It was during my last outing to Holsten's that I discovered Stamna. Located on Broad Street in Bloomfield, this is a restaurant that makes you feel right at home in the horio. It's been a loooong time since I've had good authentic Greek food a la yia yia in the "old country", and I'm talking more than gyros and spanikopita. No longer do I have to cross several bridges and pay exhorbenant amounts of money just to get good Greek eats.
The restaurant itself makes you feel as though you're eating in someone's home...from the music playing on the stereo to the soccer on television, Stamna delivers more than just the typical blue and white color scheme. The painting on the wall of some old men sitting at a kafenion reminded me again of when I used to run around as a kid in the village while my elders sat and drank caffe.
All the waiters, Greek themselves, are your typical Greek men...hairy and speaking so quickly you can't understand a word they're saying. Thankfully, I've had my fair share of thick Greek accents, so I had no trouble. I brought two family members with me, my sister and nephew. Along with a bottle of Boutari Moschofilero, I was all set to enjoy a hearty Greek meal. And oh my god did Stamna deliver!
My partners ordered a chicken souvlaki and pork souvlaki platter with a side of lemon potatoes each. I ordered the Stamna Thalassina Platter, which included calamari, octopus, and shrimp, all grilled to a crispy blackened perfection. Along with my side of steamed greens, I really was in heaven. I couldn't help but pick at my sister's lemon potatoes though, they were absolute perfection. And I was sad that I didn't get my own brick of feta and tub of tzatziki for myself. I think that if given the opportunity, I would have overeaten at Stamna and probably have to be carried out in a stretcher.
As if the dinner wasn't enough, I just had to partake in some Galaktoboureko for dessert. A heavenly custard nestled between sweet phyllo sprinkled with cinnamon and swimming in a sweet syrup, I just stuffed myself almost to the point of disgustingness.
Stamna is open every day except Monday, and they even have a catering menu. For a Wednesday night, the place was busy and it was very easy to see why. I will continue to come back to Stamna, and next time I'm bringing a few more hungry folk with me!
Food: *****
Ambiance: *****
Service: *****
Overall: *****
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