- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Aliada Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
2919 BroadwayAstoria, NY 11106
Neighborhood: Astoria
(718) 932-2240
- Nearest Transit:
-
Broadway (N, Q)
30 Av (N, Q)
36 Av (N, Q)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
We are a family operated restaurant offering a variety of home cooked Greek Dishes in a very classy, yet laid back environment. We believe that life has… read more »
70 reviews for Aliada Restaurant
Review Highlights
-
"The Lamb dish with lemon potatoes was delicious." In 13 reviews -
"Free pita bread and hummus with dinner." In 4 reviews -
"A Cypriot beer or two helps wash everything down." In 8 reviews
Loading...
70 reviews in English
-
Review from Alan T.
Edison, NJ
On my way out of Astoria I decided to pick up some Greek food. Not knowing the local scene - Yelp helped me to find Aliada and what a gem!
To begin with, the service was great! I called in my order for pickup from the car without a menu. I'd never been there so, Vicky on the phone took the time to help me order exactly what I was looking for. She really knew the menu!
Now the food...
Tzatziki sauce & Pitas... GREAT! Pitas were the standard that you'd get from a good greek restuarant, but the Tzatzki was one of the best I've had. Very flavorful and full of fresh cucumbers.
Mediterranean salad... Pretty standard salad with cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, cheese, and olives. Everything was nice and fresh, but could have used a bit more seasoning
****Meat & Rice stuffed Grape leaves - AMAZING! The star of the meal! They only make them on Wed. & Sat. but if you are there either of those days... they are a must!****
Lamb Sausage - GREAT! it was so meaty and flavorful. I felt like they just took fresh hunks of lamb and put it in a sausage casing. If this isn't made on location - it is made in Astoria
Entree Accompaniments - Good. I got the rice and lemon potatoes which were both very flavorful. They are probably better than I'm making them out to be, but I tried them the with my leftovers as the second meal I got out of this order. Next time I'll probably try the potatoes and a vegetable. -
Review from Ted C.
I want to give it a little more for their Gyros-which was a little on the pricier side but really delicious but their service was kind of 'meh.' Granted, getting takeout does not give you a lot of exposure to their table service but I walked into an empty restaurant and just kind of stood there. No host and there were three people that appeared to just be standing around.
A man did come up to me eventually and said I could sit anywhere and when I told him I wanted a to go order he handed me a menu. I saw a Gyros for 14 bucks but it came with everything so I thought, why not? When I cashed out the total came out to 7.50 and I just got the sandwich, at that point I was so hungry I didn't want to waste any time explaining how I wanted their deluxe version or whatever-the menu didn't specify it was a dinner plate I ordered or anything. Wait for the change and leave. It's a slow night and I was the only customer, why not upsell? or at least ask me what type of gyros I wanted?
The sad thing is that the Gyros was better than I've had in a while. Their tzatziki wasn't just some stuff from a tub they get off of a truck every week. It was slightly green, had a great, subtly garlic-y flavor, and occasional spice (from what I don't know.) I devoured it instantly and probably could have eaten another one or fries or whatever, more than just a sandwich. -
Review from John L.
Astoria, NY
Meh. I've experienced better.
From Aliada that is,
I've had some wonderful times at Aliada, but today I am calling them out on their inconsistencies and things they could improve on, and even pointing out what they do alright at.
For the longest time Aliada seemed like a Greek restaurant with well-above average Greek food and it was priced affordably - by that I mean there are pricey dishes on the menu, but some of the simple sandwiches and apps meant you could eat like a king, even on a strict budget. So this is what happened when I took a date there last night....
1) Rec'd hummous and pita bread basket. It was nice, they don't refill this in hopes that after a taste of their hummous & pita you'll pay $ for the appetizer version of it.
2) My date asked the server a question about the sandwich he was about to order, and it was funny to me that the server used this opportunity to 'upsell.' It was quickly pointed out the the meat on the $8 sandwich was not as good as the 'same(?)' used in a $16 entree dish. The server presented this politely, but I've often wondered if Aliada dislikes when customers come in to order less expensive meals. And this, to me, kind of indicates they might.
3) I ordered spinach pie/Spanakopita, which I've gotten a number of times from Aliada. They lack consistency with this rather simple dish. I've had it when it was flaky and delicious, served with a wedge of lemon. Then, as in the case of last night, it was soggy, lacking flavor, and served without any lemon, which I then had to ask for.
4) The french fries were good, however the server never offered us any ketchup which was strange and off putting.
5) Last night was no exception to the standard that the meat (gyro, lamb) tends to be salty and greasy.
6) The server ended things on a nice note by giving us a small traditional dessert 'on the house.' I'm not sure what it's called, but it was a nice touch to a meal experience that could use improvement. -
Review from Rose M.
Locust Valley, NY
Food is OK...
-
Review from Jasmina N.
ASTORIA, NY
Love the place, one of my favorite in Astoria!!!
-
Review from E. B.
Queens, NY
I was majorly craving some Greek food and convinced my boyfriend, who had never eaten Greek food before, to give it a try. He's on a low carb diet for health reasons and so his meal options are limited, but I thought protein heavy Greek food would be perfect. We decided to give Aliada a try because it was closer to my apartment than some other local places and had good reviews here on Yelp.
What a colossal failure! First of all, Aliada was way overpriced in comparison to other Greek restaurants I have eaten at (especially given the quality of the food). Second, I was extremely disappointed to see the menu lacked some of my favorite Greek standards like Moussaka and Pastitsio. Third of all, the food, when it came, was terrible. The Taramosalata, usually my favorite appetizer, was fishier and saltier than I have ever had it before. It tasted like day old fish and was so salty we had to send it back. The hummus was gloopy and bland. The saganaki was barely melted and also saltier than I have ever had it before.
There were no affordable meat dishes so my boyfriend got a Caesar salad and falafel. The salad was so over-dressed that we had to send it back. The falafel was passable, but by no means great. I ordered a pork and halloumi sandwich, which, again was ok but SO SALTY and the Avoglemono soup, which was very thin.
Perhaps these differences from what I was expecting were due to the fact that this is a Greek and Cypriot restaurant, and not just a Greek restaurant. I have never had Cypriot cuisine before, so I couldn't say. I am an extremely open-minded diner, but I found the divergences from what I was expecting to be all for the worse; also I am a salt FIEND (I usually add salt to everything...) and this food was all way to salty even for me.
Also, I should mention that we went out to eat at 8pm on Saturday night and the place was full of babies. I understand I run the risk of some screaming baby run-ins if I eat at 5 or 6pm, but at prime dining time Saturday night, it's a bit more unexpected...
On the whole we were very disappointed and now my boyfriend thinks I'm crazy for liking Greek food. Sad pandas. -
Review from Jason C.
I decided to give this place a try based on some of the recent reviews of this place. And this place was just Okay.
The highlights are the friendly staff, stuff grape leaves, and lemon potatoes.
The drawbacks were the over cooked grilled calamari that was rubbery and borderline inedible, The Keftedes (cypriot meatballs) were also overdone, and there Tzatziki sauce accompanying my Shaiftedes were also over cooked. Maybe the chef cooking this night was not paying attention to the meat but considering there were only 4 tables of people in the place when we arrived, I think we expected better that we received.
Only the small bits of what I liked and the service saved this place from receiving a lower rating. -
Review from Amanda H.
New York, NY
Love Cypriot food! And yes, it is different from Greek cuisine. The grilled halloumi here is to die for, as is the octopus, the salads and sandwiches, and their grilled entrees. It's also wonderful of them to always offer the complimentary hummus at the beginning of the meal and the galatoboureko as dessert.
The service is great and they have a reasonably-priced yet excellent wine list. I could not recommend this place any more, definitely one of my go-to places. Plus they take reservations and credit cards, always a plus in Astoria. Give it a try; you will not be disappointed! -
Review from Brian T.
Aliada is a perfectly respectable Greek (and Cypriot) restaurant, and if you are looking for Greek in the Broadway area, this would be a great choice. It is very popular during the late dinner hours, and you will see locals dining lazily at tables outdoors on the sidewalk.
Everything I've tried has been great -- hummus with a slightly spicy kick, savory cod-roe dip (the dip platter is wonderfully decadent), crisp, refreshing salads. The Mixed Grill platter, and the Seafood platter are great to order for the table. The selection of char-grilled meats should satisfy everyone (except vegetarians, that is). They do octopus very well.
It may not be a "destination" Greek taverna, but as a local, I think we could much worse. Service is earnest, and prices are reasonable. -
Review from Amy T.
I had an awesome, awesome, awesome dinner here. I think what made the dinner so great was partially how the restaurant itself didn't get in the way. The ambiance is upscale but inviting and the service is the same, while the prices are perfect for a casual dinner with friends. Sometimes, I find the atmosphere of a dining room can kill conversation via music that's just too loud, lighting that makes it difficult to see expressions, and food that takes work to eat or figure out. We found everything about the dining room inviting, including the service that was accommodating, but not bothersome. The menu featured familiar items, or new to us entrees, but written with such detail that we had a sense of what to expect. We started with a few apps and a bottle of wine. We loved the feta, grilled octopus, and stuffed grape leaves.
When it came to the entrees, which we shared after trying so many first courses, I couldn't get enough of the lemon potatoes which seem to come standard as a side. -
Review from J T.
Astoria, NY
Though I've been here just a handful of times, I feel that I can only give them 3 stars.
Service is fine, clean, great neighborhood restaurant.
I'm not a fan of their meatballs but their octopus and lamb dishes were spot on delicious. -
Review from Joan H.
I struggle with not giving Aliada 5 stars, actually, and I will conclude that the only reason not to is that the food isn't at that extra 5-star level. Otherwise, everything in each of my experiences here has always been absolutely wonderful. I love the warm bread with hummous that is served standard, and the service is always incredibly warm. We always get some extras when we visit for some reason!
Anyway, when I say "we", I am referring to one of my best gfs who happens to also live around the block from Aliada. She is vegetarian, and we tend to order a few vegetarian mezzes and some wine and always come out stuffed.
As I said, the food is solid, though not necessarily worthy of 5 stars. Of course, I have yet to try any of their meaty entrees, though I have tried the pulpo, and enjoyed it. Overall, always good, however.
I liked how Amy T said that the "restaurant itself didn't get in the way," because this is a spot where my friend and I always come for a long catch-up dinner, staying rather late. The staff don't seem to mind, and find a way to give us everything we want without getting in our faces.
Finally, prices are good. We never break the bank though we always walk out heady with wine and stuffed with food. -
Review from Haj A.
Santa Monica, CA
Overall a very satisfying meal, every time I've been there.
- big portions
- kleftiko (baked lamb) hits the spot
- grilled seafoods, especially octopus is really good
- very decent burger
- fries are one of the best in the city
- all greek salads should be what they make, good feta, the right ratio of tomatoes, onions, dressing, etc
- friendly staff
things that aren't that great
- taramasalata or any of the dips for that matter
- skewered meats and sausages can be dry
- salmon can be pretty ordinary
But I keep going back because they're my go to Greek/Cypriot restaurant. Go Aliada. -
Review from Paula E.
ASTORIA, NY
I sure felt like I was in a Mediterranean restaurant. Everything in there reminded me of Greece. Besides the delicious food, the picture hanging on the walls and the music made it even more welcoming and it is a beautiful way to portray their country. I had a greek salad with chicken and something I really loved was the grape leaves with bulgur that came with the salad. DELICIOUS!
-
Review from Audrey B.
Long Island City, NY
We love Mediterranean food and were psyched by Aliada's delivery tonight. Enjoyed chicken kebab platter, hummus, pita, gyro and pork combo - yum! Spinach pie was okay. We LOVED LOVED LOVED the felafel - great spices and textures! Will add to our delivery choices for sure.
-
Review from Pamela S.
Good greek food in an area of Astoria that has many Greek options.
1) Chicken kebobs were yummy and moist
2) pita and Tziziki were great!
3) Salad was good too.
I took off a star for the traditional greek dressing not being available (oil and vinegar on the table).
If I could give 3.5 stars I would have. Will hope to go again soon. -
Review from denise m.
Five of us came here tonight for dinner and it was really delicious. My sister lives in the neighborhood so she picked the spot. The servings are huge. You'll definitely have leftovers for the next day. I ordered the gyro plate and I swear it would have been enough meat for four people. It comes with a delish Greek salad (again, very large), rice, cucumber/yogurt dressing (forgot the Greek name for it) and choice of lemon potatoes (excellent), french fries or grilled fresh asparagus. The lamb was tender and scrumptious.
The hubby had the chicken souvlaki. Sisters had the salmon and the calamari. All of the entrees were likewise huge and the meats very tender and well flavored.
I'm not sure if it was just because my sister is a regular or if they do this for everyone, but they brought us complimentary humus and pita to start, then complimentary yummy dessert (some sort of egg custard with filo crust on top and bottom), which was a nice surprise, as well as complimentary coffee.
The service was lovely and if I lived in NY full time I would definitely come back again. The entrees ran around $14 or so each, which isn't that high considering you'll get another meal out of it the next day. -
Review from Kelly S.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
Aliada is one of my favorite restaurants in Astoria. The food really is good- lovely flatbreads and fresh ingredients. Even my husband loved their salad! No wilting lettuce and slimy tomatoes here.
The service is also very good, the servers work as a team. Water always refilled, plates removed promptly, orders taken as soon as we're ready. We were even given a complimentary dessert when lingering over coffee. We've returned more than once, and will continue to do so. -
Review from flower c.
LA GUARDIA AIRPORT, NY
Food is very good and the service is nice. prices ar ok.
They have a lot of choice, from paninis to salads. Wine is a little expensive for a small glass. -
Review from andy t.
New York, NY
Give me liberty, or give me some Cypriot cuisine. Aliada -- a nice comfy Greek/Cypriot restaurant on a corner spot in Astoria -- gave me the latter.
Came here on a Friday night with a few friends and sat at a table in the back. We all stuffed our faces with the various dishes: chicken souvlaki, grilled seafood salad, and the lamb special of the day. Servings were huge.
Our waiter looked like a freaking Adonis and made me feel a bit unworthy but he gets points for leaving us alone and letting us linger for about an hour following our meal.
This n'hood has a lot of Greek places, as we all know, but Aliada is a solid choice. And it has Cypriot food, too. -
Review from al h.
Astoria, NY
My sisters were in town visiting and they wanted Greek food, so here we went. For apps we ordered hummus and the spinach pie thingy. Both were descent, not great.
For main course, I ordered the lamb gyro platter and my sisters ordered salmon and some dish that starts with a 'P' from the daily special menu. The gyro was very good and the sides(rice, salad, and lemon potato) were ok. The tzaztiki sauce it came with was excellent as well. The salmon was descent, but not something I would recommend. The daily special dish was sort of similar to moussaka but with pasta baked into it instead of eggplant. It tasted pretty lousy and my sister couldn't eat it so I ended swapping plates with her since I was able to stomach it.
The service was good since there was nobody in there. Don't think I'll be coming back here though as there are better Greek eateries in the neighborhood that are closer to me. -
Review from Jess L.
I came here for dinner one Friday night and left stuffed!
I got the hummus to start. The quantity is large, but it was rather dry.
I also got the Avgolemono soup, which was classic and very tasty. I got a vegetarian dish that was a little messy but came with a lot of veggies. The Aliada salad came with a good amount of octopus and was a very large portion.
I liked the classy wood interior and the decor, which i didn't find particularly Greek but made me feel like I was eating in a nice restaurant. Our waiter was attentive.
I would definitely come back here for a Greek Astoria meal.Listed in: Astoria's Fabulous Food
-
Review from Melanie M.
Chicago, IL
Everything I've tried here is fantastic and I usually start my meal in the same manner (i.e. hummus, tzatziki, spinach pie and the Mediterranean salad!).
I love this place and really love that they deliver. -
Review from Jennifer L.
New York, NY
I came here on a miserable, rainy Monday for lunch with a girlfriend and her 8-month-old baby. It was virtually empty when we arrived, so we had our pick of tables. We decided to share the cold antipasto platter (taramosalata, tzatziki, skordalia, humus, kopanisti and kalamata olives), grilled mushrooms, and grilled saganaki. Everything was good, but nothing knocked my socks off. However, it was a great place to have a very long lunch and catch up with my friend. Luckily her baby is very well-behaved, so we didn't have any drama, in fact, he mostly sat and stared at one of the other customers for quite a while.
I rarely get out to Astoria, but I'll admit, I may try to go a little more often now that I'm starting to discover all the yummy ethnic foods out there! -
Review from Sharon K.
Long Island City, Queens, NY
How is it that that there are so many good reviews but none of them mention the ridiculously good-looking staff? The location is good (I live like a block away haha), the food is good the place is clean but what I probably enjoyed the most was the hot, model-like servers. Beautiful eyes and sharp, chiseled features and the hair.... *drool*.
It is quite pricey here, so I will have to wait til I get a big paycheck before coming back. I got the salmon dish with fries and rice. I would've preferred if the salmon was a little more flavorful. The pita bread was soooo addicting, along with the salad. I got to try another person's dish (I forget the name but it was big chunks of chicken) and it was deeeelish. I didn't find the rice too appetizing though. I originally ordered the lemon potatoes but got fries on my dish instead; I didn't care too much until I saw how good the lemon potatoes looked on another person's plate. I will have to try that next time. -
Review from Jake B.
Virginia Beach, VA
I live really close but don't come here very often....and I can't figure out why! Had a really nice meal the other evening, sat outside, service was great, the food was a little slow to arrive but was worth the wait when it showed up. I'll definitely be back.
-
Review from Chris T.
Boston, MA
Ok...I love this place. I used to live around the block from it and whereas it seems like the Ditmars Ave stop has a lot of the great greek restaurants in Astoria consolidated into one area. This place is, quite nicely, not there. :)
Atmosphere: I love the decor of this place. It takes you out of where you are. The grill is awesomely set up so you can see what's cooking, more or less and it has a very good feeling of warmth to it. Seating is tight, but not cramped, which is great because so many city restaurants tend to be cramped.
Food: FannnnTASTIC greek cuisine. Very simple and very clean tasting food. I typically get the souvlaki when I go there, however, this time I ate some of my gf's gyro meat platter. We also had grilled squid and their lemon potatoes are awesome. My only complaint is from the menu. Not being greek myself. I have a very small understanding of some of the foods. So when you see something, like shieftalia, on the menu, it doesn't mean anything to me unless I ask. I would love to see a small description on the menu to tell people what that is. Other than that...food is awesome.
Service: Fantastic too! Waiters are great! They're courteous and attentive. Couldn't ask for anything more. Just keep that up.
Overall: I'd EASILY recommend this place as a low-key, great place to eat if you're looking for a very good, simple greek cuisine. I have not been disappointed any time I have been there. -
Review from Brian R.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
Went here last night for dinner and it was great as usual. I got the seafood grill (calamari, shrimp, octopus, and salmon) with roasted lemon potatoes. I also had Tzatziki with bread which was very good. The staff is always on top of things and the atmosphere is pleasant. I highly recommend this place if houses ever in Astoria.
-
Review from Peter K.
This is why I live in Astoria--delicious Greek food! My wife and I went there for the first time a couple of weeks ago. We had hummus, gyro entree and souvlaki entree--I know, I know, not very adventurous in the Greek cuisine. I promise to try more interesting items next time.
Everything we had was excellent. Hummus was nice and thick; not overcreamed like at some places. Gyros and souvlaki were also excellent.
Portion size was just right. Ambience was nice. I definitely plan on going again. -
Review from Matthew F.
Huntington Station, NY
The Pita and Dip appetizer is a meal within itself so beware.
The Lamb dish with lemon potatoes was delicious. -
Review from Camille M.
Elmhurst, NY
I discovered this place with my boyfriend on a beautiful day when we were looking to dine al fresco. The tables that were set up outside looked inviting and it wasn't particularly busy so we decided to give it a try.
The menu is expansive and offered something for everybody. Their seafood entrees are on the pricey side, but that can be said of the majority of Greek restaurants in the area. The waiter, who was dressed in a tasteful uniform of black and white brought us some warm pita bread and offered to help us choose a wine as they offered a number of both red and white Greek wines that we weren't familiar with. We opted for our routine glasses of Merlot and Pinot Grigio, ordered two entrees to share and enjoyed the breeze while waiting for our food to arrive. My dish came with a Greek salad. Light, delicious and naked --- no EVOO whatsoever, just the way I like it! I prefer to go without dressing when it comes to salad, and with the large chunks of feta that studded it, I really didn't need it.
I ordered the Chicken Souvlaki, an unadventurous choice. I often have a hard time choosing between lemon potatoes or rice as a side dish, but here they give you both with your meal. Served up with a side of tzaziki, the chicken was moist and full of flavor. The potatoes melted in my mouth. Even my boyfriend, who never cared much for chicken agreed that it was far above average souvlaki.
He went for the Aliada salad. I almost never order salads as a main course, I'm just not that kind of girl. But, this salad is among the exceptions. It was loaded with perfectly cooked charcoal grilled octopus, and also contained some lemon potatoes over fresh garden greens. He shared some, and devoured the rest. I think this place has ruined him when it comes to salad. This is his new gold standard.
Fabulous. But since we ate outside, I really can't imagine coming here on a day that isn't warm and sunny to take advantage of the outdoor seating. Great service, healthy, tasty food, a definite keeper. -
Review from Calvin P.
New York, NY
This really is as good as it gets.
Free pita bread and hummus with dinner.
The greek salad is crisp and fresh. Perfection.
On wednesday and saturday nights they have the mousakka special. This is my favorite dish in all of new york city.
Seating outside too.
This place will always be #1. -
Review from ivette e.
Valley Stream, NY
We went their tonight with our family and friends and had a very nice dinner. The food and service were very good! The grilled seafood plattter for two was awesome!!!! My daughter loved the grillled cheese burger with bacon & fries, she ate it all!! (This is incredible for a teenage girl that is a picky eater). Would definitely recommend this place for a good dinner with friends/family. They also don't rush you, so we were able to talk for a while, which was cool!!
-
Review from Tommy T.
Boston, MA
Awesome souvlaki, tzatziki, and hospitality!
-
Review from Jimmy L.
Bayside, NY
When we want Greek food, my girlfriend and I jump in the car and drive the 15 minutes then circle the neighborhood for another 15 minutes to find parking.
Is that love for Aliada or what?
Eat here, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Romana claretta H.
Long Island City, NY
The food was okay, nothing memorable. I do like the outdoor seating option when the weather is nice though.
-
Review from Denise G.
Bethpage, NY
Been here a few times and I keep going back!!! I live in Astoria and I haven't found Keftedes anywhere else but here, that are somewhat close to YiaYia's :)
I love the lemon potatoes and falafel platter and my husband LOVES the gyro entree. Oh and the fried Haloumi can't be beat! -
Review from Viviana S.
Astoria, NY
I just love this place! When you want to have some great quick type greek food. It really beats out other places in astoria. The service has been great and the appetizers are delish!!! We usually do it tapas style and only get apps.
Def recommend this place if you want a quick bite to eat and desire something with flavor. -
Review from Janene O.
ASTORIA, NY
I tried several choices from the menu and the dolmades are the best I've had anywhere! And I eat them a lot! They were not vegetarian so be warned but they are amazing. I really liked the hummus and the pork. The lemon potatoes were also a highlight. When I go to Aliada the next time I will order the octopus. I' love octopus and I've read great reviews here so I'm looking forward to that! Great Greek food in Astoria.
-
Review from Natalia r.
New York, NY
Just came back from there. Good food, HUGE portions. Service was great, they even even gave my dad a Salad because it was father's day, very polite : ) Tables outside are a very confy place to sit.
