Symi Restaurant — Restaurant in Town of Huntington

*update to the lack of kaluha "situation". They now do have it in stock. And there is a great story of how my father brought a bottle to give them as he intends to be a regular I am sure, but they got it in stock for him and sent him home with his bottle unopened. Great customer service. And a pretty funny story if you here the longer version of course.

This is the old Vespa. Where its predessessor was dark and moody in feel, the decor is beautiful and bright now. They really hit Mediterranean feel on the head here.

Drinks were good, though they don't have kaluha, they use the offbrand version. The pineapple vodka was smooth and refreshing, though not very potent somehow. The mojitos were tasty.

The food: they recommend the Symi chips, but honestly, they are basically tempura batter on eggplant slices they come out very fast, but also luke warm. There's no crisp like you'd expect from a chip, flavor was fine, but really lack luster overall.

The pits bread and tsaziki was traditional and good.

The calamari was average. While the marinara was good, the calamari itself i described that night as "meh". I would not order that as an appetizer again. The breading lacked flavor and they seemed nuked rather than baked or fried missing the crunch aspect.

When ordering your meal expect the whole fish or sea creature when ordering. I feel that's something that should always be told to patrons as some people have a big aversion to the presentation. You'll see what I mean in the photos. The tiger shrimp is what I ordered and while it was good, the plate comes with 2 on it and it's as much of as the steaks at around 56 dollars for the plate. Flavor wise, it's simply a denser shrimp. I wouldn't order it again simply because I don't enjoy shrimp as much as I do steaks in general. The sauce that it came with was flavorful and had a hint of spice.

We had Michelle as our bartender/waitress and she was pretty attentative overall and really pushed Thursday nights. She left at some point and we had no idea. Our bartenders after that were friendly enough but weren't as personable as Michelle had been and towards the end of the night were so engrossed in conversation with themselves it took us 3-4 mins to catch their attention from 3 feet away. They gave us a complimentary drink for their oversight.

Overall it was a good evening, albeit loud. Not a little loud, but yell to be heard by the person next to you kind of environment. Not top choice for a nice dinner and conversation but a good choice overall.

Bill for two people having full meals and multiple drinks...

I've been looking for a place to take family - Grandma, grandkids, brother's family, etc. - out for the holidays. We all enjoy Greek food very much, so I thought 'why don't I do take out and sample some of the key dishes before committing?' which I did on a Sunday evening. I have to say that over the phone and in person, the staff were friendly and welcoming - could not have been nicer.

However, the bill for takeout (some appetizers and 2 soups, no main courses) was shockingly high $157?? We ordered the avgolemono soup and I was at least expecting the full size soup container for $14 each, but they gave us the small size. (I order PHO and get a HUGE bowl of soup for that price.) Anyway, the color and texture seemed right (bright yellow & smooth, no curdling), but it had NO lemon flavor! Zero. How can there be no lemon in Greek LEMON soup???? Also, it had a burnt after taste. Yuck. Huge disappointment. :(

However, the spanakopita was flaky, fresh and delicious. Yum. The calamari was wonderful and prepared in a way I wasn't expecting. (Not fried?) However, there was not enough sauce to dip all of the calamari. :( (3 teaspoons tops?? C'mon.) Also, the meatballs with tzatziki sauce was also delicious. We also ordered the leek rice and the broccolini with feta - both side dishes were tasty.

Soooo, I know it takes a while to sort stuff out with a new establishment, and I want to give credit where credit is due. I don't know if this was a 1-off or if there are still some quality issues going on in the kitchen, but I do hope they are able to continue to address areas where things fall short.

The restaurant looked clean and bright and festive inside and the staff was totally lovely. As a corporate coach, I also encourage corporate teams to solicit constant feedback and keep that loop open! Sometimes staff tells you what you want to hear, as do customers who don't want to complain. Continuous quality improvement is not a one and done, it's an ongoing activity!! Not sure if another visit is in the cards for us to do more taste-testing, but I do wish Symi luck...

As someone who loves to cook and appreciates the art of flavor and presentation, Symi in Northport is an absolute standout. From the moment we sat down, it was clear this wasn’t just another Greek restaurant – it’s a culinary experience that blends authenticity with refinement.

For appetizers, we dove into the Sesame Feta and Grilled Octopus. Both dishes were beautifully plated and did not disappoint. The Sesame Feta was perfectly crisp on the outside and warm, creamy inside – a delightful balance of textures. The octopus was tender, smoky, and full of flavor, setting the bar high for the rest of the meal.

Dinner was just as impressive. We ordered the snapper, chicken kabobs, and pork chops. The snapper, recommended by our server Alexandra (who clearly knows her wines and menu), was light, moist, and incredibly flavorful. The chicken kabobs were juicy and perfectly charred, while the pork chops were cooked to perfection – tender, succulent, and full of character. Each bite felt like a testament to the care and skill in Symi’s kitchen.

To accompany the meal, we enjoyed a 2015 Cabernet from Greece, a bold yet smooth pairing that elevated each dish. Alexandra’s knowledge and attentiveness made the experience even better.

I don’t mind a bit of a drive for a great meal – and at 40 minutes from home, Symi is absolutely worth it. It’s rare for me to find a place I’m eager to revisit, but I’m already planning my next trip to work my way through the menu.

If you’re craving authentic, flavorful Greek cuisine that’s crafted with love and artistry, Symi is the place to go. Whether you're a foodie or just looking for a fantastic meal, this...