Le Petit Pêcheur — Restaurant in New York

Le Petit Pêcheur – A Mediterranean Jewel in Astoria

Tucked away in Astoria, Le Petit Pêcheur has quickly built a strong reputation since opening a couple of years ago. Known for its fresh fish and Mediterranean flavors, it combines a market-style approach to seafood with the warm hospitality of a family-run restaurant.

Atmosphere & Setting The restaurant captures the essence of the Mediterranean with its blue-and-white décor, reminiscent of seaside towns in Greece, Algeria, or Sidi Bou Saïd in Tunisia. The space is cozy, often buzzing with energy even at off-hours. On our visit for a late lunch around 2:30 pm, we were surprised to find the restaurant almost full, a clear sign of its popularity with locals and regulars alike.

How It Works The experience begins at the fish counter, where guests choose from a selection of fresh seafood and fish on display. The staff then asks how you’d like it prepared, grilled, fried, or sautéed, before you return to your table to explore the menu of side dishes, salads, and drinks (including Algerian famous Hamoud Boualem). This interactive element sets the tone: simple, fresh, and personal.

Food & Flavors The menu isn’t extensive, which is often a positive sign, it focuses on doing a few things exceptionally well. It features a mix of Mediterranean staples and Algerian specialties that highlight fresh ingredients and straightforward cooking.

Seafood Selection: We tried jumbo shrimp grilled, whiting fried, flounder sautéed, and a small portion of Portuguese sardines marinated in-house. Every dish was cooked with care. The shrimp were perfectly tender yet slightly crisp, the sardines packed with flavor, the flounder delicate and well-seasoned, and the whiting golden and satisfying.

Sides & Appetizers: To complement the seafood, we ordered "Hmiss", a classic North African dish of roasted green peppers, tomatoes, and garlic served warm with a drizzle of olive oil, a simple but deeply flavorful starter. The grilled asparagus added freshness and balance, while the garlic bread (likely complimentary) was a welcome touch.

Service Flow: The dishes arrived quickly, perhaps a little too quickly for such a spread. Next time, we’d request staggered service to savor each fish one at a time. Also, tables for two can feel tight if you order several dishes, but staff remain attentive, checking in frequently to make sure everything is to your liking. Even the owner stopped by with a smile to ensure our meal was going well, a gesture much appreciated.

Service & Hospitality From start to finish, the service was warm, professional, and efficient. The man at the counter explained everything clearly, and the servers maintained a friendly balance of attentiveness without hovering, hospitality is one of the restaurant’s strongest assets.

Overall Impression Le Petit Pêcheur is a rare find: a place where the food is fresh, authentic, and consistently well-prepared, and where the atmosphere evokes the Mediterranean coast without pretense. Between the vibrant décor, the interactive seafood counter, and the outstanding dishes, the restaurant offers a dining experience that feels both unique and welcoming.

We left more than satisfied, already planning to return. This is a spot to recommend to friends, family, or anyone looking for a taste of the Mediterranean in Queens.

Verdict: Highly recommended, especially for seafood lovers who appreciate simple preparation and...

An absolute amazing experience at Le Petit Pecheur. This establishment, new to Astoria Queens truly hit the ground running with a fresh take on simple yet delicious seafood with true brawn and experience.

I had the pleasure of enjoying a meal with 2 others at the day of their soft opening and it’s one of the best experiences and freshest seafood I’ve had. We were seated in their beautiful layout and the staff were extremely welcoming. Le Petit Pecheur brags fresh seafood displayed right in their showcased fridge, and the way to order is simple; You choose your fish, choose how its cooked (fried, grilled or pan seared) and lastly - enjoy! My table had the grilled salmon, a grilled branzino, and a grilled porgy in addition to a plate of shrimp and fried calamari. For apps we had their truffle mash (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!), house cut fries, Greek salad and their house made tomato and roast pepper dip. Their garlic bread is honestly insanely delicious with fresh garlic, olive oil on freshly toasted bread. Everything we ate was finished because it was seriously way too good. Probably among the best I’ve ever had. Fish and shrimp was cooked to perfection; plenty of flavor with a depth seasoning and fresh garlic & olive oil. Overall extremely fresh - and their fries were amazing!! Calamari was light, and crispy with a delicious dip. I seriously could not find one thing to critique except i wish I had more sauce on my shrimp (because it was so delicious!)

Another highlight that I appreciated was the pace that the food came out between our apps and mains. Everything was timed perfectly and I didnt feel rushed nor forgotten. Price was under $200 for the entire table with drinks which is extremely reasonable for the value and quality.

I would recommend giving them a try for a night out with family or friends. This family run establishment is truly taking the right steps to deliver fresh, delicious quality seafood and I’m here for it!! Will...

wow was i blown away by this place... i decided to stop by because grand openings excite me as i always have high hopes for new places, not only did this place reach those expectations but far exceeded them too. the staff was so welcoming and friendly and while giving me a rundown of the fish and all the options i could tell how passionate they were about everything which excited me.

finally when i sat down after ordering my meal they come over swiftly with a menu of sides and drinks to chose from which all looked amazing. after telling them the sides i wanted not long after did all the food come out. this was when i was taken back at how delicious all the food was. as someone who has spent the last few summers in the Mediterranean in Greece i honestly didn't think i would find seafood that would compare to over there but i am glad to say Le Petit Pecheur proved me wrong. from the ambiance to the food it felt like i was right back in Greece, especially the muscles with their cream sauce. i decided on the grilled branzino, grilled calamari, muscles with sides of mashed potato, Greek salad and the Italian peppers they were all so delicious.

i cant wait to recommend this place to all my friends and family and to bring them out here because while the prices were awesome the food was also spectacular. i am looking forward to going back and trying more things on the menu, but i know the muscles will be ordered over and over again as they...