Thalassa, located in Tribeca on Franklin Street across from Tribeca Grill the Greek offers unfussy, perfectly cooked seafood with service to match in an atmosphere — with tables not right on top of each other — ideal for a quiet conversation.
Along with the homemade focaccia bread, the server brought a platter with bowls of olives, extra grilled octopusvirgin olive oil and a bland eggplant mouse. I requested some tzatziki, which was deliciously creamy and garlicky, just as I love it along with warm pita bread.

The Robola Coop Keffallonais “St. Germasimo” 2007 Cephalonian, a Greek white wine – a crisp white with a with slight mineral tones and a hint of lemonscallops – worked well with all the dishes.

Two dishes not to be missed: The tender baby octopus ($16)with olive oil and red wine vinaigrette, one of the most tender preparations I’ve sampled (and I always order grilled octopus when available). And their  signature dish, of plump Maine Diver sea scallops ($17) wrapped in delicate kataifi (shredded) filo dough topped with diced tomatoes and capers with a sheep’s milk butter and drizzled with a balsamic reduction.

For my entree, I ordered imported soft shell crabLavraki  (also known as “Loup de mer,”  Mediterranean seabass, branzino or branzini) a  lean white fish with mild moist tender flakes ($33), as I’ve sampled at each of the other Greek-fish-market restaurant in Manhattan, including Anthos and Avra Estiatorio.

My companion orders the entree portion of soft shelled crab with horta (cooked greens: spinach, Swiss chard, dandelion, and chicory) and an unnecessary sauce as the crabs were so flavorful and crisps they needed nothing.

We added creamy mushroom risotto and brussel sprouts ($7 each) to our mix. Each perfection.

Although neither of us had room for dessert, we did sample and enjoyed both a toasted Greek almond and walnut baklava topped with scoop of mango sorbet and sliced fruit and a Galatobounko Citrus, custard layered in filo and drizzled with honey ($10, each).

Thalassa
179 Franklin Street
New York, NY 10013-2857
(212) 941-7661
www.thalassanyc.com

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