Do you want an authentic Astoria seafood experience that will leave you and your party stuffed and…read morefeeling like you made a great choice? Look no further. Everything I've had here was fantastic, and the seafood is fresh and prepared exquisitely.

We were excited to try IBN Hamido and came on a Sunday. There was no wait to be seated (lucky us!)…read moreand we were told to go to the back and to pick out our seafood before picking seats. It's a little overwhelming because there is definitely a lot of seafood to choose from. The fish selection looks fresh but they do have some previously frozen seafood like large prawns and lobster tails. They have the names of everything and the price per pound posted which can be a little intimidating because it's a bit expensive. We ordered a grilled branzino and asked for the large tiger shrimp. The staff behind the counter said it would be the ones without the head but when long at the sign, it said head on tiger shrimp so I was a little confused but we just went with it because we assumed the staff knew what they were talking about. We did also get the head-on large prawns. We asked for everything to be grilled and confirmed that they don't use butter or cheese or cream on anything and then we went upstairs to get a table. Upstairs by the window is nice because you can people watch on a good day. We asked the staff member if there were any butter or cream or cheese in the mezza or rice and she said no, so we proceeded to order those and also asked about the soup of the day. She told us it was a shrimp and corn soup and that sounded good so we ordered that as well. The mezza came and the babaganoush and moussaka were good. The lemon potatos were fine but other places have made it better. The tahini was tahini and nothing special. The soup came and we took a sip and it tasted like cream so we were confused because the staff member didn't mention cream when she was taking about it. We asked about it when another staff member came by to drop off the rice. The original staff member who helped us came back over and we asked her if there was cream in the soup. She told us that yes because it's a chowder and the chowder has dairy and told us that we ordered the soup. I'm not denying that we ordered it. My issue is that we specifically asked about avoiding dairy in other food menu items and she didn't even stop to mention that hey the soup of the day that you want is a shrimp and corn chowder and has dairy. She took it back but I felt like we were inconveniencing her because of her tone. The mains arrived shortly after. The head-on prawns came and then the branzino. The large head-on prawns were overcooked and a little rubbery. The branzino was a touch too lemony but that was probably my fault for squeezing lemon over it. The fish was firm and smooth. There wasn't a lot of flavor on either dish. By this time, our table is pretty full and one of the staff members came by with the tiger shrimp and he more or less just stared at the full table and then plopped the plate down right next to my husband's phone. We barely even had time to move plates around to clean up space for him, but I feel like they should have definitely looked a little harder because one of our plates was just full of bones and shells and could have been taken away which would have made room for the shrimp. They were also over cooked and rubbery. Throughout our meal, no one came to check on us once. At the end of the meal, I used my own hand sanitizing wipes and was a little puzzled that they don't give any to customers. We got the bill and were a little peeved that they charged us $3 to butterfly the branzino. We weren't told about that and we didn't particularly ask for them to butterfly it. There's individual hand wipes by the stairs and it's odd that staff don't bring them to you once you're ready to pay. Are customers expected to walk around with dirty hands to go grab the wipe by the stairs? It's definitely a one time experience and overall, I wouldn't recommend it for the poor service and seafood being overcooked and underwhelming.

I was really excited for this but was a bit disappointed!…read more Food: I love cheese but honestly this felt like too much. We ordered the chicken and veggie feteer and I essentially felt like I was eating cheese. It is not much different from pizza to be honest. Service: great service! They are very kind! One note tho: they do not provide water if you sit down, it is water bottles Ambiance: nice space! Very packed generally

An Egyptian pizza! It seemed like every restaurant on the block served feteer so finally we gave in…read moreand had to try it. Compared to NYC pizza, there is a LOT more cheese and the crust is like a thin crepe. We didn't enjoy the veggie feteer just because of the enormous cheese ratio, but enjoyed the slice and trying it nonetheless!

Absolutely loved my meal here! Everything was light, well seasoned, well cooked. Great portions,…read morefriendly staff. Will definitely be back

Sabry's is hands down one of the best seafood restaurants I've been to. Everything tasted…read moreincredibly fresh, and you can tell they take pride in the quality of their food. The grilled branzino was cooked to perfection--crispy on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside, with amazing flavor. The grilled octopus was just as impressive: perfectly tender, smoky, and seasoned beautifully. The service was attentive, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the entire experience exceeded my expectations. I can't wait to come back. Highly recommend this place to anyone who loves great seafood!

Be sure to call ahead and bring cash! This place can be a bit easy to miss since the signage blends…read morein with the front of the store, but the food here is a highlight of Little Egypt in Astoria! This is a unique restaurant where the owner verbally tells you the menu and then asks you what you want. The food is made (or microwaved) to order and comes in generous portions (don't ask how big a portion is, he has no answer for you). We got the Hummus, Cauliflower, and Koshary between 2 people, which gave us enough for leftovers the next day. While there is no air conditioning, the food is good enough to sit and sweat through eating. Would highly recommend if you're looking for that "hole-in-the-wall" experience.

We had a wonderful meal at this small and quirky restaurant in Little Egypt. The decor, all the…read morework of the owner and chef, is wonderful. So much eye candy! The owner tells you what is available, and you choose, and then he cooks and serves you. The process is not quick, but we were a family group of five and enjoyed examining the dense decorations of our surroundings while we waited for the delicious food. Our meal included an outstanding beet salad, cauliflower in pomegranate sauce, foul (mashed fava beans with vegetables), lamb shank, lamb tagine, fish in a clay pot, and koshary (a mixture of chickpeas, macaroni, rice, and tomato). Everything was so good, and portions were generous so that there was a good deal left to take home. We would absolutely return and recommend.

My wife and i tried several items…read more 5 stars: tajin seafood stew, rice 4 stars: whole fish, baba ghanoush, eggplant Overall i thought very high quality at reasonable prices. The biggest challenge depending on time of day is parking.

FYI: Be prepared for sticker shock when the bill comes and it's $70 (2 half pound items, 2 sides, 1…read morewater). Bring Cash! It's a few $ cheaper instead of CC. Bring your own water, they don't serve tap - but do have plastic dixie cups. Finally went to Abuquir for an early dinner (Thursday - Saturday is the best for dining out & seafood Bourdain said). FYI don't go around Ramadan, when the baklava / kadayif bakery is open, but all the other restaurants close early. This restaurant is similar to Astoria Seafood, Hamido, & Sabry's where you place your order at the seafood counter first (including sides & drink) and then sit. Study the menu online, because the sides menu isn't posted anywhere except for the laminated sheet that the fishmonger hands you, waiting for your decision. The restaurant has about 20 seats (tables for 2 or 4) & more set up on the sidewalk. I got: $30.00 1/2lb Scallops (8 pieces) $18.54 1/2lb Tiger Shrimp (grilled, 8 pieces) $6.99 Side of Beets $6.99 Side of Babaganoush $2.99 1 medium 20fl oz. Poland Spring Water I was 1 of 2 early diners at the restaurant & everything came out pretty fast. The small cut up beets were delicious! There were big chunks of garlic marinated with it. Not a huge fan of Babaganoush, but wanted to try this there and it was very creamy & good too (no real strong flavor, a healthy drizzle of olive oil on top). IDK if the sides have been this size pre-NYTimes, but they are extremely small (6" diameter plate) for $6.99. There is lots of olive oil drizzle on top of things, take note if you're limiting oil. The bread that came with it was either overcooked - or it might have been the typical style? It was EXTREMELY leathery & almost dark tan pita-cracker like. I ate it with the meal but got extremely tired of chewing. Not sure if you can ask for free refills of bread. A google search for "Egyptian bread" shows some decent Soft puffy pita. There was a case with drinks: soda, mango juice, mediterranean fruit juice, maybe beer? The seafood was VERY fresh. Scallops large, very Lightly seasoned with a reddish seasoning. Was just slightly underdone for me but still good. The Tiger Shrimp was Excellent & cooked perfectly. It comes sitting on top of a pool of oil and seasonings/parsley, but the flavor wasn't strong enough for me to make out. I'm not sure what Egyptian seasoning for seafood is or should taste like; it wasn't very noticeable on the items that I ordered. Seems like the freshness of all the dishes were the focus. Staff is nice & attentive. The owner was at the table next to me putting in weekend orders. Chatted with him about a new café on the block. A few solo diners come in casually & seemed familiar with the place. Glad I tried it, but probably wouldn't go back because of the price point.

While walking along Steinway St on my way home, I couldn't help but notice how many Egyptian…read morerestaurants are in the area. Out of curiosity, I decided to try a place called Taste of Egypt--the colors and design of their signage pulled me right in. Two people at the counter greeted me with so much energy the moment I said hi. I asked about the mixed grill displayed on the menu posted on the clear glass wall, and one of them explained that it includes three different meats, plus rice and veggies--all grilled. The chicken, coated in an orange seasoning, was flavorful and very tender. The beef, on the other hand, was quite tough--definitely for people with strong, full sets of teeth (no pun intended). The third meat was a sausage-like lamb, with a gamey aftertaste that almost made me feel like I could smell the lamb as I ate it. The rice was well-cooked too. If you ask me whether it's worth the $20, I'd say it's a bit on the expensive side. At $15, I'd probably go back for it.

I was quite excited to try this new purveyor of Egyptian feteer pies on Steinway, giving Mum nearby…read moresome competition. Steinway Street is no Zamalek and I expected a no-frills experience, but we were very underwhelmed by the food offerings. The feteer itself was filled with an artificial tasting blend of American and Cheddar cheese, and was extremely salty. There are some exquisite fries being served up at many establishments in this area, but the ones at Cairo Feteer tasted like a fast food variety. The koshary - usually one of my favorite items - was the most palatable thing we ordered, but the da'ah on the side had almost no flavor, and the whole dish was lacking in flavor.

Came for lunch on a Sunday and there was no wait for a table. You order at the counter then sit…read more Mixed feteer was incredible - so flaky and good and we had a ton of leftovers. I also liked the Fattoush salad, though it was very wet/vinegary so couldn't eat too much of it. Highly recommend for amazing feteer!

Vibrant, succulent and beautiful is how I would express my gratitude for my experience at Levant,…read morehere in my backyard of Steinway, Queens. You'll find yourself lost in the hidden gems of Levant Lebanese and Egyptian culture. Made my journey to Levant for the first time and it was a pleasure. What got my attention the chicken and beef shawarma that was spinning on the counter dripping with fats, juices and flavor. Right when we got seated, the manager brought us freshly prepared, piping hot pieces of Falafel. Very good and well prepared. Very nice of him. Then So I ordered myself their chicken shawarma. The chicken was a little dry but it was still flavorful and delicious. A little hint of Sumac. What I would recommend is management to take a little more precautions on their customers. We ordered their famous Mixed Feteer, which is basically like their house pizza. And it took about 20 minutes to make and I totally understand that it gets a little busy but we have to prioritize the first customers all the way to last. But I would love to give my love and appreciation to management for serving a complimentary plate of their house sweets. It was heaven! We had their Kunefa and chocolate baklava. Mouth was watering to the extreme. I would definitely say that giving Levant in Astoria is well worth the drive if you're coming from out of town like myself but they offer really high quality Lebanese and Egyptian cuisine.

It's a tiny restaurant, like seats 10. But this is good. The owner/chef treats you like a VIP and…read morewill make a tailor made meal for you. This was a fun experience with great food and friends. Definitely go here when you have some extra time on your hands, because things are made with love.

The restaurant this reminds me the most of, vs anywhere else I've ever been, is Rao's. It's old…read moreschool, feels more like a home cooked meal than a restaurant meal, and has delicious food. The owner was great, definitely rubbed some people in my party the wrong way. The place is so small, I was shocked we were able to roll in with a group of 8 without a reservation. Would love to come back

Most of the meats were quite dry, especially the sausages that I was looking forward to try. The…read morebeef chunks were delicious though. The cooked vege and potatoes were pretty cold when served with not much flavors, I wonder why they didn't heat them up in the back like how they heated up the lamb shank. FYI, they have a total of one 2 persons table and three high chairs for the side countertop.

Chicken couscous that they have on Fridays was fabulous, along with the mint tea and falafel…read more Everyone was very kind.

I came here a bit ago and have been thinking of it ever since as I am not from New York. I was here…read moreon a bachelorette trip and this was the last restaurant we stopped at. I'm so glad we did. It was wonderful. Some of the best greek food i've ever had. The service was lovely. Thank you to Daniel. My friends and I ordered a bunch of stuff on the menu and it was absolutely wonderful. There is also very delicious complementary dessert. It is a small restaurant so it's very tight. Everyone is kind of crushed together. The food is a bit on the expensive side but absolutely worth it. I can't wait to come back one day. Amazing experience with wonderful food and service!

Food 4.0/5.0 Service 3.5/5.0…read moreValue 3.0/5.0 Decor 3.5/5.0 Overall 4.0/5.0 Good taverna, couldn't sit outside given I stopped by on a very hot day but it would certainly be nice in the mid-fall. Food was decent. They are very busy, the servers are worked pretty hard. Some of the servers were very good at handling the mass of activity, noticing issues, and fixing them... and for that they should be appreciated. It's a bit of a trek for me so not sure if I'd come often... but it certainly deserves its reputation as a staple in Astoria.