Nostos
Tysons Corner / Greek / $$$
I will rarely tell you to just throw up your hands and order the chicken. But at Nostos, that’s exactly what you should do. Of course, with your hands in the air, you’ll be shouting “Opa!” in deference to the intense Greekness of it all.
The chicken, or kotopoulo, is an unusually fine specimen of roasted poultry, with a lemon-herb marinade that deeply imbues every stratum of meat. It leaves it full of flavor and so tender you barely need a knife—but do use one to cut through the crisp skin. The soft potatoes, baby carrots, and al dente asparagus fight for your attention, too, but you’ll be too busy dipping your crusty bread into tangy chicken juice.
It may take two to dispatch the half-bird, but don’t fill up on all the fun appetizers, including skewered meats and fish and rich flaming cheese. It’s key to keep the end goal in sight—a trio of baklavas. The star of these is the baxevanis, featuring warm apples, apricots, raisins, and walnuts between layers of phyllo and vanilla ice cream. But it’s best to taste your way through all three to decide on a personal favorite.
See this: Stark white walls are punctuated with black-and-white photos of Greek life, bringing a hominess to the upscale surroundings.
Eat this: Xifias souvlaki, kotopoulo, baxevanis
Service: This team knows the menu every which way and is always ready with a suggestion.
When to dine here: You want to get dressed up but don’t want dishes plated with tweezers.
Feature image by Rey Lopez
This post originally appeared in our November 2021 issue’s Best Restaurants cover story. For more food reviews, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
