I could barely walk. Please be aware of the fact that this place is very expensive and gets very crowded. I did not make the reservation but I am sure I would need to schedule in advance if I were. Nevertheless I had a great time with good friends and good food.

I really loved the food in Ethos. This gem is located just a few blocks north of the UN building, presenting great lunch or dinner options. Lots of wonderful dishes on the menu, most also included in the fixed price lunch menu. It was busy when we ate there, but it wasn't noisy and the food was delicious. Definitely a good choice, as for value for money and good food!

Came for an early dinner to beat the rush and had a tasty meal with good service. Started with the tomatosalata (excellent but would prefer portion was smaller) followed by the plaki (tasty sea bass filet). But six dollars for an iced tea without offering a refill - just totally ridiculous. Would return, sans the iced tea

Mouthwatering, fresh fish and amazing lamb dishes. Fab dessert offered and special occasions are a must just for the 80s music! Super friendly staff and incredible atmosphere (if a little loud). There is no better place for true Greek cuisine this side of Athens. One of our favourite places and reasonable for NYC!

A trip to Greece -- and the best Happy Birthday music, selected from rock songs. The waiters seem truly happy to celebrate. The food is authentic and wonderful. Never heard of a cauliflower steak, but it was grilled with oil olive and herbs. This is the place to live out loud.

First time I went here was for my 1 year marriage anniversary dinner. It brought me back to my honeymoon <3 The ambiance was amazing. I felt I was back in Santorini. Then they brought out the food. It is a pretty big menu and everything sounds amazing, so that is difficult. But that is a good thing. The food has never disappointed. Get the HORIATIKI salad. They have the BEST feta and the tomatoes are HUGE! This is my go to restaurant. This place gets packed! This place is great for couples, friends or family. It is great for both Lunch & dinner. Get there early, make a reservation or be prepared for a wait. Totally worth it though!

Booked for lunch for a party of six(my high school classmate with his family from SF). While waiting for them (they were still in Brooklyn Bridge) the welcome host was so accommodating even though we waited for about almost an hour past our reserve time. I had the Solomos (grilled Scottish salmon), my bff had the seafood orzo ,the portions were adequate and the food itself was fresh and delicious . The Paidakia(baby lamb chops)and lamb shank were tasty too.The ambiance was delightful patterned in the stylish island of Mykonos . Met the young chef and all the wait staff are superb!

Food was very good! Service was somewhat chaotic. We had several appetizers and they were delicious. Bread and hummus was a nice start. Needed more TAZIKI .. yum

MUSIC, LOUD SERVICE DISTRACTED, DISTRACTED, DISTRACTED FOOD DELICIOUS, DELICIOUS. Given up going and instead order in. Such a pity. What was fun is now a "headache," "headache," "headache". I would like to "break a plate" each time I walk on by.

Came here for a work lunch and was so happy with the meal. We ordered a ton of appetizers and small plates and split everything, with a glass of wine each of course. The food was perfect. Everything was fresh and delicious and the presentation was great. They even gave us complimentary dessert - a vanilla custard thing - that was also delicious. The staff was really nice and attentive as well. We will come back and I'd suggest this place to everyone!

Our server spent more time flirting with the hostess , drinking beer at the bar and flirting with the bartender than he spent with his patrons

Highly recommend - we had dinner - the food was outstanding - marinated octopus SOoo tender - just delicious & the best soft shell crab we've eaten. By the time we got to lobster with pasta / couldn't finish but v good - serves are generous. Service was great, ambiance lovely. Wine list not extensive but ok. Will definitely come again.

I stayed at the bar, initialing sipping a beer and then having some starters to eat . I had grilled octopus and fish-balls and they both were perfectly cooked and tasty . The bartender was attentive but not intrusive . The venue reminded me a bit of a beach restaurant, a nice feeling given that cool weather . I definitely recommend Ethos, a nice combination of good food and nice ambience .

Not warmly greeted. Wait staff was friendly. Food was good, not great. Prices high. Alcohol prices VERY high. Felt cramped and rushed.

It's a Greek place, yes, and they are proud of it, even if personnel is from neighboring countries... This place is two blocks from me and I visited it once, about 20 years ago: it was horrible, both food and service, so I never went back, although I walk by daily. It changed several names, but stayed Greek and I decided to give it another chance on a recent Sunday. Brunch and the regular menu are available., which is great since most of the regular menu is seafood, plus a huge variety of Greek appetizers. We start with PIKILIA – a selection of Greek appetizers that comes with delicious bread and pita bread, then add lukaniko, a spicy grilled Greek sausage and saganaki, a Greek cheese normally served flambe. This time it comes breaded and fried but it's still good. There is so much food we decide to skip the main course. We drink a bottle of good Montepulciano d'Abrizzo, reasonably priced, lite and perfectly fitting the appetizers. We end up with some complimentary pastry, the Greek variation of bread pudding, delicious. Service is attentive and friendly, just don't be in a hurry, but if you've been to Greece you know this is the norm ;) Highly recommended.

I reviewed this place last year but I feel compelled to review it again. I went with a few of my Allstate buddies for a casual dinner with friends and colleagues and once again this place was terrific! The Greek roasted chicken w Greek potatoes is so simple but yet so good! They give you really good and hot Greek bread w hummus as a free starter and they also make an unbelievable steak dinner. Get the lemon potatoes. It's simple, not fancy at all but they make it just right! I really love the food here! Oh yea, it's pretty darn loud so make sure you are ready for it. No first dates! Maybe a second date or an anniversary!

First time at Ethos, and worth the visit. The folks serving the table and managing the restaurant were very friendly and hospitable. Three of us had numerous mezze, including Pikilia - a combination of tarama, melitzanosalata, spicy feta, humus and tzatziki; really good calamari, delicious scallops, and very good mussels. We then had swordfish, lamb, and salad. For wines we opted for a Greek white and red Greek Cabernet Franc. Very good indeed. We were there on election night, so the place was very buzzy and quite lively. Fish was very fresh and delicious. Will definitely go back as it felt like being in Greece, not NY, if only for a few hours. If you eat several dishes and have good wine, can be a bit pricey, but worth it!

Ethos is a very charming restaurant. I have been here twice once on valentines day and once in March recently for a birthday. The interior is very intimate and inviting and the atmosphere is fun and energetic. Sail boat decor and fresh fish on ice makes you feel like you are on the island. Order a whole fish, the TSIPOURA is very light and amazing with the lemon potato. The SOUVLAKI KOTOPOULO is also a good choice if your not in the seafood mood. Both times dessert was included with our meals which was a pleasant surprise. It is a great place for a birthday celebration and everyone seems to know that as both times I have been there there were many birthday groups celebrating. The team comes out with dessert and sparklers and plays a great loud song to celebrate each birthday which is very fun!!!! I highly recommend for birthdays and celebrations but probably not a for a quiet romantic date as it is loud and energetic inside! :)

Have you ever been to an airport and been told that the airline has overbooked your flight? Well that was our experience at Ethos. We booked our table at 8.30 and arrived 10 minutes before. We were then kept waiting for an hour as there wasn't a table to be had. Finally seated at 9.30 pm. So frustrating as we were really looking forward to it. Yes - we were offered a glass of Proseco and they also knocked $100 of the bill at the end but I would rather have paid in full and been seated at the time we booked. As we had flown from london that day, a late night is not something we really wanted. By the way the food was good as was the service when we were eventually seated . Therefore if you do decide to book you will need to be patient!!

Came for lunch to meet with friends. Service is nice, food if good, interior is tipical mediterranean. Prices not low, but manageble. Can't say same thing for wine. More than $50 for a bottle of Pinot Grigio is a bit too much. In general place is nice.

I bought a voucher from Travel zoo to celebrate my husband's birthday on Feb14,2017. I called the restaurant around Jan 20 and I specified that I had a voucher and the lady that I spoke with gave me a reservation for 5:30 on Feb 14. There were no black out dates on the voucher . After that , I received email confirmation of my reservation 3 times from a site called Reservayion Genie , plus a phone call from the restaurant to confirm again. We booked a hotel in NYC to celebrate and eat at this restaurant. When we entered the restaurant on Feb 14, at 5:30, we approached the man who was the manager and told him about our reservation. He cannot find our name on his lists, so I gave my voucher. In a loud voice and within earshot of the other customers, he said "we do not honor that voucher ". After I explained my side, he finally saw our reservation but did not seat us, instead just left and called the owner. A nice lady patron felt sorry for us and asked if we were alright and I said no, we are not . The owner arrived but gave the same argument and even chastised me for not answering my phone, even after telling him that I did and a lady confirmed our reservation for that day. He finally said ... ok I will accommodate you this time but we felt so bad and humiliated that we declined. Their attitude ruined our Valentine birthday and we were sad and felt miserable that day.

There are a number of fine Greek restaurants in New York, but this one has the atmosphere of the Greek islands. Good food and staff make for a great evening!

Myself and my boyfriend popped in here unexpectedly after watching the 4th July fireworks. We shared three 'small plates' which were quite pricey but delicious, especially the Calamari. The cocktails were also good and quite strong! The restaurant itself was lovely - it really was like being in a Greek taverna - and the staff were very attentive.

My friends and I ate here for lunch. Three of us had the prix fix lunch selection Greek salad and for our main entree salmon (it was not dry). We enjoyed our meal very much. My other friends ordered the scallops which they said were extremely tasty and not over cooked. Ethos has an extensive wine list. The lunch menu had several choices on the prix fix selection. If you do not want to order from the prix fix menu there are many choices to choose from on their regular menu. The portions were large and you will not be disappointed in anything you order. Breads and pita bread are also served to the table. Wait staff was attentive and restaurant was very crowded . We will be going back to this restaurant in November.

My friend and I dined there for the first time on Saturday night. Considering it was the middle of summer in the city, I was surprised at how busy it was, with what looked like a local crowd. We ordered 5 appetizers rather than the mains, just to get some more variety. The menu has a lot of choices. The food was wholesome but nothing really jumped out as exquisite but then this restaurant doesn't tout itself as that. It's a good Greek place where you can get good Greek food at a reasonable price. The salads looked delicious as did the fresh fish being touted by the waiter at the next table. Perhaps next time I'll go for that. If you on the east side and looking for a decent meal at a decent price in a Greek fun kind of place, give it a try. My one gripe...yet again...no IPA on tap. Unforgivable in NYC.

We had a few small dishes and one main course. Everything was just okay and nothing was amazing. Ordered the lamb chops as main course. 4 very skinny lamb chops, and lots of French fries for $35! The restaurant is very loud and vibrant, make sure you are okay with that. Especially if it's someone's birthday, they play music as loud as possible and deem the lights. Dessert is on the house which is a nice touch but still over priced for the quality of food that you get.

Earlier tonight I was entertaining friends from out of town who were dying to have some Greek food for dinner before a performance at the Japan Society nearby. Got to Ethos to get the table I’d reserved only to find out that they were having a private party and the res was canceled! The hostess smiled lamely and said she’d tried calling me the day before but there was no answer and no ring (!?!). NEWS FLASH: there’s something called TEXT MESSAGING!!! She shunted me off to their ‘sister’ restaurant across the street ‘Pathos’ saying that the menu was similar. Well it isn’t; neither is the decor (it’s cramped and dark). They have only a fraction of the Greek offerings that Ethos has and the rest is other stuff. We ended up with hamburgers and one of us had pappardella alla bolognese. So much for a much anticipated Greek meal! Worst part—the negligence and lack of interest in their customers. There’s lots of good restaurants in the area. In my best Greek, Sayonara Ethos and Pathos! You’ve lost one customer right here.

For several years now, every time we headed into New York City (for Christmas/New Year's, a day trip, to see the Mets), we always made reservations for dinner at Ethos Gallery 51. It was truly the favorite restaurant of my wife and I. However, . . . Our last visit (in March 2015) and most recent (yesterday, 8/16/15) started red flags flying for us, and we both almost simultaneously said, "I think next time we come back into the City, we need to find someplace else." Food was great (as always), but service more than lacking. And when we mentioned the problem to the manager, his words were: "Oh, sorry to hear that. I'll make it up to you next time." But (perhaps wrongly) we didn't feel it was meant In general, we usually arrive early, around 6:30 p.m. or so. The restaurant really starts filling up between 7 and 7:30. In almost all previous visits, we always sat at a table for two against wall the 51st St side of the restaurant. (Not a request, just happenstance.) This time, we were seated at a table for two in the middle of the restaurant. I don't know if it was the location of the table this time, but the loudness of the restaurant (a very loud place anyway) made it very difficult for my wife and I to hear each other. The restaurant is very nicely appointed and the wait staff (and buspersons) are all very friendly. In fact, our waiter even walked us over to where the seafood is on display on ice to point out what they had, what the sizes were, and how the different fish varied in taste, firmness, etc. Everything, including this time, is fresh, fresh, fresh. We told the waiter we knew what we wanted as far as appetizer and a second-course salad, but he retorted that he had to turn complete orders in to the kitchen. So, we went back to the table and told the waiter that we'd share an ouzo, and that we'd like to also order a bottle of wine. He brought the wine list and we told him we were ready to order, and gave him our complete order. (We always have a hesitancy about doing this so we don't get rushed because the kitchen is pumping the food out as fast as they can.) We asked the waiter to make sure we finished one course before the next arrived. He assured us he would: "Of course." He next showed up with the wine and started to open it. I asked, "What about the ouzo?" "It's coming," he replied. A few minutes later, the ouzo appeared, but it was really a small portion compared to the last time we visited in March. We enjoyed the ouzo with the basket of bread and a cup of hummus provided to the table. Our appetizer of Garides Saganaki (Shrimp in a tomato sauce with feta cheese and ouzo) came and it was delicious. Unfortunately, we were only half-way finished when the bowl of Marouli Salad (chopped romaine with dill, feta cheese, oil and olives) was delivered to our table by a different waiter. Our waiter came by and we said, "The salad's here already." He apologized and grabbed the salad and took it back to the kitchen. When we finished the appetizer, the waiter brought the Marouli Salad back with two clean plates. We were maybe one-third finished with the salad when a different waiter and a busperson arrived with our entrees. I called the waiter over and, apologizing again, he returned the entrees to the kitchen. This was when the manager stopped by to ask: "How is everything?" We told him: "Terribly rushed," and explained the problem. His reply is mentioned above. Finally, when we finished the salad, a bus person asked "Are you ready for your entrees now?" I was shocked. Our waiter and another brought our entrees (Dorado), but one of the sides was wrong. (The entree was accompanied by one side: my wife ordered Grilled Asparagus (which is always excellently prepared here); I ordered Spanakorizo (rice with spinach). What came is a plate of spinach. This was returned to the kitchen and, finally, the side I ordered arrived and we set to eating our meal. As always, the food preparation was exquisite. Each of our whole Dorados was split into two filets. Preparation was absolutely simple (almost always the best): Grilled with olive oil, lemon, parsley and capers. The asparagus was done just right - grilled yet crispy, bright green and crunchy. The spinach rice was just right: not hard, not mushy with a rich amount of spinach mixed in. Delicious. The wine was also excellent. We try to have a Greek wine with our meal, and what we ordered -- a 2012 Skouras St. George Agiorgitiko -- was nice and smooth and went well with the meal even though it's red and we were having seafood (our peculiar liking). When dishes were cleared (and we each brought leftovers of the entree home), a plate of the restaurant's desserts was delivered to the table. This is something they always do, which is a very nice touch. The dessert plate consists of chocolate mousse, baklava and galaktoboureko (a napoleon-like dessert with semolina cream layered between filo pastry) with lemon-honey poured atop. Very nice. One last negative: When the bill came, we had been charged not for Skouras St. George, but for Palivou Estate Agiorgitiko, a wine that was $5.00 more than what we had ordered. Not a big amount of money, but when you add on the associated tax (8.875% in NYC) and tip, it comes to an extra $6.30 or so to the bottom line. As I said, not a big deal in dollars, but it's the principle of the thing. One good thing: No one was celebrating a birthday or anniversary last night. When there is such a celebration, the restaurant lights dim, and a coterie of waiters carry out a cupcake with a sparkler atop it to an absolutely ear-splitting and deafeningly loud version of the "Hawaii Five-O Theme" over the restaurant's speaker system. On the way back to where we had parked, my wife and I said: "The meal was good, we have left-overs to look forward to, but that my be our last visit." We had had similar problems back in March, but this August visit was much, much worse. Not a good trend for our bucks, as the bill was $198 for two with tax and (low) tip. One of the problems this restaurant has is: there are too many people involved with delivering food to the table. During the course of our meal, we not only had our waiter dealing with us, but at least four or five other people briging food to the table, and obviously at the kitchen's pace and not ours or the pace told them by the waiter (if he told them at all). In my book, it's the server's job to manage the pace to satisfy the customer (me), which is why -- even though dishes may have been brought to the table without his knowledge -- I reduced the tip. We should have seen an adjustment after the salads were delivered too early, but we didn't. The entrees also arrived too early.

Friend had a Groupon. Four of us slid into a waiting table and proceeded to some delicious apps & entrees. I had the best veal ever. Everyone else had the lamb and raved about it. The atmosphere is okay. A tad noisy, and beware the celebrations. We were treated to a meal interruption (they dim the lights) so the staff can kind of sing YMCA to a birthday boy. Yuck. Service was decent. Oddly, our entree order wasn't taken until after the apps were delivered. It did not seem to affect to time to get our main course. Water was readily refilled. Had a slight issue with the check that was related to the Groupon. It was not resolved to our satisfaction.

Located at 51st and 1st, I think you will really like this authentic Greek restaurant. You can approach your meal a couple of ways. There is a plethora of small plates. There are things you will recognize like saganaki and calamari and dolmades. There are also things you have never heard of like midia ahnista, garides sharas, lachanika sharas; but you have eaten all of them. Now I know you don't speak Greek. :-) We chose to go with a couple of starters and whole fish to share. I highly recommend this approach if you are a seafood lover. They have a selection of "rare" seasonal fish which you should probably choose if they are available. We shared the Lavraki (bronzino), Tsipoura (snapper) and a Mediterranean white fish called Sinagrida. This was enough for 6 people. We finished with baklava and baklava and karidopita and a little grappa (still tastes like lighter fluid to me.) Service, food and atmosphere were all very good.

Went here with a colleague today for a farewell lunch. We wanted something different and we were so happy we chose this restaurant. The menu is full of good choices - small plates, full entrees as well as a prix fixe lunch menu. The service was good - prompt and not pushy. We lingered after we paid the bill and they did not rush us out the door. We had branzino, greek salad, spinach pie and scallops. All was delicious. I will be returning in the future.

Those people managed to move the Mediterranean food to the first avenue. From the fresh fish open fridge display to the olive oil, you feel you are on the Mediterranean. The best choice is a grilled grouper, second best is the sea bass and last but still a good choi is the Fred snapper. The wine variety is lovely with good Syrah and Pinot noir served. The Greek desserts were popular but too sweet for a dark chocolate lover. A warm place with good and friendly service. Will go back there when in Manhattan.

A few blocks from the United Nations, the international flavor is augmented by this simple but classy establishment. The food is fresh, wonderfully seasoned. The service, at least early lunchtime, was attentive and accommodating. The prices are a bit steep, but one can do very well ordering several small plates--we ordered one cheese plate (saganaki--perfectly fried, not at all oily), one vegetable plate (grilled vegetables) and a fish plate (fresh, as if it was caught that day)--and were quite satisfied without breaking the bank.

This is a super place for spending your time with friends , friendly staff spectacular Greek food and atmosphere I really enjoyed my time there , and I went again next day

This restaurant is in our neighborhood and we love Greek food, so my partner and I go often for early dinners. We like the food (which is real Greek food with good quality ingredients) and the friendly and professional staff. The place is rather simple and informal. We will certainly go back and we recommend it if you are looking for a simple and pleasant meal in Manhattan.

I certainly hope they are not following Milos' example, because I always liked their food. If you like Greek food, this is one of the best places for it, unless you go to Astoria, Queens but that's another story. Unfortunately, I've been watching their prices climb up way out of where they should be in a neighborhood restaurant. A Romaine Lettuce salad called with the Greek Name Maruli is ridiculously priced at $16, while a small serving of Avgolemono, the famous Greek soup with rice & lemon, is $12. And I'm not even mentioning the wine list, it's as bad as any other NYC restaurant. The biggest danger lies in the Catch of the Day, be very careful what you order from the attractive display of fresh fish on ice... it might set you back hundreds...Service was good.

I have been to Ethos for girls nights, casual family dinners, special occasions, with children... you name it! Ethos works for everybody, every time! The food is fantastically fresh (and incredibly consistent), the décor is perfection and the vibe is fun-loving! If you're visiting the city, get out of Times Square - This is where actual NYers eat!

My first time at Ethos. Terrific from beginning to end. Olive bread and humus a great start. We went with the safe choice, Greek salad. My partner had an enjoyable sea bass, I went with a nostalgic lamb shank. Wine by the glass prices are reasonable. Dessert was complimentary. Coffee is Mediterranean strong. The room is set up to favor several large group tables, fewer deuces. So, a lot of group celebrations, especially birthdays. The staff does a nice job, and the restaurant regulars are all in on the act. In a blink, the lights go down, music comes up, and the wait staff does a jig around the happy table, as a sparkler illuminates the birthday person. Village People YMCA was my favorite. Fortunately, no dumb singing “Happy Birthday” There were three celebrations in the two hours we were there. We will be back.

Work dinner with a large group...so we ate family style. Wine list is limited (only one sauvignon blanc)...waiter was standard....but food was a great surprise. Terrific tomatoe and feta cheese salad....terrific meatball appetizer...fish was great...shrimp entre (bit spicy but tasty)...and the chicken with rice...also terrific. Someone had a birthday in a nearby table...and they sing/turn out lights, etc...which was fun. Dessert plate (multiple options)...also delish. Net/net...fun, delicious... so if you're in the area...and like greek food...it's a great choice!

Four of us went for lunch and had 6 small plates to share. The shrimp was tasty as was the octopus, domades and gigantes. The cheese plate was really nothing special and tough and the sausage had an unfortunate spiciness to it. The real disappointment was the waitstaff and manager though. Brusk, unfriendly and not a pleasant dining experience. The food was not special enough to come back for the somewhat overpriced rude service.

We were booked here by the fabulous concierge team @waldorf and it was just wow It was a group of over 10 pax with kids and nothing was too much. They organized special meals for the kids, we had a few vegetarians as well and all were taken care of. The meal was just wow , different types of fish & meats to try out, the octopus was just perfect, I can go on & on ... Than they did a gig to bring in my birthday which we so thoroughly enjoy😊 In all a must visit place during your stay in NY to just get a beat of the hospitality that this beautiful city offers Opa! Cheers...

Excellent food, a bit on the $$ side, yet good value for the money; Easy to access, good food and good atmosphere. The waitresses and writers are prompt, fast and adhering to customers needs. I will go back there again anytime.

The menu is expensive but the food is delicious especially the Avgolemono which we both had to start. It just took forever for the server to bring it to us. We then had dolmades to complete our lunch. Again, it took a while to get it.

Took,a chance on Father's Day and made reservations. When I entered the restaurant, I waited to be acknowledged, never was. Restaurant was half full. Food, especially the small plates were a delight. Noise level way to high. Service needs improvement.

We were recommended to Ethos by a friend. We found the food good, although I ordered Branzino and found too many fish bones that had not been properly removed. Our server had a who cares attitude, never checked back with us to check on each course and was slow to remove soiled plates. Ethos is very noisy, so if you are looking for a quiet meal or at least one where you can speak to a table mate without shouting, then Ethos should be skipped. Maybe a better server would have helped...I'm sure it would have. It's a toss up whether we would return.

We had a very nice evening at Ethos while visiting New York. Ethos is at the corner of 1st Avenue and E. 51st. It is very popular and has a pleasant cafe setting. The colors are bright and the dining area had authentic charm. Our group had a mixture of seafood and lamb. We enjoyed the setting and all thought the entrees were very good. The wide selection of Greek wines complemented the food well. A couple of notes. This is a popular restaurant with fairly tight quarters. We never felt cramped, but there is not a lot of extra space. In the same vein, it can get a bit noisy with so many patron somewhat close together. The cost, like many New York restaurants, seemed on the high side, but we didn't think it was overly so. Ethos is a nice choice for seafood or a touch of Greece in mid-town Manhattan.

We had a 7:45pm reservation for 4 and we got there with a few minutes to spare. However, we had to wait over half an hour to be seated. The host kept saying "2 minutes" and at some point "10 minutes".. right from when we arrived. They also try to cramp groups onto small tables putting 2 people on one side of a small square table- they put one table mat on its long side and one along its short side to achieve this! We ordered the wine and food at the same time as requested by our waiter. The food came, the wine didnt. We asked again for the wine, were told they were out of the one we wanted. They offered to give us another for the same price as the one we ordered. (on the bill later, this was not done, it was only a few dollars more. Not a problem, but dont offer to do something and then dont do it) The food is delicious. The octopus, cypriot meatballs, spanakopita and the grilled fish were all cooked to perfection. The food is the restaurant's saving grace. Come time to collect the plates, the waiter stood to one side and with a motion of his hands indicated that I had to pass him my plate, breadbasket etc.. Granted, he was a bit heavy in the middle, but please reach over and collect the plates.. or ask politely if you want them passed over to you!

Had a lovely dinner. The place was hopping all night. The wait staff was very accommodating. My husband who does not like hummus ate theirs. The bread and pita had a light coating of fabulous evoo. The Greek salad was crisp and cold, the branzino was cooked to (be careful there were a few bones left in). At the end they brought over a tasting of their deserts complimentary, so light and airy. Would defiantly go back again and for the City the pries were within reason.

The meal was awesome - we did the prix fix option - and fairly authentic! Lamb chops were the best - highly recommended! We will be back!

We sat outside, had reservation( not requesting outside) but sat at dirty table for over 10 mins for someone to clean up and wipe down and place new clean tablecloth. We got water from bus boy but took a long time to get a drink. There were many tables empty inside and out so no excuses. My daughter called to say we were going to be 15-20 mins late and they said they would have to cancel reservations and we would just have to try our luck...weird. Maybe waitress was new or "in the woods" but someone besides non english speaking waiter could have least come by and gotten our drink or appetizer order..spandakopita triangles were crisp warm and tasty. greek son in law had the Horaiatiki salad was ok. Also had the GARIDES SHARAS which was grilled jumbo shrimp..a bit overcooked. Daughter had chicken that was tender. The worst part of the whole experience was when I had to go to the ladies room past the "fresh" seafood ( see picture ) the bathroom was the most disgusting I had ever been in , floors wet, pee or water over all the toilets, I tried 3 of them and they were all the same...disgusting. AND they were right outside the kitchen doors...no I would not go back

Awesome food and fantastic service!! We had a large group celebrating a bachelorette party. The octopus was great as well as The Healthy One cocktail.

Nice choice on 1st avenue for Greek specialties. Quality preparation and attentive service. Full bar with lively surroundings.

Great ambiance, good service and excellent food. Grilled octopus - melt in the mouth, grilled prawns, slow cooked baby lamb & tender whole lobster - absolutely delicious! Great charcoal flavour - nit over cooked. Note: there are several Ethos restaurants - we dined at 2 and read about all on Tripadvisor. This is easily the best. Very very good food. I accidentally rated Ethos UN with this review.

The best Greek food in New York. The grilled octopus is sensational. the Greek salad, wonderful. Any dish you order is fantastic. Try the seafood results try the seafood risotto and any of their fish dishes. When you eat inside you feel like you're in Greece. There are a couple of restaurants named Ethos be sure to go to Ethos gallery on 51st and first Avenue. You will be very happy that you went.

This visit was the most recent of several and we had a very enjoyable lunch. The grilled hot bread and hummus that comes to the table is delicious, as are the grilled fresh fish and salads with grilled shrimps or chicken. Even in December, the tomatoes were tasty and ripe, and the salad had only feta, tomatoes, onions, peppers and cucumbers, as a real Greek salad should. Portions are more than ample, so we ordered no dessert, but a plate of Greek yoghurt topped with honey and walnuts came anyway--a thoughtful touch. A couple of birthdays were being celebrated and you'll recognize the cues--music becomes very loud, clapping starts and a cake or dessert with a glowing fountain emerges from the kitchen with waiters who sing (along with everyone in the restaurant). The whole place has a festive atmosphere but it is not the spot for an intimate meal or a business discussion.

My Godfather and I visited Ethos for dinner and we had a wonderful time! First and foremost, they were extremely accommodating because I called them to let them know I would be 15min late and I expected to be kept waiting as my punishment upon arrival. Lucky for me, Ethos is wonderful and they sat us down straight away. We started off with the octopus, stuffed eggplant with feta and french fries. I liked the eggplant the most and I wish we would have ordered more, but if we did, there wouldn't have been any space for the main course. I went for the seafood orzo and it was delicious. I can only hope I marry a Greek husband so he can cook for me like they do here! :) I'm happy that I discovered Ethos because the vibe is upbeat and happy; they certainly make you feel a star when it's your birthday, as they dim the lights and bring you a dessert with one of those sparkling candles. Be sure to check them out, you won't regret it!

Very popular neighborhood Greek with a focus on seafood (of course). With a party of three shared a selection of (not so) small plates, good value and fine quality particularly the grilled octopus. Service was friendly but a bit pushy as they clearly wanted to turn tables quickly. As many note, the noise level is very high and could turn off some.

I went there with one of my colleague for a business lunch. We took the prefix menu and although the food was good the service was awful. we had to ask several time to get water. We wait 25' to get our appetizer and then we wait again another 30' to get our main course.

Everyone in our group really enjoyed their meals. Service was great without being intrusive. Seafood heavy menu and everything was fresh and well prepared. So many tasty looking options it was actually difficult to narrow down. We ended up with a complementary dessert for whatever reason which was also excellent, and always a good way to send people home happy.

I go there each time I pass by NY. The food is very good, the bronzino is excellent and the lemon potatoes are extraordinary. I will continue to go for sure.

I was at Ethos with 2 friends for dinner. Very beautifully decorated, tastefully designed to look like eating in a greek island, delicious food and nice servers. What is different from other greek restaurants is the entertainment! They would dim the lights and put a greek/middle eastern dance music every hour. Servers would bring fireworks to someone's table randomly, sing happy birthday and everyone started to dance at the table!!! So random but so fun. My only critic is the noise level. It is unbelievably uncomfortably loud. Not a place to go and chat with anyone. It got to a point that I wanted to leave in the 1st 5 minutes! Overall, I would recommend it f you want to have a fun night and good food but bring your earplugs :)

Went in for a brunch/lunch date with my daughter after researching Greek food in NYC. What a wonderful spot and absolute gem we found. Service, food, wine, ambiance was all perfect for a Sunday afternoon. Loved it and we will definitely be back! Cannot wait to visit again very soon

We chose Ethos Gallery 51 because we had heard good things and wanted a good Midtown East restaurant for a pre-theater dinner that would please a vegetarian and a dinner with no limits. The space is lovely and the staff spot-on. Our server, Neonie, was at our table every moment she needed to be, and helped us make excellent choices. From the delicious grilled olive bread with hummus to a complimentary Greek dessert, everything was spectacular. We enjoyed the Melitzana Feta, eggplant stuffed with feta, and the braised Greek lima beans in tomato sauce. Neonie recommended a daily special, the grilled tuna, and it was memorable. Overall, just a wonderful meal with perfect service and atmosphere.

4 College roommates met in NYC for a great weekend. Our Friday night dinner was at Ethos - obviously a very popular spot. One of the friends had been there with family. In spite of reservations, we had to wait for the table - the maitre d' was a bit off-putting. The crowded bar and entrance made us feel 'in the way'. When seated, we received marginal attention, but very polite. Once we ordered, the service became more efficient. It is VERY loud - the decibel level must be 'way over the recommendation for dining'. Suddenly, the lights dimmed, the music was blasted by the maitre d, and a flaming dessert arrived for a birthday celebration. The restaurant became a club! Much like my visit to a Greek restaurant in London, people jumped up and danced in celebration and joy! This happened numerous times during the evening. The food was fabulous - full fish dorado, salmon filet, avgolemono soup, salads - were incredible. If you can put up with the noise and you love seafood, this is the place for you!

I've been here many times and it doesn't disappoint. I'm a big fan of octopus and their octopus appetizer is one of the best I've ever had. The greek salad is so fresh and flavorful. The soup is fantastic and also a very large portion. The fish is always fresh. The service has always been great. They even include dessert with your meal which is so rare in Manhattan. I highly recommend.

I recently had dinner there and the food was great. However, I haven't been in such a loud place before. I believe the tables for two were extra wide, because I felt like my date was 5 feet away. It was next to impossible to hear each other speak, especially when they brought out birthday cakes....at that point, they would turn up the already extraordinarily loud music. The server was indifferent and inattentive at best. For instance, I specifically asked that my fish's head and tail be removed. It came in it's complete form. For someone who is a bit squeamish, hence the initial request, this was upsetting to say the least. She didn't check in with us on a regular basis, and we had to ask repeatedly to get our check and someone else processed it because she couldn't be found. The food was delicious though. However, on final analysis, my experience with the restaurant was such that I wouldn't go again.

An overpriced letdown. We anticipated the re-opening of our favorite neighborhood Greek and we were excited to go. But it was a letdown. Not the same - we had been going for years. Our food: There was little if any orzo in the avgolemono soup which had a consistency like it had been sitting a while on the stove. The lemon potatoes were a boiled something that you would find in a Northern European pub. They were not the roasted lemon garlic delight one expects to find at a good Greek. Our Dorade fish was of good quality but was undercooked and in way too much oil, which permeated the taste, texture and basically killed what might have been a good fish. Lastly the spinach was also oily and limp. On a positive note the service was cheerful and quick. I hadn't the heart to tell them the food was below par. Then again the people behind us had remarked to their waitress their appetizer salad was wonderful.. so it could just be the dishes we got or the cook assigned to them.. Ethos still has the same fun festive atmosphere and disco Bday celebrations...But lastly, the generous nature of the place seems lost, like they need to recover the losses from being closed all this time. Anyway: Food B-, Value C-, Decor B, Atmosphere A-, Service A-.

One a cold and rainy day, Ethos is a cozy, welcoming outpost. The portions are generous and the moussakas is delicious and served with a large salad. The ambiance is welcoming and you are waiting to see the cats from the Greek Islands meandering by. The guests are interesting. The proximity to the U.N means that you will be surrounded by a bouquets of languages. The service is excellent and friendly. Ethos is a great place for lunch or dinner and has outdoor space, weather permitting.

The restaurant held our reservation although we were almost a half hour late due to a B'way show ending 30 minutes later than expected. It was late and we weren't overly hungry and decided to split an appetizer and main course. They didn't make us feel awkward for ordering "half a dinner." The branzino was cooked to perfection. Grilled with just the right enough herbs to enhance (but not overpower) the fish. The tomato appetizer (quartered and served with olives) was perfection as well. Excellent service. We were given dessert "on the house," which was a lovely touch. I'm guessing instead of throwing out any left over food, they gave us the dessert, which was super. My only comment is that we were seated right next to the waiter's station and it was a little cramped. Memorable restaurant. Will definitely go back.

Went there to meet a friend I hadn't seen for a while and booked reservation from OpenTable. I had enough dine rewards to use and wanted to redeem my $60 worth and try this restaurant out. Was able to confirm with the manager that the rewards was valid so I was relieved. The food was okay but pricey. The staff was nice and attentive. When it came to pay, my OpenTable rewards didn't come up because the manager "checked the wrong person" so I couldn't redeem my dine rewards. I was and still am pretty upset because I came to this restaurant and confirmed with the restaurant prior to ordering. The manager said that I would just have to come back to redeem. I felt this was poor management and neglect. I did not trust the manager after this incident and when talked to felt talked down as he kept calling me "lovey". There was no way to reverse this and it has made it so inconvenient as I now have to contact OpenTable about this incident. This experience ruined the entire mood and impression of the place. Warning!!! If you have OpenTable rewards do not redeem here as you may be "improperly checked in". There are probably better Greek restaurant to go to. I am too disappointed to come back and my friend is probably also feeling the same.

Ethos is a neighborhood restaurant where the food can be quite decent. But the troll of an owner completely ruins it. Stay away, or you'll risk some shocking unpleasantness. Two of us were seated outside. The owner began speaking loudly across our table to the maitre d', who was inside. Actually, he was yelling through an open window, not speaking. I politely asked him to lower his voice or to move inside to continue the conversation. "What's the matter, are my words going through you?" he asked. When I raised the temperature of my complaint, he decided that we were being too fussy, and then things got REALLY unpleasant. Difficult to imagine such a scenario? It was even harder to experience. Stay away. I'm going to burn some serious calories -- working hard to ensure this restaurant is a lot easier to get into. Serious calories, indeed...

Great atmosphere, even if a bit lively for a business dinner. Make sure to get the sushi grade octopus appetizer - awesome taste! We split the White Snapper and the flavor was phenomenal. Even splitting one of the smaller ones was plenty. The market price for this was still reasonable. Will definitely return here the next time I'm in Midtown.

Lots of Greek maze which were good. Salad very fresh. Entrees were disappointing and not 'Greek', as were Greek deserts. No Greek music, not even background instrumental was Greek-disappointing because it would add to the destination experience. Service as excellent. Greek wines overpriced -selection mostly cheap including retsina-why?

Wonderful choice of starters, many vegetarian, which I would recommend sharing. I went for fresh fish afterwards and it was as good as the waiter recommended.

People come from outside the city to dine at this local favorite. I'm lucky enough to live a block away. The service is good. The food is excellent. Great for seafood lovers, too. You won't be disappointed. It does get a little tight in the restaurant but not too loud that you can't hear each other.

Excellent food, ambience and service. Specializing in fish, Mediterranean stye, fresh fish siting on ice to be ordered. Great mezzes, accompanied by delicious toasted bread and pita. At the end, they lower the lights in the restaurant, vibrant music is put on and the waiters bringn a birthday cake with a candle reminiscing of fireworks and the sing happy birthday to our grandson who is delighted by all the attention

I dined here last week with my hubby, brother and 5 year old daughter. We made a reservation on Open Table and like some others have commented, we were made to wait for a table when we arrived. But it was only for 10 or so minutes. I didn't mind. Once we were seated, the night got good from there. Yes the restaurant is loud! Could hardly hear myself. And they cranked the music up a few times which only made it more interesting. This would not be the place if you are looking to have a nice quiet dinner or conversation over a meal. I enjoyed the bread basket to start. A variety of breads and some really tasty olive oil for dipping. We asked for a second basket it was so good. We did not order starters. My husband and I had the branzino which we both thought was very good. Our fish came with a side of roasted asparagus. It was horrible. It was overcooked and practically inedible. My brother had the sea bass I think. He thought it was just okay. Not seasoned enough for his liking. Bland. Two thumbs up for our server though, she was really very good. Attentive. The food had its high and low points as reflected in my review but all in all it was a nice night out and I would probably give this place a second try on my next visit to the city.

Great Food specially the Octopus Salad! Prices is reasonable. We had the Lunch Pre-Fix for $29.00 and everything from salad to dessert are very good.

We love Greek food and since I'm the vegetarian, my husband and our friend decided to skip the fish dishes (which are very expensive). We ordered a number of first courses (side dishes), and they were all very good. However, the tables are crammed so close together and the restaurant was so noisy that it was impossible to have a nice conversation at our table. And as other reviewers have written, it seems it is difficult for this place to keep their reservation schedule. We too had to wait beyond our time to be seated. But clearly people continue to come here because the food is fresh and well prepared.

My wife and I had a wonderful experience. The food tasted as good as the food in Athens, Greece and the service was excellent!! Highly recommend this restaurant for a nice dinner and glass of wine!

We've eaten here a number of times, from 2 people to 20. We were never disappointed. They have a large variety pf fresh fish on display. Service has always been first-rate. The main entrance is on First Ave., but there's a side door on 51st with a ramp for wheelchair access. It's pretty steep, but they're happy to come out and assist if necessary.

I love to go to restaurants and I especially love Greek food. I called Ethos to make a reservation and requested a candle on the cake for my best friend's birthday. It was supposed to be a special night to bond with my BFF because we both lead busy lives. I made the mistake of picking this joint. As soon as we started ordering they started rushing us. We ordered a glass of wine and barely had a sip before the waiter threw the salad at us. I thought to myself: dude calm down! Before I even got a tomato down my throat the waiter brought us the main course. He gave us no time to digest and I asked him to politely slow down to no avail. He didn't even asked what we wanted for desert and instead brought out something we didn't want and without a candle. Finally I thought to myself this must be a joke. I spoke with the manager and he shrugged his shoulders as if to say- if you don't like our service you know where to find the door. I gave the manager my business card and he said he would call me but I never heard from him. 1) I did not leave a tip. First time in my life. The waiter and the manager had same attitude. 2) I was banned from picking restaurant for BFF night for a few months. 3) If you're looking for the best Greek Food in Manhattan go to Milos. It may cost you an arm and a leg but it's well worth it pleasant experience. You're treated with dignity and the food is amazing.

This place had great food. you can pick the fresh fish. It is good food. I found the service a bit lacking but the food makes up for it.

Loved it. Excellent food, energetic atmosphere. Nice decor and settings. Had such a great time there. Definitely come back and tell everyone about this great place. Just loved it. Everything about it.

Ethos’ grilled octopus is grilled perfectly, not chewy and not watery soft. It has the best texture and taste compared to other restaurants anywhere! Their grilled “bronzini” and “tsipoura” are FRESH. The rice with spinach and zucchini is tasty like the fish. The traditional dessert is not too sweet but a bit small. Members of the staff are courteous. The place has a cozy, comfortable feel/atmosphere. I am rating this 4, instead of 5, which the Chef deserves, because I find the prix fixe price to be stiff. It does not include tea for which we were charged $5.

The Lavraki (Branzino) $33, was quite good as were the lemon potatoes. The Lavraki was better than the Royal Dorado.The asparagus was a bit skimpy, the Deserts, included with our meal, were terrific. The grilled squid was OK, but not great. Service was good. The noise levels are very high. Eating outside avoids this heavy drum beat. If you want a window table, you need 3-4 people. Service was good but dropped as the restaurant filled up. Probably our second most favorite greek restaurant in NYC.

I have just been to this establishment and I cannot praise it highly enough on this site. The food was excellent and the service second to none. The ambiance was great . Anyone looking for authentic Greek food especially seafood should not go Past this restaurant.

Very nice upscale Greek-themed restaurant. Seated immediately. Very many locals. Our server was fast and friendly. Was able to look over the varieties of fish that we considered. We settled on a red snapper that was pan seared in lemon. Also, the fried anchovies were tasty--just like the kind in Greece and the salad exquisite. We were pleased with this restaurant and it was modestly priced as was the wine we selected. The manager bought us Greek desert on the house. The posts that claim the service is poor are hard to believe.

Went for dinner. A very pretty place although the tables in the center are literally on top of one another. The service was beyond terrible. Drinks never came until middle of dinner. We were two couples who each order a salad to share. The salads came literally ten minutes apart. One salad was ordered with dressing on the side, and even that came late and separately. The food was actually very good, but the service was the worst. To add insult to injury every time I asked the waiter to correct his awful service, he just joked about it. The manager to whom I complained several times gave us all a free glass of greek wine, which tasted like gasoline, din't even comp the drinks. Would NEVER go back.

excellent food relationship price quality. Wine also is very good , so the service. The only negative thing I've to say the " paper menus" , they look really dirty

We had an early dinner on a Saturday night and I could not have been happier. The ambiance is that of a Greek island taverna. I should know, having spent at least ten months on Greek islands over my lifetime. The food is better than what you get in most restaurants in Greece. It's more like what you find if you're lucky enough to have Greek relatives in Greece who cook for you in their homes! We had appetizers of eggplant and mussels and dinners of lamb chops and Greek fries and wonderful pastry with ice cream for dessert and Greek wine. My lips are smacking at that thought--a week later!

Every dish was delicious. We had raw oysters, octopus salad, salmon, calamari, and lamb meatballs. Followed with complimentary chocolate mousse. So so good!

This is a noisy, busy locals place with great atmosphere and great food. We decided to hang out and eat at the bar since it looked to be fun and comfortable and possibly a bit less noisy and crowded than the rest of the space. The bartenders were friendly but very busy. Drinks were delicious. The Ethos Chips are thinly sliced potato that are soft in the center and crisp on the outside. Tasty and filling. The small plated of cauliflower and herbed potatoes as well as the Ethos Chips were huge. The main courses are not quite so large but equally good and more than enough to fill you up. Not the best menu for a vegan but a great meal for anyone else.

One of my favorites places in Manhattan. It's good is in Midtown East so not in the middle of the crazyness. The food is very good, appetizers are a must try especially the octopus and the calamari. Good selection of wines, good entrees.don't order a dessert: it's delicious but they always offer a taste of the dessert at the end of every meal for free. If you want to eat greek in Manhattan at a reasonable price go there!

Nice Greek resturant on 51st and 1st Ave. the food was good and reasonably priced; good team and good atmosphere. Recommended!

We ordered the Greek salad first. We asked our waitress for a few extra olives, they never came. When we mentioned it to her she said she would bring it but it was too late, we had finished the salad. We also ordered the grilled octopus which was overcooked. I ordered the swordfish($40), it was a very thin piece and was also overcooked. We were there during lunch so it was quiet. At night the noise level is deafening. We will not be going back.

Unlike the quartier latin in paris where there is nothing greek about the greek restaurant, this new york neighbourhood restaurant - why is it called gallery? - is authentic, with a wide variety of tasty appetizers and a casual - chic feel. I loved the mushrooms in sauce. A delight. The winery is impressive and the bar pleasant. Sit outside when weather permits. Prices reasonable.

It's hard to find good food in this neighborhood but this restaurant is the exception. Always mobbed, not inexpensive but wonderful staff who try hard. Food is always exceptionally fresh. Go early in the evening.

the service was poor the food was below average and expensive for what they offer . the place was too noisy and table sitting a little uncomfortable for a couple .

Ethos is basially seafood restaurant that should be on the bucket list of Manhattan's upper east side. Everytime I am in NYC, I make it a point to dine there.. and I am never dissapointed.. great food, hospitable Greek service and prices a bit on the high side.

My wife and I went here a year ago and were delighted with our experience, so we decided to go back a year later, and we were not disappointed. Same great menu, same great service.

Dined here again last week for business meeting. Had expensive, under done Swordfish steak - not the best for the price. Shrimp cocktail was good. Wine list is poor.

Delightful evening. Nice wines to order by the glass. We had the Sancerre and Pinot Noir. Shrimp to start and then the greek salad. Then salmon and more shrimp. Fresh ingridients, excellent service and reasonable prices.

Expensive restaurant but some of the dishes were well worth it. My lamb chops reminded me of the deliciousness of those served in Greece or Spain. I ordered them with the lemon potatoes which were excellent. 2 out of 3 of my dining companions were happy with their meals. Only one was unhappy. The piece de resistance was a free platter of dessert which included the very best chocolate mousse I've had in years! I would return here although prices were somewhat high.

Had a lot of fun at this rather upscale Greek restaurant. Waiters would surprise various tables with fireworks throughout the evening. Food was delicious. Service very friendly. Can recommend calamari, Zaziki and meatballs.

The food at Ethos is pretty good, and the room has an airy, "beach" feel. However, the prices are a bit high and the service is passive/aggressive. Timing of food is uneven, and some dishes arrive late -- ok -- but then felt rushed.

My friends a loved the lemon potatoes! I personally liked the octopus, flavor was great! We enjoy our visit here!

This is a festive lively place to eat with a good fish selection and excellent salads. I would skip the langostines and shrimp as our were mushy in a bad way, but the fish is great. We enjoyed the Branzini (sp). The waiters push Greek wine but it is way overpriced (65) and tastes like it cost 10. That is the only downside they overcharge for wine.

Overall good resturant great fish. Bright friendly crowd. Good for midday lunch business meeting close to UN.

The restaurant has an active vibe. The decor is clean and pleasing with good sized tables, even for two people. The service is friendly and very competent. Lots of fresh fish on the menu. Ask about the specials and if you pick a fish special, check the price cuz they're priced by the pound. If it's fish for two, figure you'll be charged for a 2 lb fish (weighed whole). But the fish is excellent, prepared perfectly and served with two veggies. The salads as appetizers are big enough for two. We had the heirloom tomato salad with fresh feta and olives and it was mouthwatering.....yum. Wines looked to be 3 to 4 times cost at retail, typical for Manhattan.

I recently had dinner at Ethos. What a fun place. This is not your ordinary NY restaurant. Perhaps is because the greeks know how to party. This is a great place to celebrate your birthday. They dim the lights, put some funky music and the cake with flickery lights is served to the birthday person. We had the red snapper but it could have used a little more taste. It was a little bland for my liking. The spinach was tasty and their tomato salad was very good. We sat at the bar and the bartender was very nice.

My second visit to this restaurant years apart. Menu is adequately varied, there are vegetarian choices - they will not go out of their way to accommodate food allergies but with a slight attitude the lady server would go to the kitchen and ascertain ingredients. Portions including the bread basket are quite small. The tomato salad did not have cherry tomatoes as indicated on the menu and they were cut in huge pieces, accompanied by hardly any feta cheese. Pass on the lemon potatoes with garlic, roasted vegetables and the thinnest cut haloumi. The rudest thing must be the fact that the check is brought to the table without asking. They might as well ask you to leave while you are still chewing the last bite. The high bill is unjustifiable I am afraid.

A good moussaka , a fantastic seafood dot 4 persons,vero good pikalia and seftalia, It's very interessant restaurant in New York. Reccomended!!!

Ethos is a neighborhood restaurant where the food can be quite decent. But the gargoyle of an owner completely ruins it. Stay away, or risk some shocking unpleasantness. Two of us were seated outside. The owner began speaking loudly across our table to the maitre d', who was inside. Actually, he was yelling through an open window, not speaking. I politely asked him to lower his voice or to move inside to continue the conversation. "What's the matter, are my words going through you?" he asked. When I raised the temperature of my complaint, he decided that we were being too fussy, and then things got REALLY unpleasant. Difficult to imagine such a scenario? It was even harder to experience. I'm going to burn some serious calories -- working hard to ensure this restaurant is a lot easier to get into. Serious calories, indeed...

My experience at lunch the other day was quite similar to that of other recent reviewers. First, the Muzak---I had to sit through several choruses of "The Girl from Ipanema." When I spoke to the manager about this after my meal, he was quite proud of his musical selections---said it would be more lively still at dinner service!---and that without any music at all, it would be "like a cemetery." [So much for the comforting low hum of voices that makes up the sound track of most high-end restaurants, here and abroad]. And the food itself bears little resemblance to what it was before the pandemic: Bronzino in particular was dry and inadequately seasoned; I can't believe that this is the same chef that made a number of quite memorable meals for me in earlier days. I'm not sure I will return, although closures have substantially reduced the dining opportunities in the neighborhood.l

I went with my brother for lunch on a Thursday. I ordered the Patzaria salad: Beet Salad with Walnuts and Feta. It was ok, an 7/10 I just thought it was expensive for what it was ($15.00). My brother had a better deal he ordered the Lunch Prix Fixe Week Days ($31.95).For the entre he ordered the Octapodi Mediterranean grilled Octopus, Fava Puree and capers '(we shared it) and for the dish Arni Yiouvetsi Young Lamb Shank, oven baked with Orzo, tomato sauce. And he ordered the Unlimited Wine for $14.95 and took advantage of it, he drank 4 cups (they were small and we had to get the waiter's attention but it was worth it). The restaurant has a nice environment and its pretty big.

Although the food is rather good, if not a little bit pricey in some areas, the one star is because of their business practice relating to gratuities. An automatic gratuity was added to the smaller sized itemized bill for a party of four. The regular receipt to which you would add your gratuity was the one we used to leave a gratuity. When I tried via telephone later that same evening to bring it to the manager's attention, a young lady said he would credit me, and call me back. Neither was done. I called a second time a week later and received the same response....nothing!

The menu offered a broad selection of interesting Greek food. The food was excellent: lamb shank, sword fish, lamb chops, grilled octopus, salad and stuffed egg plant. They even gave us a free desert of custard filled cake and a delicious chocolate mousse followed by a small Bailey's (perhaps because we were celebrating my son's birthday). BUT, it is a typical over crowded and noisy restaurant. The booths were cramped; I couldn't stretch my legs and my wife, who is short, felt like she was sitting in a hole. The service was friendly but not we coordinated. Another BUT: we made a reservation which they had no record of. Fortunately we were there at 6:45 PM when the restaurant was not completely filled and they were able to accommodate us. Towards the end of our meal we were offered a free drink at the bar if we vacated the table for waiting customers. That does not add up to the way customers should be treated.

What a fun place! The decor is charming. High ceilings, open airy feeling with pastel artwork throughout and off white paint and chairs that make you feel like you have been transported to Greece. The service was excellent with an attentive and friendly wait staff. This place really pays attention to the quality of their food. Every dish we had was tasty, fresh and well prepared. Salads, eggplant, sea bass, meatballs were all delicious. They also have a fun routine where they periodically dim the lights, play lively music and bring out a sparkler to celebrate a birthday or special occasion. What a fun place! Bravo. We will return.

Walking distance from the Lexington Ave corridor, Ethos is a fantastic neighborhood restaurant. Fantastic Greek food. Started with the octopus appetizer. Perfection! Slightly salty, grilled and just enough bite. Fried zucchini chips with an herb Greek yogurt was fantastic and the portion size was extreme. The grilled langoustines were to die for. Grilled sesame tuna was unexpected flavor profile for a Greek restaurant. I tasted teriyaki but my wife disagreed. Chocolate mousse was great. Service casual and engaging.

Expensive, and except for meze, no Greek ethos. Skip the baby lamb with heavy brown (!) sauce. Baklava and galaktoboureko and retsina, should be embarrassing for Greece as much as crisis. Stick to meze, service great, improve chef.

After having to change our reservation three times, and arriving late (I did call to say our president's presence in the city was causing traffic nightmares), we couldn't have been more nicely greeted and welcomed. We were obviously a bit frazzled and were shown to a terrific table in the back near the windows. I presented our Groupon and was given the "Groupon" menu. This always causes some trepidation, as we have been misled before at other places with gimmicky prices to accommodate the reduction in Groupon prices. Although the menu was somewhat limited, our selections were generous and a tremendous value. I had a 16oz. ribeye steak which was cooked to perfection and absolutely delicious. My wife had the branzino, which was terrific as well. Service was prompt, and the value was spot on. This is the way to attract new customers!

Ethos Gallery presents the "Ultimate" in fresh seafood and MORE!!! You feel like you are on one of the beautiful Greek Islands...and there are many!! Always delicious! Always fresh! and always FUN!!!! You do not know what you are missing!!!

I liked the place. The food is good, price acceptable, stuff is fine and helpfull. I raccomend it. Good position, in midtown on the 1st avv.

Our daughter brought us to this restaurant for a Father's Day dinner (June 19, 2016). Our appetizer, Lachinaka Scharas (Grilled Vegetables With Yogurt and Dill Sauce) and the Seftalia (Grilled Cypriot Style Meatballs, Bed of Tzatziki, Tomatoes, Onions, Cucumber) were fresh and prepared very well. We ordered a bottle of Amethystos red from the wine region of Drama, Greece. The main courses, we ordered, the Brizola (Charcoal Grilled Black Angus Rib Eye Steak, Greek Style Fresh Cut Fries), Arni Youvetsi (Baby Lamb Shank Oven-Baked with Orzo, Fresh Tomato Sauce and Feta Cheese) and the Moussakas (Layers of Sautéed Ground Meat, Eggplant, Potatoes, Topped with Béchamel Sauce) were all delicious. The wine paired very well with the food. We were pleasantly surprised when we were given a complimentary plate of dessert because of Father's Day. I recommend the restaurant and will come back again.

They have excellent atmosphere, the warm Mediterranean way to welcome the guests. they food is delicious with a big range of varieties of Greek and Mediterranean food, seafood and vegetarian This is a place to visit and try But it is very expensive (70 dollars per person)

We had an excellent night here, although UN in town and Obama caused a road blockage! Thought about calamari or lobster but took the waiters suggestion of the chefs specialty octopus. The best most tender octopus I have had, with lovely dressing. Wine list is also reasonable. For New York, complimentary bread and oil PLUS a standard desert is a WOW factor. Great place.

Finding myself in New York City on the Friday afternoon and in serious need of some fresh seafood. After doing some searched on Tripadvisor and find Ethos, which seem to have some decent reviews. After waking quite a few blocks from the Waldorf Astoria, I finally arrive at Ethos. The vibe seem busy, quite a few people but not too busy for a Friday afternoon. Reception was friendly, but ended up waiting quite a bit before my server arrived. There was a few birthday parties in attendance as well. Eventually my order was taking, only for my wine to arrive half way after I received my line fish of the day. The food was good, but sadly the service was lacking considering the price they charge. Probably will not be visiting in a future visit to NY...

This is a warm friendly restaurant with very good food and a professional staff that welcomes you and treats you as honored guests.

Enjoyed a very nice lunch here. Staff are friendly and service is good. I started with the saganaki which was good but the coating was too heavy. For a main I had a whole branding which was excellent. It came with a choice of veg and I has very good spinach. With wine and tip lunch was around $100. Pricey but good.

The entire experience was exceptional. From the host greeting at the door to the presentation of dinner. Exceptionally fresh selections on display for your viewing enjoyment. Everything down to the complimentary chocolate mousse was exquisite!!

Lively noisy and very trendy corner eatery. You'll be yelling to be heard but that's part of the fun. Lots of tables singing happy birthday. Outdoor seating for those who enjoy city traffic.

We wanted a place that was vegetarian friendly but satirizing to carnivores. The Ethos got the bill. The meat ball appetizer was amazing with delicacy spiced meatballs grilled over an open flame in a tomato sauce. The gigantante Lima beans were a hit. The humus was spicy but understated. The Greek orzo chipppino was perfect as was the lamb shank.

Went back after many years and was told that they were new owners. Place looks the same but the food was way inferior with much higher prices. It’s no longer quality Greek food, it is ordinary restaurant food with Greek names! Too bad, it was once awesome

A nice place for lunch. We liked the spanakopita, pita and dips, moussaka generously filled with meat, the tomato salad. Service was efficient. At lunch time the restaurant can get a little noisy. It is a popular spot for lunch.

Nice bright restaurant. Food was good quality and authentic. We were served hummus and bread with olive oil to start, which was excellent. Staff was friendly and attentive. My husband and I were here for the lunch, we got salads which we enjoyed. The other entree options were a bit pricey for lunch. The table next to us got cappuccinos that looked very good.

My friends and I have eaten here several times and we love it! Ethos is a fun, respectable establishment and draws a wonderful crowd. The spot is perfect, on a corner with tables outside wrapped around the restaurant– very nice. The inside has a beautiful décor. The tables are perfectly situated – not crowded like most places. If you decide to sit at the bar, it’s also a great choice as Menelao, the bartender will make you feel at home. As for the personnel - for starters, you'll most likely have the pleasure of meeting Argyri, who will greet you with his charm and make sure your experience is pleasant and memorable from beginning to end. The serving staff is fantastic! Delightful, friendly, professional and polite...always on their toes. Great wine selection. The fish is fresh and the food is delicious! From the halloumi cheese to the salads...the octopus, grilled calamari, eggplant appetizer...and last but certainly not least - the sheftalia - a must try. Between the ambience and the food, you just can’t go wrong with Ethos!!

One of my favorite dinners on this trip to the City was at Ethos. From the saganaki to the calamari, and the Horiatiki to the chicken souvlaki, every morsel we put in our mouths was delectable.

My boyfriend and I had dinner here the day after New Year's (we called to make a reservation the same day), we were recommended to have dinner here by his New York's cousin and his wife that are usual customers here. The experience was nice, the atmosphere is cozy at night with suffused lighting and the staff was extremely kind. We ordered the Pikilia to start (which comes as a selection of their traditional spreads, very tasty!) and as main course we had a grilled fish of the day and a Souvlaki Katopoulo (which is Chicken Breast & Vegetables Kebob with Leek Rice Pilaf, very good but a big course!). They also had nice red wines we tried one. A little pricey (overall 200$). Anyway it was a nice experience. Recommended.

Despite the pleasant and cheerful interior setting, highly enthusiastic wait staff and tempting menu, when the food arrived the crux of a great meal fell short of expectations. The salmon entree fell flat in taste and freshness while the four appetizers were equally as ordinary and luke-warm! The only element with sizzle was the high price of the check.

First the good points. We had a 7:15 reservation and were seated promptly (but see later). The food is very good, if a bit pricey, especially for the yellowfin tuna special which came in at $45. However, the starters and mains were all very good and well cooked. Now for the bad and it all centers on one thing - trying to cram too many people into a place and turn the tables over as quickly as you can. And as for the tables - seldom have I sat so close to my fellow diners at the next table. There was literally inches between us and it was quite amusing watching the wait staff trying to squeeze four people round a table that was really only meant for two. And finally, the noise level. I don't think I've ever experienced a noisier place - it was virtually impossible to have a conversation. So we did what I guess the restaurant wanted. We ate quickly and left as soon as we could, and while the food is very good, the rest of it means we won't be back.

Awesome service from Archie! Very festive & fun. Amazing food, nice wine list (though a little pricey) The langostines are killer!

I miss you guys! One of the best Greek Restaurants in the world! Highly recommended! I’m will come back soon

Best tomatoes and lamb that I have eaten in the US. Excellent service and fantastic food. Lively, friendly ambience, easy to see why it is so popular. The coffee is excellent as well. Definitely going back!

After recently moving to the neighborhood in August, I was excited to finally try Ethos Saturday evening, after passing it regularly throughout my travels. We were seated promptly upon arrival by the host, and greeted by very pleasant "Giovanni" our server. He did an excellent job assisting us in selecting wine, letting us sample the greek selection (which we were not familiar with but ultimately ordered and enjoyed). The place itself, is decorated very well and has nice ambiance. The complimentary bread and pita was a great accompaniment to the greek salad (horiatiki) that we started with. For dinner, we ordered several small plates to share, which included: ethos chips (zucchini and eggplant), grilled calamari and 'garides saganaki' (shrimp in a delightful tomato and feta/herb sauce). The ethos chips were good (though I am partial to Avra's zucchini chips, which are just a bit thinner and crispier), the calamari had great flavor and was not at all chewy (A +), but the winner of the evening was the shrimp. Everyone agreed that was the favorite. To our surprise, our server informed us that dessert was "on the house" and to enjoy a complimentary galaktoboureko, a semolina custard severed with fillo, for no apparent reason. It was delightful - and a very nice touch! I'd like to thank Giovanni, and the staff at Ethos for a marvelous evening. I will certainly be back and will continue to refer friends to visit.

Loved everything about the restaurant. Very attentive friendly service and vibrant scene. Delicious complementary starter of humus and pita and sampler of yummy Greek desserts are a real plus. Greek salad and grilled prawns were wonderful. We all loved our food. Wish I lived in NY...I would go there every week!

Very nice Greek restaurant in the east side. Dimly lit and a nice selection on Mediterranean dishes. It’s east side so a bit pricey, however they offered a complimentary hummus app and dessert. The wine selection was ok. The service was great! They apparently are know for celebrating birthdays as there were several that night. They dim the lights, play the persons favorite music and then bring out a firecracker candle and sing happy birthday. Def cool and different.

I went for dinner to Ethos both at the recommendation of the Waldorf Towers concierge and my dinner companion. The food was very good, yet expensive (taking into account this is NYC). We shared a Greek salad and grilled calamari as appetizers. The calamari was excellent and the salad, while fresh and flavorful, wasn't worth $17 roughly. My companion ordered Bronzini (sp: a fish dish) and I ordered the sea bass; however, we were both brought the Bronzini. Since we didn't want to waste the time of sending it back, we didn't. The main course was very good, but again, approximately $34 for a fish is pretty steep. The coffee my companion ordered was brought out cold so that was sent back. The host at the restaurant was good, efficient and pleasant, and accommodated my request for a different outdoor table in a professional manner. Overall the food was very good, but the price:value ratio is suspect.

I like the fish at Ethos, the branzino is very good and it's my to go dish here. A word of caution the specials are expensive. The tuna special was priced at $45 and it was not on the menu so ask for pricing. I think that was too much for a tuna dish. The dinner went well we had the Greek salad and the Marouli salad, both good. The waiter got annoyed when we asked for more pita bread, he said we still had some in the basket! What a nerve. The bread was cold and we wanted hot bread, at these prices he should run and get it. The branzino was good, it came with asparagus. My son had the $45 tuna fish he said it was good and my uncle the grilled salmon. The noise level is very high and it's very crowded all the time. If you want a quiet conversation place this is not the place. It's better at lunch much quieter.

I wanted a nice dinner experience with conversation and good food and willing to pay for it. The food was good but my friend and I could barely hear each other talk because the music was so loud -- and it wasn't even good music; more like musak. Because it was so loud, people were trying to talk over it so the noise was deafening and the sound was reverberating throughout the relatively small room, like some trashy low-end pick-up bar. I asked if the music could be lowered but that request was ignored. Horrible, horrible time. When we left, we both had headaches. Will never go back. STAY AWAY!!!!

We walked a few blocks ton from our midtown Manhattan Home. One of the guests had red snapper. I got to taste of his fish and it was superb. Two of us had Langoustines which were absolutely scrumptious. The portions were generous. It was an unusually warm evening and this Greek Restaurant was busy.

This one is a great neighborhood gem in Midtown East, not far from the UN building. We love Greek food, this is now one of our faves. While the list of entrees looked great, we went the tapas route with the appetizers and loved every one we tried. Make sure you order the lemon roasted potatoes, you'll wonder how you ever lived without them. The place was packed on a Sunday evening, and the atmosphere is party-like.

We had a spectacular meal at Ethos. We had great starters, fish and baby lamb mains and complementary desserts. Service was good but the restaurant is so noisy that it was hard to speak across our table. There were also at least 5 birthdays where the music is turned up louder, interferes with dinner and a dessert with a candle is served to the particular table. While the restaurant is definitely festive and the food is undoubtedly special, turn the music and interruptions down a notch for a near perfect experience. I would definitely return because the food is so tasty.

Had a late lunch here with another couple on a Saturday. Our timing was great since the place while semi-busy wasn't packed. We were immediately seated while we waited for the other couple to arrive. When they did, we ordered wine and our dishes as we already knew what we wanted. We had a few appetizers, saganaki, imam and another which I forgot. Except for the saganaki, portions were medium sized, some people could consider them as mains. While I liked the imam, there were too many onions on top to truly enjoy it, and I do love my eggplant. Mains were decent sized. We ordered seafood. I thoroughly enjoyed my grilled salmon, particularly the crispy skin. My partner enjoyed his fish as well. The mussels were also generous. At the end of the meal, we were given a complimentary dessert of creamy Greek yogurt with honey. Very delicious. Will return.

Very good food,fresh delicious salad,excellent lamb chops,good fresh soft shell crabs. Pretty restaurant with a very good professional wait staff. About a 1/3 into dinner the “ Macarena ” was blasted. There was a group of 12 waiting at the bar shouting at each other...it spoiled an otherwise nice dinner.

Excellent food. The squid, octopus and whole fish are outstanding. Service is friendly, but can be slow and a bit disorganized. A little bit expensive, but generally worth it.

We went on a Saturday night. Despite having booked for 7.30pm, we were still waiting for a table till after 8pm. Since the table was not ready, we were asked to go to the bar for a drink which we did but there again waited for another 20 Minutes before getting the attention of a bartender. Otherwise the food was good especially the octopus and the calamari.

The food was ok. Nothing to crazy over. However, the setting is nice and bright for an easy lunch. Like the bread and hummus

This is my 3rd time and every time I am amazed with food , service and everything in between. I strongly recommend this place.

Regarding Ethos Gallery. If you go to this pretty, nicely decorated expensive Greek restaurant, expect to be paying for the convenient location near the United Nations, not for the food and certainly not for the service. In terms of value for the dollar, there is none. The wait staff is attractive and friendly, especially to one another, but inattentive to guests. We had to wait much too long to order and get our drinks. Mythos beer was served in a small Stella Artois glass, which is exactly what it tasted like. (Mythos is usually served in a bottle there.) Retsina, a very unique rosin-tasting wine, tasted like a light chablis. We ordered five small plates which we expected to be served in some order. Three servers brought them all at once, letting some grow cold while we ate the others. Asking for something required standing to get attention. If you ever go, take semaphore flags. J

Happy atmosphere, sometimes a little noisy, quick and friendly service and good food. What else do you need? The Greek salad was almost like the one you get in Greece, the fish was delicious, the souvlaki was great (although it was chicken and in Greece they use lamb), side dishes very tasty. In general, a very pleasant experience.

So not impressed. Their menu shows how phony they are because on the cover is a black and white picture of Ari Onassis strutting with wife Jackie Kennedy Onassis about 10 feet behind him as if she were placed there. It looks like a photo snapped by the paparazzi. I asked and the owners did not seek permission to use their faces as a way of selling authenticity. The food was very oily without much flavor. There are much better Greek restaurants in NYC.

We've been customers here for a number of years and so my wife wanted a birthday dinner here. 40 minutes before our reservation time they called (as we were leaving our apartment to drive there) saying "we can't honor your reservation!" This was a reservation made AND confirmed through Open Table. It was explained that the owner had just booked a "private event." Reprehensible treatment!They have lost us as customers!

Overall, a very good experience at Ethos. Nice location as it is directly on the corner of 51st St. and 1st Avenue. My wife and I had a seat next to the window which was very nice. The service was good, we ordered 2 bottles of wine, both of which were delicious. They give you bread and hummus to start which was pretty good. We ordered a few appetizers to share, each of which were very fresh and tasty! Our entrees were also very good. Overall, a very good experience. It's not 5 star dining, but definitely 4 star. Not cheap, but you pay for what you get. Lots of good, fresh seafood. Will be back!

Excellent food but between the forced chaos of the birthday celebrations and the lack of noise soothing walls, it is impossible to have a conversation here. I've gone during the day for lunch, however, when it's much quieter and much more pleasant.