The full ranking
From Estiatorio Milos and the upscale Manhattan estiatoria to Astoria's beloved charcoal-grill tavernas, these are the New York Greek restaurants critics and locals rank highest for whole grilled fish, mezze, and hospitality.
Taverna Kyclades
Astoria's most-loved Greek seafood institution, famed for simply grilled whole fish, melt-in-your-mouth lemon potatoes, and free galaktoboureko. Michelin-listed, with an East Village outpost.
Elea
An easy-breezy bi-level Upper West Side room with whitewashed brick, doing rustic mezze, fresh whole fish, and standout lamb chops with fries. Michelin-listed and good for groups.
Loi Estiatorio
Chef Maria Loi's understated, ingredient-forward Midtown room, big on olive oil, yogurt, and wine, with skillful branzino and a standout Greek salad with creamy feta.
Pylos
A tiny, beloved contemporary taverna under a canopy of suspended terra-cotta pots, serving rustic home-style Greek cooking. Get the keftedakia, gigantes, and artichoke moussaka.
Astoria Seafood
Part fish market, part BYOB restaurant: hand-pick your snapper, porgy, shrimp, or octopus from the display and they grill it fresh. Loud, busy, and a great group value.
Gregory's 26 Corner Taverna
A tiny, charming, butcher-paper-table taverna that Michelin singles out for honest, intensely flavorful cooking, including excellent calamari, octopus, and tirokafteri.
Avra Madison
A glamorous, see-and-be-seen estiatorio with a flowered courtyard and a fish counter pricing the daily catch by the pound. Charcoal-grilled seafood, abundant mezze, and a lively after-work bar scene.
Estiatorio Milos
Costas Spiliadis's airy upscale temple to pristine Mediterranean seafood, where guests pick whole fish by the pound from an on-site ice display. Simply grilled with olive oil and lemon, it is the expense-account classic of Midtown.
Telly's Taverna
An old-school Astoria charcoal-grill taverna with a dozen-plus whole fish on ice, grilled vegetables, and spanakopita, plus a big garden and family-style service.
Molyvos
The Livanos-family classic, reopened in Hell's Kitchen, with one of the deepest all-Greek wine lists in the country and refined plates like lamb pie and bougatsa.
Ranked across 5 sources: The Infatuation · Best Greek Restaurants in NYC; Time Out New York · Best Greek Restaurants in NYC; MICHELIN Guide New York · Recommended; Yelp · Ranked by Rating (June 2026); Google Reviews · Ranked by Rating (June 2026). Full scoring is on the Methodology tab above.
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