This place is absolutely amazing. The second you walk in, the employees make you feel welcome…read more We started with the hummus and mixed dips with warm pita bread--absolutely delicious. You can tell immediately that everything is fresh. For the main course, we had a platter that came with steak, chicken, and lamb chops, and everything was cooked to perfection. The flavors and seasoning were top-tier. For dessert, we had the warm baklava, which was absolutely delicious with every bite. If you have kids, don't worry--they also have an appetizer that's similar to a mozzarella stick that was absolutely delicious. I just can't remember the name of it! They play all types of music, and even though the space is big, the personal and intimate connection with the employees is what really made the experience special. The manager, Joselyn, was incredibly warm and welcoming. Our waitress, Vivian, was on top of every single request. Bravo! I only wish I had been able to meet the chef because I would personally shake their hand. The food was truly amazing. This is definitely a place where you could throw a birthday party, have a professional dinner, or simply enjoy a beautiful night out with your wife. It has all the qualities of a great restaurant, and I feel like NYC is starting to lose sight of that kind of hospitality. Eating here honestly reminded me of my travels to Egypt. The hospitality was A1. BRAVO! And I can't forget the bartender--he definitely knows what he's doing!

The best eat I had on my trip! One of the people in the group reserved this restaurant as they have…read morebeen here before and raved about the portions and how good the food is. Definitely did not disappoint. All the food here is sharable and for 4 people it was enough. Sadly could not bring it all with us, but would have if we lived here. From what I remembered, we ordered the Lamb Shank, Sumac Fries, and Kouda Bi Zeit. All delicious, all notably the favorite. Probably the reason why I remember these out of the rest of our order. Drinks were also delicious. We ended up ordering each other's favorite drink. Mine ended up being the Mediterranean C vs the Once Upon a Time. Overall, highly recommend! Best mediterranean food I have ever had.

Our party of 7 tried a number of mezze and platter dishes and there were plenty of vegan options…read morefor our vegan in the group to select from. Among everything we ordered included hummus and spicy hummus - both bowls were scraped clean, it was soooo good -- plus moussakaa, falafel, and cauliflower mezzes. Everything was delicious! I had the lemon sole, which could've done with a lot less salt, but the whole dish was delicious and I left nothing behind (except for some bones). Our dinner was made all the more memorable by our waiter who was funny/super nice! Knowing it was my birthday, once dinner was over, out came a birthday torch and accompanying baklawa w delicious cotton candy topping (on the house, which was a nice surprise). Two others celebrated their birthdays there while we were there, so it's quite popular for birthday celebrations. I look forward to returning some day soon, and I will recommend this restaurant to my friends.

3.5 stars, a beautiful dimly lit dining room and huge no less. There are a few steps walking up to…read morethe dining area. Great for groups of all sizes, reservations suggested but on this weekday visit, it was not too busy. We had a resy any way. Service was fair. Our waiter checked in with us once after we ordered and we had to beckon him twice - once for water refill and second for condiments/questions. What I didn't appreciate but understood, since we were two people dining, we got a corner table for two. It was not busy so we asked for the table next to us since we ordered plenty. They did not accommodate us saying they may need it for later. I did not think that was necessary since the place was not busy. This was 6pm on a Wednesday. And to boot, huge dining room - plenty of seating available. This was off putting as we said we ordered plenty. Our plates barely fit and they brought everything almost at once. Onto the food, I may not have ordered their popular dishes but nevertheless, nothing to rave about. Portions were shareable but it was just okay. There was not one stand out dish. I had higher expectations based on other reviews and photos but it was likely what we ordered. This was a vegetarian meal for me since I was dining with a vegetarian. - Moussakaa, this was a very tomato based sauce dish. Fried eggplant and chick peas combined had a nice texture. Mild flavors. - Arayess cheese - sorely disappointed. Very little flavor and I love my cheeses. It needed something to make it more appealing. It literally looked like cheese in a pita. And yes, by description it was. No condiments or side of anything to offset the plating. Visually flat. It could've used a sun dried tomato paste or some acidic side dipping sauce. - Yara Fries - shockingly simple, zaatar and spices. But they didn't put enough. It still looked like regular fries. And by the name, I expected more punch of flavor. It was not there. - Falafel - tricky dish if it's not cooked well. Simple again by name but the ingredients were just mild in flavor. Crunch was perfect. The chickpea, onions, cilantro and garlic was not pronounced. It was ok. Not memorable. - House wine, by the glass, decent and went well with what we ate. Would I return is the question... Likely not. The menu was so promising but nothing to bring me back.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time here. I brought someone visiting nyc who's never been or even heard…read moreof Avra and this was their favorite spot of the trip! We came in around 4pm on a Sunday and it was not busy at all. Good for us so we got sat immediately. For drinks we both got the Hugo spritz and it was indeed not disappointing. They then gave us their complimentary hummus which was actually delicious and so authentic. I hate when people put too much cumin in hummus but this one was exceptional. For starters we got the crab cake and the grilled octopus. The crab cake was packed with meat and the meat itself was flavorful. The octopus came sliced, was a generous portion, and was sooo tender. I'd get both again in a heartbeat. For mains we got the lamb chops, lemon potatoes, and the scallops. They knew we wanted to split everything so they plated the proteins table-side for us. Great service. The scallops come with a ton of spinach so if you're worried about ordering a vegetable that's got you covered. The scallops themselves were so flavorful and sooo tender. The lamb chops were also super flavorful. 3 chops but we only had 1 each. The lemon potatoes were also the perfect accompaniment for both entrees. Probably the star of the show. For dessert the coconut pie was also tasty, not too sweet. The one complaint I have is when packing the food away I wish they packed the roasted garlic head that accompanied the lamb chops. It would've gone great with them. Other than that I think Avra is very underrated and a sure fire way to impress anyone in the mood for great Mediterranean food!

A very modern Greek and Mediterranean restaurant that serves topnotch food. Interiors is large…read moreand beautifully designed. Absolutely breathtaking atmosphere. I had to settle with a bar seating due to no reservation but it was worth it. Food was outstanding with lovely presentation. Their wine list had great selection for everyone. Definitely a place to enjoy your evening.

I didn't know what to expect. It was on the Restaurant Week list and we needed a place to go before…read morea concert at MSG. WOW was I pleasantly surprised. This was some of the best food I've had recently and for Restaurant Week it was a fab deal! It is a bit pricey if you go otherwise, but worth it. We had the crudo, I got the chicken and my friend got the truffle pasta. SOOO good. I could not believe how good the chicken was. The pasta too was divine, very rich. The desserts too were very good - we got the cheesecake and the chocolate mouse. This may actually become a new MSG spot for me! We sat in the front, but the place is huge and a good date night. Although I am short and the booth we sat in, my feet didn't touch the ground. For service, it was good. Nothing like super special, but very attentive and quick.

My friend and I visited Gaia Restaurant in Manhattan's Herald Square on Friday, August 7, 2026 at…read more7:00 pm. I made a reservation through OpenTable beforehand. Gaia is an upscale Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and it is very beautiful inside with the chandeliers and it's very spacious too. Gaia Restaurant participates in NYC Restaurant Week July 20 - August 16, 2026, Sunday-Friday, except Saturdays. The Gaia Restaurant NYC Restaurant Week menu offers three courses for $60 per person (first course, main course, and dessert.) I ordered the watermelon crush which was very refreshing and complimentary bread was brought to our table. My first course was Mediterranean meatballs. These were grilled meatballs served with charred, feta sauce. It was very yummy. For my main course, I had the branzino fillet which was grilled Mediterranean sea bass, sautéed spinach, fennel purée, capers, and lemon oil. This was delicious. For dessert, I had the rich and creamy cheesecake topped with strawberry coulis and probably the best cheesecake I've had in a while. We even got a complimentary sweet wine on the house. It was such a sweet way to end the meal. Service was really great and efficient. Our servers were very friendly. When we were ready to leave, we didn't need to ask for the bill and just paid with sunday, a digital payment platform where guests can pay via a QR code. It was very easy to use.

I am a fan of both of these locations. We went to an art show near the art school of New York and…read morehad to have lunch. I love the caprese salad, the dressing is simple and simply wonderful. Service at both locations is professional and quietly attentive. It is midtown lunch busy but things move right along

Lackluster experience at this location. The waitstaff is phenomenal and great service is given but…read morethe food was very bland and I was very surprised since I've had a really good meal at their Hudson Yards location. The drinks were on the weaker side as well. I enjoyed the octopus, fish and the fries but everything else I had was mid starting with the hummus/crudites, the zucchini chips, the calamari, the filet mignon and the greek yogurt with honey. The ambiance of this location is very corporate and not sexy

Such a cute place!…read more GF and I were in town visiting my parents. This spot seemed like a good place for lunch. We arrived shortly before my parents and were immediately greeted by the host. The host was very friendly and it set the tone for the rest of the staff who were equally lovely. We were seated immediately without a reservation on a Sunday in August for lunch. They have an indoor area that is air conditioned despite the wide open wall to their outdoor area in the back which is ADORABLE. Their cocktail menu is really creative. It was a tough decision but I ultimately went with The Amethyst Spritz with white rum, lavender syrup, lemon juice, and prosecco. Firstly, it is absolutely gorgeous. The garnish literally includes a clothes pin with rosemary which my dad was particularly tickled by. It was fantastic. It will be gone in about 2 seconds. GF ordered the Hugo Spritz. She says "it was refreshing". We were going for a light lunch so we all just ordered an entree. I was torn hardcore between the fusilli lunghi (tomato roasted pepper vodka sauce, stracciatella, crushed sundried sweet peppers) and the rigatoni (arugula pesto, stracciatella, roasted tomatoes, asparagus) but settled on the latter. Incredible. The pasta was al dente and the pesto sauce had a really lovely flavor. The stracciatella paired really nicely. The portion was a touch smaller than I am used to but let's be real, it is probably for the best. GF ordered the linguine alle vongole, she "enjoyed it". My Dad ordered the fusilli lunghi which he seemed to enjoy but I will be honest, I did not directly ask. My Mom ordered the Tonno flatbread with tuna, capers, red onion, tomato, anchovies. She RAVED about it. Service was excellent, atmosphere was wonderful, and food and drinks were delicious. We had a fantastic experience at La Piovra.

Had a great experience at this new Italian spot! They have a really nice, spacious patio and we sat…read moreoutside on a beautiful summer night. They have lots of spritz cocktails, and a fun menu. Our servers were very nice (if a little new). I absolutely loved the mortadella/burrata pinsa, and the fusilli lunghi was really good too. It had the ambiance of a new place but once it settles into itself I'm sure it will be a neighborhood staple!

After walking around Roosevelt Island on an extremely hot day, we were craving good food, cold…read moredrinks, and strong air conditioning -- and Anassa Taverna delivered. The décor was inviting and the service was genuinely warm from the moment we walked in. We ordered the beet salad, grilled lamb, spinach pie, and octopus. The beet salad was delicious and came with almonds and a spread that tasted almost like hummus. The octopus was a generous portion and surprisingly tender -- my son ate more than half of it, which says everything. They also served bread and beans on the side, both of which were fantastic. The spinach pie came as huge triangles; it was decent, though not my personal favorite. The lamb arrived much later than the other dishes, but it was worth the wait. Thick‑cut, cooked medium rare, and served with grilled vegetables -- it was perfectly done and surprisingly good. Overall, the food was fantastic and the service matched it. We'd definitely come back.

I had went here for my birthday in 2024 because they participated in Restaurant Week and I never…read morehad Greek food before. My waitress was great, the bus boy came around and he had poured water with no ice. I remember that I had to ask my waitress for ice water and she came back with it. I was told by the Hostess that upstairs was only limited to private parties. I remember it was packed and they probably get a lot of foot traffic because it's right across the street from Bloomingdale's. They gave me free bread and looked like humus. The appetizer was grilled octopus, the only problem that I had was they had charged an additional $12 because this is Restaurant Week we are suppose to get a deal. The entrée was a Branzino served with saffron risotto. I always wanted to try risotto because of the reality show "Hell's Kitchen" they mess up on this dish numerous times. The dessert I had was a sorbet and it changes so you have to ask what kind they have when ordering. For the drink they had a sangria and it was delicious, I had ordered another one. They had special drinks on the menu for $10. I remember the place gave an old school feel of Greece with the design of the bricks inside the restaurant and the plates. The bathroom was just one that everyone had to wait on. The bathroom was clean, but small. I said that I never had Greek food before, I never had octopus before, I liked it. I never had risotto before, I liked it. The reason why I give this restaurant five stars because I can't remember if the bathroom had toilet seat covers or not because that's a plus for me. Would I go back here again? Heck yeah! The food was great! The service was great! I have now become a fan of octopus, risotto was delicious and so is that sangria, I had to order it twice. So come check out this East Side gem.

A group of us were here for brunch on a Saturday and we had such a great experience…read more It's a huge beautiful space with both indoor and outdoor seating and we chose to sit indoors. The staff was extremely warm, kind and welcoming and a special shoutout to Irem who was amazing, gave us some great recommendations and took care of us throughout. I went for the $39 prix fixe brunch which is honestly such a great deal and comes with quite a spread. I had the muhammara, hummus, shakshuka and dessert and thoroughly enjoyed my coffee too. We also ordered the tuna Niçoise salad, which is by far the best I have had ever. One of my friends was accidentally served the wrong order and they immediately replaced it with the right one and made her meal completely complimentary, which was such a nice gesture and something we really appreciated. We also loved that nobody was rushing us and we could just sit, chat and enjoy our brunch. Great food, beautiful ambiance, wonderful hospitality and even the restrooms were spotless and very well maintained. Overall such a positive experience and easily a 5/5 for me.

We went for Mother's Day brunch. When we arrived a few minutes early we did have to wait a bit. The…read morerestaurant had two floors, nicely decorated and cozy. We were lead upstairs to a table. There were 7 of us The seating was cozy but not cramped. We started with 7 family style small dishes: Hummus with Falafel Pops (chickpea purée, tahini, falafel, olive oil), Spring Burrata (roasted cherry tomatoes, toast, basil oil), Hamachi Crudo (passionfruit vinaigrette, citrus zest, cucumber, mint, sesame tuile), Scallops (carrot puree, serrano pepper, brown butter sauce), Tenderloin Skewer (zaatar chimichurri, fresh herb salad), and Shiitake Stuffed Grape Leaves (tomato coulis, yogurt foam, herbs). Everything was delicious. The hummus was well seasoned the falafel had a nice crunch. It went well with the warm puffy gyro bread that came to the table. The burrata was wasm and creamy. I love the vinaigrette on the fish. I ended up eating most of it. The scallops were the sweetest, most tender ones I have ever had. The tenderloin skewers were tender and well seasoned. I liked the grape leaves but the rice consistency was very soft almost mushy and you can barely tell there were mushrooms. There was barely any mushrooms flavor. Next we all chose an entree. I got the duck breast, my husband and daughter each had the beef tenderloin. The duck breast was smaller than i expected. The skin was nicely seared and very crispy but boy did it give my jaw a workout. It was done medium rare. It was juicy but tough. The small beef tenderloin was tender and smoky. The waiter poured the sauce over the tenderloin for added flavor. Finally dessert was a fruit plate with ice cream and pudding. The fruit was fresh and the flavors of the ice cream and pudding unique. It was a nice end to a good brunch. The price was a little expensive at $85 a person.