Astoria is known for great, eclectic food with a strong ethnic focus. Whenever someone initially talks about Astoria, the words “isn’t it mostly Greek?” usually pass their lips. While this isn’t necessarily the case anymore, as Astoria is home to myriad different cultures, its Greek population has left a lasting imprint on the community, strongly influencing its food scene.
As you can imagine, there’s isn’t a shortage of Greek restaurants in Astoria. But quantity doesn’t always equal quality, and you have to smartly navigate through a sea of Greek restaurants and cafes to carefully spot the precious finds.
One of these gems, that’s near and dear to my heart, and that I consider the best place for Greek seafood is Taverna Kyclades located at 33-07 Ditmars Boulevard.
Traditional Greek dishes rapidly fly out of the kitchen and gracefully land in front of hungry diners. Everything is prepared with care and a special homemade touch that makes this place a true Astorian staple. A common theme exists in each dish through simple, clean seasonings of garlic, lemon and lots of olive oil – the latter in particular, plays a starring role in each dish.
Appetizers such as creamy skordalia (garlicky, cold mashed potato), grilled octopus with a side of crunchy cucumber salad, or any salad option for that matter are sure home runs. Grilled calamari or the grilled shrimp are sound entrée choices, boasting nice char flavor and the wonderfulness of really fresh seafood.
If you want to go for something more indulgent, I’d encourage trying Kyclades’ stuffed seafood such as the super sized shrimp or a filet of fish stuffed with a hearty crabmeat blend. Non-seafood options are also available and primarily include grilled skewered meat such as steak, chicken, lamb, pork and even quails.
The close of each meal is celebrated by a complimentary homemade Greek dessert, galaktoboureko, a dish as hard to pronounce as it is easy to devour. Flaky phyllo dough is soaked in sweet syrup, enveloping a delicate filling of cheese custard with a hint of cinnamon. What better way to wrap up an already perfect Greek feast?
Authentic, generous and simply scrumptious, Taverna Kyclades offers a truly unforgettable dining experience that will leave you with fond memories—one’s that you’ll recall when you’re hungry (as I’m doing now) and in the mood to be really wowed.
Taverna Kyclades
33-07 Ditmars Boulevard
Astoria, NY 11105
Tel: 718-545-8666
Hours: Monday through Thursday 12 – 11 p.m.
Friday through Saturday 12 – 11:30 p.m.
Sunday 12 – 10:30 p.m.
Lunch Specials: Monday through Saturday 12 – 4 p.m.
All Major Credit Cards Accepted
