Ithaki

Let’s get some Greek food shall we??  And we’re gonna go to one of the top spots north of Boston: Ithaki in Peabody.

First, a little bit of history.  Ithaki originally opened up in the town of Ipswich, Massachusetts back in 1997.  And chef / owner Petro Markopoulous quickly established himself as one of the top Greek restaurateurs in New England. The original location was pretty small, so it was always packed.

Fast forward twenty-five years later, and they’ve moved into this much bigger, more modern, really beautiful restaurant right on Route One in Peabody.  It’s very spacious, so you can come for a romantic meal or bring a whole big party.  There’s lots of cool lighting, fresh flowers, a nice marble bar offering some incredible cocktails, there are wine racks everywhere, even an eye-catching Octopus mural on the wall (and who doesn’t love a good Octopus mural every once in a while?).

But of course, you really come here for the food, and this is authentic Greek cuisine done the right way. And that includes their Greek salad.  Now, this isn’t the typical Greek salad you might get at your local house of pizza. This is the Horiatiki, or Village Salad. And this is how they do in Greece. It’s a colorful mix of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers, and olives.  And instead of crumbled feta, they use these big blocks of premium imported feta cheese, and just a little light Greek vinaigrette.

And if you know anything about the Mediterranean diet, you know they love their dips and spreads. So, I’d recommend getting a few of those to share. This one here with the red pepper on top, that’s a spicy whipped feta dip with jalapenos. The one topped with onions is their homemade hummus. And of course, you gotta get the tzatziki made with Greek yogurt, cucumbers, and garlic. Just grab some pita bread, and dip away to your heart’s content.

For an appetizer, I’d recommend the Cheese Saganaki. This is like the Greek version of a mozzarella stick, with a bunch of pan-fried cheese triangles that get nice and golden and toasty… and then they actually flambe’ them right at the table, so it looks cool with the fire, it smells amazing, and the flavor is unforgettable.

If you’re a lamb lover like me, Ithaki has plenty of tasty options, including their meatballs. These are actually more like beef and lamb fritters, and they pair perfectly with that creamy tzatziki sauce. Or, you can go big with the lamb shank.  This is a massive cut of meat, served on the bone, so the meat is just ridiculously tender. You don’t even need a knife. And it’s served in a big bowl with orzo pasta, tomato, and a sprinkle of cheese. That’s a hearty meal.

You know, one of my favorite things about Greek food is that it’s all about simplicity and freshness. And the Souvlaki is a perfect example. They just marinate some chicken, skewer it, grill it over high heat, and serve it over some yogurt, roasted tomatoes, onions, and olive oil.  And of course, it comes with some warm pita bread  on the side if you want to make yourself a little sandwich.

Now, If you’re looking for Greek comfort food, check out the Pasticho. It’s like a cross between lasagna and Bolognese, with bucatini pasta, a slow-simmered meat sauce, and some bechamel for added richness. And I’m telling you right now, this baby is filling, you’ll probably take some home.

And for an entire ocean full of deliciousness, there’s an amazing seafood casserole. Sort of like a Greek version of paella. This dish is overloaded with clams, shrimp, scallops, and mussels, so there’s seafood in every single forkful. All served over orzo in a luscious lobster tomato sauce. Very authentic and very delicious.

Now, let’s get dessert. And even though everybody loves French desserts and Italian desserts, I think Greek desserts are totally underrated. And Ithaki has some great ones. The most popular, of course is the Baklava. Their version kinda looks like a spring roll, with the crispy phyllo dough rolled up into sweet little cylinders. I like the Pistachio Baklava, it’s packed with nuts, glistening in honey, and it’s served with some incredible homemade pistachio ice cream.

But my favorite dessert is this one: the Galactobouriko. And yes, I know that’s a mouthful, literally.  Galactobouriko is a traditional Greek custard that's topped with a buttery phyllo shell.  So once it’s baked, the custard is nice and creamy, while the phyllo gets golden and crispy with some even more sweetness drizzled over the top.

And by the way, Ithaki is attached to a hotel, so they’re actually open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And the food is just as good as it’s always been. So if you ever went to their original restaurant in Ipswich, you’re going to get the same quality, and same big portions. But now you can get it in stylish surroundings, at Ithaki in Peabody.