5 Festive Greek Restaurants That Will Make You Say “Opa!”
Happy Independence Day, Greece!
Every good story has an underdog, and Greece’s independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821 is essentially the underdog story for the ages. After a Greek revolt on March 25, 1821 only resulted in short-lived success, it seemed as if the Greeks would never be free from the Ottoman Empire. But much like the people of Greece, the revolution was hopeful, determined, and strong-willed, and in 1829 the Treaty of Edirne formally established Greece as an independent Greek state.
So, maybe these Greek restaurants aren’t as history-making or dramatic as the Greek Revolution, but they sure are appropriate places to celebrate Greece’s Independence Day! Enjoy the flavorful food and heady wines of some of the world’s most welcoming and dynamic people, and by the time you leave, you’ll be shouting “Opa!”.
Greek Corner
281 Franklin Ave. Franklin Square, NY 11010
For a plate-smashingly good time, head on over to Greek Corner. This diner-like Greek restaurant welcomes friends and family to sit back, relax, and sip as many Frappes possible! Greek Corner specializes in cozy, traditional Greek fare such as the Lamb Souvlaki, or chunks of marinated lamb on pita adorned with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and Tzatziki sauce. For a truly Greek meal, try the Bifteki, or ground beef mixed with eggs, onions, and herbs and served with a robust eggplant salad and Tzatziki sauce.
For the coziest and most traditional meal of all, Greek Corner’s Chicken Avgolemono Soup simply cannot be missed. As blog Girl And The Kitchen says, “Avgolemono soup is the classic Greek chicken penicillin.” Made with chicken broth, tart lemons, egg yolks, and rice grains, this immunity-boosting soup will have you kicking your cold to the curb in time for Independence Day! Of course, you can’t have a celebration without a little something sweet, and Greek Corner’s Galaktoboureko is the lemony, gooey, custard-y dessert of your dreams. When baked to “golden crispy perfection,” as mygreekdish.com advises, this custard-pastry combo at Greek Corner is the best way to end any meal or celebration!
Activate your HungerPass for 10% off at Greek Corner on Monday-Wednesday!
Greek Cove
1003 Oyster Bay Rd. East Norwich, NY 11732
Greek Cove’s website promises a “delicious, authentic, around the corner” experience, and for the people of Long Island, it certainly doesn’t disappoint. This Greek restaurant offers vegetarian and gluten-free options so nearly everyone can celebrate Independence Day with an authentic Greek meal! Begin your celebratory meal with appetizers like the Homemade Hummus and Stuffed Grape Leaves (the leaves are stuffed with rice and served with pita bread and Tzatziki sauce). Speaking of pita, enjoy a BBQ Gyro Pita Sandwich made with richly seasoned ground beef and lamb that is slow roasted and topped with barbeque sauce.
The Sweet Chili Kebab Platter is the sweet-and-sour meal you didn’t know you needed, complete with 2 grilled and marinated chicken skewers with onions and peppers tossed in a sweet chili sauce. Described as “a touch spicy,” make sure you also order Greek Cove’s authentic Rice Pudding to help counteract the heat! As Travel Food Hub says, “[Greek food] is fresh, fun, and full of so many traditions that once you take a bite, you’ll feel like you are laying back, sipping wine, and dipping your bread in olive oil.” And to think, you can actually experience all of these things right “around the corner!”
Activate your HungerPass for 10% off at Greek Cove during select days of the week!
Opa Grille
432 Hillside Ave. Williston Park, NY 11596
Located in Williston Park, Opa Grille is the ideal destination for anyone new to the ultra-savory flavors of Greek food. This restaurant offers both Greek and American food, from the classic Mousaka (or layers of eggplant, ground beef, and potatoes served with rice pilaf) to the more familiar Greek Pizza. There’s even a kids menu for little foodies, with options such as Souvlaki Sticks and Pita Pizza as well as Mozzarella Sticks and Hamburgers.
The entrees and platters at Opa Grille are served with either soup or salad as well as your choice of rice, potatoes, or vegetables. The Chicken Mediterranean, with its chicken filet stuffed with fresh spinach and feta cheese, is always a winner, while Opa’s Greek Combos are a surefire win for your whole party. One such combo is the seafood platter, which includes the filet of sole stuffed with spinach and feta cheese, one piece of octopus and two stuffed shrimp served with a greek salad. Then there’s the popular Tiropitakia, or “cheese pie,” which the New York Times claims would be “a shame to miss”: “5 triangles of crispy and flaky phyllo dough enveloping an especially creamy cheese.” Also featured on Newsday’s list of the best Greek Restaurants on Long Island, Opa Grille is a critical success among Greeks foodies and newbies alike!
Activate your HungerPass for 10% off at Opa Grille Monday-Thursday!
Eros Greek Restaurant
447 3rd Ave. New York, NY 10016
Greek dining may sometimes be known as “fast-casual” fare, but Eros Greek Restaurant transforms it into a high-class experience. In addition to a potential lifetime supply of champagne, Eros offers what website Bucket List Journey considers the three Greek foods you absolutely must eat before you die: Kolokithokeftedes, regular Keftedes, and Spanakopita.
Made with organic zucchini croquettes, extra virgin olive oil, and greek herbs, Eros’ Kolokithokeftdes (Greek for “zucchini fritters”) is the vegetarian dish you’ve been waiting for. The traditional Keftedes are perfect for guests that crave meat, as they are Greek-style meatballs mixed with spicy herbs and topped with homemade tomato sauce. For a savory dessert, the foodie-famous Spanakopita is the spinach and feta cheese pie that will have you dreaming of sandy white beaches and bottomless champagne.
Still, Eros is known for its seafood, and for good reason–the restaurant’s Black Sea Bass has a subtle flavor and exceptionally flaky texture, while the Xiafias is the dangerous-sounding but delicious swordfish entree grilled and served with spinach rice pilaf. If the authentic and mouth-watering food isn’t enough, Eros also holds events, such as Ladies Night, Happy Hour, and Wine Tastings. Sounds like the perfect venue for a fun Independence Day celebration!
Activate your HungerPass for 10% off at Eros Greek Restaurant on select days of the week!
Go Greek
180 7th St. Garden City, NY 11530
Though fast-casual Greek joints are fairly common, Go Greek owner Tom Matheos is dedicated to serving no-freezer, no microwaved meat in an effort to “set a new standard” among fast-casual Greek restaurant chains. The Long Island Press has even considered Go Greek one of the go-to ethnic eateries on Long Island, referring to the restaurant as one of the “beating hearts” of Nassau County. And what’s better than a traditionally Greek meal that both you, your community, and the planet can love?
The menu over at Go Greek is all about choice–you can choose to build your own Greek pita, rice bowl, or salad. The Pita Sandwich can be made with Tzatziki sauce, fresh tomatoes, and onions with fresh cut fries inside the sandwich. The Rice Bowl base is comprised of a light lemon oregano brown rice topped with tomatoes, onions, and Tzatziki sauce. The Greek Salad is made with the freshest lettuce and Greek ingredients and served with warm pita bread and a lemon vinaigrette.
The next step is to pick a protein to add to your pita/rice/salad base, a choice between chicken souvlaki, chicken gyro, falafel, and other Greek favorites (no lamb gyro here–Go Greek prides itself on a filler, preservative, and additive-free menu, which oftentimes is not the case with American-made lamb gyro.) From here, you can choose a side of fries, a small Greek salad, a cup of soup, or half a Spanakopita to complete your delicious and authentically-Greek meal. So, we at HungerPass pass the question off to you: As we celebrate Greece’s Independence Day, why not Go Greek?
Activate your HungerPass for 10% off at Go Greek on Monday-Saturday!
Written by Emma Patterson
