Taverna Kyclades Astoria — Restaurant in New York

I had fond and vivid memories of eating at taverna kyclades in the past at the former location, and it's been years. MY trip to NYC after Thanksgiving I decided to dine at taverna kyclades for old time's sake and because there a yearning I couldn't shake. The food was exceptional because it reminded me of the dishes I had in Croatia. I did not make a reservation and understood I would have to weigh over 30 minutes to be seated. I expected that process because that was the process. The food and service were amazing, and I didn't mind the wait because my expectations were always exceeded. The former location in Astoria, the owner, would greet you and ask about you and the food served. There was an issue once with the octopus, which was corrected immediately. The octopus was different and did not have the texture or taste, and the owner noticed or was told it did not get a good reaction from the people at my table. The owner asked if there was something wrong, and we expressed how different the octopus was from previous orders. I was told it was a new supplier, and the owner fixed that by the next visit, and all was right again. I agree that it has been about ten years since I have eaten at taverna kyclades, and Astoria is the only location I visited. There are others, but I wanted to reminisce . The new location was the same as the old location as far as1 the setup . Tight seating is not a problem, but the aviances were not here. The decor was a more modern look. I overlooked that expecting the food to make up for it. We ordered appetizers first. The Greek salad, calamari fried, and grilled octopus. I specifically asked if there were tentacles available with the calamari and was told yes. We received two tentacles. I said OK and figured maybe that is what is allowed. The octopus was OK, not as good as I remember. There were three olives in the salad of mostly cucumbers. The feta was still good. The main course came out before we began the appetizers. The pink snapper was sold out, so I ordered what I ordered in the past the red snapper . That was salty and not grilled well, and I ordered that with the bones in and head on. I tried to enjoy the experience, food, and service but it wasn't giving. The free desert was not light and tasty it was as it was old and not glzae at all. I noticed an order of calamari served to the table in front of me, and it was loaded with tentacles. I decided then it wasn't me. I left a 15% tip, but I will not...

Taverna Kyclades

I’ve been coming to Taverna Kyclades for many years, and it continues to be one of our absolute favorite places. Not only because of the amazing food, but also because of the warm, family-like atmosphere that makes every visit special.

The food is always outstanding — fresh, flavorful, and authentically Greek. Every dish, from the seafood and fish to the salads and sides, is prepared with care and consistency. You can truly taste the quality and dedication in every bite.

But what truly makes Taverna Kyclades exceptional is the people who work there. I want to give special recognition to Stefano, the manager, whose professionalism, kindness, and attention to detail shine through in everything he does. His leadership creates the welcoming environment that keeps customers coming back year after year. Also, a big thank-you to Claire, always warm, elegant, and greeting everyone with a genuine smile; to Evangelis, who provides excellent, attentive service every single time; and to Peter, whose friendliness and great attitude make every visit even better.

We also want to thank all the staff members, from the kitchen to the servers and everyone working behind the scenes. Each of them contributes to the restaurant’s success through their hard work, dedication, and positive energy.

And, of course, our sincere congratulations to the owner of Taverna Kyclades. You’ve done an outstanding job selecting such a talented, kind, and professional team. It’s clear that everyone here cares deeply about what they do — and that’s what makes this place so special.

After so many years of coming here, I can honestly say that Taverna Kyclades is much more than just a restaurant — it’s a place where we always feel welcomed, appreciated, and part of the family.

Thank you to Stefano, Claire, Evangelis, Peter, and the entire team for so many years of excellence, warmth, and dedication. And congratulations to the owner for creating something truly exceptional.

With appreciation and gratitude, Néstor Meléndez &...

Took us 45 minutes to get here plus an additional hour and 40 minute wait to be seated. We wasted some time at a bar across the street and then we finally got a call that our table was ready. Inside was pretty small and hot…we got crammed into a small table for 5 people. Atmosphere was nice; I loved the music playing, it had Mykonos vibes. We started off with some cocktails, we got the Ios Passion and the Mastiha Mojito. I am obsessed with passion fruits lately so the Ios Passion was lovely. For apps we got Grilled Octopus, Fried Calamari, Saganaki, Large Greek Salad, Fried Veggie Chips, and Assortment of Dips. All the apps came out at different times, but the best was the octopus and the fried calamari. We weren’t able to enjoy the dips because the pita bread didn’t come out for a long time. We also didn’t get to have the salad because they forgot to bring it out.

For our main meals we got Lamb Chops, Lobster Pasta, and the Kyclades Special with lemon potatoes and fried potatoes. The lemon potatoes were WOW. I don’t even like potatoes like that but they tasted great. We asked for our lamb chops cooked medium and they came out super rare. We tried to just push through and not complain but the waiter himself noticed they were not cooked correctly. He was kind enough to take it back and cook it to the right temperature. The meat was soft and flavorful. I would definitely order it again.

At the end of dinner they give a free dessert. Some sort of flaky phyllo dough custard with syrup. It was very good as well. Although there were some hiccups with our dinner, the food was still very good. I think it's the best Greek Restaurant I’ve been to. Don’t think I would wait two hours again for dinner but if there was a shorter less than 30 minute wait I would definitely come back. But for anyone that is thinking of coming, the OCTOPUS & CALAMARI...