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.
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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