Chef Michael Psilakis Distances Himself From UWS Gem Kefi After Eviction Snafu

Popular Upper West Side Greek restaurant Kefi had a bit of a hiccup this week. A city marshal’s notice appeared on the restaurant at 505 Columbus Ave., between West 84th and West 85th streets, declaring the property had been turned over to the landlord. For a night, the restaurant shuttered, leaving those with reservations stranded.

David Horowitz, managing agent of landlord 505 Columbus LLC, said, “Why do people get evicted? Whatever the issue was I don’t care to discuss, but it was resolved and hopefully it was a one shot deal that won’t happen again.’” A manager at the restaurant said it was a miscommunication. Kefi reopened by Wednesday.

But in the snafu, chef Michael Psilakis distanced himself from the restaurant that he first opened in 2007: “I am no longer a principal at Kefi, a longstanding neighborhood gem on the Upper West Side. While I have no information about the current situation, it is a brand close to my heart, and I’d hate to see the neighborhood lose such a special restaurant.” His website still lists Kefi as one of his restaurants. In response to Psilakis’s statement, a manager for the restaurant responded: “Michael Psilakis is and has always been our executive chef.’’