Uncle Nick's - New York, NY
OVERALL
Excuse my x-gen vocab, but this restaurant ROCKS. It's not exactly a Michelin 3 stars, which there are quite a few in NYC, but this place will give you a superb Greek cuisine experience and fill you up without blowing up your credit card (which as you know is not a hard thing to achieve in NYC). Just a great place for great Greek food - and you'll find just about all other review sites agree with me!
FOOD
It's been many years since my wife and I've had good Greek food, so it's exciting for us to revisit one of the NYC establishments that received much high acclaims on the web - and even recommended by the horseman in central park!! We found lots of simple (a bit too simple...) but delicious greek food, everything cooked to textural perfection. The only minor complaint that I have is that NOTHING was salty or adequately spiced. I think it's me though - because I believe that's what authentic greek should taste like (according to other experts anyways).
We ordered lots of food (and finished most of it), including Greek salad, sausage / sweetbread appetizer, fried calamari (not the crusted kind!), then whole fish and lamb chops. This is the first time I'm truly 
impressed with a whole fish in a "non-Asian" restaurant. The desserts were great too, suspicious not too sweet (yup, even the baklava wasn't that swee!). It must be the diet-conscious New Yorkers....
SERVICE
NYC is not known to be the friendliest city in the world UNLESS you are ready to cover the floor with cash. So we had somewhat low expectation when we step into a mid-tier restaurant that is popular. We found it surprising that the wait staff is actually professional and caring, even try to be funny at times. I think they are Latin Americans but they sure are not greeks. They do demonstrate the greek hospitality (again, I've never been there, just read about it) and attention to details (like so much ice water my bladder is still hurting today).
AMBIENCE
The restaurant is small and crowded (just like everything else in NYC), but tastefully decorated. It's the details that are pretty impressive, like the greek map on the table and some old pictures on the wall that are interested. Granted that it doesn't try to "look greek", the simplicity and decorations spoke of the theme - kind of consistent with the food as well. I stood beside the open kitchen for a while, just to see how they grill the fish, and imagine if I were in a village next to the Aegean Seae (until a carry out driver push me aside to get boxed dinners).....
VALUE
You'd be crazy to be looking for value in NYC, BUT interestingly enough, I've found a lot of superb value in NYC. The trick is not to think about the price so much, but consider what you're getting vs how much you're paying for it. With the quantity (BIG everything!!) and quality (downright freshest ingredient - no garnish!) of food at Uncle Nick's, I call it a great value - especially considering you can walk to catch a broadway show from there.
BOTTOMLINE
I came VERY close to giving them five stars in either food or value, but unfortunately they are just not QUITE there.... Nevertheless, this is probably the best bed for dining greek in NYC because it's good in all categories. It's not hip, posh or even new, but downright great food that will fill you up and not make you sick. If you want hot and spicy food, there are plenty of Szechuan and Mexican places in NYC. I'd go back again anytime!!
BTW
If you go with a big party, you better know the hostess very well since there's only one large table in the back that'll accommodate 8+ people. Also, try not to bring small kids - while they are accommodating and there were some small kdis, the place is simply too packed and inconvenient to get in and out. Then again, where else would a family go eat in NYC.... Your family can practically share a couple entrees here!
