A time was definitely had Okay y'all... this review is from May 29th, so yes, I'm late. Life has been life-ing, but this review is definitely deserved. This was for a girls' night one of my friends planned, and honestly, we needed it. We were like, "Yep, it's time. Let's get dressed, go out, and have ourselves a night." So we ended up at Avra. I know they have a few locations, and I believe we went to the one on 8th Avenue. First things first--the service was really great. The drinks? Also really great. Let's just say... we were feeling them. Now, I am going to say this upfront: Avra is definitely on the pricier side. This isn't your random Tuesday dinner spot (at least not for me ). This is one of those places where you want to get dressed up, celebrate something, have a girls' night, birthday dinner, or just decide you're going to splurge a little because baby... that bill will humble you. But honestly, we knew what kind of night we were having, so it was worth it. For dinner, I ordered the roasted chicken, and it came with this delicious sauce and vegetables. It was SO good. The chicken was juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. We also ordered a few sides for the table, including the Parmesan fries, which were really good. My sis ordered the scallops. Now... she definitely had one complaint. They only gave her three scallops. She said they were cooked perfectly and tasted amazing, but for that price? She was very clear that they could've given her four. We laughed about that all night. My cousin and my friend both ordered the lamb chops, and those looked really good too. Just keep in mind that not every entrée comes with sides, so if you want fries or vegetables, you'll probably be ordering those separately. Now y'all already know... I'm a dessert girl. So of course we ordered dessert. Mine came with coconut macaroons, vanilla ice cream, sorbet, and this little cake, and it was delicious. The chocolate cake, though... Baby. If you love chocolate, you're going to LOVE it. Me? Y'all know chocolate isn't really my thing unless I'm craving it, and this cake was CHOCOLATE. Like dark chocolate, fudgy, rich... all the chocolate. My friends enjoyed it though, so if that's your lane, you'll probably love it. Overall, we had such a good time. Good food. Good drinks. Great service. Cute atmosphere. It has one of those spaces where you can get your little pictures, laugh with your friends, take your time, and just enjoy the night. The vibe inside is really chill, and it just feels like the perfect place to celebrate something--or honestly, celebrate each other. Would I go back? Absolutely. Just know what you're walking into. It's definitely more of a splurge spot than an everyday dinner spot, but for a girls' night, birthday, special occasion, or one of those "let's get cute and treat ourselves" moments... I definitely recommend it. Because one thing about that night... A time was definitely had. read more

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Came here for a lunch with friends, ordered cocktails at noon like the responsible adults we are, and shared a pile of apps. Highly recommend the "order everything and sort it out later" approach. The food was really fresh and high quality and the service was great. The dip trio was a winner (we asked for the three they recommend and just went with it). The sea bass skewers were the standout for me, really delicious, and the halloumi was great too. We all tried the tomatini, which one of my friends described as a salad in a cocktail, and it was excellent. It's also a nice touch that they bring you a little hummus taster as soon as you sit down. The shrimp and the Greek salad were the only things that didn't really stand out for me, but everything else more than made up for it. We came for lunch without a reservation and there were plenty of open tables, so we got seated right away. It's located right in the middle of Chelsea and is attached to the Moynihan building, which makes it really conveniently located. read more

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Came back and still think it's a solid 4. Pretty decent but not as good as Milos. We loved the raw clams, but I didn't love the clam linguine as much the second time - it had a lot of sand and dirt. We also got the baked crab roll, which had too much mayo and the crab to rice ratio was off (way too much rice). The Greek salad is fine but heavy on the pepper and not as much EVOO (and not as fresh tasting as Milos). My husband got the lamb entree which was thicker than the Milos ones but missing the char on the side. The hostesses have always been very friendly and welcoming but the waiters and waitresses just kind of came and went without interacting much. Overall, not bad but can't help but wish I had gone to Milos instead! read more

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Really excellent meal at Avra. Really fast service and excellent food. A bit loud at night, but the place is modern and huge. Halloumi was amazing, so were the sardines and zucchini chips. Desserts were als excellent. read more

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Great food, great ambiance, and great customer service this place checks all the boxes. Yes, it's a little on the pricey side, but that's to be expected for a beautifully done spot in Manhattan. Everything we ordered was incredibly fresh and thoughtfully prepared. We were a group of six celebrating a friend's birthday, and this was absolutely the right choice. For appetizers, we ordered the hummus, the lemon potatoes, and the spinach rice; all of which were fresh, flavorful, and the perfect start to the meal. For our main courses, most of us went with the salmon or the Chilean sea bass, while one in our group opted for the lamb chops. Every single dish was delicious, the food is truly to die for. One detail I really appreciated: they charged us $25 to cut the birthday cake we brought, and I was more than happy to pay it. Some restaurants won't even allow outside cakes, so the fact that they accommodated us with a smile made the experience even better. I totally recommend this restaurant. Whether it's a special occasion or just a great meal out, you won't be disappointed. We topped with Greek coffee and reading of the coffee cup using Chatgpt read more

Avra - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

They started off with complimentary pita. Good. Though dipping sauce was a little salty Sardines were so good. I've never had them with the full body that was cool. The hibiscus mocktail was so yummy. Very sweet. The avra chips were so good and honestly my favorite. And there were soooo many! I liked the lobster pasta. The beets were such a hit honestly my favorite. I would love to know what the recipe was. I could eat them everyday. Such a great experience here. I love the ambiance, it's very nicely decorated and has this very upscale chic look. It's almost takes me away from Manhattan for a second. Service was good. Overall great experience. I'm very pleased. read more

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The food is spot-on! Highly recommend getting a fish entree. From what I hear, the fish is some of the freshest you'll find in NYC. Got the beet salad, which inevitably became inspiration for my home cooking. Lots to try from Avra's menu. The evening ambiance makes it easy to feel transported to nightlife in the tropics. read more

Avra - Decor - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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From 9th avenue's side-walk, one is greeted by a doorman who ushers you into an airy vestibule which in turn introduces you to a humongous interior of several thousand square feet. Tables are spaced liberally and no sense of cozy claustrophobia will be experienced here. Thus, it's no surprise that starters range from $20-$40 and mains begin in the $40s and continue upward. As its name suggests, you're sure to find a classic greek salad and grilled sardines at Avra Estiatorio, but you'll also find so much more including Wagyu, caviar, and a fish-monger's selection of seafood. True vegetarians will find their choices limited to salads, a few appetizers, and a several sides. My greek salad tasted just as it should, and generously portioned for 2 or 3 persons. I finished the entire crab-cake in all its glorious lumpiness. Even the complimentary bread platter with a side of hummus stood on its own with its own discrete flavors. I sampled three white wines (e.g., a zippy assyrtiko) finally settling on a Sonoma chardonnay, sans event a hint of bartender hesitation. The bartender's service is a credit to the restaurant. read more

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So good I forgot to take pictures!! Husband and I shared the following: Start: pita and crackers with hummus, olives, and red peppers. Appetizers: Half dozen East coast oysters. Calamari. Main: Clam linguine. Dessert: Olive oil cake Drinks: beer, Kourtaki, samos dessert wine and Jack Daniel's old no.7 Everything was amazinggg! Service was great. read more

Avra - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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Excited to see that Avra Estiatorio opened a new location...having been to the Rockefeller location before. Our server told us they have just opened for about a month so excited. Was able to walk in and get a table for dinner on a Sunday evening with no wait time... One can make reservations online and they also take walk-ins, but plan ahead during holidays. Love the decor and atmosphere. Friendly staff and service. Got seated in a nice spacious booth. They have a nice big bar. Beverages: Specialty cocktails are available along with wine and beer by the glass. Decided on prosecco and malbec for the evening and started with still water... interested our server option of sparkling or still, and not tap as the 3rd option. FYI, bottle of still water $11, and it actually did taste better than the tap water! If one has dined here before, casual attire is ok and yes a bit pricey. Dining for special occasion, celebration, date night, business dinner or event, etc.. they have a bigger room in the back that can be used as a party room. Menu - plenty of options to select from. Complimentary hummus and pita is provided - nice touch. We ordered Avra (zucchini & eggplant) chips w/ tzatziki -- nicely salted, delish! Main course: Grilled jumbo shrimp w/ savory potato eggplant moussaka (good and a little spicy) and foroe island salmon with grilled veggies (nice presentation) -- both were good. Our server did the magic changing of the table cloth (adding a new table cloth) and provided 'magic' hot towels to clean hands after dinner and before dessert... Yes, save room for dessert! Or at least look at the menu. We decided on orange cake. They also gave coconut sorbet and coconut macaron cookie. yum! Can you say food coma? There are two unisex restrooms in the back, pretty spacious, one is accessible. Overall, good dining experience. Will come back again and try other items on the menu. read more

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Avra was amazing. Some of the freshest fish Ive had in New York City. This restaurant is great for special occasion, beautiful interior and outside seating area. Definitely order fish from the fishes of the day display, not just from the menu. read more

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Stopped by after work for some drinks and small bites with a colleague. Inside it's nicely styled with an open and airy Mediterranean vibe with a large tree in the middle. We wanted a seat at the bar but instead got a table in the bar area which worked out even better as we could talk easily and had more space. The staff were very helpful and attentive. We enjoyed the dips! Would love to come back for a proper meal read more

The scallops were divine and the oysters were the kind that make you close your eyes for a second, absolutely stunning. Paired with a glass of Chablis, it was a genuinely perfect combination. The interior is stunning too, the kind of space that adds to the meal rather than just sitting in the background. Servers were attentive and quick, just amazing all around. If Yelp allowed a sixth star, this would earn it. read more

I'm going to have to update this review next time I'm back with pics of the delicious food. I totally forgot because we dove right in. Anyway; the restaurant itself is so chic and I kinda like the chintzy Greek decor (it is a Greek restaurant after all?) I've been here twice and both times had the scallops which are *chefs kiss* delicious. All the salads are solid and the octopus to cooked to perfection. Do yourself a favor and get the $35 dessert platter: it's the bomb. But what really sets this place apart is the service. It's so hard to get good service in New York these days (why?!) but Danny and George went above and beyond when we were there last night and George always makes a visit here special. I'll be back soon and will remember to take pics this time! read more

Aura was the PERFECT place to throw a party. Owner Jessie was wonderful in the run-up to it. Since there was a flood watch, we couldn't be on the patio, but he had an excellent Plan B: a large table along with the bar all for us. The tapas were delicious and so were the drinks, with Yael gamely turning a cocktail into a mocktail at one of my friends' request. Connie surprised us with cake at the end of the evening. Yael and Connie were absolutely lovely throughout. I highly recommend AURA for throwing a party! read more

Wow the seafood is incredibly fresh. Try it all. Mediterranean cuisine is healthy eating!! So yummy n light n filling!! read more

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This newest location of AVRA is something that you do not want to miss. Tucked away in the back of the gorgeous Moynihan Station building with a large entrance and outdoor dining area right on the SE corner of 33rd and Ninth, AVRA is perfect for gathering friends, date night and family gatherings. There are numerous private rooms for all size of occasions from business dinners to weddings. This is authentic Greek food at its finest with attentive service and a modern, airy atmosphere. The portions are large and a lot of items can be shared! Just go!!!! A tip to make the end of your meal memorable: ask for a plate of mixed desserts (the orange cake, olive oil cake and baklava will blow you away)! read more

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The restaurant was spacious and beautiful. The service was top notch, not a single missed order and amazing hospitality. I got the prefix which included grilled octopus, Branzino, and Baklava for dessert. I also ordered a mocktail--Highly recommend the Greek sunrise. My colleague ordered the lobster pasta and got the coconut cream pie for dessert. That slice of pie was HUGE and she couldn't finish it on her own, so full disclosure if you plan to order that. I would love to return another time. read more

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Popped in here with a friend a couple weeks ago (Saturday around 7pm) for a quick drink and app. Beautiful, spacious restaurant. The bar was pretty full so we sat at a table. It was surprisingly empty when we arrived but slowly started to fill in. This location just opened so that might be why. I had the Garden of Diomidous cocktail which was perfectly made. The complimentary hummus was impressive. We also shared a salad which was super fresh. Service was polite and attentive. Wouldn't mind if I found myself here again, especially given the convenient location. read more

Richard took great care of us. Such a beautiful restaurant and the food was second to none. It was an experience we will never forget and Head Chef Chris should be very proud of what he and his team are accomplishing here. We will be back again soon! read more

Enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Avra's newest location at 33rd and 9th Avenue in the historic Farley Building which has been redeveloped into a mixed use building housing retail, restaurants and Moynihan Hall which serves Amtrak regional travel. Even though the marvelously designed and decorated space houses several dining areas and bars, the was a feeling of coziness. The hosts and wait staff are warm, friendly and attentive delivering an amazing dining experience. The food is prepared perfectly, the various fish entrees being deboned and plated table side simultaneously, not a performance just servers quietly and skillfully practicing their craft. Now to the food, the Zucchini chips are crispy and still warm, the Calamari fresh and sweet, the Beet salad topped with a little yogurt, the Greek salad included ripe tomatoes and feta, the starters all provide a nice beginning to the meal. The Dover Sole Meunière was lightly coated in flour and cooked perfectly with a hint of the olive oil that it was cooked in. The desserts included the Chocolate layer cake which dense and very rich dark chocolate. read more

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Tucked away in the train station, Avrà is a great fast food location. Fresh and delicious chicken shawarma. Great counter service with all the toppings you want. I'll for sure be stopping here again. read more

Ambiance is a real vibe...very much enjoyed this spot and would consider this a place to have cocktails at the amazing bar Food was super good...for a party of 4 we had the Greek salad, Tiger prawns and a 4lb white snapper. All was awesome and service was great. And that orange cake... you betta know!! One thing to note is the portion of the Greek salad. For the price, the portion was not enough to be shared among the party of 4 as mentioned by the waiter. Then again, we came in hungry. read more

Love this place- food, service and and atmosphere are amazing Been to 3 locations in Manhattan and they're all great! read more

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The restaurant is very beautiful and has lovely energy. The food was superb and the service by Nicholas made my birthday lunch memorable. Thank you! read more

We planned a private event at Avra, and everything was incredible! Carolyn Pena was a stellar event director for us, and the rest of her team (including Dariun) were fantastic! The private event spaces were perfect, and the food was delicious. They absolutely went above and beyond to make our event seamless and truly special. I have done many events for work over the years, and this was. the best experience hands down! Thanks so much, Carolyn and the Avra team! read more

Avra has been my favorite restaurant since the 48th street original location opened. I have been there countless times. I was excited to try the location by Hudson yards. I have to be very honest. As a Greek I am very proud of our cuisine especially when it's done right. I brought a couple of friends fr drinks and appetizers. I ordered 2 Saganakis and 2 Girlled octopus. I couldn't believe how cold the saganaki was. Rookie mistake. The octopus which has always been stellar was bland, dry, and cold. Not even close to what I've experienced many times before at other locations. They replaced one Saganaki and it came out wonderful and bought us some zucchini chips. Once again disappointed. Sorry for the review but you are supposed to be the best of the best. Please make sure you continue and have some quality control. So disappointed. I will go back and I am sure it will be better but I wanted mgmt to hear this. read more

Avra never disappoints. From the cocktails at the bar to our dinner and the acknowledgment of a birthday at our table the attention to detail was just perfect!! read more

I absolutely love this place! It's elegant, the service is incredible, and Chris is truly amazing. The food and drinks are delicious, and the overall quality and experience are outstanding. I 100% recommend it! Happy New Year!!! read more

Ambiance was cozy and chill. Neutral color palette restaurant decor complemented the amazing Chilean Sea Bass in texture and taste. Great food! Great Service. read more