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Categories: Mediterranean, Greek
Neighborhood: Long Island CityAstoria Blvd (N, W)
"I am vegan and finding something to eat can be hard, so I went here based on recommendations of my SFBayAreaVeg Yahoo Group and was somewhat…" read more »
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The only reason I cant give it 5 stars is the decore.
What you don't get; no menus, no credit cards, limited drinks, limited meat. no decor
What you do get; the freshest, simply prepared fish in the city, great sides, loud & crowded, prompt but sometimes brash service, an inexpensive meal
We went early with a group of 10 and were promptly seated. Thanks to our size we were able to sample every appetizer and about 1/2 the fish. everything was fresh and great.
Octopus is a staple and although I've long maintained they make the best in the city, this time it was a bit under done for my taste. That's not to say it was too rare, just that it usually has a nice balance of tender juicy meat with crispy charred exterior spots and this time its charring was lacking.
Monk fish was some of the best I've had. It was filleted instead of steaks (as most places serve it) which made for much easier sharing.
The Scallops got a mixed review from the group. All liked, a couple loved them and a couple thought they were just OK. I'm in the latter category. They're rolled in flour and fried which makes for a slightly leathery skin but does seal in the juices. They looked great in the case and they didn't need the flour-fry treatment. They easily could have stood on their own with a simple grill or saute.
Easy to get to by N train or car, with a lot out back. Frequent taxi's pass by so a return ride isnt difficult to hail.
If the weather's nice they open a rear deck for dining which seems nice at first glance but between the lack of a view and the almost overhead train I'm not sure I'd choose it.
One big bonus is its across the street from Bohemian Hall beer garden. Stop in before or after for a perfect pour of ice cold east European beer.
Food: As you know by now no menus, so take a good look at the fridge when you first step in. Pretty traditional Greek fare here, heavy on the seafood selection and pretty limited on meats that come from landlocked animals.
My favorite was New Zealand mussels drenched in garlic/white wine sauce. Doesn't sound exceptional since every restaurant seems to offer this dish, but the sauce is made from, oh about 99% white wine. Upon first chew the alcohol hits, then the garlic slowly takes over, but its not so overpowering where it masks the sweetness of the wine as you finish off the mussels. The grilled octopus is good. Kind of like any other decent Greek restaurant. I can't say anything else about octopus anymore, besides that the Greeks have grilling octopus down to a science. Greek salad is like all other Greek salads but the feta cheese is not super salty like all feta cheeses are. Guess that makes the salad here superior.
For the main dish we chose the flounder. From the other reviews it seems that they serve the fish whole. But our flounder was either born without a head or it got lopped off in the kitchen. The meat was extremely tender and juicy. Fresh too, since there was absolutely no fishy odor, even though it's a fish. Oh yea, everything served here comes with half a lemon or a whole lemon.
Drink: They could have stepped up their beer game a little. Coors and Bud and two choices of Greek beer. I went with the Marathon Greek Lager. Not a good choice guys. A can of soda is like 2.50 here. I say stick with the water or hit up the beer garden right across the street afterwards.
Service: We had a super friendly waitress. But I hear the service is kind of hit or miss here. Cash only BTW (ATM located in bodega on opposite corner).
Crowd/Ambiance: Exterior and first room as you enter looks like a local fish market. Restaurant in back gets semi-crowded, but seating becomes available quickly. The tables are REALLY low. Kind of uncomfortable for taller people. Fit my girl perfectly but I had to slouch a little. The place is located on a corner so windows all around. Not much of a view since it's under the tracks (chatter and music drowns out train) but you can get a fair amount of natural lighting.
Here are some tips to know on this local favorite.
#1. No menu
#2. You come here for fish and seafood thats it.
#3. Don't expect happy, smiley service.
#4. Environment is loud.
The food is great, the prices are right. This local favorite is a must for fish and seafood. Service is bland but nobody cares.
I'd been wandering by this place for years and heard rave reviews from the locals. It's regularly packed and has a really nice outdoor seating area.
So recently I went in for dinner, armed only with the knowledge that it was a popular Greek seafood restaurant. My impression from the beginning was negative. After standing inside the door for a minute or two and being completely ignored, I had to seek out someone to direct us to a table. Throughout the dinner, the service was as bad as I've ever experienced...slow and rude as hell! There are no menus here, which I had been warned of in advance, but that leaves you at the mercy of your server even more. Once the food arrived, it didn't really matter what it tasted like, the experience was ruined. The food was good, but in my opinion there's no excuse for that kind of service, even in New York. After all, we're talking about fish served with lemons here...nothing paricularly exceptional about the cuisine itself. Did I mention it's ridiculously expensive? Yeah, one more reason to keep walking next time.
Considering there are so many other options for really good Greek food in Astoria, I'd recommend you spend your money somewhere they give a damn about their customers.
This place gets hella crowded but luckily, since I got there at 6, the Greek man at the register promised that if I returned in fifteen minutes with my group of five, he would have a table available. I asked if he needed to write down my name, but he just pointed at his eye and then me, saying: "I remember you." I was sure this would turn into a hoax, but the man was true to his word and wordlessly escorted us to our table when we came back.
Fish is super fresh, you can sit outside and there is no menu. All the Greek appetizers and sides you like such as: tzatziki, saganaki, grilled octopus and lemon potatoes are on the menu, but other than that it really is a fish fest. The fish comes complete with head, tail, etc. and there is nothing else on the plate. It sort of encourages you to really enjoy the process and all the flavors. If you're with someone who doesn't eat seafood (I know, but we were), the only options are pork chops and a chicken shish kebab.
This place is a lot like Taverna Kyclades but there's more fish and not as many of the other options (like a seafood pasta, etc. etc.). Great for a beautiful day when you can sit outside and pretend the Queens highway is a mountain top in Corfu.
Not clean
My favorite seafood restaurant in Astoria is Cyclades. It has the best seafood in all of Queens and even Manhattan where it tops even some of the big names. Cyclades is packed 7 days a week especially from 5 to 10pm ; you can't get in unless you wait for 45 min to over an hour. The other day, i wanted fish and just couldn't wait to get into Cyclades (place was so busy and at least 10 people if not more waiting to be seated) on a Monday night around 7:30 pm so I decided to try Elias Corner. I was bitterly disappointed. This place doesn't even come close to the former as far as quality of seafood goes. It was digusting in there, no ventilation, few people here and there eating, dim lights and everything you ordered was a la carte.
The fish I ordered, porgy was nothing to brag about, small and bland and my small salad which they charged me 5 or 6 bucks was 1 tomatoe and a few lettuce. Throw in a glass of wine and the ridiculous price of 40 bucks plus tip did not justify this dump. Elias corner in my humble opinion is garbage! If you want the best seafood in Queens, Cyclades followed by Akti are great. Don't waste your time going to this low class reataurant.
If you don't believe me, try them both or all three and see what i'm talking about.
Never ever again at Elias corner.
OK, so I'm big on good ratings. Sue me.
Elias' is delicious. My parents had been here years ago and have talked about it ever since. After finally going I totally understand why.
The florescent lighting, pretty ugly first room and that fact that it's in Queens (sorry, but I am a Queens hater) are still not bad enough to take away 1 star from the delicious food. There's no menu so you basically walk up to the front fish container and take your pick, then they just throw the fish whole on the grill with some olive oil, salt, pepper and oregano and call it a day.
We had the greek salad, grilled octopus, and I had the red snapper as my entree, then we finished it off with delicious fried dough in honey and cinnamon. Everything was amazing!
Best part? They're right across the street from the beer garden so I have every intention of doing a beer garden/ sober up at Elias' on the back porch when it's warmer out. Can't wait.
Exquisite seafood. No menu (I'll share prices).
With fish, there are two considerations: is it FRESH and is it COOKED RIGHT? Elias scores perfect 10s.
If you like Taverna Kyclades, Elias has a very different atmosphere and different style, but for quality, they are on par. I haven't been in this hood long enough to comment on how Elias has changed over the years, but I have no complaints whatsoever.
Sharing encouraged!
Price-wise, the basic breakdown is: sides $4-$7, fish $18-22. As good as the kebab is (my sister had it), you're missing the point if you order it.
Living in New York was a culinary adventure. There were times when you ran into a restaurant so good at what it does that you would not want to share it with others. I am breaking that rule.
If you want authentic Greek salads and grilled fish, feed the beast at Elias' Corner.
Don't expect anything fancy. The patio furniture and almost rude wait staff isn't the reason to eat here. But when you taste the salad with feta cheese and olives, eat the grilled swordfish, and the grilled sausages, then you forget the world outside. The two hours or so that you spend here will be memorable.
To get to Elias' from the City, take the N to Astoria. Get off at Astoria Blvd and walk north or get off at Ditmars and walk south. Elias' is on the west side of the street under the train tracks, on a corner.
The freshest Greek seafood in New York. My friend and I make a pilgrimage here every summer for their soft shell crab, sopping delicious in butter and wine sauce. Other specialties are the green salad, with just the right amount of dill and feta, and perfectly dressed; their grilled sardines, and of course the octopus. For a starch they have fried sliced potatoes.
Some people like the scallops, big, fat farmed ones - but I like smaller ones so am not a big fan. The whole grilled fish is delicious but is a bit on the pricey side. Don't get filets. Come on, get the whole fish! Lots of flavor is in the skin. The fish kabobs are not such a great value either. The fish is the pricest stuff on the menu - so if you can do without it, you can save some money (but you'll still be full).
Not really recommended are the tsatsiki - even though it is thick and garlicky, the bread is of only average quality - and the Greek salad (too many onions and the tomatoes are not ripe enough). The wine selection is very basic, but maybe you can bring your own wine? I don't know.
Friendly, Queens-Greek service, but the waitstaff can be very busy.
They have an outdoor patio for nice days.
I have only eaten here once based on the recommendation of a Manhattanite who said he and his wife loved this Astoria place more so than Taverna Kyclades or Stamatis.
Go early, on the weekends and evenings it gets pretty packed with the locals. There is NO MENU, but the waitress will rattle off all of the fresh fish of the day, sides, veggies and wine options.
We ordered grilled calamari, a huge Greek salad, swordfish and a small carafe of wine. The total was around $70 but totally worth it.
No frill, no fancy tables or decor. As a matter of fact I think our chairs were plastic patio furniture. Good for seafood lovers, like myself, just not somewhere I can afford to go often.
CASH ONLY.
i love this place-- it's a seafood-lovers' heaven; no menu, fresh fish, cooked the way the chef feels is best-- one time the waitress asked if we'd like veggies with our dinner, and when we inquired as to what they had, she responded, 'anything! there's a grocery store across the street!' it's definitely a no-nonsense, nyc kind of place-- but good food certainly makes this a place to come back to.
they do what they do and they do it well. i think elias gets the consistency aware for greek seafood in astoria. been many times throughout the years and by golly i've yet to have a disappointment. soft shell crab, fried squid, red snapper, tilapia and monkfish all were memory stand outs. yum i want some right now!
I just moved to Astoria and attended a family function where eight people separately recommended this place to me (by the end I had to nod and pretend I had never heard what they were about to say).
So I'm shocked that only two people have reviewed Elias Corner. I had an amazing meal there on Sunday night. My parents were in town and I think the meal was about $25 a person but we got a ton of food: fried calamari, greek salad, saganaki, grilled eggplant and zucchini, shrimp, fish. We each got a beer and the dessert (fried dough with honey) was free. Everything was delish, especially the eggplant (sooo soft and gooey and tasty!) and they deboned the fish.
There's no menu and once you get your food the servers kind of abandon you and you have to speak up. But sitting on the patio was lovely and because they leave you alone, you can linger on and on. Alas, they have no decaf coffee or tea. Otherwise we would have lingered longer than the 2 or 3 hours we spent at Elias.
But I highly recommend the trek to Astoria for this place, especially because you can head to the beer garden afterwards!
I have been here twice now and the first time was awesome and it tasted like they caught my fish out back and grilled it up right in front of me BUT the second time I went my fish tasted like they caught it out back and drove over it a few times while smoking cigarettes.
The fries were great both times though.
Elias is also expensive! $25 for over cooked fishy fish. I'd rather eat and drink at The Beer Garden across the street."
OK first off, the service was TERRIBLE!!!! Our waitress was very rude and unprofessional. She came to the table and started with "Everyone, listen up!" I was scared of her to be honest! We shared several plates. The dishes that are noteworthy are the Calamari, Salmon (not wild, we had both), and Greek salad. Those items were freshly prepared and quality cuts. The Greek salad had delicious pieces of feta cheese. Items that you should NOT try are the chicken kabobs (wayyy too dry and bland), the octopus (so salty, chewy and burnt! It was gross), and Greek coffee ( was not strong and the end of it tasted like dirt!). To top off our bad service, she forgot one of our dishes. When we told her at the end she said "why didn't you guys tell me earlier? Now I will get in trouble with my boss." Then when she dropped off the check, she had the nerve to say "Next time. tell me in advance if you don't get a dish." No comment to that.
I've eaten at different Greek restaurants and I love this place. Have been going for about 10 years now. NO MENU and NO CASH are the drawbacks. I don't go as often as I would like - only when I have the extra cash so I order my favorites each time, hence, not needing a menu. Because of the outside seating this place has become a summer favorite of ours. One thing I do not like is that they make these delish dumplings as a dessert but will not make them if the kitchen is busy. I was pregnant the last time I was there so they did accommodate me which was great. Happy eating!
This is a no-frills, traditional family style Greek seafood restaurant with a simple, unassuming diner-styled interior decor. There are no menus, and only seafood dishes are offered. The curt yet friendly waitstaff will present a few options of the day's freshest seafood, based on your preferences, and don't be afraid to ask what else they have. Mostly every fish selection is prepared on the grill, whole, and is served with perfect char marks and a wide selection of side dishes ranging from paper-thin sliced fried potatoes to zucchini - grilled, of course. Be prepared to smell a bit smoky and fishy, but with the fresh seafood you'll be feasting on, it will be well worth the trip out to Queens.
Pricing: Not Cheap
Venue: Sit Down
Cuisine: Seafood, Greek
Favorite Dish(es): Grilled Fish of the Day, Fried Potatoes (side)
Repost from http://www.nynyeateat.com, where we only post our 5 stars.
I used to eat at Elias Corner every Monday for over two years. When you enter dispense with the menu and simply look over the fresh fish in the display and choose your favorites. Their octopus is some of the best, not sure why others can't do it as well. The side dishes, Tzatziki, taramosalada, and cheese are great too.
Albeit they are a bit pricey, you can to consider that Astoria is moving upscale.
So this place is a classic. It's got a little of the NY "you talkin' to me" flare and a lot of the Greek no muss no fuss get the fish on the grill . . . . food's excellent, as mentioned by another reviewer you need to be confident to get what you want! and people keep saying it's pricey-what are they talking about? We ordered a ton of food in a group of 10 with about 6 bottles of wine and spent $40/person. When going for a simple dinner for two we spend about $60 on 2 entres, a couple sides, and a bottle of wine-it's not the kebab stand on the next corner but it's certainly not expensive! Check it out!
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