Neraki Restaurant in Huntington, NY

by Markos Papadatos

To taste the best Greek food in New York, a flight to Greece is not necessary. All one needs to do is to take a drive towards Huntington’s 273 Main Street, where they will find Neraki Greek Mediterranean Grill.

On April 26, I had the privilege to dine at Neraki in the heart of Huntington, New York. It is a family-owned restaurant by Alex and Olga Moschos. It has been around for three years and it that truly specializes in the Greek cuisine. Particularly impressive about the restaurant is that they use their own family recipes to prepare their eloquent dishes.

Neraki Restaurant

This year, Neraki Greek Mediterranean Grill was voted as the No. 1 Greek Restaurant in Long Island by the Long Island Press, and rightfully so.

Their Greek salad was the quintessential appetizer. It consisted of hearts of romaine that were thinly sliced, coupled with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, feta cheese, Kalamata olives and peperoncini peppers.

Their “kotopoulo souvlaki,” which translates into chicken shish kebab, consists of the owner Olga’s Dad’s recipe of marinated and grilled herbed chicken, accompanied by a neat presentation of romaine hearts and their own version of crispy hand-cut Neraki potato fries. The chicken was tender and delicious.

The owners underscored the importance of the Mediterranean diet and their simple, yet rich ingredients speak for themselves.

Neraki has a wide selection of Greek and international wines, which is suitable for patrons over the age of 21. They also have an extensive selection of seafood for gourmet fans that enjoy fish, octopuses, among other seafood. All of their offerings are available to stay or to go and they have a distinct children’s menu.

The meals arrived at the table fast and all of their foods were fresh. I was really impressed with how highly attentive and professional all of their staff was, ranging from the two owners (Alex and Olga), to the waiters to the bartender.

For dessert, I had the pleasure to taste their “Galaktobureko,” which is a traditional Greek custard pie. It was warm, rich, fresh and it melted in one’s mouth and simply one of the finest sweet delights that I have tasted all year.

Neraki Restaurant

The Verdict

At Neraki Greek Mediterranean Grill, I really felt at home. Their cuisine is authentic and it stays true to the traditional style of Greek cooking. Their dishes were all tasty and savory, and the restaurant’s designs and decorations are creative and impressive. It is a pleasant and accommodating atmosphere with high-quality foods at a reasonable price. The restaurant itself has a great vibe and I commend the owners and their hard-working staff for their incredible hospitality.

My visit was a substantial indication that their recent win for “Best Greek Restaurant in Long Island” was indeed based on merit. It is recommended for patrons of all ages and it is ideal for the entire family. This top-notch restaurant garners an A+ rating.

Neraki Greek Mediterranean Grill is located at 273 Main Street in Huntington, New York, 11743. Their phone number is (631) 385-3474. For more information on Neraki, visit their official website www.neraki.com