I had dinner at Yefsi Estiatorio last night and was very disappointed. My friend and I were looking for a good Greek restaurant that was reachable to us. I have been to many, including Astoria, and this was the worst. The service was very good, the restaurant was very dark and not inviting except for the back which looked like we were sitting outside. Unfortunately, the food was unacceptable. We ordered the pikilia which was mostly pieces of pita. The three spreads, a mere tablespoon of each, didn't taste like Greek spreads! We ordered the lightly fried calamari and it was served with a dip of sour cream, plain sour cream, maybe it was plain yogurt. That I've never seen in all of the calamari I've eaten. The white fish we ordered was just OK, not grilled well. A very big disappointment! read more

3.5 at best... could see this being better with some improvements Having just visited Greece this summer, I was itching for some reminders of the relaxing life on the islands and the inviting familial feel of the restaurants in Athens. Yefsi was our hope to rekindle those memories... Two of us opted for the Pulsd deal and another for the regular a la carte. Drink options were standard - mimosa, bellinis, etc. and the menu was an odd combination of authentic Greek and regular tavern food. Food: - Cheese omelette - good portion but lacking flavor. Bit heavy on the oil - Burger - well cooked (asked for medium rare), but lacking flavor - Lamb sandwich - lamb was over cooked and lacking flavor. Perhaps should have opted for chicken instead - All dishes came with fries - very flavorful but again, heavy on the oil Drinks - unlimited was good (didn't feel like too much) but was also not a good value. Felt like more juice / club soda Somewhat disappointing but perhaps we caught it on a bad day. Given the other options in the city, we probably won't be back. read more

Wow, this place is great. Sadly, I don't have any pictures to share so you'll have to take my word for how delicious every single dish was. You know how when you order 10 items from a menu to share with a group and there are usually a few things that are just okay? Not here. Everything we tried was incredible. Oh, and so was the service and the martinis. I would highly recommend dining here with a small group and trying as many dishes possible. Some of the appetizers and entrees we ordered (and you should to) are the Calamari, Yefsi Chips, Kolokithokeftedes, Pikilia, Feta Sto Fourno, Horiatiki (life changing feta), Soutzoukakia, Arni Souvlaki, and lastly, Kotopoulo Souvlaki. Is Yefsi a little pricey? Yeah, sure. But is it worth every penny? Absolutely. Come here and you won't leave disappointed. read more

So we stopped by after a birthday party in the area to get dinner--ordered one app (octopus) a two dinner entrees (meatballs and chicken Slovakia). Our total was $84! I'm sorry, our portions were so small, the octopus needed lemon and it was totallly overpriced. The chicken Slovakia was dry. We stopped in because the pictures looked really scrumptious and we wanted to sit down for dinner--but honestly I've had better Greek food in hole-in-the-wall restaurants and other higher end restaurants in the city within the same price range; we will stick to those. Our server was nice and gave pens to the kiddos to draw on the paper tablecloth. The service weals pretty quick. Would not come back though. read more

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Yefsi means taste in Greek and here we got a lot of yefsi. The restaurant is very clean. Everything looks like rolling smoothly. The food was amazing, outstanding!!! read more

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Old people joint trying to be old people cool but can't seem to pull it off. With all the high end pricing, it's not like management doesn't have the money to hire one more staff so people don't wait 25 mins to order at 7pm (not prime time). Food is ok but they need to focus on the guests and not the churning of tables read more

Eh. Nothing about this place was great. Food was poor, service medio, and place was ok. What it mostly was was over priced and over rated.

For one of our girls night dinners, my friend who is a resident of the Upper East Side recommended we hit up Yefis's for some authentic Greek eats, and man am I glad we went! Yefsi Estiatorio is a hidden gem nestled in the middle of Yorkville offering a rather diverse menu with authentic food that is absolutely delicious. It also fills up quickly so I recommend you make a reservation. By 7pm on a Thursday this place did not have an empty seat. (Side note: They have an enclosed patio in the back, it's really cute if you want an outdoor seating experience without actually being outdoors). We started our meal off with their special drink of the day: WHITE SANGRIA! It's like they knew we were coming in to dine! It was perfectly crisp and refreshing with just the right amount of melon and pineapple to balance out the slight kick with sweetness. Mmmmm. For our appetizer we ordered the Htenia (scallops). They were delicate, not dry, tasty, tender, and full of flavor. Then in an attempt to keep our meal "light and clean," my friend ordered a Greek salad (I didn't try it but it looked fresh and good), and I ordered the octapodi (grilled octopus) from the appetizers. Let's discuss this octopus for a second. Probably...actually no...definitely the best I ever had. They must have Zeus in the kitchen cooking up a storm. The only reason why this review is four stars and not a full five is because the menu on the restaurant's website shows cheaper prices. we were shocked when our meal came out to almost $75! I guess it all adds up but still! Regardless, I'd come back in a heartbeat. I need me some more tentacles. read more

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My husband and I were looking forward to eating here this evening. We showed up on a night they were not busy to sit outside with my 9 pound service dog. Upon being seated, we were informed that we would be unable to stay because they do not allow dogs due to their insurance policy. The manager demanded to see registration- which is illegal and violates the ADA. After begrudgingly showing him the documentation, he still refused to serve us and came up with a story about getting in trouble with the health department which has nothing to do with the "insurance policy" excuse he previously brought up. It was incredibly rude and I felt embarrassed to be put in this situation- I have never had this problem at any NYC restaurant before. It's too bad because we live in the neighborhood and would have easily become patrons of this restaurant. Food looked mediocre anyway. read more

Yefsi Estiatorio - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Thank for our wonderful dinner last night. Staff was very patient with us, since this was our first time here. Food so yummy. Lamb chops and ribeye cooked to proper temperature. We were amazed at how light the battering on the calamari and Yesfi Chips were, light yet crispy = perfect. Be sure we will be back! read more

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Stopped in on a Thursday night. About half full, sat in the back garden room as we thought it was quieter. Nice complimentary egg plant dip with good bread. Ordered moussaka and salmon mains. Shared a crab cake to start. Greek Pilsner beer was very good. Food was all good and appetizing . Prices are very reasonable. Service was a bit slow but we didn't mind. Expresso was nice and hot and strong. Will return.. read more

Best Greek food in the UES. Split a bunch of appetizers & entrees, everything was seasoned & cooked perfectly. Highly recommend the yefsi chips & staying for dessert for a slice of the rich baklava. read more

Yefsi Estiatorio - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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Delicious fresh Greek food and warm friendly staff. Christos is the chef I loved the Organic Chicken in complex well seasoned tomato based sauce with potatoes and Shrimp Santorini. The seafood linguini is also amazing! The restaurant is cozy, and outdoor patio charming. Will definitely be back soon. read more

Well this happens to be my spot. Not only my spot just because I love the people that work there but because the food is just absolutely amazing. I love the black Seabass with the tomato sauce it's comfort food like I've never known. There a Greek salad with feta cheese is so fresh melts in your mouth absolutely delightful. The ceviche melts in my mouth there's spreads are absolutely wonderful and the pita is always baked so fresh crispiness from the oven. I can't say enough good things about this place or the people that run it. read more

To be perfectly honest, I wish Greek restaurants would start to be a little bit more adventurous and that way things would be a lot more memorable. I'm struggling to even remember our meal here. But my notes seem to think this place was pretty good so I'll go with it. Those very same notes say that the chicken was excellent and the Mousaka was really good. In terms of small plates, the octopus was very good (but pricey and small) and the zucchini croquettes may be the overall star. What I do remember pretty well was the fig-based, Moscow "mule". That's one tasty drink. Otherwise it's up to you if you're going to trust my notes... read more

Absolute gem of a restaurant on York Avenue on the Upper Eastside. Not only is the food outstanding, the service is absolute top notch. The restaurant itself is warm and inviting, with a cozy patio area in the back in addition to outdoor seating in the front. Yefsi continues to be the absolute best Greek food in the area! read more

Yefsi Estiatorio - a plate of food - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Great salmon - cooked to my liking perfectly and served on top of a slightly bring rice pilaf with capers. Cute and cozy establishment with excellent food - can get busy so recommend making reservations ahead of time. Pretty good, but short, selection of domestic and imported Greek wines read more

Notice that the negative reviews are for brunch? Anyway, dinner was fantastic. They have a very extensive menu. The servers are very attentive and the food was amazing, very authentic. Highly recommend. read more

Really enjoyed my evening here! I usually think of Greek food as a heavy meal, but all of the dishes here were light but somehow still filling. I enjoyed the octopodi and the lamb kebabs. We also had the lemon potatoes and salad with the dill in it! Highly recommend both of those additions to whatever meal you get! Our waiter was very friendly! He didn't rush us but also made sure we always had food or a drink. Really enjoyed the evening here and would love to come back. read more

Wonderful meal here the other night. The arni youvetsi (lamb shank over pasta in cinnamon-spiced tomato sauce) was incredible -- so tender and delicious, beautifully seasoned. My companion had the steak, which was cooked perfectly to order, tender, juicy and beefy, and a great deal for restaurant week (as part of a $45 3-course prix fixe). Will absolutely come back ! read more

Place is very nice, quiet and pleasant. We came on Sunday for dinner and there were a lot of people. Service was very good. We got octopus for appetizer and it tasted great. Main dishes were good as well and the best part was Greek dessert. The only problem, place is overpriced. On the Groupon it was not expensive of course but if to dine without a Groupon, it will be too expensive, considering that place is not in a Midtown or at least closer to the Park. Place is located way out on York street that clearly too far. There other places in the neighborhood that cost less. If you come for good food, nice atmosphere, you will get it, but you will need to spend like 120$ to have a satisfying meal. Portions are good size but not huge. read more

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I don't Remember all the dishes I got here (was months and months ago) but I do remember loving it! Got the dip/spreads which were amazing. I loved all 4. The Yefsi chips, Greek salad, meatballs, etc read more

This place has an amazing brunch deal, one of the best in the city. Endless Mimosas or Bloody Mary's with purchase of 1 entree. I got the Chicken Sandwich that came with fries. I ate every single one of those fries, not to put down the sandwich it was great, the frjes just had me addicted. Drinks were on point too, give this place a try you will enjoy something about it. read more

A good friend of mine wanted to take me to this restaurant due to my love of Greek food - we arrived one hour before our reservation - the hostess was really sweet and sat is - good thing we arrived early - by 7:30 pm not an empty table in the establishment- let me tell you - service was great - our waiter was charming, attentive and possessed great customer service. Everything from the appetizers to dessert was superb- must go. When you do - two recommendations 1: octopus and lamb chops - it's heaven on a plate read more

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The man who greeted us was so rude and condescending that we decided to go to a different restaurant! My friend and I showed up at 4:50 and asked for a table for two. He looked us up and down and asked if he could help us and then proceeded to tell us that they were all booked up for the night. Mind you, they open right at 5 and there wasn't a single soul there. I also called about 30 min later while we were waiting for our food at a much nicer restaurant down the street to check if they were actually booked and of course they were not! So he lied to our faces after judging the way we looked and turned us away. I guess this restaurant doesn't want $$. Learn to treat your guests with some respect! read more

Woah. This place totally exceeded my expectations. We loved everything we ordered. Gigandis - who would have known these lima beans are such joy to eat! They were so tasty, almost like a gnocchi dish. I'm not sure how they made the tomato sauce but it was so delicious. Grilled octopus- I like octopus either way. For those of you who only like it when it's soft and not chewy, this is the place to go. The texture is very different than octopus ceviche. Yefsi chips - I wish they were slightly thicker. Otherwise they are good for sharing. On top of everything, the service was great! Our server was very nice and attentive. This restaurant is such a gem! read more

Yefsi Estiatorio - Octopus and Gigandes - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

TLDR: Great restaurant with friendly staff and wonderful food at slightly high prices. A very good choice, especially for special occasions! Overall rating: B+ My friend and I decided to come here last minute on Wednesday, March 13 around 8pm. It was an easy OpenTable reservation. We did need to wait 5 minutes for our table to be ready. So did the people behind us too. They have a coat check behind the hostess. We were seated in the heated covered back garden area, which was quiter than the front are but still very noisy. Install some soft surfaces to dampen the sound please! The employees here are so nice here! We were checked on multiple times (even once by the owner I think) and our waters were refilled often. Sometimes the spacing between tables is tight. Here's what we got: -COMPLIMENTARY BREAD: Fresh bread and the garlicky spread was good too! A -SOUTZOUKAKIA $24.00 (Greek Meatballs with Fresh Herbs in a Light Tomato Sauce Served over Rice): My friend ordered this and it was so good! The meatballs are a long oblong shape and very tender. The meatballs, sauce, and rice were so flavorful! Order a side if you want vegetables though. A -MOSHARAKI $26.00 (Linguini with Braised Veal in our Homemade Tomato Sauce Topped with Kasseri Cheese): Big portion! I took half to go! They're very generous with the delicious big chunks of tender veal. The pasta was done just right. The sauce was on point. Kasseri cheese was strong and complimented the dish well without being overwhelmed. A+ -KEO $8.00: Lager from Cypress that was pleasant and easy drinking. I enjoyed it. A -RED DONKEY $9.00: My friend's red ale from Greece was stronger and more hoppy than my lager. Still good. A- I couldn't justify getting a $17 cocktail. Overall we both enjoyed everything we ordered. Prices are a little higher than listed online I believe. It's a nice splurgey restaurant. Not something I can afford daily sadly. (I paid $45.72 for 1 entree, 1 beer, tax, and tip. It's not the worst but not budget friendly!) There are 2 unisex bathrooms by the bar. Service was a little slow when it came to paying the check but not really a big deal. We would like to come back when it's warmer to enjoy the open garden area in the back! read more

The food is not as good as it used to be, and for the price I expected better. The filo on the Spanakopita was mushy and the filling was a bit insipid. The grilled squid was the best thing we had. The rest of the food was fine, but not better than that. The restaurant itself is pleasant enough. read more

Had a reservation indoors tonight at Yefsi, and we were shocked how careless the staff is about Covid. The manager put up his mask to welcome us and then put it down as soon as he could and each time he could. We were seated at a table where we could see the kitchen. There was this lady right outside the kitchen who had her mask down the whole time while receiving the plates, passing them down to the waiters, packing up delivery orders, picking up the phone, touching surfaces, etc. No mask, no gloves, totally careless. Indoor dining has just restarted, and we were thrilled to come and support this restaurant. But it didn't feel right, we couldn't feel comfortable, explained it to the manager and we left before ordering. The situation is difficult enough, show some respect and care for your customers especially indoors ! Sorry Yelp, but this restaurant is not doing its best in Covid times read more

I don't usually write reviews, but this was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had in my life. Our server was extremely attentive and detail oriented. He made sure the courses were served at exactly the right time. Every single bite of food was absolutely scrumptious: the salad, the grilled whole Tzippoura fish with a side of lemon potatoes.. They brought out a sample of desserts for my mother's birthday, which included walnut cake, filo dough filled with custard, baklava and Greek yogurt - all to die for. Even the cappuccino was noteworthy. If I lived in NYC, I would be a regular customer for sure! read more

The entire time I was in New York I was looking forward to going to this Greek restaurant and for octopus however I was less than pleased. Service was great! The food for me was just sub par, I did enjoy the eggplant! I liked the size of the lamb and everything was easy to share. Maybe a second visit will change my mind, but I don't know when that visit will be. read more

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OMG, I thought I had died and went to food heaven. So delicious. EVERYTHING. I wanted more room! YOU HAVE TO GET THE OCTOPUS and the greek salad. This is the freshest most delicious greek salad ever. I didn't take a pic 1)because others have 2) I could not stop to do it. Have had the mussels and they were dynamite as well. The horta amazing. Marouli- my favorite salad. I love dill. Saganaki- yum. Hot fresh fried cheese. The greek yogurt was the best dessert. Amazing. I cannot even remember the other one we had. Get the greek yogurt! The service was professional and impeccable. The last time I went, the server was SUPER hot too! Wines excellent. One time, we brought out bottle and paid corkage but not because we didn't like theirs. Bathroom- decent. Make a reservcation read more

Had lunch at Yefsi today, here are my thoughts: -- Ambiance - Restaurant was nice enough, but tables were a bit dirty, as was the floor. Fairly empty at 2pm on a Saturday. -- Service - Terrible. The waiter was abrupt, unfriendly, and disappeared for the most part. Hostess was quite nice though. -- Food - I was very disappointed that most of the online menu was not available at brunch. Since I was very much looking forward to crabcakes, scallops, and gigantes, I wasn't thrilled to settle for an average omelette and just okay horatiki (sp?) salad. -- Overall - If we return it certainly won't be for brunch. Hopefully we'll have better luck with their dinner menu! read more

This was a fun Greek experience. The restaurant is really nice and looks recently renovated. We sat outside in the garden which was lovely. We had: - Horiatiki - Greek salad - it was very tasty. Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, feta and olives. No lettuce which was unique. - Pikilia - Taramosalata, Melitzanosalata, Spicy Feta, Tzatziki - All delicious. I especially liked the spicy feta. The tzatziki was delicious. - Kotopoulo Souvlak K- chicken kebobs - tasty if a bit too charred. - Saganaki - lightly fried cheese served with lemon, delicious - Mousaka - terrific. Savory delicious. - Calamari - tasty - Mojito - too watery The service was great and the bathrooms were exceptionally clean. read more

They need to upgrade a new host. She don't know how to take care of the new guest .the service need to be more fast the food delivery it took me almost like a two hour to get the food like read more

Yefsi Estiatorio - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Went for brunch recently and though the restaurant was relatively empty (it was around 1pm on a Saturday) the food and the service was great. Got a pulsd voucher so we had unlimited mimosas for 90 minutes (and they were more than happy to refill our glasses as soon as we requested). The brunch options were vast (eggs, sandwiches, etc) and the eggs that I got were perfectly cooked + delicious. The dip brought out with the bread in the beginning was also very tasty. Towards the end of our meal the place started filling up. It seems like a fun place to have dinner and I would definitely come back here to try some of their other food. read more

I had the lemon chicken soup. Don't ask me to spell it but it was amazing. My main entree was the salmon and let me tell you it was cooked to perfection a little char but still delicate and delicious. Great spot. read more

Had a delicious brunch deal here and my friend and I got tipsy with unlimited bellinis, risotto bowl and my lamb sandwich. Delicious food and surprising brunch spot! I would definitely come again. The food is really flavorful and cooked well - I will emphasize that. read more

Yefsi Estiatorio - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Some of the best/most authentic greek food on the UES! They have a nice, safe outdoor table set up. Last night for dinner, my friend & I shared the Greek Salad, Yefsi Chips (a MUST!), and the Shrimp Santorini, which was perfectly sautéed and served with orzo over a light tomato sauce with melted feta. Everything was so delicious and the service was great! read more

Simply outstanding. From the service, the dim lighting, the candle lit table and wonderful backroom garden to our incredibly delicious and loved filled crafted dishes. Yefsi easily topped my list for one of the best Greek/Mediterranean Restaurants in NYC. Their menu, simple yet sophisticated catered to all as did our server Vangel. Vangel really drove Yefsi home and could not make us feel more comfortable and relaxed as he was reading the menu and making recommendations of good combinations. Thank you for your excellent service! Will be back and highly recommend for any occasion! read more