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Categories: Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
Neighborhood: Long Island CityAstoria Blvd (N, W)
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i had to order off the menu to get what i was looking for, but to my great surprise, the guy who took my order got it right, complete with language barrier and all. and it was delicious. here's my account:
me: yes, can i have a hor..i..tiki... salad..
big greek man taking order, quickly: horiatiki salata, yes. next?
me: um, can i add grilled chicken to it?
greek man: order of 2 chicken kabobs, yes. next?
me: no, not an order of kabobs, i mean, can i add chicken to the hor..i..tik...
greek man: chicken? and horiatiki salata?
me: yes, i want the salad, with the tomatoes and olives and feta and grape leaves, but i just want to add chicken to it.
greek man: get chicken platter.
me: what does that come with?
greek man: chicken, tomato, cucumber, rice.
me: no, i don't want that. i want that salad, but just with chicken in it.
greek man: so you wanna horiatiki salata with chicken??
me: yes.
greek man: do you know horiatiki is?
me: no.
greek man: it bayer.
me: bayer?
greek man: yes, bayer. bayer.
me: i don't...
hubby chiming in: "bare". it comes bare babe. with nothing on it.
me: oh. [then to greek man] it comes bare? even though it says...
greek man: no. no. bayer. huge huge...
me: BEAR? like the animal??
greek man: yes. yes. bear.
me: oh okay, no thanks.
its greek. i mean really greek. like spray windex on everything and shout while you eat greek.
there are two seating areas in the rear of the restaurant that you kind of have to meander to get to. One outdoors and one, well, in a sort of man-made grotto that at first makes you feel like you're in a giant, glaring white vagina. lots of foldy effects, low ceiling, and slippery floors.
the food is fantastic. let me just say that the tarama is out of this freaking world. the red snapper (not another vagina reference) is superb, the meats are scrumptuous, and olives, olives, olives.
Patti, the owner, is a warm and generous hostess that will greet you with a big kiss and a bosomy hug that'll pop your eyes out of your head. it's almost uncomfortable how friendly and loving she is but once you get used to it, you will never want another hug from your grandma. Patti does it best.
In short, go to Opa. You'll leave Greek.
Get a friend and tell them you want to take them somewhere interesting. Head under the N train to Opa! and ask to sit in the back. Order the Saganaki. I think that's what they call it here. You'll get a plate of tasty, flaming cheese.
The food is good. This is one of those weird little places that will stick with you.
If I could give Opa less than one star I would. My boyfriend loves that place so I have been forced to grab take out there over the years which is not only mediocre, but sometimes even raw! Yup, raw chicken souvlaki. Also, don't even think about asking for substitutions of any sort, the grouchy old cook will bark at you --& the staff who dared to put in your order -- the entire time you wait for your food.
Seriously, it's Astoria- go to any of the many awesome Greek places like Family Corner for your Greek potatoes- the only dish that's worthwhile at Opa IMO.
We got takeout souvlaki there -- my girlfriend bit into it and it was raw. Raw pork.. Yum. We called back and they denied ever having sold it to us. If you enjoy spending your evenings tracking down the health issues of eating raw pork, this is your place. Otherwise, go elsewhere, or stick to the veggies.
I luv luv luv luvvvvvvvv this place! great food & atmosphere!!! ~ THE PLACE TO GO FOR GREEK FOOD!
I love you super sized portions.
I love your reasonable (super cheap) prices.
I love your adorable wait staff.
I love your unpretentious attitude.
I love that you are a two minute walk from my apartment.
I love the jungle that is the back dining room.
I do not like that I have made a habit of getting food from here about twice a week...I can't help it.
Order the Greek salad or the pastitsio.
Opa! gets the award for best use of a potato for their lemon potato wedges!!!! Whoo hoo!!!
Opa!!! You have my vote Mr. Souvlaki!
Being that I use to live right upstairs from this place, this was my WEEKLY order in Dinner destination. So take it from a gal who ate here once week EVERY WEEK for a year... It's good & satisfying!
Like any neighbor hood restaurant you just got to know what to order, so let me help you in that area.
If you want some good simple Greek food then grab these items off the Menu:
- Lemon Potatoes (Delicious!)
- Greek Salad
- Combination Platter
- Pastitsio (REALLY GOOD!)
- Mousaka
Stick to whats good and you'll leave happy. ;o)
So, I had the kofta and lamb souvlaki the other day; I fell in love with meat all over again. I'm also becoming Patti's groupie. I so want to be her bff and wear matching sweater sets. She greeted us with a huge hug and sent us off with food babies and kisses on our cheeks. I will be back for more.
Manhattan, I am so over you. My heart went Opa! when I entered this cute little restaurant. I'm not… Read more »
I just love this place - love the gyros, the souvlaki, the greek salad, the just a little weird waitress and the just a little weird backroom/atrium/storage room - come for the food , stay for the atmosphere
A friend and I were wandering around Astoria waiting to get hungry and duck in somewhere. Greek food sounded tantalizing, and though Opa looks small and sketchy from the outside, we decided to give it a try. This is one of those places that opens up to a tacky patio out back. And the waitresses yell at the gruff cooks in Greek.
They gave us a free appetizer: fried eggplant slices with melty feta. I could've eaten a whole stack as a meal. I don't know if they normally hand out free food like that, but it was appreciated. For an entree, I had the bifteki -- thumbs up for taste, portion, and price. Service was slow but cordial, and when a downpour started, they quickly moved our food and re-seated us under a canopy.
I'd definitely go again, though it's not the prettiest place to pass a meal.
Authentic? I think so.
Good? Absolutely not.
I played it safe and ordered the gyro, which came out as a mound of dry shaved meat on top of a small and stale pita. There were no vegetables, and only a tiny little cup of cucumber sauce to try and choke down the dry meat with. I was starving, but only managed to choke down half of what was on the plate. Everyone else at my table were grossed out as well. Our bill was ridiculously high.
Also, the back seating area had the strangest decor I had ever seen. It was some kind of psudo-icecave vibe, worked around wooden beams. The craftsmanship was terrible, so you could see the plaster dripping from the beams...quite bizarre.
Dee-friggin'-licious. It looks tiny when you walk in, but they have a big seating area around the back with lots of plastic grape vines and Christmas lights. The service is Greek-style chilled out, which takes some getting-used-to, but the food is excellent. I forget the name of that fried cheese that they light on fire, but it's really good, as are the lemon potatoes. They also offer take-out -- the dude up front used to say "Greek salad with gyro meat and pita on the side?" as soon as I walked in. Sweet.
And I think there are two "Opa!"s in the name, but the sign is hard to find anyway.
Before I moved to 30th Ave and was living on Ditmars, I used to see the top of the sign at Tony's Souvlaki "Opa! Opa!" and always thought it was a Korean restaurant... And every time I saw the sign, the song titled "Oppa" by Wax entered my head:
"Oppa, na ma ba ra bwa
ba ppa, keu loh keh ba ppa"
But no... This is no Korean restaurant in Astoria. This is a Greek restaurant... *GASP* A Greek restaurant in Astoria?!~? :P
Tony's souvlaki is a no frills, but good food establishment. The interior reminds me of cheaply made plastic scaled models of real places. You know, like a mini plastic model of the Eiffel Tower. Tony has decorated the inside of his restaurant like the commonly seen white stucco houses in Greece, along with the walls painted with beach sceneries... Wooden tables with cheap red plastic table clothes... You get the idea right?
The place looks cheap, but the food isn't so cheap. $14 for a chicken kebob platter which comes with rice or fries, greek salad, 2 kebobs and a side order of lemon potatoes. There is also one slice of grilled pita bread and a little cup of tzatiki sauce. The salad with feta is good, along with the vinegar dressing. The tzatiki sauce is good, but a bit grainy and very salty.
The rice is good, but nothing outstanding. The kebobs are made with white meat chicken and grilled to perfection. Very yummy... And the lemon potatoes.. OMG... soooooo good...
But with all the other Greek restaurants to choose from in Astoria, I wouldn't go out of my way to eat at Tony's....
I had little hope the beef Gyro would be good. Maybe it's because "Mr. Opa" looked a bit sullen when I placed my order. But boy oh boy - that was one delicious sandwich! All was forgiven, and the surprise started, when I took my first bite. The beef was lovingly seasoned. The bread was warm and the tomato ripe. The final salvo was the little bit of feta, slightly mushy and warm, way at the bottom. Yum! The Gyro was $4.95. My husband and I shared it and were satiated (but really wanted more!). There are places to sit and probably waiter service. They also offer uncooked kebobs that you can bar-b-que at home, if you are having a party.
this place knows greek food and does it right! from the greek salad to the gyros to the souvlaki to the pork chops and lemon potatoes this place rules. everything i've eaten here always has a ton of flavors, something that i always look for (don't we all) when i eat, and this place has it.
the staff is very nice and treats you like family, making sure you have everything you need and that everything is cooked right. i definitely have to agree with Bill F. -- they have the worst taste in interior design.
but other than that (i mostly order my food to go anyway since i live close by), this place is great and if you're in the mood for some delicious, tasty and flavorful greek food -- Opa is the place to go!
Opa is great quick and cheap food. Their meat on a stick can't be beat.
A must for the horrible drunken nites when you need something expulsed from your system asap. I don't know what it is that keeps this 'restaurant' going. Actually I do... the non-Greeks that go. The owner is one of the nicest hostesses you can meet. I have never seen anyone work the room the way she does.
Being a chef: their spinach pie is actually an onion pie with a leaf or two of spinach in it. I don't like having wine brought over to me in a metal carafe -- HUH? Wine does not mix well with metal, that is why you will never see it in cans!!! What do i like? Their lamb souvlaki.
Non-Greeks: don't eat the gyro!! Well, unless you want to clog your arteries with all the hints of fat all over it. There are tons better places.
Kill the statue!!!! LOL
Great local eatery. Very casual but there is sit down seating available. There is never a huge crowd.
Food is authentic. Any of the lamb dishes are amazing, the grape leaves are wonderful, the spinakopita is delicious. Great place for families, I use to go here with my family and they made us feel like home. Try the entire menu and you'll be surprised how good the food is.
OPA! is an invitation for a joyful time and after eating at this place your tummy and wallet will definitely be left full. It doesn't look like much from the front but they have a lot more seating in the back. I never had Greek food before but the waitress was very nice and answered all my questions patiently. The only downside is the waitress leaves you alone for long stretches at a time.
Another decent Greek restaurant in Astoria. I have enjoyed their loukaniko (greek sausage). Their main dishes are descent, but the reason i dont eat here anymore is their dips. Tzatziki, Tarama and Melitzano are all sub-par. I go to other places that have good dips as well as main courses.
i'm not greek.. but living in astoria i have learned many things about them.. but two characteristics really spring to mind: 1) they make great food, and 2) they have the worst taste in interior design in the world. opa screams both of these facts. the interiors are pretty terrible.. it's like you have walked into the little shop of horrors - greek style, but once you look beyond the walls and onto the menu and sample the food all will be forgiven.. the food here is incredible. the staff are friendly and the experience is great. go for the lamb kabob platter. mmmmm! i just can't get enough!
for me, it's just the best souvlaki ever. if i could i would order from here every night. i usually do take out , but every once i a while we sit in and the service is great. the atmosphere is sort of laid back, grandma's porch style. make sure you get lemon potatoes!!!
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