Avra Midtown Reviews

Totally enjoyed this restaurant! Great atmosphere and wait staff. The food was beyond excellent. When in New York City be sure to try the amazing Greek restaurant. All food was beautifully prepared. Excellent experience!

I loved the food at this restaurant. I ordered several dishes, thinking the portions would be small (as is often the case in NY). To my surprise, not only was the food excellent, but the portions were really big. I loved the stuffed calamari and the mussels. Great ouzo. All reasonably priced for NY standards (spent 100 for two people). Impeccable friendly service. And, surprise, I then got airline points as this restaurant is a member of the various airline dining programmes.

Avra is a gem in Midtown Manhattan. Everything from the ambience, the music, the staff, etc make you feel like you are at a very special place. I only stopped by for dessert since we had eaten somewhere else, but the homemade Greek yogurt I had was possibly the best yogurt I’ve ever tasted. Topped with fresh cherry preserves, honey and walnuts – it was delectable. The cherry on top was seeing two of my favorite professional athletes dining right by me! I was very starstruck and very content from my delicious dessert. Next time I come, I definitely plan on trying Avra’s famed seafood!

We found this to be an excellent restaurant. Not been before. A little hard to find but worth the walk from the Hilton. Would definitely return. The staff was great and food delicious. Wine list OK. A little Greek mixed with seafood

When in NYC and you desire Greek/Mediterranean Cuisine, you MUST visit AVRA! Make your reservation ASAP, and plan to enjoy fabulous and tasty dishes. We loved the Grilled Halibut and Salmon - the best we have ever eaten. You MUST order one of the french fry sides! Try one of their Specialty Drinks and/or order from their extensive wine list. Arturo manages a professional group of wait staff, and the bar/kitchen time of service is world class. We love AZRA; you will, too. Enjoy!

The place , upper east side , you think immediately it’s expensive , and if you see price list it’s true , but , the menu 29.50 , one start, main course and dessert , the best on the city in terms of quality and quantity , very very good

Very busy at lunch but weather was nice enough to sit outside. Very nice calamari grilled and grilled lavraki. Lunch set menu is very reasonable and fast and efficient service.

That about says it. Nothing is reasonably priced. For the duration of the dinner you’ll forget because the food is that tasty. But it’ll hit you hard when you get the bill. All dishes were prepared very well. Service was excellent. As it should be. I”ll be there again, but only with my corporate credit card.

This is a MUST for every trip we make to NYC. Reservations are imperative...so plan a little ahead. I can't say enough about how wonderful the waitstaff treat you. And the food...simply perfection! The seafood was swimming in the ocean just hours before we ordered it. Lively atmosphere. I have nothing but the highest praise for this restaurant.

The food is outstanding. The service inconsistent. Sometimes way too crowded. Sometimes the hostess is too busy chatting to be attentive. Sometimes the server is having a bad day. And it shows. But, again, the food is still great. Just do not order egg dishes. Not good. So I put it all together. And come up with 4 stars.

I love seafood and this place made it very difficult to decide on a dish because everything is equally amazing. The smooth hummus, radishes and olives that are presented with grilled bread is a fantastic start. The halibut was moist and flavorful and just the right size. The salmon was spot on as well. The molten lava cake with the fig ice cream is the perfect ending and not too sweet. Just the right amount of chocolate in the cake. The ice cream can stand on its own and I wish I could order just a huge bowl of that, and I don't even like figs.

What a delicious brunch! Located across from The Lexington Hotel. Even though it is in a busy part of the city, once inside, we felt we were in a Greek garden. We enjoyed the Chicken Frites with oregano fries, Mediterranean salad, and poached tomato with tzatziki and Fig pancakes and berries. Both were amazing. For dessert, we shared Olive Oil Cake with lemon ganache. We will get that again. Our waiter, Alex made us feel like his only guests. We returned later that evening for coffee and we were surprised by a plate of assorted cookies from him.

This is a truly great Greek restaurant. Only been once, but it will now be a “must go” on future trips. We shared two appetizers: Oyster mushrooms and Octopus carpaccio. Both appetizers were exceptional, and I am not an octopus fan. We shared a fresh fish (Greek sea bass) and mountain greens for our entree. Both very tasty. Nice wine list as well. Of course, had to try the Baklava which was also very good... not too sweet, just right. There is a bar, but we sat in the dining area. Nice environment with white tablecloths. On the way to the table, we could view the fresh fish options.

Had a day trip to Manhattan to meet some business colleagues who are also friends. Luckily the most convenient part of town to meet was midtown, and Avra was chosen. What fabulous food and hospitality. Even though the busy lunch crowd was winding down we arrived for late lunch. By 2 the noise and crowds were gone. We decide to eat a large selection of appetizers tapas style. Fried cheese beyond description. Grilled octopus had nice smoked flavor and very tender Three traditional SPREADS were anything but ordinary. Spicy red pepper, eggplant and one with caviar mousse. And then grilled shrimp. Could have done more, but can’t wait to go back and tase the mains

Had to wait 30 minutes even though we had a reservation. Very noisy and crowded even on a Monday. Good and ample food and excellent wine selection. Added bonus was Faye Dunaway having dinner at our adjoining table.

Excellent service, nice ambiance but a little noisy. Nice midtown location. Average food. Pricy, 1 salad, 2 entrees, 2 sides, 2 drinks, 2 desserts, 1 espresso over $300 before tip.

The restaurant was close to our hotel, that's how we decided to try it but we don't regret. The waiters are super friendly welcoming you, we got seated in a round table. The atmosphere was very nice, it was full house but it was great. The food is very nice, mostly sea food. The waiters help you to make the right choice with food and to make the good selection of wine. All in all this was a great experience

We have been here multiple times but this time some of the magic had worn off. Both nights we were packed in tightly with other diners and I could barely hear my wife -- no normal conversation. Food is good, but service this time was was less attentive. We will not be back at those noise levels.

After pizza for lunch, we were craving fresh, clean food for dinner in a quiet, sophisticated setting....AVRA was the perfect choice! Our waiter, Dimitri, was great ~ his wine recommendation was spot-on and the bartender did a great job with a spicy, skinny margarita. The orange-infused radishes and tzatziki were incredibly refreshing and the calamari was the perfect hit of protein. Loved our experience...and we can be pretty picky.

The Avra Estiatorio is amazing and well-renowned restaurant that offers guests superb quality service and highly delicious Greek style cuisine ranging from grilled fish, lamb chops, lobster pasta and many other dishes. In September of 2025, I brought and treated my wife and myself for dinner at Avra Estiatorio, specifically the Avra 48th Street branch to celebrate my wife’s birthday. We very much enjoyed our dining experience!!! We were kindly greeted by the restaurant’s staff and were quickly provided with a very clean and comfortable dining table. Both my wife and I were impressed with the restaurant’s ambiance and interior settings. We definitely enjoyed viewing the chic white color scheme on the walls and ceiling, dim lighting, the marble floor and display of fresh food, all of which helped evoke an image of a serene and tranquil Greek courtyard or village. Our server, Esmeralnta S and her colleague were both consummate professionals. They both did a great job on addressing our menu inquiries, properly documenting our orders, and routinely checked with us to see if we were having a great time and enjoying our meals. They were very kind and welcoming and made us feel right at home. In addition to great atmosphere and settings, both my wife and I loved our meals. We both ordered and enjoyed our appetizers and our lamb chops entree. We found our meal to be mouthwatering delicious because it was perfectly cooked and superbly seasoned!!! Additionally, our cheesecake dessert was off the charts and wonderfully delightful!!! My wife and I would love to thank Avra Estiatorio for providing us with an exceptional and memorable dining experience, and for helping to celebrate my wife’s birthday. We highly recommend for everyone to visit and dine at this outstanding restaurant!!!

Open Table recently listed Avra Madison on East 60th Street as one of the 100 best restaurants in the US. Their $29.50 three course lunch is a bargain. Starting with a Greek Salad—where did they find such flavorful tomatoes in the middle of winter?—followed by a well-prepared Lavraki Mediterranean Sea bass, and finishing with baklava made for a wonderful meal. Will return.

This restaurant never disappoints. We’ve been going for years and it is always wonderful. The fish is fresh and expertly prepared. From appetizers to wine and dessert, it’s all good! Highly recommend this restaurant for its food and its service.

Food and service perfect, we ordered 2 dishes, and both came perfectly prepared, an explosion of taste. And we were very well served. Beautiful place and pretty nice

While the menu was vast and deep, much of the food lacked any real flavor. The tuna appetizer was good but bland, the shrimp was just ok. Dover sole was very very good and the highlight of the meal. Bronzino was good but again, short on flavor. Server was good but disappeared at times. I think if the food had more flavor, this would be much better. Very busy with a ton of tables so character lacking a bit as well.

I lived in Greece when I was a teenager for 2 summers with a family. THIS is authentic very good Greek food. The waiters & hostess are wonderful. I wanted to try everything on the menu, so next time in NYC I will order what I didn't have. Across the street from The Lexington Hotel, great location. A MUST to go here... Yasou

Very disappointed. Tuna you couldn’t cut through, scattered service, mopping floors while we were dining.. better off cooking at home! Nothing exciting about this restaurant at all.

Great traditional Greek seafood restaurant. A large outdoor area which is perfect for nice weather. The prix fixe lunch is a great deal. Lots of choices and very fresh food. The calamari was perfectly cooked and the grilled fish was also really good. Generous portions. Can also have the dessert to go.

I have been eating at this restaurant every month 3-4 times. It is a little more then my company budget for the prefix menu, but I DON"T CARE! I will go there and pay the additional amount myself. The food is incredible a religious experience. Every customer from the jaded New Yorker, former IRS agent who when I mention it still talks about how incredible it is to my mother who keeps asking if they can fedex the lobster pasta to her (laughing still). The wine list is fantastic including the wines by the glass. The food I have not had a bad meal. The Calamari, Tuna Tartare, Greek Salad, fish, Lobster Pasta all are incredible! The service is excellent. They sense your every need. They know the regular customers and greet you with a warm welcome that you would receive in a small town restaurant! Everyone is simply lovely! Be sure to make a reservation they do take them on open table.

Have been going there for years and always thought it was one of the best fish restaurants in the city. However, this is no longer the case. While they take pride in their fish reputation, they do not deliver and, in fact, have not told the truth about their fish. It took me several emails to get them to finally admit that their Branzino is not a wild fish and is farm-raised while they sell it as a wild caught fish. Anyone who knows fish understands there is a big difference in fish and wild is always much better and very much healthier. It also costs much more, so selling it as wild at very high prices and not telling the truth is unacceptable and dishonest. Accordingly, we will not go there again as we will never know the truth about any of their fish. Too bad because it used to be one of our favorites. Maybe because they have grown so big with many restaurants that they, like many larger corporations, lose connections to the values and quality that established their business

The good: Saturday night, place was packed, so a lot of noise and great festive atmosphere. Food was classic yummy greek cuisine: saganaki was excellent, as well as the avra fries (zucchini fries) , fish was fresh and tasty, greek salad classic. Service was not great though, waiter forgot drinks, spoon to serve, etc. But the hype part: way too expensive for this kind of cuisine. It is not fine dinning, and yet they charge like is was a michelin star establishment. I have been to other good greek eateries in NY for half the price. So the difference should be a great service or superbe decor. Which we had none. Oh well, in NYC you pay for hype.

Delicious appetizers and wonderfully fresh fish and the octopus app is tremendous. The spreads are great as is the bread. Nice ambiance and a pretty place, noisey and crowded. Picking the fish in the back gets expensive but it’s very good as is the service.

I was hesitant to dine at such a fine establishment because it’s not common where I am from but our server Petros made us feel at home. The food was incredible. We had the 3 course meal. I was amazed at the care from all staff, not just our server. I work as a server back home so I hold others to the same standard I hold myself at. Petros went above and beyond with our table and others. He is very obviously a team player and such a people person. I can’t wait to come back.

Very crowdy, small plates and portions, expensive. Ordered the fish, good but no more. Stressed waiters. Looked like the kitchen was struggling to deliver on time.

A gentleman that owns an antique store near the hotel I was staying at recommend Avra. The food, atmosphere and service were all top notch. The only thing that didn't match their high standard is the bathroom......and I'll leave it at that! Highly recommend otherwise.

What an amazing lunch and adorable bubbly waitress—Maureen. The food was excellent—and the service and ambience were amazing. Definitely recommend.

This restaurant is the very best Greek Restaurant I have ever been to. It is that good. I was staying at the Lexington across the street and the hotel sent me over there. The service was great as was the food. Take note that they are always busy....and they have a nice patio area. I ate at the bar which was not comfortable. Too many chairs. But I met some interesting people there. Get a reservation and you won’t be disappointed.

We decided to try this Greek restaurant as it was close to our hotel, menus and premises looked nice and reviews were favourable. The place is traditionally decorated. The tables are 'snug'. It was 7pm on a Monday and the restaurant was full of city workers. We turned up in jeans and trainers which maybe annoyed the management but we were on holiday so didn't care. The menu choice is mainly fish-based. My husband opted for lamb which he thoroughly enjoyed and I went for Spanikopita and broccoli bale side. The food was nice ...but less flavoursome than food you eat in Greece. The service, however, was diabolical. A tall supervisor waiter leaned over me to place my water. Then he gave me my husband's steak knife seemingly on purpose. Then he avoided eye contact when we signalled we were ready to order.... and later to clear our plates. Then he leaned over me again to offer my water to my husband who did not request it and had an alternative beverage. I complained to the Maitre d' about the arrogant employee who offered dessert on the house - which we did not accept....we would have preferred to not have our dining experience ruined. A really poor show from an otherwise nice dining venue. Bottom line.....a tall, arrogant, male supervisor needs training.

While the restaurant is beautiful and we had lovely drinks at the bar up to a point, we were harassed by another customer who was clearly inebriated and management did nothing. What we learned was the scene there is wealthy men trying to pick up women and feeling entitled to inappropriate behavior, which evidently is endorsed by management as no one intervened when specifically two women asked for help.

The entire experience was wonderful. The many courses we had all tasted great. I note the spreads were particularly good, The fish was some of the best. Even the deserts were special. The wine selection could not be beat. I do enjoy non alcoholic beer and this place did not have any. That needs to change. Very pricey but it's NYC. Also the service almost too attentive!

Have been here many times over the years. It's always reliable & predictable: nice dining room, great food, very fresh fish & attentive & efficient servers

We chose a late afternoon outdoor lunch. They offer a wonderful 3 course pre-fixe lunch. The tables were well spaced. The wait staff was very attentive. They kept our water glasses filled. Meal was nicely timed. Greenery was lovely. We were offered delicious bread, hummus, olives and radishes while looking over menu. We were very pleased with all of our meal and certainly did not feel rushed. Great way to spend our afternoon

A big place with inside and outside tables. The restaurant was full when we arrived at 7:15PM. We were sited outside. It was a bit warm and humid but fine. We took a salad and grilled halumi to start with and fresh fish for mains with two glasses of wine. Food was very good, fish were fresh, service was fast and professional and atmosphere was great. We ended up paying $200 including service.

Simply delicious, everything was perfect. Great experience. Clams were my favorite, deffinately coming back!

An excellent meal with superb service. Octopus appetizer was best ever had. Not inexpensive but worth it!

We went here in October and had a very good meal. Maybe a bit on the pricey side but just about worth it. My wife and I shared a large red snapper which was very fresh and delicious. all of the food was good quality and the wine list not too silly on price. Overall we had a very good meal.

Nice fresh fish that is sold by the pound. Great selection. Service was superb and was seated as promised. Tables of 2 kind of close together so your neighbor will be in your conversation. Fries were out of sight but on the expensive side. They let us sit for hours which was so nice. Waiters were very informative. Spouse ate halibut. They do aim to please. No pressure to do anything. A pleasant evening.

The noise in this restaurant just blasts you as you walk in the door! Fortunately, with understanding assistance from the helpful staff, we were able to find a table where with some effort we could actually hear ourselves talk. Food and service were excellent. Our favorite dish by far was the Stuffed Calamari, three large squid stuffed with three Greek cheeses and fresh herbs, just a wonderful mix of tastes and textures. I would go back, but only very early or very late in hopes of finding the place less packed and less overwhelmingly noisy.

The fish was good, overall the menu did not have enough of the more traditional Greek food options (menu was a bit limited with options). Overall too costly for the options. We love Greek food and been in many good Greek restaurants before. This was nothing special.

We go here often and the price fixe lunch option is best value. I recommend the grilled octopus to start or their Greek salad and the bronzino or fish of the day! This place is always booked so plan ahead for lunch.

While on a recent business trip to NYC, a friend of mine suggested we eat at Avra. It was my first time at this restaurant but it will not be my last. Let's get to the point of this review: Constantina, our server. SERVICE WAS PERFECT. If you have ever wondered "what is it like to have perfect service from a waiter/waitress at a restaurant?", make a reservation at Avra, ask to sit in one Constantina's tables and you will finally know what it means. From the inception of our seating, Constantina walked gracefully to our table and her appearance, alone, makes you feel you are in good hands. She offered to bring us the essentials like bread and soon invited us to consider ordering wine. Not an upsell, mind you, but, knowing how to read patrons, she realized we were both hungry, ready to enjoy a great conversation and about to dine. After an excellent presentation and pouring of the wine, Constantina offered her suggestions on what meals would accompany our excellent choice of refreshment. Her suggestions were right on the money. The branzino at Avra was cooked to perfection; my steak was absolutely divine and amazingly cooked to the exact temperature I requested. About a few minutes into our meal, however, it began to rain very hard. Our table and chairs were getting wet and soon everyone rushed into the shelter of the restaurant and demanding seats -- much to the horror of waiting patrons. Any other server might have shrugged their shoulders, cast us off as unlucky, and gone on with their business. But, not Constantina. She found a new gear and kicked into hyper drive. Calmly, smoothly, she went about making sure each of her tables' patrons were under shelter, drying off and comfortable. She asked each of us to be patient and she and her boss, Niko Nikolopoulos, worked to figure out how best to take care of all of us. I had lost hope of a new table, let alone wondering what that last bite of that juicy, perfectly cooked steak would have tasted like. To my surprise, I soon felt the soft touch of Constantina's hands on my elbow as she advised us she had arranged new seating. She guided us to the table, made sure we were comfortable and to our absolute delight, new dishes were going to be sent (many of her other patrons had finished or just left). Folks, this example of grace under pressure, and her sheer professional polish underscores Constantina's expertise as a server in an industry with very few of good ones. Service like this I have never experienced in any city of the world. How comforting to know that in the great, huge state of New York, there on 48th Street, exists a server who accentuates an excellent restaurant by her dedication to doing a job well done. FOOD The food at Avra was absolutely exquisite. and I highly recommend it for a friendly meal or a business meeting. The wine selection is robust and the place is clean, comfortable with indoor and outdoor seating. Truth be told, however, I will be returning to Avra on my next trip to NYC to just experience the perfection of service personified by Constantina. To Avra staff and management, thank you for taking care of me and my friend and for handling such an unexpected event like the crazy rainfall with such style and attention. More important, thanks to whomever hired Constantina. Please, do not lose her ever. She is your diamond.

We looked and looked for a place to eat dinner and ended up right across the street from our hotel at this great place! It looks small but has more seating in the back. It isn’t right on the street, but set back a bit in a courtyard (we just happened to be staying in a room overlooking the restaurant and snapped a picture from our room!) It was PACKED on a Monday night. We didn’t have reservations so sat at the bar where they have full menu service. We ended up getting several “appetizers” so we could try multiple things. We had the following: 1. Gigantes (large lima beans) which were amazing. 2. Spanakopita which was traditional other than the filo. It was not the flaky layer filo I am used to. It was more of a pie crust. That may be traditional but not what I was expecting. It was still excellent as the filling was wonderful. 3. Tuna Tartare was fresh and flavorful and served with house made waffle chips. 4. Malpeque Oysters (I did not have these because I am not an oyster fan but my husband is. He has eaten them all over and said these were some of the best he ever had.) 5. Greek Oregano Fries were amazing. Perfect balance of flavor and were fresh cut. They served the meal with bread (which was awesome) and 3 ramekins. One filled with assorted olives, one with marinated radishes, and one with hummus (which we loved and even dipped our Greek Oregano Fries in!) We shared a bottle of wine (they have an extensive list) and our total was about $175 with tax and tip.

Everything we ordered was amazing! We ordered 5 plates plus dessert for three people and everything was delicious!

I wanted to celebrate my birthday in M anhattan In a great seafood restaurant, everything was just awesome: from service food , wine till dessert it was just the perfect party . Thank you to all the staff, you made my birthday memorable .

The food was good but the service was terrible. They did not offer us indoor seating although we were fully vaccinated. Waiters rarely came to our table to ask us if we needed anything. The waiter was rude and did not accommodate our needs. We ordered several courses and one plate never came. Food was not worth the price. We will not go back and do not recommend.

Our usual Greek go to Restaurant was not open but recommended this one. It was an excellent meal. I had the halibut which was perfectly grilled. My wife’s salmon was also very nice. They did not have moussaka on the menu which is odd for a Greek place. The baclava was delicious.

1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 We happened upon this place on the way to another place. We were surprised as this place had only been open 3 weeks. What an amazing meal and experience. Chi was our waitress who was in training. We started with the octopus, which was amazing and big enough to share with 4 people. It was so tender and the flavor was unbelievable. Main dish was the fish by the pound:FAGRI the “king of the agean” – firm, tasty mediterranean white snapper. The manager came out to serve the fish and also plucked the cheek meat for us. It was a very flavorful light fish grilled to perfection. Finally, we were given 2 deserts for our anniversary. The Baklava and YIAOURTI ME MELI. First the Baklava was the best I've eaten, sorry to all by greek friends who think they make the best. I don't like Greek yogurt, but I couldn't stop eating it here. I have no idea why it was sooo good but I wanted to got back the next day and order it again. Avra is definitely on our list to return. Since NYC has so many places to eat we rarely go to the same spots over and over, but this is the exception.

Gentlemen, do you want to score huge first date points? My suitor took me to Avra for our first date meal and my first thought was, “He knows what I’m worth.” Lovely ambience, stunning food and great company. A must repeat. By the way, the Baklava is lethal!

We always dine here on our first night of our regular visits to the city. It has become our favorite restaurant anywhere. Last night we were joined by a friend who was likewise impressed. We thought the food last night was especially good. My octopus carpaccio was the best carpaccio I’ve ever had and I frequently order any flavor of carpaccio that shows up on a menu. My wife and our guest had the tuna and they were both raving about it. My main - Arctic Char - was memorable. Our guest loved his Halibut and my wife - a light eater - had the crab cake starter as a main and was a happy camper. The service was excellent. We were in the back dining room for the first time and now prefer it over the front room. Agra is not cheap but you always at least get your moneys work. Thank you Agra, we will be back.

A friend had suggested this restaurant and was a bit disappointed. Great menu but wait staff was not so great! We went for my birthday and waited at least 10 minutes before someone came over for drink order. Food was good but waiter was not on point, ordered an after drink, a Porto and Waiter totally forgot to bring it! Wouldn’t go back

This is a restaurant you MUST visit. the food and the visuals are spectacular. there is lots off people watching. get dressed up or not.....whatever you feel like. its special

Had a business lunch here and found the food delicious and service efficient and professional. Very crowded so a reservation is a must. In spite of the crowds I found that you can still have a relaxing conversation. My friend forgot his briefcase and we found it waiting for us at reception when we returned. Good for seafood!

This place is ridiculous. We had a reservation for 1/9. They called on 1./9 and cancelled the reservation because of the weather. They were closing early. What is the purpose of a reservation. If they have no honor, how can anyone trust the quality of the food ands service. I think they had very few reservations and decided it was not worthwhile to honor ours.

Three of us enjoyed a wonderful dinner here in September. The Arctic Char and the Salmon were the best we have ever had anywhere. The arugula salad was limp and the dressing was tasteless, I wouldn't order that again. The crab cakes were delicious! They were very busy the night we were there, so the service was a bit spotty. When we first arrived, our waiter was all over us, then we never saw him again. We had to flag someone else down for drinks and wine. I would highly recommend this restaurant if you are a fish lover. The atmosphere is very busy but lots of fun. I felt it was mostly locals rather than tourists, which is a good sign!!

Excellent Mediterranean food, beautiful space, great service. Had a lovely lunch at Agra, it is a beautiful space. The food selection was great, the service was excellent. A

Cosy restaurant with good mood lighting, good service and great food. It does describe itself as a Greek restaurant but the menu leans heavily to locally popular dishes and fayre. A Greek accent to the cuisine but not like any conventional Greek restaurant i have eaten in. Nevertheless it is very convenient in location if you are staying in Midtown East. Priced quite reasonably too although we did not have alcohol. I would visit this restaurant again.

As a semi-frequent guest at Ammos, my recent visit to Avra just a few blocks away allowed me to compare/contrast the two. Wine List - I love having a large half bottle list, and Avra certainly does (although my first choice was not available) - advantage Avra. Appetizers - while the crabcake at Avra was tasty, I have had better lentils elsewhere and Ammos gives you two crabcakes for just one dollar more (albeit slightly smaller) - advantage Ammos.Plaki - my favorite dish - the Chilean Sea Bass was slightly more tender at Avra, but the tomato broth at Ammos is a better accompaniment (this almost feels like a heavy sauce at Avra) - advantage Ammos. Dessert - the semolina custard pie at Avra is to die for - advantage Ammos. Prices - both fairly expensive. Service - both professional, neither outstanding. Atmosphere - both loud with table crowding. Conclusion - while my meal at Avra was excellent, it only beats out Ammos because of the incredible semolina custard dessert

The food is authentic Greek fare, with fresh fish and salads. The restaurant itself is so beaut inside. Go and people watch for lunch you may see a celeb or two

Exceptional service, warm ambiance. Generous portions, food cooked as requested. Popular for a reason. Excellent wine list.

Our holiday group of 5 celebrated the New Year at Avra Midtown. It was lively, with a full house, and nice buzz, but we could converse and hear each other at our table nicely. The food is delicious, and everyone enjoyed their choices. The fish soup is especially good, and the Greek salad was something special. The fish dishes were fresh and excellent. The desserts were real treats, especially the olive oil sponge cake. The servers were efficient and helpful. I would strongly recommend Avra Midtown.

I was proposed by a friend to visit the specific restaurant but from the entrance you understand the reason why is established already more than 20 years. At the entrance a very polite lady that speaks both Greek and English language try to find the best available for our company, even we haven’t book a table in advance.. From the time we sat on the table we received a special welcome felling from the waiters ( Giorgos and Costandinos) like they knew us for the last couple of years before.. The food was excellent on a very budget price, especially the Chicken Frites but the best part was the deserts .. all of them delicious on a big portion.. We will definitely visit again at our next visit to New York

Greek restaurant with tables also outdoors (preferable to avoid noise inside). Excellent quality food, from the ingredients of the Greek salad to the tender and fresh fish, to the homemade treats (courgette chips) to the desserts. Cost in line with New York amounts

We booked a business dinner at this location due to the proximity across the street from our hotel. The decor and atmosphere are five stars both inside and out. It feels cozy and high class. The service does not match the decor. Our waiter was New York rude and snooty. He rolled his eyes, was put out and corrected us when we did not order right or asked a bad question. A couple of people in our party were about ready to have it out with him. We spent five days in New York and ate at dozen's of restaurants. This was the only place we ran into attitude. The food was awesome and terrible. The Sea Bass was recommended as the best thing on the menu, and I agree. It was absolutely fantastic. It was cooked perfectly with incredible seasoning. The filet mignon was really bad. It was over salted, burnt edges and poorly cooked. I ended up at three stars because the atmosphere and some of the food are incredible. The service is flat out 1 star. We will be back to the hotel across the street several more times this year, but no way are we going here for dinner.

Had a hamburger and it was great. Ate outdoors, comfortable seats, Traffic noise was moderate, but could still converse. Lots of fun watching the tourists go by. Service was good until the end. Asked two times for the check, but still took 25 minutes to arrive.

Excellent service. Food was delicious. You need to book to get in here as we went on Tuesday and the place was buzzing but it’s a great ambience and well worth visiting.

We stopped for lunch a week ago Friday. It was a great experience! Avra is located on 48th in midtown, opposite the Lexington Hotel. It has three types of seating: outdoors under umbrellas, outdoors in a tented space and indoor seating. It’s quite elegant. We were arrived without reservations and were seated promptly. We chose the tented area. The tables are separated by plexiglass barriers. This is a linen tablecloth dining experience. Service was pretty good. The restaurant is Mediterranean, primarily Greek. Upon arrival, a dish of hummus, olives and sliced radishes arrive. Olive oil and great bread too. The menu has a priced fixed three course lunch at $31.50. This isn’t bad fir midtown Manhattan, especially post pandemic. Some dishes have upcharges, which is to be expected. I started with a glass of a Greek white wine. It was fine and ran $12.00. We both ordered the lamb souvlaki, which was served as two sausage shaped ground lamb “burgers” on skewers. This came with pita bread and a great sauce, which I assume is yogurt based. Green salad too. It was great! It ran about $26 per person. The overall wine list looked excellent. The elegance of the tented seating is memorable. Three well dressed women were at the table behind us, complete with a standard poodle on a leash. This is outdoor space, after all! Are there negatives? Water glasses could have been kept filled a bit better. Service could have been a little faster, but this wasn’t a big deal. It was a good experience. We would return.

Not cheap but excellent food and terrific service. Seafood is their specialty and is delicious. Portions are generous and be prepared to leave quite full

This is a very nice Greek seafood restaurant. They have a very nice menu with lots of traditional Greek appetizers and then some traditional Greek main courses or you can order fish by the pound. If you are so inclined you can go look at the fisj=h on ice which are on display in the dining room. They have a full bar and a wine list that is particularly strong in Greek wines, particularly white wines from Santorini. There is outdoor seating available but it was not in use on snowy night. We shared saganiki and stuffed calamari as appetizers. Both were outstanding. The table was also given a nice selection of olives and hummus, which was very good. My wife and son both had the swordfish (on the regular menu, not by the pound) which was perfectly cooked. I had the dorado from the fish display and it was excellent. Service is excellent as well. Overall an exemplary Greek seafood restaurant.

Crowded and loud. Yes, lunchtime, but packed in like sardines. Pushy waiters trying to get you in and out in 30 minutes. Prices? I'm not opposed to paying a bit of money for good food but this fare was no better than any of your typical Greek diners where, for $75 four people could have a fine lunch. Instead, with no alcohol, and no desserts, lunch for four without tip ran $259. Yes, that's right. The fried calamari app was good but not anything to write home about. The souvlaki plate was mediocre at best. 2 sticks of broiled chopped meat, 10 french fries(cold), and 3 forks worth of salad. HUH? $258 for 4 people(remember, without tip). The others in my party had ravioli. $258 for 4 people??? FEH!

If you want to be in a place where the ambience is as wondrous as the food, come to Avra Midtown. What an incredible place, bustling with all sorts of people from every walk of life, being served impeccably by great staff with generous smiles and hearts. Did I mention the food? YES PLEASE! I thoroughly enjoyed my experience there. I didn’t feel like I was on a solo date because the waiters were so kind and attentive to me. I will definitely come back.

My husband and I visited Avra Estiatorio during a recent visit to New York having read very good reviews on TripAdvisor. We booked the same day via the OpenTable website and our first impressions upon arrival were very good. The restaurant is elegantly decorated, the welcome was friendly and there was a nice ambience (busy but not too noisy). Unfortunately we were seated very snugly between two other tables so it wasn't particularly easy to have a private conversation with each other across the table. We both ordered starters, my husband had the tuna tartar and I had the grilled Halloumi - both were excellent and very sizable portions! For main course I had squid which was stuffed with three cheeses with a side of truffle chips and my husband had the swordfish. Again, both dishes were incredibly tasty and a decent size so we were far too full for dessert. We can't fault the food at Avra Estiatorio, it really was delicious but the reasons for giving only 4 stars instead of 5 are that firstly we felt a little rushed (we were in and out of the restaurant in an hour!) and secondly it is very pricey. If you're prepared for the high prices though it is definitely worth checking out this restaurant based on the quality of the meal.

We had an enjoyable dinner and a great evening. Tatiana was lovely and very sweet with my 86 yo mom. The fish was fresh and flavorful and the appetizers were creative and delicious. Wine selection was definitely adequate but some Greek varieties were OOS. Would definitely go back though pricey for area.

From start to finish we had a fantastic meal at Avra. Nick the host/owner? not sure was very helpful and accommodating. It was a very busy Saturday night after Christmas but he took a few moments to recommend a Greek wine we asked him about. The octopus was the most tender I've had and the swordfish was delicious, cooked perfectly. My fiance had the steak which was great nice and tender. Last but not least we had the pistachio ice cream for desert, omg.....best ever. We'll be back with our family! Thank you Avra...

Have a wonderful dinner celebrating a birthday. Try the grilled octopus appetizer. Service was great, wine selection was expansive and food was scrumptious. Little pricey but quality was exceptional

Food Service. Atmosphere. Greek upscale seafood at its best. The wait staff is attentive. Lobster spaghetti. Oysters. And on and on. My suggestion for anyone is to try this gem. Thanks for an awesome evening.

We went the day before Mother's Day for lunch. They tried to seat us at 3 bad tables before they my husband said: "Okay not near the kitchen doors, not near the large group with several small children running around, and not outside as it is too cold for the grandmothers." Our waiter made up for most of the table nonsense, but kept pushing us to order more drinks and food. We had a nice price fixed lunch and all ordered different things to be able to taste more items. The calamari was a family favorite as was the Branzino (although portion small and mine was a little dry). The Baklava and homemade cookies were very good. All in all everything was good, but not enough for us to rave and recommend to others.

At brunch recently, on a Sunday, there was live greek music, so fun and try the omelet.The ingredients are always the freshest and the staff is very friendly!

Every dish is special and delicious Wine list is great Staff is so kind and efficient GREAT EXPERIENCE We order oysters, lamb ribs, Greek salad, octopus,, every dish better than the other

Marvellous fish supper here on a very rainy night in NYC. Super huge shrimp cocktail. Spanking fresh and enormous. Followed by the Alaskan crab leg salad. All delicious. Portions so huge we were stuffed! Lovely venue and ambience. Our server was delightful and very helpful. Very buzzy atmosphere on such s rainy night but outside looked wonderful for a better weather visit. Only negative was someone pinched my umbrella from the packed front porch umbrella stand. ! Shame on them.

The night was rainy, but we walked into one of the warmest and most welcoming places we could imagine. Greek music, fish flown in from the Mediterranean, and staff who had all the charm and hospitality of Greece. My husband ordered the grilled langoustines and I had the cold lobster salad, which was a huge boiled lobster we shared, along with the hot pita, wonderful hummus and tapenade. We also ordered some grilled. vegetables. The whole place was loud with music and conversation, but perfect on a stormy night. Too much food to have desserts, but the waiter brought some sorbet to take back to the hotel. Our waiter was Greek, his boss was from Cyprus and they were both so happy to talk with us about our travels in Greece and Cyprus.

We are 3 sisters looking for a quick bite and a little intimidated entering this restaurant with lots of business people going for lunch ...figured it was expensive and a little uncomfortable to take a table since we knew we would not order much. But our waiter, Petros, was super. He answered our questions and was fine with us ordering the Roasted Beet Salad to share and the Fried Calamari to share. The salad was the best roasted beet salad I ever ate. We appreciated being able to order just a little and take a break from walking around the city and figure out where we would go next. We so appreciate Petros for his patience and kindness to us. This restaurant specializes in fresh fish...I would come back here for dinner my next visit.

Exactly what we needed. I wanted to order the entire menu. Amazing food and lovely dining experience and service. We almost came back the next night with a larger group!

Went with my boys. Very different atmosphere than Avra on Madison. More “homey” and conducive to families. Less hip, but very nice- food excellent, menu slightly different, but no less delicious than Avra Madison. No need to wear your fancy duds to this Avra, but it does deserve your very nice ones. “Greek Salad” is out of this world. The tomatoes were so perfect that I could cry. Octopus starter excellent too.

We went for a 60th birthday party and the service and food was exceptional. The servers went out of their way to make sure the birthday girl was happy and the atmosphere was elegant but not stuffy. I would definitely return to this restaurant.

This restaurant has always served excellent, topical food in a delightful setting. They now offer an attractive Prix Fixe lunch option that includes many choices. It’s still a little loud and I feel there’s something they can do to improve.

It's been since before the Pandemic that we were here. This Greek restaurant is one of the best. The stuffed Calamari ($25.95) and Avra Chips ($26.95) are always great & we recommend them! The Arctic Char ($39.95) & Lavraki (Loup de Mer) @ $1.37/lab) were excellent. The Salmon was good ($39.95). The Fries ($14.50) were not as good as before. The tables are close, and if those are filled with noisey people it is very hard to hear those of us at our table. Service is excellent.

We love this Avra location for the outside seating option and the ambience inside. The waitstaff is fantastic and friendly and the food delicious. Many healthy choices and the fish is very well prepared. Don't miss this favorite lunch or dinner restaurant in midtown east!!!

For all the years, I have not discovered this place despite the fact that it is not far from my office in Midtown. Nice ambiance (nicely noisy) that is perfect for hanging out with friends. Taste of the food is on the light side, but still with nice flavor, so I find that very healthy.

I had branzino sahimi and rose yesterday...while the food was good the staff has ZERO warmth and attention to detail. BUMMER!

When we have stayed at the Lexington Hotel we have had lunch here a couple of times. The restaurant is across the street and it is quite good. We would return. Yo7 might fit it into the Greek Restaurant category, but they broaden the description to be Mediterranean. The restaurant has three seating areas. There is the indoor section, a well designed tented section and outdoor seating under umbrellas. There might be additional seating in wooden booths in the working spaces too. The good is quite good. I have had the souvlaki, which is excellent. The calamari is quite good too. They have excellent Greek pastries. From the two times we have visited, the restaurant looks like it attracts a sophisticated clientele that is pretty well dressed. Service is excellent. Prices are pretty fair considering they are about two blocks from the Waldorf Astoria hotel. They also have a good house white wine that isn’t too expensive. We would return.

A large mid manhattan restaurant populated by the young and nouveau rich that serves excellent food in a noisy crowded environment. Yje appetizers were very good indeed and the whole mediterranean fish delicate beyond belief melting wonderfully in the mouth.

Very high end Greek. Assortment of appetizers - skordalia, humus etc - very good. Clearly fresh and first-rate ingredients. Service unobtrusive and quick. Wildly high prices. We split a 3 pound branzino - $172! We'll go to Astoria for Greek henceforth.

Went for set lunch ($32 before tax and tips) on Friday and it was so good I made a reservation to go again in a month’s time! The complimentary appetiser of bread and hummus, and olives were so good. Had the calamari for starter. It was cooked just right. Could taste the juicyness. The main course of branzino was a whole fish also cooked just right and not overly seasoned. Could taste the freshness of the fish! The dessert of baklava was to die for! Can’t wait to be back!

Had heard a lot about this place and its very tasty Greek inspired cuisine. What they did not tell me, however, was that by “Greek inspired” they meant regular fare with hints of Mediterranean tastes. The fish soup was nothing special or Greek. The $30 octopus (one small tentacle) with olive oil had nothing Greek about it. The $23.95 Greek salad was outrageously priced not to mention the $26,95 souvlaki. Inordinately expensive for no reason (except maybe due to the rent they pay on 60th street) this restaurant is the epitome of the Fake Greek establishment in New York City.

I am not a fan. We went for a pre-fixe dinner and had a sorry table in the front of the restaurant. It didn't feel like a dining experience, it felt more like a rigid process. I would go back as I love Greek food. It's in a convenient spot. I have seen huge crowds at the restaurant the night before. It's easy to have an off night for restaurants and customers.

I had a very bad experience. I'm intolerant to one kind of oil. I asked for a different oil like canola or sunflower or butter but they had not flexibility to use them. The waitress was so rude, she hadn't a minimum of understanding and she left our table and we never saw her again. So, we had only two cocktails and two appetizers and then we left paying for that 125$ plus a good tip.

My husband and I were staying at the Lexington Hotel across the street and went for an early dinner before the U.S. Open. Overall, we had a lovely meal; I would definitely recommend the food, but just know that it is expensive. The waiter was very attentive (but not overly so) and provided helpful recommendations. We started with the grilled octopus, which was delicious, as well as a bottle of rose. I had the swordfish with potatoes, and my husband had the filet with a side of spinach. The food was simply prepared, but delicious. The only reason it did not receive a “5” is because the prices were a bit steep relative to comparable restaurants and to the food itself. It was about $220 before tip.

My wife and I visited Avra Estiatorio on 6th Avenue whilst on a recent trip to New York. Although they had made an error with our reservation and were expecting us the day before, they quickly apologised and found a spare table outside for us. The service from all the staff was excellent. The food was incredible. The shrimp starter had 4 of biggest strimps I had ever seen and they were delicious. The main dishes of the halibut and sea bass were both very good indeed and the sides were all delicious as well. To our surprise, we were given a free desert as an apology for the reservation mix up. That was a nice touch. I would definitely come back again to Avra Estatorio.

Had a business lunch meeting here. We arrived early. They brought out really delicious and fresh bread with butter that had sea salt or kosher salt sprinkled on it. The meals we ordered were the Bifteki, Tuna Nicoise, and Plaki. Everyone liked what they ordered. I thought the mustard vinaigrette Tuna Nicoise was mild compared to other times I have had Tuna Nicoise. It filled up rather quickly. There were a lot of conversations going on. However, you do not have to fear being overhead by people at neighboring tables.

We decided to splurge a bit and took on Avra Estiatorio which is next door to the condo where I am staying for my work assignment. Knew it was a bit on the pricey side but everyone that I talked to said it was very good. Dining outside of course but the weather was nice and being on a side street it wasn't very loud. We started with a combination of calamari and beet salad which we shared. The calamari was above average but the beet salad with the tomato, onion and yogurt was exceptional. They provide you with bread, hummus and olives to start as well. My wife had the Chilean sea bass in a tomato broth which was excellent and I had the grilled branzino (european sea bass) which was excellent as well. Note - if you don't want to see the head on your plate you need to tell them. Overall a grand no rush dining experience (1.5 hours) which will set you back a couple of bills but worthwhile if you're looking for a special occasion.

The restaurant was busy the whole time we were there but we did not feel rushed, in fact service was great. Soup of the day was lentil which was so tasty. I had the Pasta alla Greca for the main course; large portion, well seasoned. For dessert, I had the walnut cake which I couldn't refuse even though I was full. My colleagues thoroughly enjoyed their meal as well. I fully recommend this restaurant and of course I will be back.

By far one of my favorite restaurants in the city. We have been coming here for years and it is always delicious, great ambiance and excellent service!

I have visited Avra on 48th and Lex multiple times. The food is also outstanding. The fish is very fresh (e.g. Levraki). The super large shrimps are awesome. The Greek salad is fantastic. The desserts (galactiburrica and the yogurts) are awesome. The place is very overpriced. We spend 150 plus per person. But worth it. I like Avra on 48th better than Avra Madison although the food is the same.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Avra, an fine dining gem nestled in the vibrant heart of New York City. Each dish served was a masterpiece, meticulously crafted with love and an impeccable attention to detail. From the first bite to the last, every dish tantalized my taste buds,

Saturday lunch was surperb! Unhurried with great attentive service The pre fixe was a great deal! Great starters for the table before ordering Class all the way.

3 of us were meeting in midtown for lunch so we made a reservation at Avra. The food was excellent and the staff delightful. Highly recommend!

We went to the bar after the theatre and we had a wonderful time here, in a beautiful , super elegant ambiance. Great wine options and champagne, a vast variety of cocktails and very good Bar tenders,

Avra midtown is really huge. Multiple layers with private dining rooms. Food and service was impressive and nice views.

Avra has always been a reliable restaurant for great food, especially fish. We were there for a family lunch on Saturday. I ordered the tuna nicoise salad, expecting a superb dish. The salad was fine - nothing out of the ordinary, however, the tuna, which I expected to be warm and delicious and a compliment to the salad, was ice cold and obviously made in advance and put in the frig. A top restaurant would take and cook the tuna to order, not put four cold pieces on top of a salad. I expected much more from Avra and will reconsider another restaurant for our family lunch in the future.

Great atmosphere, drinks, food, and service! Just a beautiful restaurant with a terrific location! Be sure to give this a try when in Manhattan!

It was a pleasant, delicious surprise just opposite our hotel (Lexington). The staff was really polite and welcoming. The ambiance was elegant. I had lunch there with my son and this is a wonderful memory from our trip to NY together.

$71 for a dry meager piece of Dover sole without any side dish is over the top ridiculous even for Manhattan. This was a special so the price wasn’t noted anywhere. I might have asked the waitress for the price but we were entertaining a friend from Europe & didn’t want to appear tacky. If the fish was extraordinary I would have overlooked the expense but unfortunately this wasn’t the case. The bill for four people for 2 cocktails, 1 glass of wine,1 coke & 3 fish and 1 chicken dish with no appetizers or desert was with tip over $400- there are many, many other great restaurants in New York -skip this one

The food are great but pricey. My wife and I had dinner with a visiting friend and we had a wonderful time as the place has the Mediterranean ambiance from the alfresco dinner settings they have starting from the side walk until the entrance. Its jam packed so better make reservations early. Food attendants are courteous and polite and they have so many per customer. You have their attention. I had a CHILEAN SEA BASS PLAKI and and my wife had SPANAKOPITA while our friend had a soft shell crab as special of the day. We had a dessert of cake with vanilla ice cream on the side. I think this is not their best dessert as we find it very sweet and the ice cream is like Breyer's in taste, not recommendable. But over all our experience is great. By the way if you want some private moments eat inside the restaurant, outside the noise is above normal.

Well, it isn't cheap but it is worth the $$$. Start off with a large 2 sided table loaded with fresh fish from around the world. You pick your dinner and they grill, filet it for you. Extensive wine list. Beautiful atmosphere with a packed bar full of beautiful people. This is a destination restaurant for a special occasion. You definitely need a reservation

I wrote a disappointed review of Avra long ago - another lifetime - and now, gray and long-in-the-tooth, it is my only regret in life. Avra has aged far more attractively and toothsomely than I. There’s a good confident energy here. Everyone having a warm, wonderful time. I am more than a couple of glasses into a Santorini white and all is right with the world. My app is the octopus simply grilled with lemon, olive oil, capers, peppers...simply perfect. The bronzino is presented to me, glisteningly fresh, and whisked away for a similar treatment. It is fantastic. I apologize again for my youthful arrogance that led me to write disparagingly so many years ago. Whatever it was is no longer known, let alone relevant. But I recall it now as if yesterday. A complete fool, I was (and no doubt still am). Thankfully, I am eating and living well now in Avra, to which I raise my glass and silently scream, στην υγεία σου!

This was a surprise delight. We were tootling around midtown after some shopping and looking for a lunch spot and my wife suggested this since it was close by. We were seated quickly, the staff was exceptionally courteous and helpful in walking us through the choices on the menu. The Chilean sea bass kebabs were delectable. My dish (the lamb chops) were so well seasoned and cooked perfectly. My wife’s fish soup wasn’t done in a traditional cream base and it was bright, not fish, but tasted like a fresh sea side afternoon dish. Simply delish.

A bit of Greece in NY! We had an amazing dinner and we didn’t spend that much. The service is quick and nice and it’s worth it. I lived in Greece and it reminded me of that time.

The grilled squid I ordered was cooked to perfection. The saganaki and the fried aubergine and zucchini were also cooked and presented very well. The service was very attentive but not irritating. The bread was accompanied by a fig kind of paste and a sweet cherry liquid which did not make sense at least in our taste. Thanks for the tasty kalamata olives that came with. The location of restaurant was in the heart of Manhattan. The price a bit on the expensive side (140$ with the tip for a couple) but considering all was reasonable. The only let down was the live music which for a Sunday lunch time was rather unnecessary and perhaps low quality. Overall not a bad place to eat.

We dined here last night and had a marvelous experience. Everything was spot-on. The food, the service and the ambiance were as good as it gets. We opted for an outdoor table which was very comfortable positioned just next to the garden area. Our server was totally professional. The meal - grilled sardines and a grilled Branzino for me and grilled mushrooms and grilled shrimp ( huge ones, I might add) we’re all delicious. I could go back and repeat the meal every night of the week. Can’t wait to go back.

My wife & I were in NYC and looking for seafood for dinner. Our Central at 5th hotel concierge recommended this restaurant. It was all she recommended - and more. Our server, Jose, was top notch in attending to every request from two Texans. We both had halibut with spanakorizo, both of which were unbelievable. I'd highly recommend this place in the center of midtown.

Excellent Greek/Cypriot food with more emphasis on sea food. The seabass and the lamb chops were excellent.

I cannot imagine a better restaurant. From the service, to the atmosphere and naturally, the food, this was just an incredible experience

Upbeat bustling midtown location has great food and great service. Large menu has something for everyone…assorted Greek and Mediterranean appetizers, salads, meat, seafood, pasta…you can’t go wrong. 3-course prix fixe menu is regular sized portions and a huge meal. Everything was very fresh and flavorful. We’ll definitely go back when we’re in the neighborhood. Wine available too.

I am late writing this review of a meal we had at Avra May 30 because the arrival of the charge on my credit card bill just reminded me of how aggravating an experience it was. We had booked a pre-theatre dinner for 5 and the last of our party arrived just a few minutes after the deadline so they refused to honour the prix fixe price and we were forced to use the a la carte menu. Because we had theatre tickets, dinner was rushed and thrown at us, poor service would be an understatement and the cost was several times more than we had anticipated. I had been here once before several years earlier for a lovely relaxed dinner and had hoped to recreate that experience for my family. I would suggest that Shake Shack would have been a lot more enjoyable.

Had dinner twice in the last month in this restaurant because was twice in NY on business and both times stayed at the Intercontinental Barclay hotel, which 2 mins walk from the restaurant. Both times the experience has been consistently good. Great staff, friendly and very attentive, very well structured menu with a very good variety of options, food was very well served, full of flavour and very fresh. I tried different dishes, but can recommend the grilled calamari and Salmon. The fact that both times I ate here were very nice and warm evenings, allowed me to eat outside, on their open terrace. Very nice atmosphere. Inside, on the main salon can be a bit loud when full. Great restaurant, can recommend and will definitely return

So, yes, if you get your food order, it's high quality -- delicious, well prepared and generous portions. (In fact, for most normal diners, I would highly recommend that you split every dish -- split a salad, split the main entree and split a dessert.) You'll still walk away quite satisfied and you'll save a bundle -- thereby making this restaurant suddenly affordable, and not outrageously priced. But the main and overwhelming problem here is service. And it exists at all levels. Our group arrived on time for a 7:30 reservation. We were instructed to wait in the bar notwithstanding that they try to accommodate too many people there (creating problems of flow for waiters). Then they forget to come get you to say your table is ready, and then when you come and check on the table status, the answer given is "we gave away your table." What??? OK, so another 10 minutes, thankfully not longer, we were seated in "the noise machine", such a deafening atmosphere that you have to yell to be heard by your friends across the table. Wine orders are taken and delivered promptly. Kudos. We order our food, starters and main entrees. Fresh, tasty Greek salads arrive very promptly and are quite good. Then comes time for the main entrees to arrive. There's four of us, but one person's main meal is not delivered. We wait, we wait, we wait. That person (the host !!) tells us to please go ahead and eat while she waits further. She tells the waiter that her meal is missing. He disappears, presumably to the kitchen. We wait. Finally, after 20 minutes, the entree appears -- perhaps it also had been "given away". Trying to make up for their meal destroying mistake, we are offered a special dessert. Very nice, actually, but really the waiters and their supervisors didn't demonstrate enough attention. I've been to Avra Estiatorio on a prior trip to NYC, but this will be my last visit. Love the food. Hate the service mistakes.

Have dined at Avra Madison and now was able to eat at the original Tao group Mediterranean spot. Liked the decor better at the Madison location but the food was equally good at this spot. This was very traditional decor. Dined with 2 other friends and we shared a bunch of small plates. We enjoyed the eggplant & zucchini chips with Tzatziki, SPANAKOPITA, garlic shrimp, stuffed calamari (so good, my favorite) and the sliced tomatoes. Service was friendly and efficient.

Bad experience , seemed like they had the b team on for Sunday lunch. Apparently no one there knows how to make a Bloody. Mary, I was told the bartender who makes the mix would not be in until Monday. Then when one of the fish dishes came out , there was a hair on it. That dish was taken away and magically was replaced literally in 1-2 minutes. Makes you wonder ??? When you charge top dollar provide the food and service expected.

Just around the corner from out Hotel Thai stylish Greek restaurant surpasses its Beverly Hills location in food quality . the LA location was more chic but the food lacked “Greek” This one on the other hand , location is solid and typical dark , “ turn -your -flashlight -phones -on -to -read -the Menü “ Our choosing of saganaki and spanakopita delicious ( tho I have to say spanakopita lacked a couple more layers of Fillo as it was mostly spinach cheese and a thin crust of filo .. not the way Greeks make it) .. Neverthe less delicious The red snapper lovely , simple clean with some lemon just right and the charming server convinced us to try the olive oil cake which I usually don’t eat but this was goooos Definitely recommend for a perfect dinner date ( if you don’t mind loud mothers endulging their equally loud children ) lol that was our night . But we arrived jetlagged and needed a good meal . That was it !

We have eaten at Avra on many occasions and have never been disappointed. The service is always excellent. The waitstaff are friendly and helpful. I started with the octupus and it remined me of sitting at a beach restaurant in Mykonos and eating the same. It was superb. The fish is always fresh and perfectly prepared. It was late October but we sat outside - the outdoor heaters were working perfectly and we are very comfortable. Chocolate molten cake for desert with an extra bonus of two scoops of ice cream - perfect. Prices are reasonable as well. A must if you are dining in NYC.

I went for dinner with my colleagues. This place is fantastic. The service is perfect, the decor is sophisticated, yet casual and the food is simply fabulous. We shared a fish big enough for 3 from the Mediterranean. The wine and appetizers also deserved a good note. Quite busy, but worth the wait.

Last tune I’ve been was 5 years ago and I found same cozy ambient and good Greek and Internationa cuisine Very elegant great service It is a 5 stars restaurant 2 starters 1 bottle of good Sauvignon blank wine and a plate of raw seafood around 200 USD For sure not cheap but it worths Recommended

It is a large place, with tables outside but the inside space is surprisingly large. Very professional service, with an elegant Greek style. The food is Mediterranean, healthy, made of good ingredients, and good! A bit expensive, but we are in Manhattan.

Average food despite expensive prices. I was surprised by the lack of flavour and basic cuisine. The service is good, although it appears that they want customers in and out as soon as possible. The atmosphere is also not as relaxed as it should be with customers sitting quite close to each other, and the staff station too close to where I was sitting.

Excellent restaurant in a quiet part of Manhattan. Super menu, more Mediterranean and Greek, but very OK in terms of vast selection of food and drink. The crowd here seems to be more locals versus tourists, and that is a very good thing. Not on the beaten path for tourists who have to be looking for an excellent restaurant in Manhattan that is NOT in tourist country. Surprisingly a wide variety of Greek and Mediterranean foods plus quite a wine list and also a range of various liquors. And the server for us, Dimitria, was exceptional. Solid recommendation with no issues noted at all. But we do recommend that you consider obtaining reservations just to be sure. Also note that if you use an Uber/Lyft/taxi to this location, make sure you have the address to give to them...that will help lots.

Had a group of 6 for a business dinner and the food was outstanding. We enjoyed a whole Branzino which easily served our group. Along with some delicious appetizers and the Greek salad, we had a excellent meal and a good time.

A super night, full and lively restaurant. We had the halloumi dish and calamari for appetisers follows by the large shrimp dish which was superb. A great night out.

This was by far the worst dining experience we’ve ever had in New York. We were crammed at a table where waiters constantly shoved past us from every direction. When it came time to pay, we were abruptly told that they don’t accept Apple Pay and offered zero alternative solutions. This crucial information is nowhere on their website, and no one in the restaurant bothered to mention it beforehand. The whole experience was unprofessional, careless, and downright unacceptable. Avoid this place at all costs.

We came here after a broadway show. Had light dinner of Greek salad and tuna tartar. It was great! Definitely recommend it. And, it has outdoor seating.

I was amazed and surprised at the same time because the food was so good that you can hardly do better in Greece. The fish was very fresh, everything was done flexibly and with refinement. The starters were also very fresh and very good...

We always stay at the Lexington which is right across the street so this is very convenient. Food is EXCELLENT! And so is the service. Place is packed all the time -- you'll likely need reservations even for lunch.

Here is a good place to taste Mediterranean cuisine! The portions are hearty and especially very succulent. Flavors are respected, and products well worked. The service is great. Remember to book if you do not want to wait:)

So lucky it was nice in April to sit outside for lunch. Husband had the lamb salad and loved it, I had the salad nicoise which was very good. We were there early for lunch, pre Theater , and service was great. Looks awesome inside too and can’t wait to go back.

Recommended by locals we ate outside one evening. Service was efficient and the setting very nice. The fish we ate was some of the nicest we have had. The food is not cheap but for a special occasion we were glad to have visited.

The only reason I am giving this a star is because of the food. You might think if the food is good why give it a one star. Well a restaurant is about service, ambiance and the hole experience.Food I ha etj say was very good so compliments to the chef. However that is where it ends. The waitress who took the order was curt.The waiters hanging around did nothing but look. We poured out own wine set our own napkins and had t pl ask for water and service. If I am paying $280 for just main courses for two the. I EXPECT A LOT MORE.Downright rude.Compared to this UK restaurants are sublime. Don’t go there.

This was my second visit to Avra 48, the first for dinner in the springtime. I had two totally different experiences - the first visit was amazing all of the food was a whole different level of Greek freshness and felt like I was actually in Greece. The service was amazing and the ambiance was awesome. This last visit was totally opposite. I took my boyfriend for his birthday and would have rather taken him to McDonalds. I wanted to order Dover sole for two and the waitress suggested I order snapper instead. The snapper came with at least 7 pieces of bone in my part of the fish and I did not finish eating because it became a painstaking slow process being afraid to swallow a bone. The same happened with my boyfriend’s half of the fish. The waitress played dumb when I told her about the bones and did not believe me until I showed her the bones I spit out in my plate as proof. The oysters were delicious and the calamari was good enough. The waitress seemed to pressure us into dessert even though nothing on the menu was appealing. It looked like she did this so she could give a free slice of cake and a free drink instead of comping the disgusting fish that she pushed me to order. Service wasn’t the best either as no one was refilling our waters or paying attention to us seated in the corner. Very disappointed especially compared to my last experience in the spring and my other visits to Avra Madison.

Was in the mood for authentic Greek food and Avra hit it right on the money. I looked into the best Greek restaurants in NYC before I came here and saw great reviews of this place. Made reservations and had the Uber ready heading to the restaurant only to come to realization that there are 2 locations in NYC not just 1. Based on the pictures, in my head I was picturing walking into the grand Madison Ave location. Google and Uber however brought me to the main / first location, Avra on 48th St and I couldn’t of been happier / lucky that I came here. Aside from the food which was AMAZING (we’ll get more into it soon), the staff, vibe, energy everything about this restaurant was above and beyond my expectations. The ambiance of the restaurant itself makes you feel at peace and really makes you feel as if you’re in Greece in the middle of the concrete jungle. We were served hummus, olives & radishes along with bread as soon as we sat down, and the hummus was to die for! The hummus itself was a meal / mouth watering which was finished within 2 mins. The server brought an entire bowl of hummus after free of charge! We ordered the Greek salad, crab cake & branzino and I kid you not it was one of the best meals I’ve had in a very, very long time. Everything was fresh full of flavor, I can genuinely say after my meal this is one of my top 5 restaurants in NYC. I don’t usually get dessert but based on the out of this world quality entree’s it only made sense for me to try it out. As recommended by our server we tried the Galactroboureco and I regret getting it because now I’ll forever be craving it! If you are looking for a great beautiful relaxing restaurant in Midtown I can not stress enough how happy you will be eating / coming here. I can not wait to be back !!!

Great service. Amazing seafood. Super pricey but worth it. The humus was the best as was the grilled fish and the baklava.

Post-Pandemic, poor service is blamed on a lack of labor, high prices on supply chain and food quality downgrades are okay as customers rushing back to outings with a vengeance. We had read reviews of Avra-NYC & assumed it to be close to the unique experience of Mykonos albeit, years ago. Food was good, service was arrogant as if the Greek Empire was still in power but atmosphere was great as expected perhaps, due to returning cliental. The bill that was also $$$$ unplesantly expected!

My first time here, with my friends, i had no idea about protocol, if is a good or not restaurant, it was one of the best surprises, very casual and cool place, the Greek vibe and freshness of food is so unique in the middle of New York!

Not too bad greek adress but...not cheap. Wine are greek and good, the pre-zpptiers(olives, hummus...) are nice, the salad (notably the greek one : a real one)also. Very good octopus, The stuffed calamary are too "heavy" , nor really the greek calamari we like. Very good yogurtjh and walnutcake. But prices are far from a greek tavern...

Had a business dinner here on a Sunday evening. Appreciated the Prix Fix menu that was available before 6 pm. Plenty of food and nice service. The set menu (at $45 per person) offered a nice array of appetizers, main courses and dessert. First there were small bowls of hummus, radishes and olives served with a rustic bread. Very tasty. My Spanikopata was lovely. So was my sea bass. A few bones, but otherwise nice. Maybe you can ask them not to serve it with it's head still on. For dessert they brought three platters for our table of twelve with more dessert than we could eat, but in nice sizes to taste more than one. Our wait staff were attentive and friendly. I would go back for the hummus and another time for the atmosphere and easy access to the hotel I stay in.

The food and service are very good. You are taken aback by the price but they make up for it with the food and service. But if you are a party of 2 you shouldn't go or book a party of 3. The two top tables are so close together you feel like you are a community table. If you do go with two people ask for the back room and grab a 2 top by the wall. That will give you the only chance to have a conversation.

We received a recommendation from a friend who is a culinary guru who urged us to categorically visit Avra when next in NY. So we did and had amazing lunch. Everything from simple in nature typical Greek spreads such as tzatziki or tarama, here served with home made pita to sophisticated mains such as lobster ravioli, were great. By the way for me if Chef knows how to do delicious tarama all the other dishes will be unforgettable. So was our lunch at Avra. Go there if you can, it is definitely worth it.

Went for a late lunch. Great value, 3 courses. The food was very good and the portions were more then ample.

It’s a Monday night I get it. It’s slow not that busy. I hear the food is good I sit at the bar by myself. Bartender could care less if I am there or not- drops the bread and beautiful spread that is delicious. But he could care less asks for my drink and serves it. I don’t want conversation just a hello good evening glad you are here. How about a Thank you. No service. Bummer