I'm not sure why we avoided Yasouvlaki for so long. Maybe it was grief over the closure of Pekarna (the restaurant formerly in that space). Maybe it was restaurant fatigue / too many social obligations at restaurants not of our choosing in this neighborhood. Maybe it was a hidebound fixation with our go-tos (where our experiences have become too numerous and repetitive to re-review in any interesting way). In any event, our recent first meal at Yasouvlaki gave us pangs of regret for having waited so long. It's not an innovative kitchen -- the kind of place that might win James Beard or Michelin recognition -- but based on what we tried, the food seems to be more than competent across the board, sometimes even excellent. I probably judge every Greek or Mediterranean restaurant by the quality of their roasted or grilled branzino preparation whether I mean to or not. It's my go-to main, one that makes me really happy when it's well made. Yasouvlaki's made me happy. I do so love a whole branzino, but Yasouvlaki's filet was beautifully prepared. The fish was sweet, the skin crispy, and it was served with rice pilaf (unobjectionable) and horta (good), a traditionally prepared boiled green vegetable, here made with dandelion greens. I love a well made horta. Kudos to Yasouvlaki for making it with something other than boring ol' spinach! The grilled half of a lemon was a perfect accoutrement for the dish. Lamb chops, served with roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts, were also well executed, grilled to a perfect medium rare as the primary consumer requested. Roasted potatoes and Brussels were wholly completely competent. (Note that Brussels were not shaved and deep / air fried to a crisp, as seems to be the norm in restaurants, today. They were halved and oven roasted with olive oil, just as we make them at home. I happen to like this preparation; our kiddos prefer "restaurant Brussels sprouts" -- the greasier the better!) Moussaka was made with tender ground lamb. Both it and the kefte kabob were moist and flavorful. Beet salad was both simple and perfect, a generous portion of roasted beets, fresh arugula, fried halloumi, roasted walnuts, and balsamic reduction. Our table enjoyed everything with the warm, herbed pita wedges that came to the table at the start of the meal and a bottle of a 2021 Greek cabernet sauvignon (unusual, I think?), which was low tannin, but otherwise old vine in style, without the jammy red fruits of many new world style cabs. I didn't foot the bill, so I don't know what the markup was... but it was quite delicious and went well with all of our food, from the branzino to lamb. All in all, Yasouvlaki is a great place to have in our neighborhood and one to add to our rotation. Next time, I'm honing in on the lovely-looking meze. read more

See all

First time at Yasouvlaki. Entering i feel welcomed by the lightinand homeyness that is emanating from the environment. I would say that first impressions really count. Pita is quite stale and tastes dry, in addition i find it to be quite chewy but flavors are there. As well it is served alone. Branzino is very tender and juicy, and is complemented by lemon juice and capers. It does have a lot of bones. The shrimp is tender and flavorful. Salmon is juicy but is missing something. I can say that the food did indeed satiate my ravenousness. Overall, im very content with my experience here but its not my first option. read more

See all

I came here for dinner with a friend. The interior was lovely with nice colors, pretty lighting, and cool decor. There was a comforting, calm ambiance. We were served complimentary pita bread, which was warm, with tasty herbs on top. For my meal, I ordered the Salmon Skewer platter, which came with Greek fries, tabouli, more pita, tzatziki and special house sauce. All of this was a huge portion size, and was plated beautifully. The Salmon had nice grill marks, was tender, flaky, and well seasoned. Greek Fries were satisfyingly crispy with great potato taste. Tabouli was chock full of bulgar, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, along with fresh parsley, mint, and scallions. This was a light and crunchy addition to the dish. The sauces were savory, full of bold flavor. I decided to try the Ekmek Kataifi for dessert, which consisted of pistachio, crispy kataifi, Greek custard, vanilla, topped with light whip. this was delicate, sweet, fragrant, and all the ingredients mingled well together. Service was solid. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Everything came out in a timely manner. Prices were reasonable for the Upper West Side area. I would consider returning to try the Branzino or Grilled Lamb Chops. read more

See all

Wonderful Greek restaurant on the UWS. The prices and the food are great. You can order a platter for 2-4 people or order à la cart. Nice cocktail menu too. read more

Yasouvlaki - Saganaki - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing food - outstanding service! Thank you so much for your hospitality- patience- and support in celebrating our son's engagement! The food was incredible- the service and sharing our celebration making a memorable evening for all of us! Thank you- we can wait to visit again read more

I enjoyed my meal here, beautifully decorated restaurant with attentive service. Ordered the mixed grill, very huge serving. I love a good fry, these were amazing! Would re visit for their brunch menu, it looked very appealing. read more

Yasouvlaki - Mixed grill - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Such a delicious cozy, warm Greek spot I'd come back to all the time if I lived nearby. Has all the makings of a favorite neighborhood/date spot with comforting and creamy potato-and-leek soup, béchamel-beef moussaka, Greek spreads (hummus, tzatziki, eggplant), juicy grilled calamari, and towers of baklava and olive oil cake with Greek yogurt ice cream. Tons of outdoor seating on the sidewalk. Shoutout to our server Paolo who was so helpful ordering, recommending all these delicious dishes. 5 stars!!!! read more

See all

Decided to randomly pick a new spot and to my suprise this is now going to be my go to place for girl dinners, solo dinners & date nite. The service, food and ambiance all checks out 10/10. Our waiter was so nice and made sure we didn't feel rushed to order or eat since they were closing soon. We opted to skip appetizers and went straight for entrees . I had the chicken thigh souvlaki skewers with , tabouli, pita & potatoes. Also came with to delicious sauces and pita ! So good , the chicken was so flavorful, the tabouli was perfectly made and the Yasou sauce is incredible!! Honestly i'm already planning my next visit to eat here, this really is a gem and I can't believe I only stumbled upon it now ! read more

Yasouvlaki - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Yummy! I loved this place! We went for a very early dinner, sat outside, and had absolutely fantastic service. Speedy & very kind. The food was overall awesome - delicious saganaki and the chicken thigh skewers were soooo good & juicy. I have to say I was let down by the spreads. The tzatziki was pretty bland and even the eggplant & sundried tomato dips felt a little under-seasoned. Nothing bad though! The outdoor was lovely but the indoor space was also so cute and swanky, it looked great. Will definitely be returning! read more

Yasouvlaki - Pikilia - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

100% recommend. The redhead girl at the bar made great drinks. I got a regular marg and it hit the spot. Remi was pretty cool too. A+ server

DELISOUS chicken thighs! Wonderful coffee Great salad ! Wonderful friendly staff ! Looking forward to more read more

See all

Wonderfully fresh octopus, salad, chicken dishes and tasty Greek red wine! Octopus was charred and very fresh and same for the Greek salad with tomatoes, feta and pitted olives over a incredibly fresh bed of cucumbers. Chicken with pita and fries was delish with the tzatziki. Beatrice our server was a gem as was her service team. Water always refilled, food service with smiles, bathrooms spotless. Will be back!:') read more

Wholesome Greek food. I had a pork gyro and a side horiatiki salad for a patio lunch on a random weekday. It was a well constructed sandwich with hunks of meat, a generous slathering of sauce, veggies, and crisp oregano-seasoned fries. The salad was refreshing too. The outdoor seating is cute and well shaded in the afternoon on a calm stretch of Amsterdam Ave. The service was relaxed and courteous. read more

This place is great! They really know how to cook seafood. Been several times for lunch - the swordfish souvlaki was perfectly cooked. We had a great dinner, sharing the seafood platter among 3 - swordfish, shrimp, octopus, salmon all perfect with delicious tabouli, fries, veggies and tzatziki. Great drinks too. highly recommend! read more

Yasouvlaki - Seafood platter - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Love the yasou breakfast gyro for brunch and the Athenian Spritz cocktail! Bar service is excellent! read more

Yasouvlaki - Brunch menu - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

I came here tonight to celebrate my birthday because I wanted to try a new restaurant for dinner. My parents and I loved it! Will definitely come back. Portions are big and the food tastes delicious. I do wish they did candles and sang on your birthday but that's my only critique! read more

See all

Deeply satisfying Greek food. We tried three of the spreads and the roasted peppers and feta was our table's favorite- smoky, a mild spicyness, and a delicious tanginess. The saganaki was perfectly breaded and crispy with honey and a roasted lemon half. We split the moussaka and a lamb burger. Both were fantastic, flavorful and filling. I loved the fries, but another table member didn't like them, so it depends on fry preferences. There was a lot of 80's and 90's hits playing during dinner and we considered karaoke after the meal because they were all songs you wanted to sing along with. Our servers were attentive and thoughtful. I would eat here again without hesitation. It checked all my boxes for a good Greek meal. read more

Well I just saw there is one also on the upper east side. I liked the space and ambience but felt slightly unauthentic for Greek and also pricey, but the mixed grill is an amazing bang for your buck although not sure why you'd serve asparagus and Brussels sprouts with this platter, that's not Greek...fries were soggy and not well seasoned as were most of the kebabs especially the minced meat kebab...but the gyro chicken was my favorite thing and tzatziki was also really good...although the bread was average though. read more

Yasouvlaki - Huge mixed platter, definitely the thing to get. can feed four - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

A very cute Greek place with cute vibes! There were pillows on the seats. My friend and I both ordered the chicken thigh souvlaki, which came with the chicken, pita, salad, and fries. I usually don't like to eat fries with any sauces, sauce for the fries was delicious. It was very crowded when we arrived but my friend booked a reservation in advance, so I would recommend making a reservation before you go! read more

Yasouvlaki - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

So delicious! I want to eat everything on the menu, but started with the Halloumi and some falafel - everything was amazing! I sat at the bar and the bartender was very helpful and friendly - she was great to talk to but not at all intrusive. The restaurant has a wonderful atmosphere and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and all the beautiful plates of food coming out of the kitchen. read more

Amazing food and fabulous service. So much better than its neighbor Greek restaurants in New York. Can't wait to go back...

Drinks and Food are great Calamares soft and well seasoned Mocktails very tasty Meat grilled platter delicious read more

See all

Everyone has their favorites, but when ordering here, I enjoy finding surprising dishes outside my experience.

This was a fun and tasty meal! Stopped by on a summer Friday and sat outside on the sidewalk. The service was superb. Constant yet subtle water pouring, clearing, etc worthy of any fine dining establishment. The food was also extremely good. We went with the 'Mixed Grill' platter that included vegetables, tabouleh, fries, and dipping sauced / tzatziki. It was a LOT of food and very well prepared. The Tabouleh was a bit different than the one I make, and I enjoyed it - vive le difference. Really a nice evening on our walk to Central Park. We will likely return her when in the neighborhood with friends or family. read more

Yasouvlaki - Mixed Grill - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

This was a really good dining experience. Excellent food, great service. We will definitely be back.

This place has become one of my top spots in the UWS and even greek in NYC. The food was delicious and decently sized. Tried the meat and seafood platters, moussaka and lamb chops. Think the platter can feed more than 2-3 people unless you're starving haha. The ambiance was nice which is quiet if you're looking for a date night but also fits big groups. Would come back here again! read more

See all

The attention to detail on every dish, every side, every sauce was pretty impeccable. We got the chicken gyro platter - the fries were crispy and perfectly seasoned, the tabouleh was satisfying, and the chicken juicy. We also got the halloumi, hummus, and baklava, all of which were incredibly flavorful and unique tasting vs. other Greek places I've been to. read more

Excellent Greek food! Love having them in the neighborhood and can't wait to return! Highly recommend.

Loved this place- so cute inside and the food was great. We sat at 5:57 and we were still offered the happy hour cocktail menu, even though it ended at 6. Food is also reasonably priced for this neighborhood! read more

Yasouvlaki - Seafood mixer for 2 - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

The service was amazing! We hadn't had a reservation but were able to walk in and sit down and we were immediately welcomed warmly.. The food was absolutely great and I wouldn't hesitate to come back over and over again when I'm in New York City!! read more

Yasouvlaki - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I've done one dine in and one takeout and both were terrific. The first time, a friend and I had no rez during their white hot opening period, but they figured it out, accommodating us in the second dining room with plenty of attention. The second time, I placed a big pickup order online from the East Side location by mistake. Once again, they were super kind and sat us at the bar while sorting the situation, then expedited the delivery. More importantly, the quality and variety of the menu is great, and it's that rare UWS bird that balances fancy atmosphere with affordability. My picky friend loved that the octopus came out hot, the skewer variety is fabulous, the salads are expertly savory. Give them some love, they work hard for it. read more

Great overall experience. Food is always great whether chicken cooked perfectly or seafood dishes. It also is a great value, you can choose à la carte and for a reasonable price can have fantastic meal. Service is always great and attentive. A little bit larger restaurant for the area that is well done, clean and inviting. Since moving here 5 mos ago this is one of our favorites. read more

Nice restaurant! Great atmosphere! Great food! We will be back next time we visit NYC.

Passed by on a Saturday, ate indoors. The decor is lovely, the taramosalata is delicious. Servers are friendly, hostess is beautiful.

Where is the Michelin star for Yasouvlaki? What an incredible, unforgettable evening. The three of us went there on the spur of the moment, without a reservation. The atmosphere was vibrant. No ear plugs needed. The Greek menu and daily fish specials; a whole Branzino, rainbow trout, and salmon, were out of this world. Our waiter George. Yes, I call him "our" waiter, was terrific. The Margaritas were brilliant. (Don't know the recipe, don't care.) The bartender kindly came to our table to thank us. I do not recall her name. The Ekmek dessert was a great way to top off the evening. Even the manager checked with us to to make sure everything was perfect --- and it was! Sometimes, you can just luck out. CRF read more

The food was great! We ordered the seasoned eggplant appetizer which was exceptional with flavors and has a light texture, scooped up with pita bread pieces. The gyro platter and the Kefte platter were both very good and plentiful. Service was prompt and I could tell the waiter actually liked his job to serve. The people next to us two tables over we're unreasonably rude (eating everything with taste, having a good time, but then complaining afterwards), but the Greek waiter handled that with tact and offered a free drink to appease. The room is airy with ample space for seating. The evening candles are real (no battery-operated fakes). Soft Greek music in the background. Not noisy at all. We will visit again! read more

The most delicious meal I've had in ages. The restaurant was clean and gorgeous. Portions were generous. Staff was extremely attentive and friendly. I would definitely go back!!! read more

Our party all found something they loved on the menu. The meals benefit from quality items. Workers here deliver satisfactory service. The place balances order with relaxation. I find this place exceptional in every way. read more

Ambiance was very Mediterranean. Was here for lunch so I had there lunch special of a pork souvlaki and Greek salad. My husband had a pork gyro and he enjoyed it also. Very hearty portion and freshly cooked. Took me back to Greece. Oh and their baklava was excellent! read more

I have my food delivered and I enjoy the chicken or lamb kebab sandwiches that comes with french fries but I would like a little more meat in the sandwich please. And a little more tzatziki. Sometimes I get enough and sometimes it's too little tzatziki and meat. I will then be very happy because your food is delivered promptly and it's delicious! Just don't skimp on meat & sauce!! read more