By Vincent Amoroso
MP Taverna Review
MP Taverna is located in the heart of Roslyn, New York situated along the town’s busiest thoroughfares of Old Northern Boulevard. After reading about the numerous accolades of celebrated executive chef, and owner Michael Psilakis I was anxious to try MP Taverna, especially given the difficulty of finding authentic Greek cuisine on Long Island. There are many Greek restaurants in the New York area however, so many offer cuisine that is rather cliché.
Choosing a clear, comfortable day to try MP Taverna, we chose to be seated in the upstairs outdoor deck overlooking one of the north shore’s most quaint hamlets. Yet, choosing to sit indoors would be equally as appealing. MP Taverna features an inviting, dimly-lit rustic décor, with vaulted ceilings, and plenty of comfortable seating upstairs and down. This Greek tavern has an incomparable duality of a relaxing atmosphere during the day, then transforming into a trendy evening locale perfect for late night dining.
We decided to each order an appetizer, and I was delighted to find out from our friendly and knowledgeable waiter we hit the mark by ordering two dishes featuring Cypriot recipes. Being Italian I ordered Grandma’s Greek Meatballs—served with lemon, pita, and a side of classic tzatziki (yogurt sauce). The meatballs were prepared perfectly with a light crispy texture on the outside, nicely spiced, and juicy on the inside. Then when paired with the tzatziki sauce this gave the meat an added flavorful zing that practically melted in your mouth.
The Cypriot Lamb Sausage—topped with scallions, red onion, a light lemon sauce, and sided with pita was a delicious combination of homemade herbed sausage and tangy grilled vegetables. Both were served in an iron skillet maintaining the dishes’ warmth throughout the meal. The lemon sauce had just the right mixture of tart and sweet flavor, drizzled over the dish proportionally so it did not overpower the meat.
The dishes were nicely portioned, appealing to the eye and the pallet. We found ourselves swapping dishes several times during the meal until both plates were empty. The pairing of the two appetizers left us satisfied, but I am anxious to return to sample MP Taverna’s entrees.