Nerina

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Greek Table in Greenpoint

Nerina sits on Commercial Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, the latest expression of a vision shared by owners Christos Gourmos and Spiro Menegatos of Koureli Restaurant Group. Having built their reputation with Nerai in Midtown Manhattan, the two bring the same commitment to quality and philoxenia—the Greek tradition of hospitality—to a neighborhood that rewards exactly that kind of sincerity. The result is a restaurant that earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2025, recognition that speaks directly to one of Nerina's most distinctive features: an all-Greek wine list.

The Space

The room draws deliberate inspiration from the understated elegance of 1970s Athenian apartment lobbies. Aged cherry paneling and a deep green marble bartop echo the tones and textures of classical Greek interiors, while high ceilings and clean stone surfaces keep the atmosphere open and unhurried. A central bar seats 20 and anchors the room, with an expansive indoor dining area on one side and a glass-enclosed outdoor patio on the other—equally suited to a quiet dinner for two or a full table of friends.

The Menu

Culinary Director Timothy Hixson shapes a mezze-style Greek menu built around fresh, seasonal ingredients and the kind of generous, shareable format that makes a meal feel like an occasion. Brunch brings dishes like Strapatsada—shakshuka-style eggs with loukaniko sausage—alongside Tsoureki French Toast with honey rosewater syrup and Bougatsa with semolina custard. The meze selection spans Spanakopitakia with ouzo yogurt, Saganaki Croquettes with roasted tomato sauce, and souvlaki platters across chicken, shrimp, salmon, and beef tenderloin. Familiar Greek flavors are present throughout, but handled with enough care and invention to feel genuinely current.

The Wine and Cocktail Programs

Head Sommelier Evan Poholchuk oversees a wine list drawn entirely from Greek producers—Assyrtiko from Thessalia, Xinomavro from Naoussa, Agiorgitiko from Nemea, and sparkling Moschofilero from the Peloponnese, among others. It is a program that takes Greek wine seriously as a subject in its own right, and the Wine Spectator recognition reflects that ambition. The cocktail list runs alongside it with handcrafted drinks built on Mediterranean ingredients, infused spirits, house-made syrups, and tinctures—the Freddo Espresso Martini with skinos mastiha being a characteristic example of how the bar bridges Greek flavors and contemporary technique.

Events and Private Dining

For larger occasions, Nerina offers partial and full buyout options with curated menus and customizable beverage packages, covering everything from cocktail-style receptions to seated dinners—private Greek hospitality, extended to Greenpoint.