Plori Restaurant — Restaurant in Town of North Hempstead

Dining at Plori was Pure Pleasure 🍽️. Same Plori, New Glory!✨

Plori has long been one of my favorite Mediterranean gems on Long Island. But after spending some time as a Florida snowbird, I hadn’t visited in quite a while. I’d heard the buzz — new staff, new chef 👨‍🍳, new partner/manager, refreshed decor — and wasn’t sure what to expect. Change can be unsettling, but the recent reviews intrigued me. So I went back… with hope, curiosity, and a healthy appetite.

Our party of five was seated immediately by a kind, reserved host named Fonda (no, not Jane or Henry 😂). I shared my past fondness for Plori with him, and he assured us we were in for something special.

And we were.

The decor now feels brighter and more elegant, lighter color tones, sculpted drop ceilings — a subtle but classy update. The service? Gracious and warm. The food? Next-level.

Fonda and I even bonded over restaurant stories, the kind of personal connection that makes you feel you’re part of something special. He truly wanted us to see how Plori has evolved — and wow, has it.

We started with warm, crusty rustic bread 🥖 paired with a velvety hummus spread — the perfect Mediterranean welcome. Then came the Plori Chips: thin-sliced zucchini 🥒 and eggplant 🍆, lightly fried and seasoned — golden, crisp, and addictive.

Next up, grilled octopus 🐙 — tender with a charred kiss of smoke 💨, served over a vibrant bed of roasted peppers 🫑, onions 🧅, and fava bean 🫘 purée, topped with a drizzle of sweet balsamic. Every bite was a flavor bomb 💣 .

The Horiatiki Salad 🥗 was a garden of freshness — juicy tomatoes 🍅, crunchy cucumbers 🥒, briny olives🫒 , green peppers 🫑 , and thick slabs of creamy feta 🧀, all sprinkled with Mediterranean herbs 🪴 and bathed in luscious EVOO. Simple, bright, perfect.

Then came the entrées and they were spectacular.

Plori’s special signature lobster dish 🦞 was the star ⭐️ of the night. Bathed 🧽 in a creamy tomato 🍅 -feta sauce and flecked with parsley 🌿, it was rich, tangy, and indulgent — so good, three of us ordered it since no one was willing to share! 😄

The Alaskan halibut 🐠 was a stunner: thick, pan-seared to perfection, resting on a silky vegetable risotto with a savory lobster jus. The seafood flavors danced on the palate like a symphony 🎼👅 — a true standout.

Also worth mentioning: the Lavraki (Mediterranean sea bass) 🐟 — simply grilled, flaky and sweet, the essence of the Aegean Sea 🌊 on a plate 🍽️ .

But the real showstopper? Dessert.! And not just any dessert…

Plori now boasts desserts by legendary French pastry chef François Payard (yes, that Payard — formerly of Le Bernardin and Daniel!). His creations are absolute masterpieces.

The chocolate mousse 🍫 was pure bliss — dense, rich, and dangerously addictive. The fig cake 🧁 was divine: chewy, fragrant figs layered with fresh fig jam and dusted with powdered sugar. And the pièce de résistance? A whimsical take on strawberry shortcake 🍓🍰, layered with a crisp, straw-textured pastry nest 🪹. Creamy, crunchy, and insanely good. Off-the-hook delicious 🪝.

Service throughout was smooth and attentive — Mathew, our server, was a total pro. Friendly, efficient, and spot-on with recommendations.

So, if you’ve made it this far, let me say this: Go back to Plori. Better yet, run. It’s not just as good as you remember — it’s better.

📸 Don’t forget to scroll through the pics — they’ll make you hungry all over...

I have never been so upset with a dining experience. This is the first time I have ever been inclined to write a negative review. The only time we saw our waiter was when he took our drink and dinner orders. Other than that, he never came to ask us how everything was or if we needed anything. Not to mention he would go over and speak to the hostess multiple times throughout the night and I would see them looking at our table. One of our drinks was made incorrectly, we ordered a drink with no alcohol and received a drink with alcohol. Then we have one bartender come and tell us that the drink has no alcohol in it, then another bartender comes and says it is “full of alcohol.” The food was ok for the most part. We probably would have enjoyed it much more if we weren’t so upset with our service. I go to use the bathroom and as I am walking back to my table, I see the manger and explain to him everything that has went on throughout the night. I tell him that I never complain, but I am this upset with the service! Which is true! He goes and speaks to our waiter, but we never got an apology from neither him nor the waiter which I found extremely unprofessional. When I had first entered the restaurant I gave the manager my card, as I wanted to pay for the bill. The bill comes at the end of the night and they had not run my card. I go up to the manager once again and he does not apologize for this inconvenience. We were offered after dinner drinks and dessert as I was signing the bill, but what we would have appreciated much more was a simple apology for the poor service from the manager and the waiter. At that point we didn’t want either of those things. This was the first time I have ever wanted to not leave a tip at a restaurant! But I still left a decent tip because my family is also in the restaurant business and I would never not tip. Overall, I just am disappointed with the lack of professionalism coming from the manager and our waiter. A simple apology can go a long way guys, so remember that...

Was able to have dinner with my family tonight at the brand new Plori. What a treat. From the moment you walk in you're greeted by friendly faces and a lively atmosphere. And while the food shines bright and will have you coming back for more, the reason everything is top notch is because of Buffy and Spiro Dimas. They have been successful with feeding Long Islanders forever with the great Old Westbury Diner and Williston Townhouse Diner. They've gained and earned the trust of the palates of thousands over the years and Plori will only strengthen that trust.

You are transported to Greece with these dishes, meticulously crafted by Chef Pete Dalitsouris. Authenticity is the something many restaurants claim they have, Plori proves it. From the thinly sliced Plori Crisps, to the Tonos Tartar and grilled octopus. I would go here and order appetizer after appetizer and leave fat and satisfied! It doesn't stop there the traditional village salad called Horiatiki is perfect. From the fresh tomatoes to the feta and olives, it's just unreal.

On to the fish and lamb...the seabass is open faced and tender, the lamb will make you take your phone out and share it with friends. Come hungry, you won't regret it. And don't forget to see sommelier Tony Bouara who will steer you in the right direction whether you're looking for a white or red wine!

I can't recommend Plori strongly enough. It's a welcome addition to fine authentic dining in Long Island that I can't wait to...