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Welcome to Taverna East Village

Taverna East Village is a vibrant Greek-Mediterranean gem located in the heart of Manhattan. Known for its fresh seafood, the restaurant offers a delightful selection of expertly crafted dishes, from succulent grilled octopus to traditional feta salads. The ambiance is warm and inviting, perfect for gathering with friends or family. Guests rave about the attentive service and generous portions, with highlights including the tender calamari and the famous lemon potatoes. Despite a few minor service quirks, the overall experience is a culinary journey that transports diners straight to the Mediterranean coast. Visit Taverna East Village for an unforgettable meal that truly celebrates Greek hospitality.

LOCATIONS

Welcome to Taverna East Village, a delightful gem nestled in the heart of Manhattan. Located at 228 1st Ave., New York, NY 10009, this captivating eatery brings the essence of Greek and Mediterranean seafood cuisine right to your plate. Whether you're a local or a visitor to the bustling city, Taverna East Village invites you to indulge in a culinary journey bursting with flavor, tradition, and a casual ambiance.

At Taverna East Village, the menu is a vibrant tapestry of Greek specialties. From their Kidonia Psita, featuring perfectly grilled clams kissed with lemon and oregano, to the sumptuous Octopodi—charcoal-grilled Mediterranean octopus that’s simply irresistible—the options are plentiful and enticing. The price point reflects the quality and freshness of each dish, providing excellent value for a memorable dining experience.

  • Appetizers: Dive into the flavors of the Mediterranean with options like Midia Saganaki (mussels steamed in tomato and feta) and Loukaniko Psito (grilled Greek sausage). Vegetarians won’t be disappointed either—with Spanakopita (phylo pie filled with spinach, leeks, and feta) and crispy veggie chips accompanied by tzatziki.
  • Salads: Savor the freshness of a classic Horiatiki Salad or try the unique East Village Salad, which introduces delightful elements like dill and pepperoncini to the traditional Greek salad.
  • Raw Bar: Don’t miss out on their raw selections, including crispy clams and succulent shrimp cocktails. Each seafood option is thoughtfully curated and reflects their dedication to freshness.

The ambiance at Taverna East Village complements the exquisite food, where the vibrant décor and attentive staff create a welcoming atmosphere. Guests are often enamored by the natural light bathing the space, making it a perfect setting for gatherings, whether intimate dinners or lively celebrations with friends. With outdoor dining available, the experience often melds seamlessly with the charm of East Village itself.

As echoed in the glowing reviews from patrons, the standout dishes are plentiful. Diners rave about the tender grilled octopus and the perfectly cooked branzino, both of which showcase the restaurant's commitment to quality seafood prepared with skill and care. Many customers return for the lemon potatoes, noted for their zesty flavor and generous portion sizes that keep you coming back for more.

While the complimentary dessert used to be a highlight, some reviews note its absence, yet this doesn’t seem to detract from the overall experience. Instead, the focus remains on the sumptuous main courses and exceptional appetizers that leave you satisfied yet yearning for your next visit.

In the crowded New York dining scene, Taverna East Village stands out not just for its food but for its ability to create a refreshing escape that transports you to the sun-drenched coasts of Greece. With the perfect blend of Greek tradition and contemporary flair, Taverna East Village is certainly worth discovering on your next culinary adventure in the city.

For reservations and inquiries, you can reach them at (212) 432-0011. Come hungry, and leave with a full heart and belly!

START YOUR REVIEW OF Taverna East Village
Michael C.
Michael C.

No real notes. Service, ambiance, food, 5/5 across the board. Sides are delicious, loved the lemon potatoes (so lemony), beets were solid, and zucchini chips were incredible (retained their crisp even 3 hours later as leftover). Bronzino was some of the best I've ever had, so fresh tasting, simply prepared, perfectly fileted, very meaty. Only low light was the free dessert at the end, which was just a little too jello-y for me. We're coming back, and I can't wait. May go to the Astoria one instead to check it out. Thanks team!!!! Truly great.

Lisa M.
Lisa M.

Thinking fresh seafood and Greek mediterranean cuisine in a casual setting but you live in Manhattan not Astoria? Taverna Kyclades was pretty perfect in my recent experience for a small family get-together and Sunday lunch. Just look at this spread! All of it prepared really well. Service attentive without being obtrusive.

Anna Maria M.
Anna Maria M.

Seafood-centric Greek food. Our party of four ordered the holoumi and the four-dip appetizer (airy and divine, one spicy). For mains, there was grilled sardines, baked sole, calamari and a sauced up shrimp dish. The shrimp was overcooked but the sauce was incredible. We had a side of steamed vegetables and sweet beets- healthy and delectable. All the seafood is on ice on full display. The waitstaff are vigilant. They shared an amazing dessert- on the house. Even with a reservation, we were seated at a banquet table and tables had to be moved. Overall, a terrific experience destination to share with friends.

Angela G.
Angela G.

The OG Astoria location is my family's staple restaurant for seafood - one of my friends was craving seafood and this location was more convenient - I've never been before and ofc my expectations were high and they definitely met them!!! The restaurant has a great aesthetic and is a "perfect size". It's roomy and comfortable. They still have outdoor dining FYI. They had a great selection of cocktails / wines. I ended up getting the "KYCLADES" to start; as well as a bottle of wine with our main courses. We ordered a bunch of apps (can never go wrong with some grilled octopus that was grilled to perfection ) & main courses - (swordfish kebab was also cooked just right - the only complaint is that the rice was not as good as the OG location) The servers were all so welcoming and even packed up our dessert to go (because as you can see, we were in a food coma hehe). Whenever I'm in the city and want a quick Taverna fix, I will definitely be coming back!

Kate C.
Kate C.

I truly love the food and service here! Specifically I'd order the grilled octopus, branzino, and scallops agains. The manager is great and always checking on how you are doing as well. The environment is perfect for big group environments

Matthew S.
Matthew S.

Forget Astoria, this was a pretty darn decent establishment to get Greek food! Even if it does has its faults. The fun Greek style architecture is fun and listening to the kitschy Euro beats adds a cute touch to this restaurant without overpowering the overall experience. The lemon orzo chicken soup is spot on with what you would get at other Greek restaurants. This is a heavy soup because of the eggs in it. It is quite heavy and dense that it could work well as an entree. I got the seafood pasta as a main. There is plenty of cooked seafood in the dish and the pasta is great too. I feel the seafood is slightly off, as some of the calamari was a bit rubbery, and the sauce the meal is served in is quite rich. Maybe it was an off day. This dish has lots of potential. You also get free garlic bread with your meal which is nice and toasty, even if it is a little overdone. My server was super cute and friendly. He deserved a little extra in tip and hopefully he was appreciative of it. My water glass was never empty and he had a great sense of humor as to how I attacked my meal and how he served everything up. The free custard cake that comes with the end of the meal is nice as it is creamy, silky, and delicious. I would still like to make my way to Queens to try the real thing, but if it is anything like this location, I am excited.

Inverleith F.
Inverleith F.

We love love love the Taverna. It's a trek via subway and taxi from Midtown but it's worth it. We come to NYC at least once a year and Taverna is a must. When we travel with friends, this is where we go out for dinner and everyone loves the food here. Ordering a few appetizers is enough for a meal as we have learned over time. The portions are generous and tasty. The octopus is tender and flavorful with olive oils and a splash of lemon. Yum! The mussels are sized small but delicious with the tomato and feta. Dip some of that bread in the sauce please! The Greek salad is huge and my issue with it is that it has too much tomato and cucumber and barely any lettuce. The slice of feta is amazing. It is not anything like what you get at the supermarket because of its freshness. Our friends had the salad with chicken which was tender and the grilled fish with lemon potatoes. He raved about his meal. One less star because they used to provide complimentary dessert but no more. Great place to enjoy delicious Greek food. Weekends are crowded but worth the wait.

Kim X.
Kim X.

We came without a reservation on a Monday night at around 8pm. The place was full but not super busy/crowded. We were seated in a cozy corner of the restaurant. The music was blaring though so we didn't think it was the most intimate of vibes. We shared the salad which was really fresh. I remember eating all types of Greek salads while in Greece this year. This reminded me of the simplicity and freshness of greek salads. I could eat it everyday. The octopus was good and so was the fish. I wasn't expecting lemon potatoes to look or taste like the lemon potatoes we got. Im still trying to figure out what I ate. It was good but not what I was expecting! Come check this place out if you're in need of some simple fresh greek food. This made me want to go back to Greece again!