Astoria Gems

Of course, we’ll start with Greek🏛️🍽️

Agnanti by Astoria Park. 19th Street/Ditmars Blvd. Greek salad, swordfish kebab, shrimp kataifi, tirokeftedes, kolokithokeftedes. House carafes – perfect complement. Respectful diners (or everyone) may get a complementary dessert surprise. The setting is a classic yet homey Greek Taverna, and the skyline views just down the block on your after dinner digest stroll can not be beat.

Ovelia – 34th street/30th ave. Fried feta cubes!!! Instantly became one of Astoria’s top apps and imitators began to flatter with their attempts. Ovelia’s chef and owner Pete and brother are local Astorians that add one of the most creative twists to Greek food you’ve seen, while staying true to their families classic and authentic roots and recipes. Perfect date spot too, the decor is not like other places you’ve sat in, & they frequently celebrate Greek holidays & events. Triple cream feta in the salad. Lamb entrees and brunch are always must try’s.

Tellys Taverna – 28th street/23rd ave. Lamb chops, fries, fresh seafood not to be missed along with a great selection of wine. Tzatziki & excellent dips. A long time Astoria staple.

Loukoumi – 45th street/Ditmars Blvd. All apps and Biftekia (beef and chicken) with greens and/or Fries👌🏼

Lunchier: Zorbas 29th st/23rd Ave. Gyro, omelets, grilled cheese. Now serving specials like roast chicken and a greek classic, Gemista. Family service.

Souvlaki Lady 33rd St Ditmars – world and insta famous cart – chicken souvlaki platter with fries or rice. McDonald’s type fries but fresher, creamy rice, burgers and small salads too👌🏼

Also creative pitas – don’t forget to try her signature souvlaki lady sauce.

Family corner: 31st 21ave avocado salad shady. Specials. Chicken lemon soup. Look out for the sign with the puns, extremely quick service and smart answers 😅

Nikos Souvlaki 21st/Ditmas Biftekia

Taste of Gyro: 42nd st 20th rd (New comer) Pork Gyro, fries potatoes beets salad

Cart 23ave/31st.

Cafe!! ☕️

Coffee Cloud: Broadway 21/23rd. All day eggs stole my heart. Your way, croissant or sourdough, marble cake, blueberry cake, huge cheese pies, various drink selection, absolutely beautiful decor that takes you back to Athens, with local artist’s work on the walls and available for purchase. Amazing local owners and they hire the nicest people that strive to make your experience one that makes you want to come back – often.

Kinship Astoria park 24th ave/21st st Cold Brew! First floor of Pistilli building by the park. Cool setting, roasting equipment and large coffee sacks all around you. Creative drinks, tasty snacks. Look out for the all day lightly caffeinated fruit sodas in the fridge – and say hi to the pups strolling thru enjoying the smells. Great espresso, take it to stay.

Benchflour Bakers: Top 5 croissants in city. Creative and delicious breakfasts, sandwiches, salads, Asian flare. Dan Bing BEC w/spicy ketchup, maple bourbon chicken hash 😐 (pictured.) Smoothest cortado in Astoria. Remember me.

El Greco – 38th and Ditmars. Newcomer. Freddo Espresso, Frappe, ham cheese pie. Greek Water

Meris New comer chicken pita! Meri’s bakeshop started slow then came on strong – they now crank out around 10 different savory pitas, chicken, beef, spinach, vegan spinach, cheese, leek, pumpkin. They have possibly 50 different selections of new creative and classic sweets all the time. Banana cream pudding is my recent love, break up some of the dark chocolate almond clusters in and thank me later. Excellent cheesecakes – try the baklava. S’mores cake cup, bread pudding, and they jut added rainbow cake cookies that rival any – and I mean any others you’ve tried. Looking at you, nonna.

Eli’s! Newcomer greek coffee! Small, sweet spot, sweet and savory treats, drinks.

Make Believe cafe, new comer

Parm cougere! What is a cougere!? Don’t even think of calling it a scone. Light yet satisfying airy delicious slightly eggy cheesy ball of love. More like a pao de quiejo but lighter and more complex. So damn good. French toast something! Perfect sweetness and texture. Must try’s. Real cold brew.

Pizza!

Rose and Joe’s classic Sicilian in the back 😭 pound cakes 12 flavors $6

Alba’s chicken roll! Regular slice. Fried ravioli! Pastas.

Astoria Pizza Factory chicken Cesar slice!

Forno siciliano chicken paradise. Say no more. Chicken diavolo. Margarita and forni pie. Broccoli rabe.

Tufino Honey lemon wings! Hello! Meatball parm with linguini

Porto bello Grandmas slice!

Asian!

Jj’s asian fusion. 38/31ave

Edamame pot stickers, wasabi sauce. Special app. Rolls. Entrees. Beer.

Watawa! 33/Ditmars. Bumble bee roll. Rock shrimp. Chilean miso sea bass. Sashimi they say. mango tango drink.

Enthaice. 34/35 and 31ave.

Bbq chicken entree.

Lim’s kitchen!

Extremely flavorful, meaty crispy wings. Large. Perfect Asian sweetness + kick with the Korean spice. Soy garlic is a must try. Sent soup is an instant classic. Korean beers. And soju that will knock you in your nose. I’m going back for the boneless wings, more wings, soups and beer. And prob apple soju. ✌🏼

Malala 41/30ave. Step up Chinese.

Others.

I’ll bambino!! 35th st 31st ave. Creative crostinis, paninis, apps, salads and sweets. A long time Astoria absolute favorite. Do not miss the brunch paninis! (Notorious P.I.G) and Piggy got back🍳

LIC!

Maiella. Watermelon Feta Salad, cheese wheel pasta, lamb meatballs, specials. Wine.

Shi! Mongolian beef. Rolls.

Sweet chick. Various chicken Sands.

Vernon Grille! Underrated Greek. Regular and chicken gyro. Bifteki.

Casa madeira- group dinner.

Manettas. More homey eyetal.

Casa enrique. Level up your mex. Not regular.

Chill on the pier

Somedays. new comer to the scene. Astoria & LIC. It’s summer, so, soft serve! First flavors were burnt honey and vanilla peach. Creative, sicka then yo avg, delicious. Vanilla bean choc now. Large chunky cookies, long monster cake slices, oh and chicken sandwiches. I think pancetta egg cheese croissants too? Again, sicker than yo avg. I love the classic spots but this is a must try asap.

Creators: info sites.

Tasteastoria.com

We heart Astoria (insta)

GivemeAstoria (insta)

AQ guide (insta)

EatinLIC.com

Picture perfect Luis (all NYC)

Stick a fork in me (insta) (Miami, NYC, worldwide)