To Loukoumi

"Loukoumi is a Greek restaurant of more recent vintage, located in an obscure neighborhood and hence a little more relaxing overall. It is particularly known for its octopus dishes and vast range of colorful bread dips — from which you could make a whole meal, but its battered cod with garlicky skordalia, grilled sweetbreads, and orange-flavored Cypriot sausage are other menu delights." - Eater Staff

"Loukoumi is the name of a children’s book about a cute little lamb. It’s also the name of this classic Greek establishment that serves an excellent plate of lamb (don’t overthink this while you’re there). This Astoria spot is a bit further East than a lot of the other Greek restaurants in the neighborhood, but the food and garden patio make it worth a trip over. They serve traditional dishes like souvlaki and saganaki, but we like some of the lesser-known dishes best and would come back again just for the sweetbreads." - Hannah Albertine, Bryan Kim, Neha Talreja, Carina Finn Koeppicus

"Loukoumi Greek avgolemono displays a mastery of combining egg and lemon to thicken broths without curdling. The soup is indeed tangy and velvety — one could mistake it for cream — with big chunks of chicken, scoops of orzo, and pieces of celery and carrot. It’s served with pita slices and lemon wedges for extra zest. The only downside is its pint-size offering will leave you wanting more." - Caroline Shin

"Marinated in red wine vinegar for sharpness, the octopus is grilled over flame, producing patches of char here and there, then dressed with odiferous olive oil." - Robert Sietsema

"Loukoumi is further east than most places on this guide - it’s about halfway between LaGuardia Airport and most of the well-known Greek spots on Ditmars. Despite being off the beaten path, the Greek food here is worth the trip. They serve traditional dishes like souvlaki, but we like some of the lesser known dishes best and would come back again just for the sweetbreads. Share the sweetbreads and fried cheese and some affordable carafes of wine on the big backyard patio." - Matt Tervooren