Avra Estiatorio

Avra is in my building, so I guess I’m biased, but I’m convinced it’s the best place for Greek seafood in the city. It’s pricey, but you’ll get quality every time. The Greek spreads are delicious, and the tuna tartare here is honestly one of the best I’ve tried anywhere. Any fish you get will be super fresh so you can’t really go wrong. The only downside is how packed it gets, even during week nights, as it seems to be a haven for work dinners.

Awesome place with fresh seafood. Had the grilled octopus and their house greek salad to start, lamb and fish for dinner. They gave us a free desert on the house because there was a bit of a wait. Great food and amazing service. Honestly no complaints, everything tasted great!

A group of 5 of us decided to give Avra a try after reading some great reviews online. I was a little apprehensive as I’m not much of a seafood lover, but the food here is truly spectacular. Many Greek restaurants that tout themselves as «upscale» go too heavy on the cinnamon and seasonings, but Avra does everything cleanly and simply. The grilled calamari appetizer was a particular favourite of ours.
Unfortunately, the service here is Avra’s weakness. We were never offered either specials, or a wine list (or anything other than water, for that matter) we had to ask for it ourselves. When we inquired about the pre-​theatre menu we had seen on the restaurant’s website, our waiter actually scoffed out loud and rolled his eyes at us before deigning to rustle up the extra menus. After we ordered, he completely disappeared, and we were left to the food runners (who were friendly and AMAZING) for all of our needs.
Luckily for Avra, everything we ordered was so wonderful, I would still return for a second try, and hope that the wait staff is better trained to actually deal with human beings.

My boss lady treated me out to birthday dinner here awhile back and it was amazing (particularly because she ordered a ton of food. and it was all free! at least on my end). It’s pretty «upscale» and I’ve been back once thereafter with a friend from Korea but I don’t know that I’ll be back. The second time I went, they pushed us into a corner table and I asked to be moved and they wouldn’t move me, despite there having been seats available. The place is by no means small, it’s pretty spacious considering NYC standards.
Service was ok but food was really good. Red snapper was yummy, the zucchini chips are to die for, the fries are so good, and the oysters were so fresh!
It’s pricy though! For my bday dinner we spent around $ 400 and the second time I came back with a friend, we spent close $ 180.

So many delicious fish options. You really can’t go wrong with any of the options.
I had the Arctic char. It was simply fabulous. Even the bed of mountain greens was seasoned to perfection.
Do yourself a favor and get the sea bass skewer appetizer. The sauce is to die for.

Over the past two years, I’ve always enjoyed taking my family & friends to Avra both for the terrific meals and the awesome service. So, it was with delight that we went there last night, all 7 of us, probably mainly because we are all foodies.
These are my observations.
The food as usual was terrific, albeit way out on the pricey side of the ledger. I had a wild Branzino that cost $ 159.12. Even for me, that was super pricey. My error was in not asking for the price… on the other hand, having had my fair share of this fish, from California to Capri, and most places in between, I didn’t realize that there was going to be such a huge price variation. All things being equal, all the food was nice.
The service on the other hand, was most terrible. Our waiter, Mike (110), behaved as if we were intruding on his rather peaceful existence. My wife and everyone else in our party observed that he was condescending. At one point when we run out of our wine, and asked for a bottle of another wine, he pointedly told me that the Manager had left with the key to the cellar. First time that I’ve ever heard that used as an excuse… at least he gets credit for creativity. That young man ought to remember that he’s in the hospitality business, and the face of that establishment. Get out if it’s painful to be nice to paying customers in this hyper competitive industry.
$ 820.33 later, and it’s the first time that I feel badly treated at this otherwise fine restaurant. Henceforth, I’ll think really hard before going to this place. Sorry… but I can and I will spend my hard earned money where they’re glad to see me.

*SERVICE*
We thought the service was nice until we had to wait 15 minutes for drinks that never arrived. After receiving our food and getting our service from like 4 different servers, we had to ask for our drinks again. As someone with experience working in a restaurant setting, I personally felt the system was disorganized. We later asked who gets the tip, only to find out they have it working this way on purpose, as they split the tips evenly.
*FOOD*
I ordered a salmon filet with green beans (Fasolakia) instead of vegetables. The salmon was phenomenal. It was delicious and melted in my mouth. The beans were not bad.
My dad ordered «Lavraki» (Bass) and loved it as well. It comes by the pound.
*PRICE*
Expensive but it is high class mediterranean dining, so that should be expected.
*SETTING*
My eyes are pretty light sensitive but even this restaurant was too dark for my liking. The lighting is way too dim. Also, the tables are a little bit cramped. The decoration is pretty, but there’s nothing really exceptional about it. They have a display of fresh fish at the back of the restaurant along with many fruits.
*BATHROOMS*
The decoration is so gorgeous in the bathrooms, they look and smell very clean. There are little baskets in each stall with a supply of toilet paper so there is no running out.

We went for dinner on a Friday night. Two of us ordered the Black Sea bass for 2 to share, which was a bit over 2 pounds. I didn’t have time to take pictures of all the other dishes. The table was big enough but fitting 5 people in a cramped corner is a bit claustrophobic. Definitely very fresh, and deboning is always welcome.
The place was packed by 7, so make sure you have reservations. Service was good– I noticed the table was uneven and frowned just a bit and a waiter came in 10 seconds to fix the wobble. Impressive! I had 2 glasses of their house white wine — meh.
This is not your regular neighborhood mediocre Greek spot– this place is the real deal for good fish and ambience. The bathroom was a disappointment– tiny 2 stalled bathroom for a HUGE restaurant? Eh. They have a red lit x mas tree outside– cute.
All in all, I’d say this is going to be my go to for Greek food around my office.

The best tuna tartare I’ve ever had. Fresh chunks of tuna laid on a bed of avocado, and drizzled with honey ginger sauce for $ 22.50. The seafood dishes were good, but nothing special.
The servers didn’t pay much attention to us. They focused more on the wealthy customers that came in after us. At one point, we asked for bread, which took forever to arrive. Meanwhile, we saw them catering to the other tables around us.
They have a huge stand filled with fresh fish and ingredients at the back of the restaurant, beside the kitchen. It was interesting and beautiful to see.

As per their website, «from the moment you step through our doors you feel you’ve been transported to a Villa in Greece. You are surrounded in an authentic, cozy Mediterranean atmosphere with imported limestone and distressed wood floors, stone washed walls, exposed wood beams, and french doors that open to a beautiful flowered courtyard.’ Absolutely accurate, and I enjoyed everything I ate here. I love Greek food, and the mezedes and spreads (pikilia) were perfect.

Was it good? Yes. But I probably wouldn’t revisit. Nothing was as astounding as friends, family, and other reviews made it seem. Average Greek food for very big prices.
Tuna tartare was my favorite part of the meal. Fig ice cream with chocolate cake dessert was another favorite.
Washrooms were weird and confusing but the Greek music was nice in there lol

The food is great, ambiance and location.
Reason for not adding more stars is the hostesses are terrible and the «manager» acts like an entitled jerk. They are far from friendly or welcoming and act like you are more bothering them then being a guest. I didn’t realize informing you that our entire party has arrived (on time by the way) was going to be such an inconvenience for you. I am the first one to say my bosses are demanding & loud, however they are not disrespectful. I do not ever understand the snootiness of hostesses or managers at restaurants. Lets be real here. I’m sure this place will always be packed based on location and food quality alone. But I do really wish they could be a solid overall package and have great service too. The back takes care of their part wish the front could take care of theirs.
Getting past that, the waiters are great and the food is excellent. It comes out quick and is quite tasty. Really have never had anything I didn’t enjoy. The waiter also remembered us from the previous year and took car of us even though he was behind the bar that night. Props to him and props to the food.

Beautiful décor, decent service and palatable food.
The stuffed and grilled calamari was made with lousy feta cheese. My grilled shrimp with veggie mousaka was nice. My wife got the baked Chilean seabass (smothered in tomato sauce) which was good but this particular preparation didn’t do justice for such a beautiful cut of fish.
The molten chocolate cake… Not bad. The fig ice cream that came with it… Excellent.

Avra offers respite from traffic and congestion with a shaded retreat. Large plants and umbrellas beckon on a warm summer day. Indoors, tables sit cozily together. A communal table takes up residence towards the back, near the kitchen, where staff hastily displays produce and packs seafood on ice. With an upcoming dinner reservation, albeit later on in the evening, I was only interested in a light snack.
The server brought over a large basket of grilled bread, hummus, green and black olives, and raw radishes to stave off hunger while I reviewed the menu.
I selected the spanakopita and flash-​fried calamari to enjoy as I decompressed. The phyllo dough that encased the Spanish and feta mixture was soggy and the dish itself was served just warm, not hot. Incidentally, the leeks added a distinctive flavor to the dish. Much better was the kalamarakia (calamari) with two sauces, creamy pesto and rich tomato. The latter was incredibly flavorful.
Service was fine.

This spot is an oldie but goodie and rightfully so. The flavors coming out of the kitchen are making the dishes pop. Any fish here is a hit, but if soft shell crabs are in season and on the menu, don’t hesitate, get em’!

When we walked up to the host I was nervous because we did not have a reservation and the place was PACKED.
It was a birthday blessing that we got a seat!
the service was great, the waiter was in the weeds when we got there — so after a bumpy start — it was perfect!
The Greek salad was pure, fresh perfection
Tuna tartar was smooth and flavorful — no crackers or bread to go with it which was strange… still… great
Grilled octopus… eh… good but I have had much better
The guy had the sardines. They tasted like fish dipped in fish oil on a hot tin and fishy roof. He loved it, so I guess it was perfect
I had the Youvetsi! OH MY AMAZING! So good! So darn good!
I do not know if I would go back — but it was good. I was spoiled in Baltimore… I am looking for a ma/​pop genuine place.
But still — very good. If I was going there with friends — I would not be upset with the choice.

I came here a few years ago and had an amazing experience so I wanted to try this place again. I will say that compared to my experience years ago, my visit this time was not as great as before.
We opted to get a few apps and share. We got 2 types of oysters (6 of each kind), tuna tartare, sardines, and octopus. The hummus that they give with the bread is so good! I think I overdid it with the bread and hummus I was full even before our dishes started coming out.
The oysters were fresh and had a hint of sweetness.
Tuna tartare — it was fresh and well marinated, the avocado on the bottom added a creaminess that went well with the tuna.
The sardines are another good dish. Very simply grilled but done to perfection.
The octopus… this is where I was a little disappointed. There was an odd texture that I never experienced with octopus. I don’t think I would order this again.
As for dessert, we got the yogurt which was really good! The Greek yogurt was tangy and thick and the fruit that was on top added a little bit of sweetness that complimented the yogurt.

Lovely atmosphere for dinner.
Complimentary hummus/​radish/​olive with bread welcomes you to the restaurant (the hummus was decent).
We ordered the grilled octopus & truffle fries as an appetizer. The octopus was cooked pretty well, although I have had melt-​in-​your-​mouth octopus before. The truffle fries were light for fries. It could have had a little more truffle oil. They do give a large basket of fries, making it worth the price.
Entrees:
1) Yevesta — the sauce/​orzo is what made this dish phenomenal. They give a decent amount of seafood, but the sauce is VERY good. I would order this again!
2) Artic char was a nice light, flaky fish. Went very well with the greens.
The service was good, at first (as there were only 3 – 4 tables) Once the 6:00 PM/​dinner rush started, the service significantly declined. Granted, almost every table was occupied, and it was a Wednesday night, however, it does not excuse our waiter from disappearing. We had to flag down someone to get anything.

The second time I’ve been to Avra, the second time I’ve left unimpressed. Both times I have went for a work event. We made reservations for 12:45 and were seated promptly upon arrival. They have outdoor/​indoor seating. The service was very good, our waiter was very attentive and friendly.
The hummus app with radishes and olives was nothing to brag about but it was a nice touch. Our group of started with an order of Yemista Kalamarakia –Grilled Calamari stuffed with four Greek cheeses and fresh herbs. I was very surprised how this was prepared. Served whole calamari (kind of interesting actually) and stuffed with various cheeses. It reminded me of stuffed shells, but with a calamari exterior versus dough. Honestly enjoyed this more than my entrée.
I wanted to eat on the lighter side so went with the Tuna Nicoise. Seared tuna is something I really really enjoy, more than anything else on this planet — and I honestly did not enjoy this at all. With 4 or 5 small slices of seared tuna over greens thrown in with some potatoes and tomatoes, it seemed unsatisfying. Not the freshest tuna I’ve been served.
Cool ambiance but the food just doesn’t do it for me.

I really liked my experience here… the Hummus appetizer with olives and radishes was very good and flavored well and a great way to start the meal. My entrée was a fish special that was cooked perfectly and seasoned pretty well.
This was a great spot for great Mediterranean food in a nice setting — I’d definitely recommend this spot. The place is upscale, but with a relaxed attitude.