Kanella sits at 1001 Spruce Street in Washington Square West, drawing on Eastern Mediterranean cooking — colorful mezes, kebabs, seafood, and a solid run of vegan and vegetarian options. It's BYOB, with indoor and outdoor seating and a room built for a relaxed, shared-plates pace rather than a formal sit-down.
Regulars come back for the seared halloumi, hummus, muhammara, and baklava, along with lamb and salmon kebabs and grilled octopus — the kind of spread that favors ordering several small plates across the table over picking a single entrée. The service has built its own following alongside the food, with reviewers consistently pointing to attentive, friendly waitstaff.
Kanella's kitchen has been named a James Beard Foundation Best Chef semifinalist five times — in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016 — a run that speaks to years of consistency rather than a single moment. It reads as a neighborhood spot in the truest sense: unpretentious, well-priced, and built for repeat visits.
Regulars come back for the seared halloumi, hummus, muhammara, and baklava, along with lamb and salmon kebabs and grilled octopus — the kind of spread that favors ordering several small plates across the table over picking a single entrée. The service has built its own following alongside the food, with reviewers consistently pointing to attentive, friendly waitstaff.
Kanella's kitchen has been named a James Beard Foundation Best Chef semifinalist five times — in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016 — a run that speaks to years of consistency rather than a single moment. It reads as a neighborhood spot in the truest sense: unpretentious, well-priced, and built for repeat visits.