Eggplant and zucchini chips
On Sunday night, after a simply spectacular weekend in the Hamptons (kayaking, wine tasting, celebrating a friend's 50th), I stopped in Great Neck to visit with my parents and grandparents and have dinner together. My parents have been raving about a Greek place in Roslyn called Limani, so we were heading there for the rest of the evening.Patzaria
Now I have had a lot of Greek and mediterranean food, and think I have developed a pretty discerning palate when it come to recognizing excellence in this food genre, and let me tell you, this was it.The space itself is gorgeous. Massive chandeliers made up of amber colored tiles adorn the ceiling, with clean lines straight to the open kitchen, and plush banquets in the dining room, paired with beautifully upholstered benches with dark wooden tables by the bar. (It's likely a great happy destination.) On the far wall behind the check-in desk is a tall, white space with shelves full of beautiful, bountiful produce and fish lining the iced lower area. If my grandfather had come, I think he would have grabbed some of the granny smith apples on his way out...and maybe a bronzino too...
Once seated, we were greeted by welcoming wait staff and warm pita bread accompanied by a smoky eggplant spread with dill and a smooth, mild fava bean hummus. Admittedly, I didn't try the bread, but the dips were starting us off well.
The menu had a wide variety of options for a vegan like me. For starters, there were typical items like a traditional hummus and my standard go-to, gigantes (large lima beans) with dill, tomato & parsley, not to mention the more original item, charcoal grilled abalone mushrooms. They also offered a mixed field greens salad and another with hearts of romaine and fresh dill.
For sides, which they were happy to make into a meal, they had dishes like haricot vert or yellow, purple and green cauliflower, steamed and tossed with olive oil & lemon, lemon roasted potatoes, grilled yellow and red peppers or a mixture of other varieties, spinach and rice with onions, dill and olive oil, and asparagus, both white and green, steamed and tossed with olive oil and sea salt.
I decided to start with patzaria, a dish of roasted beets plated with skordalia, a garlicky mashed potato with olive oil and scallions. The flavors were strong but truly delicious. My mom convinced me to also order the zucchini and eggplant chips, simply brushed in flour and then fried (still considered healthy? maybe less so...) which were seasoned and crisped to perfection. (The non-vegans at the table enjoyed dipping them in the yogurt sauce and eating the fried cheese that came with it.) Not that I had any room left, but for my main course I had some of the gigantes (I just can't turn them away!) and horta, a sautee of red, white and gold swiss chard, escarole, dandelions and spinach. Admittedly, I would have enjoyed this more with a little less olive oil (I know, ironic after the chips) but it was really very good. So good that I am seriously considering booking their wine room for my milestone birthday this year. So...if you don't hear any more about that, assume I paid Limani a second visit...