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Avli
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
3831 Bell BlvdBayside, NY 11361
Neighborhood: Bayside
(718) 224-7575
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
Elena M. said: "This place is a slice of europe in Astoria. You would never even think this place is as fabulous as it is. the food is exquisite. the service is excellent. the outdoor dining gives a spring or summer day the perfect ambience. menu…" read more »
134 reviews for Avli
Review Highlights
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"Their pita bread is always fresh and warm and their staff..." In 11 reviews -
"The gyro, grape leaves, and hummus were very good." In 6 reviews -
"We shared the grilled octopus on a bed of cannelloni beans." In 6 reviews
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134 reviews in English
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Review from Tatevik K.
Oceanside, NY
Discovered this place recently, and absolutely love it :) The atmosphere is nice, the waiters very friendly and not pushy or annoying at all. The food is amazing, I had the Chicken Souvlaki Platter and my husband had Lamb Gyro Platter, with Fallafel. EVERYTHING BITE WAS DELICIOUS :) The prices are VERY reasonable especially for the amount of food that you get! The fries that came with the platters are amazing too. The Tzatziki dip that everyone raves about?? YES it's that good :)
Last time we also tried the Baklava, and yet again, no disappointment there either.
Overall, I'd highly recommend everyone to go and try Avli.
P.S. Oh and they have outside seating area. Can't wait for the weather to get warmer:) -
Review from Bleu W.
Chicago, IL
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
We love this place. We have ordered take out in the past and recently decided to dine in. What a treat. Everyone is friendly and helpful. Felt like we were with family. Very good with food allergy concerns too- yay!
The food is super yummy. The only negative was the falafel was a bit overcooked and dry. Everything else was delicious and of good quality.
So nice to find a good place that has wonderful service too.
Looking forward to returning in the near future. -
Review from Jared K.
BAYSIDE HILLS, NY
4/5/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Hands down the best Greek food I've ever had. I will become a regular there and order take out from now on.
Nuff said! -
Review from Miriam S.
BEECHHURST, NY
5/21/2012
This place was amazing, we had a little wait about 15 min but after that the service was amazing. The water glass was filled automatically, I was missing a fork and a waiter named Rob came over right away to correct the issue. Our waiter Donna was very good and attentive. she explained all the dishes and recommended a few. We had the meatballs , zucchini, tzakiki sauce and chicken gyro. All of them were amazing, I love all the food and the service. They were so busy and yet the service was amazing. Recommend 100%.
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Review from Jaclyn M.
Brooklyn, NY
3/21/2012
Lived in Bayside for a year and this place became my friday night takeout tradition. I always got the gyro platter with either the lemon potatoes or the french fries and greek salad and I have never been disappointed. The pita bread was always warm and the tzatziki was so amazing, I always ordered extra and dipped everything in it.
Place is nice during the warmer weather since they have a backyard patio so you can sit outside and eat.
Moved to Brooklyn about 4 months ago and I have not been able to find a Greek place like Avli yet. -
Review from Lara G.
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Living in an area proliferating with Greek restaurants elevated my standards for Greek fare. So, when family who live in Queens Village invited us to Avli, I was rarin' to see how it would measure up against one of my favorite Greek restaurants, Taverna Kyclades.
For purposes of equal comparison, I ordered the same food that we eat at Taverna Kyclades - grilled octopus as appetizer, and a grilled branzino as entree.
Although the octopus fared well in terms of taste and texture, the grilled branzino didn't. They served the whole fish, with the head and the server didn't inquire whether we prefer to have the fish deboned. It really didn't matter to me but just for purposes of comparison, Taverna Kyclades asks for your preference. I have shopped for branzino itself , cooked it at home, ladolemono style and know how a fresh one tastes and how firm its flesh should be. Sadly, I cannot say this is how it should be. The lemon potatoes that came with the branzino was on the bland side while the salad had crumbled feta cheese instead of the huge blocks of feta cheese at Taverna Kyclades.
Our server was sweet but she was much too busy and ignored us for a long time. The food was cold before she remembered to give us plates and we waited for an hour for the drinks. It was possible that she was covering far too many tables. It could be that it is an off day for the restaurant as it was a Monday and just the second day of the year so I'm giving them a break and still giving them three (3) stars. -
Review from Steve T.
Bayside, NY
3/4/2012
Where do i Begin. Lets list first.
1- Food - ***** 5 stars
2- Service - ***** 5 Stars
3- Wine and beer - ***** 5 Stars
4- Management/ Owners - ***** 5 Stars
I bring my son here all the time when we want a meal in a place that feels like home and family. The servers are AMAZING. They are always Smiling and friendly. Even if its not their table they are attentive to see when you need something. The tsatiki is the best ive EVER had and i work in Astoria. Whatever the owners policy is it works. If every restaurant managed like this place it would be so much more pleasant to eat our. Love the food. Always fresh and really look forward to going there when the mood strikes.
Maria A says Staff Had attitude and i have to believe that it was she with the attitude. THe staff here have never been anything more than amazing. The only time i can see them as having attitude is when dealing with a customer that is rude and obnoxious. -
Review from Brian C.
3/27/2012
Mmm... Love this spot. I always come to Avli if I'm craving a Gyro. Great prices, quality food, and friendly service. I always try to get an order of "Greek fries" or lemon potatoes, and I have a friend that swears by their soup.
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Review from Caroline W.
Los Angeles, CA
1/1/2012
I don't really eat alot of greek food and, to be honest, it's not one of my favorites but I still thought this place was really good.
I ordered the Chicken Souvlaki platter and thought it was overall good. They give you alot of food - the plate was filled with large chunks of chicken. As others have said, the tzatziki sauce is REALLY good, the best I've ever had. It's thick and creamy and makes anything and everything taste yummy. I also really liked their pita bread - it was soft, thick, perfect texture and not at all dry. The one (small) complaint I had with the chicken was that it tasted just a tiny bit dry. After about 20 mins, the chicken had become kind of hard where it was hard to cut, but the flavor was still pretty good. However, I did try my friend's gyro and I can honestly say that it's the best gyro I've ever tasted - really flavorful, moist, just good quality meat.
A group of us went on a Thursday night, and surprisingly, there was still a really long wait. We had a large party, but would hate to see what this place is like on the weekends.
Overall, everything here taste really fresh. From the salads to the tzatziki sauce to the pita bread and side dishes, everything just seemed like it was freshly made with high quality ingredients. I would definitely come here again, but would probably get the gyro or try one of the salads next time. -
Review from Alison F.
Flushing, NY
2/19/2012
I came here once for lunch. We sat outside on a really nice day on a beautiful stone patio with gardens everywhere and Ivy crawling up the side of the building. This day-the service was very slow and they were moderately busy, but again, I only came here one time so I'm not going to judge the service based on this one day.
The atmosphere is very comfortable, relaxed and well, charming, We ordered pitas and hummus and the pita was fresh and warm-delicious. I had a a gyro which was HUGE and my sister had a greek salad with shrimp which was also pretty big. The best thing was the tzatziki sauce which was thick and fresh.
I love Greek food, and their or tons of places to get Greek in -I haven't tried them all but I would recommend Avli. I definitely plan on coming back here although the service was a little slow that one day everyone was still accommodating and very nice, and the food was great. -
Review from Lis B.
12/18/2011
Love this place! The real deal for Greeks and non-Greeks alike! Huge portions of good, quality food. Last time I was there I had the salmon platter - large piece of nicely-cooked fish, fresh and flavorful, with a side of lemony rice. Tzatziki is very thick, creamy and tangy - just the way I like it. Served with lots of toasted pita bread, this side really can't be topped.
Great bang for the buck!
Servers are very friendly, and though the space is weird (long and narrow), they make the most of it. It's kind of like a diner in many respects, but they do their best to give it a "tavern-like" atmosphere.
Bell Boulevard is kind of happening, so walk around afterwards.
Bonus: open late! -
Review from Astrid G.
I cannot get enough of Avli. And I'm sure many others feel the same way. Take a ride down Bell Blvd on a Friday or Saturday night and see for yourself. Avli will usually have several people milling about in front of it, waiting for their table and their turn to indulge in some of Queens' best Greek food.
The following are my go-to dishes: the grilled octopus (sublime and perfectly cooked, it makes me say OMG), the falafel platter, the vegetarian moussaka (do yourself a favor and order it), lemon potatoes, and horta. And on top of all of this delicious food, the service is fantastic! What more could you ask for? Now do you understand why I'm obsessed?Listed in: The Best of Queens
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Review from Michael C.
Jamaica, NY
4/2/2012
I am a huge fan of Greek food and flavors, so it is always nice to find another good Greek restaurant. This is definitely a good Greek restaurant.
The space is comfortable, the service is friendly, and the food both tastes great and comes in generous portions.
I had Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmadakia), a favorite of mine, along with the Spanakopita platter. The grape leaves were good, although I felt they could have used a little more lemon. The spanakopita was delicious, and I enjoyed the lemon potatoes accompanying it.
My girlfriend got the grilled stuffed chicken, which was phenomenal. I highly recommend it. It doesn't get much better than chicken, lemon, spinach, cheese, and garlic.
If you are looking for a Greek place in Bayside, you should come here. You will enjoy it, and you will get value for your money. -
Review from Patty L.
New York, NY
12/16/2011
I'm not Greek and don't know much about Greek food so I can't speak on it's authenticity but I can rave about their portion sizes, great prices and it's deliciousness. Their tzatziki sauce is one of the best I've ever had. My BF had the chicken gyro which for some reason was extremely salty. I had the beef & lamb gyro which I ate with pita and salad. The combination was fantastic but if you had too much of the beef & lamb on its own, you'll soon feel like the insides of your mouth is caked with fat.
Still, I love having Avli as a local Greek option. -
Review from Paulino F.
Bellerose, NY
1/24/2012
I love this place, a little farther from the usual Bell Blvd spots, which also makes it a little quieter. I lover their PORK DONER, I highly recommend it!
Service is typically prompt and friendly, GREEK FRIES are outstanding!!! -
Review from Traci R.
Glen Oaks, NY
1/20/2012
Love this place!
First off, the staff no matter what time of day you go are always really cool. They are also really happy to answer any questions you have.
Second, the place is constantly busy, but the wait is worth it!
I love the Gigantes....white beans in a light sauce. OMG! So delicious!
Their gyros are huge, so show up hungry if you are planning to order one. Or face bringing part of it home....like I always have to do!
Their tzatziki sauce is the best I have ever had! Well seasoned & thick.
If you love warm fresh bread, you will love their fresh pita bread that I swear is made the moment I walk in the door! -
Review from Lenna P.
9/28/2011
Oh Avli how I love thee.
Louie M's review stated that all of the "good reviews" on this place are from people that work there. Sorry Louie but I dont work at Avli and I was not paid to write this review.
The Food: I've been to Avli on numerous occasions and I always leave full and happy. I LOVE the tzatziki sauce! Very thick and packed with flavor. I always try to make it at home but it always comes out like shit. They make a great Greek Salad but they put it in a flat plate which makes it really hard to eat. The grilled baby squid is soooo good! I've had this at other Greek restaurants but nobody makes it as good as Avli. LOVE their gyros! The meat is so tender, you cant go wrong with that. Chicken doner and souvlaki are also really yummy. I always get the salmon with the roasted lemon potatoes, by far my favorite dish. They give you a nice size piece of fish, marinated in lots of olive oil and lemon. Try it you wont be disappointed. I like their french fries but I hate it when they add the feta on top, I'm a big fan of feta cheese but it doesnt go well on fries.
Service: The service is always on point. The waiters are really nice and they always make some great suggestions.
They have outdoor seating which is also nice. -
Review from Ara A.
Fresh Meadows, NY
11/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Love the food here.
Avli beats all the other greek restaurants around hands down. The Greek Fries are absolutely delicious, and their mixed salad was similarly great.
Prior experience with gyro's was superb. Nothing bad to say really....delivery took longer than expected, but I ordered on a Saturday night.
The menu also offers a TON of items. It was very hard to select which one I wanted, but that just means I will be back for more! -
Review from Alice L.
10/21/2011
Avli This Avli That, what is everyone ranting about?
Awesome Food at Awesome Prices, that's what!!!
We started off with the Pikilia, which allows you to pick 4 sauces to dip with Warm Pita Bread.
We chose (in order of yumminess):
Taramosalta (fish roe)
Tzaziki
Feta Cheese with Roasted Red Pepper
Hummus
It was all soo very good!
Then I had the Skirt Steak wrapped in a Pita (the Sandwich?) Holy Moo! This was delicious!!! I wanted to eat it all but it was just too much! I don't know if anyone can bite into it but we have to knife and fork it. Gosh, I'm craving one right now... the perfectly seasoned skirt steak (Med Rare), the Tzatziki sauce, the veggies, the Pita! Mmm!
The Gyro was pretty top notch as well, but the skirt steak... drOOl...
Can someone take me there right now please? -
Review from Audrey K.
9/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I cannot BELIEVE how long it's been since my last review - forgive me Jane!
Avli seems an appropriate chow spot to jump start my return to yelp-ville as it was a wonderful, homey restaurant in an otherwise cluttered and busy street. Bell Blvd in Bayside is sprinkled with restaurants, and such places easily range from the 1 stars to the 5 stars.. well.. 4 =)
The competition is pretty fierce in this neighborhood but Avli is ALWAYS packed! Even on a Tuesday night! Though there may be people in line, the wait is not that bad, and the space extends to the outdoors (in the back).
The food here is great. It's authentic, quick, decently priced and portioned. Almost everyone starts with the pita and tzatziki sauce, or their hummus appetizer - which is amazing, except super filling. The grilled octopus is almost unnaturally meaty (this is a good and awesome thing) and their gyro platters are humongos.
I would actually go against getting the greek fries because all the feta falls off, and really - it's just normal naked fries anyway.
The service really stands out also, everyone is friendly, even though they are borderline nutty-busy. The crowd is fun, ready to eat, and full of conversation.... not that they're talking to me/strangers, but it's a fun, family-oriented atmosphere.
Thumbs up! -
Review from Christina S.
Queens, NY
Avé Avliiiii! Let me start by stating a mere fact, I LOVE Greek food. It's healthy, tasty, wholesome goodness! Avli have very good Greek food! I would not say excellent because I would be a traitor to KYCLADES. However, Avli have fresh, tasty dishes...I love their lightly breaded, broiled tilapia w/garlic, olive oil and lemon. Their Greek salad is delicious, but my favorite is their tzatziki sauce!!! TDF. Also tried their Greek french fries topped with melted feta...it was pretty good.
This place gets packed on Friday, Saturday evenings! 1/2 hour wait.
Outdoor seating. -
Review from Miri Y.
Manhattan, NY
2/13/2012
I live in flushing but would drive to bayside just to eat at this tasty restaurant. I have only tried two dishes here, which is the chicken souvlaki and the skirt steak platter. The skirt steak is perfectly cooked each time. This place made me become a huge fan of Greek food. Their pita bread is really fresh and when they are served. The fries and lemon potatoes which are options for the platter are great also.
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Review from Sara S.
BAYSIDE HILLS, NY
11/25/2011
Holy shamoly this place is awesome!!
Now my safety meal, as well as how I determine the delic-i-osity of a Greek restaurant is Greek salad with grilled chicken and a side of tzaziki (pronounced tsaaat-zee-ki for those who do not know and wanted to). Theirs is plentiful, fresh and very tasty. The crisp romaine greens, and perfectly grilled chicken are a nice departure from the oh-so-common iceberg mess that usually makes its way into many a Greek salad.
Avli does it right and then some. You can't go wrong with the chicken or pork donor platters as well. Their felafel is fabulous, and their hummus: heavenly. I highly recommend their avgolemeno (sp?) soup.
It's lovely to dine on their patio during warmer weather. There is this lovely brick wall with climbing vines, and the garden where they grow some of their own veggies (from my understanding). You almost feel as though you could be in some Mediterranean hideaway.
You can't go wrong with Avli. Always a good choice no matter what your menu selection is. -
Review from Harvey F.
Valley Stream, NY
12/21/2011
Love Avil! Great food at good prices. The pork, the skirt steak...and had one of the best fish dishes in memory one night. My wife ordered a special that was baked flounder. Sounded pretty boring to me...but whatever they did to this fish. Panko bread crumbs and I think they threw it under the broiler to finish it. Terrific!
Add some of their greek house white and their grilled octopus...
A great, inexpensive night of dining! -
Review from Sunayna R.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 3/27/2012
update - its still awesome.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/17/2011
I looooooooooooove Avli. The food is always delicious and the service is usually pretty good. I've… Read more »
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Review from Alexandra C.
New York, NY
8/22/2011
I was hoping for better, but it was good, don't get me wrong.
The tzatiki sauce was by far the thickest I have ever had.. tasted almost like sour cream with strong garlic flavor. Good but not as good as I heard it was.
They were out of the stuffed calarme I so wanted to try. The waitress was honest and told us it was too chewy so they threw the batch of calamare out and so I went with what was the best dish we had -- the chicken soulvaki. Absolutely perfectly seasoned and tender huge chunks, served with rice that was well, pretty regular rice.
Bf got the bad dish of the day - the salmon - incredibly fishy and not good at all. The lemon potatoes were average.
Really the stars are given to the chicken, which was perfect. -
Review from Diana B.
Bayside, NY
2/9/2012
Awesome food, great prices/service. Plus they deliver quick.
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Review from Linda C.
Flushing, NY
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
After reviewing the comments from the Yelpers, I decided to try this place with my partner for lunch based on the food. When we walked in, we were greeted by the employees. We walked to the back of the restaurant to take our seats. We were greeted by one of the waitresses and she took our orders. My partner ordered the pork souvlaki platter for $11.15 and I ordered the gyro sandwich. My partner's pork souvlaki was quite moist and tasty. It was not dry at all. I've been to several Greek restaurants and it seems like the pork can be on the dry side. As for the gyro sandwich, I liked it. It was again, very moist. I don't have any complaints.
As for the tzatziki sauce, it is pretty thick! It tastes really good with the fries with the pork souvlaki. For now, I think this restaurant serves decent food. I would like to go back and try more. -
Review from Michelle R.
KEW GARDEN HL, NY
7/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place gets only 3 stars because I feel like they should have recommended that 2 people split everything and the timing for when they brought out our food should have been better, everything came 5 minutes before our dinner!!. All their food is really heavy with all the sauces and cheese.
The lemon chicken soup was way too salty.
The Greek iced coffee is really strong for u coffee lovers.
The meal was good though I got the grilled stuffed chicken and with the greek fries it was great. We just had so much food left over that I feel it was a waste of food and $40.
It has the potential to do better :) -
Review from Vanessa A.
BAYSIDE, NY
5/3/2012
Avli is a local gem that serves some of the best Greek food I've had in NY. I moved to Bayside last year and had to eat here after hearing all the locals rave about it. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the service can sometimes be poor and its hard to get a table during peak hours. Finally a Greek restaurant that doesn't overcook the meat till its dry and charred! The portions are big so its a great value and the tzatziki really is that good (I always order extra to take home). There are very few restaurants with outdoor seating in Bayside so I always gravitate to this place in the summer. When I end up working late I love calling five minutes ahead and ordering a gyro on my way home (its only $5). Every seafood dish I've ordered has been fresh and delicious but my personal favorite is the Oktapodi Skaras (grilled octopus) which is always cooked perfectly and comes in a flavorful sauce. You can't go wrong with the lemon potatoes, Maroulosalata, or any of the combination platters. In the winter when I'm sick I order a big quart of the chicken Avgolemono soup for delivery. The only recommendation I disagree with is the Moussaka. It wasn't terrible but I've definitely had better and it tasted dry like it might have sitting under a heat lamp to long. Great local place that never disappoints and the staff is always very friendly.
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Review from Michael S.
BAYSIDE HILLS, NY
9/9/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I must say that I have passed this place a few times and never thought anything of it until one day I decided to check it out. All I can say is I should have tried this place a long time ago!
The food is amazing!!! I've been there about 4 times now and every time I go the food is great! The Moussaka is tasty, the chicken slovaki is tender and juicy! Most meals come with a greek salad or a soup and pita and tzatzki sauce. Although the sauce is more like a yogurt consistency it's really yummy though.
The only downfall is the parking! Parking on Bell Blvd can sometimes be a nightmare! The staff is friendly, they are always smiling and I did not have to wait long to get my food. -
Review from J K.
Manhattan, NY
8/14/2011
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the food. By far and large, my favorite Greek restaurant. I always get the bifteki here and it's never gone wrong. I've had it at several other Greek places and theirs were generally good too but the portion sizes and prices at Avli is so much better. The servers are Greek. I brought one of my best friends here, a Greek-American and she said that it really was pretty darn good and authentic.
My one bone to pick with them is that for the platters, you can only choose one of the three options of fries, rice or lemon potatoes. You can't mix and the owner said, "It's like giving double portion." I find that statement very untrue bc uh, hello, you just halve the amout of the side you usually give and fill the other half with the respective requested side. He also said, "My system would shut down if I did that." Really? I thought I saw them pre-made in those tin cans and the guys behind the grill just scoop it onto the plates. His logic really doesn't make sense to me but whatever, I guess. He wasn't nasty or anything.
Service is ok. The girls could smile a bit more. The front feels pizzeria-ish but the back feels more like a restaurant. The outside garden is lovely but get ready for LOTS AND LOTS of mosquito bites! They should consider some tiki torches. -
Review from Danesh I.
3/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Greek food is definitely one of my favorite cuisines and Avli made it to my top five Greek spots after just one visit. I brought my family here for my mom's 50th birthday lunch based on a friend's recommendation. Avli did not disappoint on any level.
Our party of four was promptly seated and though it doesn't offer the best ambiance, the restaurant is very cozy, comfortable, and clean. The service was superb, and we all had water and toasted pita bread with tzatziki sauce to start.
We decided to split an order of the fried calamari, an order of the grilled octopus, and some fried zucchini; each of the appetizers delivered and were gone within five minutes of hitting the table! As if the appetizers weren't enough, we each got a soup or salad with our entrée orders; simply put , the lemon chicken soup is delicious!
We could have called it a day after the appetizers and soup/salad, but on we went to our entrées. I decided to go with a salmon dish to keep things relatively light, and it was a solid choice. My brother got the rack of lamb, and we all wowed by the sheer presentation of this dish; it was basically eight lamb chops lined up on the plate! The lamb was tender, juicy and delicious, but the Greek fries on the side were simply divine.
My mom got a veal dish that was on special and really enjoyed her meal, but the clear winner for best entrée was my dad who got the branzino. Crispy and tasty, so simple yet so flavor...it was a great dish! Complemented by a side of lemon potatoes, it's a meal worthy of the Gods of Olympus.
Miraculously, we somehow mustered the courage to get dessert and Greek coffee to cap off an amazing meal. Nothing exceptional about this portion since it was your standard baklava affair, but I can vouch for the Greek coffee since it was strong and to the point.
After it was all said and done, the bill was way below what I had expected, and for the quality of the food, I would have paid double the $130 bill! Don't miss out a great meal, Avli is wonderful and will deliver across the board. I will most certainly be back the next time I'm back in Queens, especially since I didn't get to taste the gyro which seems to be a really popular pick amongst most folks. -
Review from Michael G.
Floral Park, NY
11/30/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I feel a bit embarrassed that I haven't reviewed Avli yet, considering I have been going there since they opened.
I first started using them for catering, which turned out to be a huge success with all of my customers. When I finally got to sit down, I was in heave, Their menu, albeit not as large as some of the other Greeks in Queens, offers just the right selection. They have their own vegetable garden in the back where they harvest tomatoes, zucchini, peppers and the like, for their homemade dishes. The vegetable mousaka is ridiculously tasty. Not to be missed is the grilled octopus. It comes simply grilled on a plate with onions and a drizzle of oil and vinegar. It is usually the reason I go to Avli. As for the rest of the dishes, the Chicken souvlaki is moist and tender and the lemon potatoes are second to none. For dessert I recommend the galaktobouriko and a Greek coffee (medium)
When you go there, ask for Foti and tell him Mike Girolamo sent you.Listed in: Queens
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Review from David T.
New York, NY
7/8/2011
We were in Beechhurst for a day by the pool and then it was time for dinner. Where to go and what to eat? Greek called out to us. Astoria? Been there done that. Bayside? Hmmmm. Yelp pointed the way to Avli (and the descriptions my fellow reviewers included of the outdoor dining room certainly didn't hurt!)
We got there early on a Saturday night (good thing, too, because when we left, there was a long line) and were able to snag a great table out in their back garden. Really very nice. And you can see right next door over a small wall, Avli's garden. Very impressive!
What's on the menu? Well, it would be nice if the folks at Avli posted it on the internet (you really need a website)
But from what I recall... we started with pita bread and tsasaki sauce - very garlicky. Two appetizers - an amazing stuffed, grilled calamari, then delicious stewed string beans. The kids ate as much as we did.
Greek salads and/or a delicious chicken-lemon soup come with the main courses. Big bowl of soup - very lemony and rich. The salad was nice and the feta on it was very fresh.
For main courses, my youngest daughter had the side serving of spinach pie (I can only imagine what the full serving would be, as this was enormous). Very tasty - she loved the spinach more than the filo, but I thought the whole package was great. My other daughter had the lamb gyro - not pulled together and slathered in sauce like many diners do. The meat was laid out on the plate, with a side of lemon potatoes (we all heard about the lemon potatoes so we had 2 portions, and one of rice - all really delicious). The lamb was very tender.
I had the chicken doner - again, the chicken on the plate, but it was the moistest chicken ever - very flavorful (oregano and lemon?), very filling.
My wife had the stuffed eggplant - similar stuffing to the grilled calamari, but really delicious.
And no, we had no room for dessert (and we did have leftovers which made for a great lunch the next day!)
Prices were great. Waitress was very nice (maybe a bit overwhelmed). Atmosphere was great.
We'll definitely be back. Thanks for a great time! -
Review from J C.
Manhattan, NY
3/15/2011
Probably one of the best greek places in Bayside. I've tried the following and were pleased with everything:
- skirt steak
- gyro
- cold appetizers with tzatziki (can't spell) dip.
- fried calamari
I'm not sure if I it was supposed to taste this way but the lemon chicken soup was really sour. Not my cup of tea...
I like to call ahead and then just pick it up. -
Review from Jett t.
Queens, NY
4/15/2011
Friday night, table for five an no reservations, 8pm. Our host warmly greeted us, took our table's name and kept us posted as to the wait time periodically. A good start.
Our waitress comes promptly and with a genuine smile, hands out menus and takes drink orders.
The food is not exceptional, but quite good enough to be enjoyable, portions are a bit on the generous side and the menu items vary from Greek comfort to American comfort food. All the ingredients tasted fresh and the avgolemono soup appeared to be homemade.
Throughout the entire meal, our waitress was fast and friendly and did not overlook a thing.
Its a good value spot. If you're in the neighborhood, give Avli a try. -
Review from Trish M.
BAYSIDE HILLS, NY
3/17/2012
Great place for greek food and their homemade white sauce is the best!
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Review from Stephanie M.
Brentwood, NY
12/22/2011
Love this place! Good service and very welcoming.
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Review from Desirae L.
College Point, NY
Avli!! Love it! best gyro. Always fresh and great service!! Never disappointed.
