Kyma — Restaurant in New York

Our recent visit to Kyma Flatiron was a mix of delightful highs and a few unexpected lows. Overall, the experience was enjoyable, thanks in no small part to the wonderful company of my wife - who has the remarkable ability to enhance any and every experience.

The Good: Ambiance & Service: Kyma’s ambiance is undeniably charming, with a beautifully curated décor that exudes Mediterranean elegance. The lighting creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for a celebratory evening. The service was impeccable, with the staff going the extra mile by remembering our anniversary and surprising us with a complimentary glass of wine - a thoughtful touch that elevated our night.

The Not-So-Good: While the atmosphere was generally pleasant, the gigantic TV screen felt out of place, better suited to a sports bar than a refined Greek taverna. Additionally, the noise level was on the higher side, which somewhat diminished the otherwise intimate setting.

The Food: Hits: •    Grilled Octopus – Tender, perfectly seasoned, and accompanied by a well-balanced medley of roasted peppers, onions, capers, and fava beans. A standout dish that set a promising tone for the evening. •    Shrimp Orzotto – Rich and flavorful with a nice depth from the tomato sauce and feta, though it leaned a bit on the greasy side. •    Baklava – Perhaps the star of the meal. The delicate layers of phyllo, mixed nuts, and fragrant orange syrup paired beautifully with delicious pistachio ice cream, making for a memorable finish.

Misses: •    Soutzoukakia – The Mediterranean spiced meatballs, baked in tomato sauce and topped with Mizithra cheese, were dry and crumbly for my taste, lacking the expected seasoning. My wife, however, enjoyed this dish more than I did. •    Pan-Seared Royal Dorade – This dish was a real disappointment. The fish was bland and unseasoned, accompanied by uninspiring mashed potatoes that tasted as if they were simply boiled and mashed with salt—no trace of the promised olive oil. The asparagus garnish? Just one stalk, cut in half.

Simply Bad: •    Fruit "Salad" – A letdown in every sense. Wilted blueberries, underripe papaya, and a few uninspiring slices of other fruits, plated in a way that would be more fitting in an airport cafeteria than a restaurant of Kyma’s caliber. A true afterthought.

Final Thoughts: While Kyma excels in ambiance, service, and select dishes, inconsistencies in food quality and an overwhelming noise level detracted from the experience. Would I return? Perhaps - for the ambiance and a few standout dishes, but with a more selective approach...

A Disappointing and Deafening Experience

I recently had the misfortune of dining at Kyma Flatiron and feel compelled to warn others about the multiple issues I encountered. What should have been an enjoyable lunch turned into a frustrating ordeal.

The most egregious problem was the absolutely deafening volume of the DJ. It was so loud that having a basic conversation with my companions was virtually impossible. Out of curiosity, I measured the noise level using a decibel meter app, which showed an average of 94 dB with peaks reaching 103 dB - levels that actually violate local noise ordinances. A few people in our group had fortunately brought earplugs and resorted to wearing them DURING LUNCH. Let that sink in - we needed hearing protection to eat at a restaurant! It was actually louder than a Metallica concert I went to.

The service was equally disappointing. When I requested a separate check since I wasn't drinking while others were, the waitress curtly informed me they "are not allowed" to provide separate checks. This inflexible policy seemed designed purely for the restaurant's convenience, not customer satisfaction.

The kitchen proved just as rigid. I ordered lamb chops and asked to substitute the accompanying fries with rice - a simple request at most restaurants. Again, I was told they "aren't allowed" to make this basic accommodation. How difficult would it have been to put rice on my plate instead of fries? The waitress delivered this news with a noticeably snotty attitude that made me feel like an inconvenience rather than a valued customer.

As for the food itself, the lamb chops were acceptable in taste but laughably small in portion. I received just two tiny chops that barely constituted an appetizer, let alone a main course priced as one. It was the smallest lamb chop portion I've ever been served in a restaurant.

Between the ear-splitting noise that required actual hearing protection during lunch, the inflexible policies, poor service with an attitude, and minuscule portions, I cannot recommend Kyma Flatiron to anyone. There are far better Greek restaurants in Manhattan that actually value their customers' experience, hearing health, and reasonable requests.

Kyma may be the "it" place and the scene right now, maybe because they parade around with sparklers once or twice an hour, but if they treat customers this way, they will...

This is a Greek restaurant which my dad and I came to for NYC Restaurant Week, which is where restaurants can choose to set pre fixe menus at $30, $45, or $60. Kyma had a $60 dinner menu for the occasion.

The restaurant is beautifully decorated but keeps a laid-back atmosphere through the casual dress of the staff. The music was really nice, but just a touch loud. I'd say the atmosphere is nice for a casual date night or bringing friends.

For the appetizers, we ordered octopus and dolmades (stuffed grape leaves). The octopus was cooked very nicely to be perfectly soft. We felt the dish needed a touch of lemon and asked for it, which we were promptly given. We were also given vinegar, which my dad felt paired better with the octopus than the lemon. I still preferred the lemon, but I'm very glad we were given both options.

The octopus dish was great once we added some acidity to it, although I wouldn't call it the best octopus dish I've ever had. It's more that there was nothing wrong with it once we added the lemon. The dolmades were lovely as is.

For our mains, we ordered an NY strip steak and lamb chops. We both preferred the lamb chops to the steak. I felt the steak had a bit too much char which made it bitter. The lamb chops were good, again, not the best I've ever had, but certainly not bad.

For dessert, we ordered a lava cake and baklava, each of which came with a scoop of ice cream. I greatly enjoyed the lava cake, and my dad liked the baklava.

As far as the NYC Restaurant Week goes, there was some confusion on this front. We were first told that this is not available on Sundays (which turned out to be untrue) and we were billed for one of our dishes which should have been included in the pre fixe menu, although this was quickly rectified once we pointed it out.

Overall, we had a pleasant evening. It wasn't particularly standout in any way, unfortunately,...