Recommendations from what we tried: Shieftalia, Makaronia tou Fournou, Koupepia, and Horiatiki. In…read moreshort, stick with mezzes.
I found out about this Cypriot/Greek spot a while ago through the IG account TasteBuds and checked it out with one of my food groups a couple of weeks ago. The servers were friendly, and the inside, while dark, felt warm and comforting, which was especially true as I had just come in from a storm. To drink, I had a cold brew cocktail for around $18 that I can't find on the current menu. Outside of the cold brew, there was an anise/coffee liquor (I believe Sifonios Ouzo Coffee Liqueur), some type of citrus, and possibly something else, and it was very tasty. They gave us some warm bread along with, I believe, a soft fava bean spread or hummus while we were waiting for food. In terms of food, I loved the mezze here, but I prefer some other places in Astoria for fish/seafood.
As the menu didn't have the Tomato Salad listed online, we instead got their version of Horiatiki/Greek Village Salad for $19 with cucumber, tomatoes, green bell peppers, red onions, barrel-aged feta cheese, and Kalamata olives. The salad had a nice block of good feta, and the tomatoes were very juicy. Overall, it was a bit better than the typical spot in the neighborhood, and we enjoyed it.
Next to arrive was my favorite dish of the night, the $17 Shieftalia, listed as a traditional Cypriot sausage made of minced pork, chopped onions, fresh herbs, and spices wrapped in caul fat and grilled over live fire. The dish came with four large pieces topped with some tomatoes, with some tzatziki on the side. The sausages were very juicy and had a wonderful grilled flavor with mild spices and herbs. This was outstanding, and I highly recommend it.
Another excellent dish was the Makaronia tou Fournou for $25, listed as Cypriot baked pasta with herbed meat sauce, grated halloumi cheese, and creamy bechamel sauce. It reminded me to an extent of Pastitsio, but almost more comforting. There was tender pasta, slightly salty cheese, and a rich bechamel that tied the whole thing together. The warming spices, which were presumably mixed into the meat, added new depth to the overall flavor. As described, it's a bit of a wait for this dish, but it was very much worth it.
Another tasty dish was the $17 Koupepia, their version of Dolmades, listed as Cypriot vine leaves stuffed with ground pork, rice, and fresh herbs, wrapped in grape leaves, and cooked in a fresh tomato lemon broth. I preferred these over the Greek variety because the grape leaves were more tender, less overly sour, and warm. I would recommend these as well.
The only mezze I disliked, mostly because of the price point, was the Shrimp Santorini for $22, listed as succulent shrimp in aromatic tomato feta sauce. The shrimp were cooked properly, and the sauce was delicious, but there weren't that many shrimp. It was good, but I would recommend spending your money on their other equally excellent mezze.
Otherwise, we got two decent mains, each with a side. First was the $26 Soutzoukakia, listed as Greek baked meatballs cooked in homemade tomato sauce and served on a bed of rice with Greek yogurt and feta cheese sauce. The sauce had some cinnamon with a mild sweetness, while the meatballs were a bit less tender than the sausages. The rice was otherwise plentiful and well-cooked. There was also the Dorado Royale, or Mediterranean Sea Bream, which was $44 for 800 grams. I have had more tender and flavorful fish from a few other places nearby, but it was nice that it was butterflied without bones, outside of the head and tail, of course.
For sides, I chose the Sautéed Mushrooms, which are normally $16, and the Horta, or boiled greens with Greek olive oil and lemon, which is normally $15. The mushrooms had some grilled onions and peppers, and it was a nice mix overall. The later horta, made from the typical dandelion greens, I believe, had a bit of bitterness, which went well with the other richer dishes. Overall, both mains and sides were good, but I preferred the other things.
This was a very tasty place and a good replacement for an old Cypriot spot on Ditmars that closed a good while ago. Would go back to probably get their $60 mezze sampler, or just try more things from that menu.