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Home > Restaurants > Barbounia

Barbounia

Critic's Pick Critics' Pick

250 Park Ave. South, New York, NY 10003
at 20th St.  See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-995-0242 Send to Phone

    Reserve a Table

  • Price Range: $$$

    Key to Prices and ratings

    Upscale
    • Almost Perfect
    • Exceptional
    • Generally Excellent
    • Very Good
    • Good
    Cheap Eats
    • Best in Category
    • Excellent
    • Delicious
    • Very Good
    • Noteworthy
    • Very Expensive
    • Expensive
    • Moderate
    • Cheap
  • Critics' Rating: *

    Key to Prices and ratings

    Upscale
    • Almost Perfect
    • Exceptional
    • Generally Excellent
    • Very Good
    • Good
    Cheap Eats
    • Best in Category
    • Excellent
    • Delicious
    • Very Good
    • Noteworthy
    • Very Expensive
    • Expensive
    • Moderate
    • Cheap
  • Reader Rating:

    6.0 out of 10

      |  

    4 Reviews | Write a Review

  • Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
View Slide Show
Photo by Yun Cee Ng

Official Website

barbounia.com

Hours

Mon, 11:30am-11pm; Tue-Thu, 11:30am-midnight; Fri, 11:30am-12:30am; Sat, 11am-12:30am; Sun, 11am-11:30pm

Nearby Subway Stops

6 at 23rd St.; N, R, W at 23rd St.

Prices

$17-$28

Payment Methods

American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

  • Brunch - Weekend
  • Dine at the Bar
  • Lunch

Alcohol

  • Full Bar

Reservations

Recommended

Profile

With its rows of banquettes cluttered with throw pillows, and its bulbous white columns, the room looks, when you peep in from the street, like the inside of an oversize (though admittedly boisterous) Roman bathhouse. The reality of Barbounia, it turns out, isn’t half as bad as the concept. The lively open kitchen is filled with sputtering grills and clattering pots; the room’s clashing motifs blend together in a half-pleasing way after a few drinks, and even the throw pillows feel comfortable after an adjustment or two. Entrées like the souvlaki kebabs served with mint-flavored tahini are generally good, but, true to Greek tradition, the best stuff comes off the grill. You can get fresh-grilled dorado or branzino to go with your ouzo menthe cocktail (lemonade, ouzo, mint), and the lamb chops are among the best in the city. None of the desserts are quite so good, though you can do worse in the wilds of lower Park Avenue than the smooth house panna cotta made with yogurt. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld

Brunch

Sat.—Sun., 11 a.m.—4 p.m.

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New York Magazine Reviews

Featured In

6.0 "Mixed Reviews"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10		 Write Your Own Review
50% Would you go back?
50% Would you take a date?
0% Would you take kids?
25% Would you go on business?
0% Would you go on a special occasion?
Food: 5.5
Service: 6.0
Décor: 8.0
Value: 5.0

From to distinctive to boring in three years or less

CitrineNYC from 11215 | Posted on 11/12/09

Overall Rating: 4 (Not Recommended)
Food: 3
Service: 7
Décor: 8
Value: 4

I used to love Barbounia. Sadly, they've changed their menu--and not for the good. They had over twenty ouzos at the bar. Their menu of mezzes, classic Greek dishes and grilled seafood was delicious and flavorful. Every time I went over the last couple of years, fewer Greek items were on the menu. They offer one ouzo now. When I went three months ago, the menu had become more "North African bistro" than anything else--steaks, tagines, etc., plus the prices have steadily gone up. I suppose it's fine if you want a steak frites that's not as tasty as other places that do it well, but I long for their old menu offering.

Hype

BornNBread from 10016 | Posted on 8/5/09

Overall Rating: 8 (Recommended)
Food: 7
Service: 6
Décor: 9
Value: 6

If you're looking to clink wine glasses and snack on hummus before a night at Tenjune, this restaurant is the perfect choice. The scene looked relatively pre-club. Great ambiance, excellent decor, nice lighting. The food was sub-par for the price, though average for that neighborhood. My salad was limp and flavorless. The "mezze" appetizers were good, but I saw a lot of half-eaten entrees. And $3.50 for extra bread is a crock. Our server had to be reminded to bring drink and side orders, and the staff was a little too eager to clear our unfinished platters. Underwhelming experience.

Read All 4 Reviews >>

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