It was my birthday last night, so I decided to try a Greek restaurant in the neighborhood that I’ve never been to before. Since I only recently started eating seafood, I decided to try one with that specialty: Taverna Kyclades.

This restaurant had always appealed to me, just from walking by. There’s an indoor section and a section that’s outdoor in the summer, and enclosed in the winter. It’s filled with grape vines and looks very inviting. Now that I was eating what was on the menu, I decided to try this place out.
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(photo from www.aozorany.com)

For my third post in this series on Greek restaurants in Astoria, I decided to go with one of the most eclaimed Greek restaurants in the area: Stamatis.

Located just a block from the subway, Stamatis is a well-known establishment with a casual, lively vibe. There’s a rather amusing, large photograph of the city skyline inside (reminiscent of a late night show). The menu has all the usual suspects. Tasty seafood options, tzatziki, souvlaki, and delicious saganaki. Unfortunately, they do not have haloumi (grilled goat cheese from Cyprus). To me, this is the single biggest drawback to the restaurant.
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This is my second post in a series on Greek restaurants in Astoria. In the 1960’s, an influx of Greeks immigrated to this neighborhood, setting up some of the tastiest restaurants in New York (read more).

Mezzo Mezzo is a slightly upscale Mediterranean restaurant located on Ditmars Blvd. The decor is all wood and rustic, oddly more like a lodge than a Greek restaurant. A two-level restaurant, Mezzo Mezzo has outdoor seating available in warm weather. The large menu includes a range of seafood, pasta, and delicious Greek appetizers. I, of course, go for the haloumi (Cypriot grilled goat cheese), which may possibly be the best at this establishment.
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I’ve been living in the lovely neighborhood of Astoria for more than 3 years, so I’ve decided to do a series of posts on some of the delicious Greek restaurants in the area. I had never tasted authentic Greek food until living here (Jersey diner cuisine hardly counts). And now I list it among my favorites.

I’ll start with the restaurant dearest to my heart (mostly because it’s nearest to my home): Anna’s Corner. Located conveniently near the subway, Anna’s Corner is a small, moderately-priced establishment. During warm weather, it has outdoor seating available. And during the cold months, you rarely have to wait for a seat inside. The interior is reminiscent of many Greek restaurants, despite the rather surprising goat statue on the wall. And there is, of course, the obligatory lamb meat twirling on display, which, for some reason, I find rather amusing.
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