Buttons Undone
Pants at a Glance
- scene: Large windows, nice washed wood, Mykonos near Manhattan
- sip: There is a quite a large wine list and a unique portioning system
- savor: Dips; octopus; branzino; thrice cooked smashed potatoes
- sit: With a group for a fun night out-OPA! Or with a friend for a causal night in the hood
- spend: $$
- address: 470 Driggs Avenue
- phone number: 929-250-2312
- website: www.mpbrooklyn.com
If pictures of your friends’ summer adventures to the Greek Islands are giving you the (Aegean) blues, we have a cure for that: for the price of a taxi or subway ride, you can too can sample some fresh, fantastic Greek food at MP Taverna, Michael Psilakis’ newest restaurant. The space is bright and large, with lots of windows, beautiful washed wood and a big bar, subtly evoking a more exotic locale without any kitsch. The staff is friendly and eager to please and all too happy to help navigate the menu and create your ideal meal.
I think MP Taverna is good for groups because the plates are really designed to share- there are dishes in many categories and many sizes, and sharing is the best way to sample the most items. A must order for me is always any sort of Greek dips, I can dip and dip all night. We begged our waiter to create a mezze sampler so that we could try them all, and I think this could be a worthy addition to the menu, as well as a sampler of the different sausages on offer, to make some ordering decisions easier. The octopus, a staple of Greek menus, was a true star, fresh and cooked perfectly. I am pretty open-minded when it comes to sardines, and lately it has been paying off; MP Taverna’s were meaty and well-seasoned, served with some deliciously soft eggplant.
There were a few items we were excited for but a little disappointed in- the Cypriot salad was fantastic to look at, but was a little bland; it lacked brightness and could have benefited from some acid or citrus to kick the flavors up. The meatballs were also good not great, served with tzaziki, pita and lemon, which overpowered them slightly, but overall a yummy addition to the meal. The branzino was prepared perfectly and simply, and guilt-free enough to warrant the addition of the thrice cooked smashed potatoes, which are worth the trip to Brooklyn alone.
MP Taverna is a valuable addition to the neighborhood, even if that neighborhood is a little far for me. You will leave feeling full and happy, the only thing missing is a tan.
