Souvlaki GR – Midtown East

From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed by a warm and cozy atmosphere. The restaurant truly feels like a little piece of Greece in NYC. The service was good. Our server was friendly and recommended the weekly deal which was hard to pass up! For just $30 per person, you get an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. The avgolemono soup was absolutely phenomenal. Very comforting and perfectly balanced with lemony notes that tied all the flavors together beautifully. The tyrokroketes started off delicious however, the aftertaste was a bit strong. If kefalotyri was one of the cheeses used, that would explain the sharpness. While not my personal favorite, it was still enjoyable overall and the dip made it much better. The lamb chops were outstanding, perfectly marinated and full of flavor, paired with fries that were extra crispy and seasoned just right. Unfortunately, the moussaka was extremely disappointing. Every bite was so bland. The béchamel sauce lacked flavor. I expected at least a hint of nutmeg. The ground beef was unseasoned, and the eggplant felt simply tossed in the casserole rather than properly being fried first, leaving it tasteless. Overall, the dish fell flat and in desperate need of more thoughtful preparation. But I don’t think it reflects the menu as a whole, since the other dishes we ordered were excellent. As for the baklava, absolutely freaking DELICIOUS!! This is potentially the best baklava I’ve ever had, even better than the Lebanese version. The honey and walnut mix so well with the crunchiness of the pastry. Definitely a must have!

I came here with my husband and we had a good time. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the service was smooth. The fries and feta pie were definitely the stars—so tasty and well prepared. The only letdown was the bifteki and chicken skewers, which were both pretty dry and overcooked. I’ve had the gyro here before and it was delicious, so I’ll probably stick with that next time.

Amazing little spot in Midtown east, you step in and it’s like being in Greece. Perfect for a date or with friends. I was here for restaurant week and it did not disappoint, the menu for dinner was $30 and it exceeded our expectations. The portions were big and we liked everything. Special mentions: cheese croquettes and the mains (a whole branzino, perfectly cooked and seasoned and lamb chops). We also got a couple of wine glasses and since I got a pine wine the waiter was very thoughtful and let me try it before pouring the full glass in case I didn’t like it. Overall a very nice dinner and I would definitely go back!

Very nice decor, looks just like Mykonos! Food is delicious with generous portions. Food come quick during lunch hour. Will go back a million times. The server was very nice and attentive. Skewers and hummus were great

Amazing food! I recommend this place 100%. The food is authentic, perfectly cooked, and the entire staff is very kind. We loved the Greek atmosphere and the local flavors. It felt like a real escape tonight—thank you!

I had such a great time at this Greek restaurant! Our server, George the Greek, was absolutely fantastic—so friendly, funny, and full of personality. I laughed so much during the meal, and he made the whole experience feel warm and welcoming. The food was incredibly tasty, too. Every dish was full of flavor and beautifully prepared. I left completely satisfied and already planning my next visit. Highly recommended if you want delicious Greek food and great energy! 🇬🇷✨

The best Greek I've had. The atmosphere is great, it's like you found a little secret hideaway. The signage is minimal and you must go down below street level. Inside the place is clean, nice, well decorated and quaint. I am not a big hummus fan but the hummus was very good. We ordered the Greek fries, they were cooked perfectly. Golden, crisp on the outside but not overcooked. Last, we ordered basically the sampler plate. Each meat was cooked perfectly and was delicious. The lamb was the best I have ever had. This is a great place and offers good value for your dollar. I highly recommend.

Great service and the food was amazing fresh and delicious, the place is super cozy!

Love this place! It's ambience is very beautiful intimate and comfortable. I've been here twice and came here today for a quick birthday dinner. The food has been consistently tasty and fresh. Get the grilled octopus for sure, it had the best texture; it was buttery, tender, and very simply seasoned yet so delicious. Their drinks are very solid as well. I had a mojito during their happy hour and it was 10$, one of the best I've had. The server was very kind and attentive as well.

This place is in the basement and reminds me of many little restaurants in Europe. The space is cosy and the tables are mostly small, I think it would be better if tables are larger as some of the dishes are bigger. We ordered a large platter, 3 dips and a Greek fries to share. The food took some time to come but everything was fresh and good. Service was quick and nice.

We've eaten here at least 4x, probably more, and it's spot on every time. Tonight's horiatiki was amazing, probably because cukes and tomatoes are in prime season right now. Thwn we shared Gigante beans, in their glorious tomato dill sauce, served with feta and pita; and the spanakopita. That comes as 3 small triangles, but trust me, this isn't your Trader Joe's or Costco spanakopita! Each small triangular pastry is stuffed with a delicious spinach-dill mixture. Definitely recommend this location.

The first 2 dishes are in $30 Lunch Restaurant week deal. I think the portion is huge for the price, and the food tastes good. First dish is like a paste/rice kinda thing. It's well-cooked, not soggy at all. I did add more salt and lime juice for more flavor. The 2nd one is croquettes filled with 3 types of cheese. The souvlaki pita is standard.

Delicious food, the spicy Naxos cocktail was amazing (like a spicy margarita) and my dad seemed to enjoy the sangria. For food, we got the branzino, double beef burger stuffed with feta cheese and tomato I think, and the chicken souvlaki pita. The fries were super tasty as well. A reservation isn't a bad idea in the evening, as we came on a Monday at 6pm, and although it's a small-ish place and was initially quiet, when we left about an hour later, it was pretty busy. Staff is polite and came to take our order quickly. Seating isn't super comfortable but it's really pretty inside, a relaxing atmosphere.

We've ordered dinner multiple times from Souvlaki GR and enjoyed the pita wraps and skewers but just recently ordered the lamb chops and they're the best! So flavorful, tender and juicy and give you the choice of rare to well done for how you want your chops cooked. Very reasonably priced considering the quality of the ingredients and how flavorful. I want to try dining in the restaurant but glad we can get it delivered. I appreciate the other Yelp reviews bc now I want to try some of the other entrees, especially the seafood!

I order online here all the time and normally get nice sized lamb chops. Today was completely different from all my previous orders and I can't help but to understand what exactly happened. The lamb chops were super small and I purchased a half kilo for an additional $23. They also came quick, but extremely cold as if they had been reheated from the night before and not fresh. I'm sorely disappointed as this was going to be the NYE meal, but because the portion is so small, I'll have to order more food.

I used to get Souvlaki for delivery at work and would always order the same thing - two of the the SGR Bifteki Kotopoulo Pita ($9.75 - ground chicken, tomato, red onions, fries & tzatziki-spicy feta). I always thought this was a fast to-go spot, but recently ordered pickup dinner from here and it's a cute little restaurant with cute Greek decor inside. The Tyrocroquettes (Cheese Saganaki - Kaisers, kefalograviera & feta cheese) were fried balls of cheese - nicely crispy on the outside and came with a Tzatziki dipping sauce. I also got the Bifteki Skewer ($6.75 - beef skewer, served with tzatziki and pita). Solid Greek restaurant in the midtown east area - will be back!

I came here with my friends to try some Greek food. It's a basement cafe-style Greek restaurant. You may miss it if you ignore the sign by the stairs. We had a lovely, cute table by the window. The window faces the stairs, but it has the feel of a charming hidden gem. We had the salmon hummus or pate that we ate with pita bread. Then, one friend ordered veggie Moussakas. Another had an octopus, which looked delicious. I had seafood that was served with orzo. I enjoyed my meal, although I didn't expect to see seafood swimming in Orzo. It was tasty. I couldn't finish my meal so i took half to go. George took care of our table. Maybe he's part of the family. He made sure we received everything we ordered and that we enjoyed our meals. I don't mind returning to the restaurant, but there are so many restaurants to try in the city, so I have to pay attention to the area in case I pass by and want some Greek food again. Excellent!

Fantastic food in a casual enviornment. Been ordering from them for years but finally had dinner at the restaurant. The fresh pita is amazing and they give you so much with everything. I got the pita wrap and soup, and they were just fantastic. Fair prices also.

How have I never written a review for this location before?? I moved to the neighborhood and fell in love with this for a very speedy, healthy and affordable lunch or dinner option quickly. I am obsessed - I get the same thing almost every time. Chicken souvlaki pita (no fries, add lettuce) and I pick it up and it's also SO fresh. My review has to count more than others because I've ordered from here weekly for the last year. Several times a week sometimes when in a pinch. So it proves they are VERY consistent with their quality. Epic service, freshness and please try!

10/10. Always good. Always consistent. Started with three dips for the table and ended with the lamb pita. SO GOOD. The service is swift, but key to make a reservation if you're trying to grab an evening time slot. The food is authentic Greek food, and the interior is the closest you will get to feel like you are in Greece for only the price of a subway ride.

Absolutely amazing, everything was tender and juicy We started with the octopus for the appetizer. It was literally the best octopus I've had in a restaurant in the U.S. I then got the seafood pasta and my husband got the lemon chicken with roasted potatoes. The chicken was tender and juicy I was impressed because most of the time chicken in restaurants are at least a little dry. I am definitely coming here again. Please go 10/10, staff was friendly

One of my favorite go to restaurants before heading to City Center. Quick, inexpensive, and delicious. The lamb wrap and the fries with cheese along with a martini are my favorites.

Small, cozy, crowded, friendly - kind of - it's NY! Food is very good - octopodi let's gooooo!!! One issue: they will NOT serve you coffee in the evening - coffee (greek coffee, don't ask for espresso, for them it may be an insult) in evening and night is reserved to staff. We are going backwards!!! Endpoint: if you are @ midtown and looking for good food in the midst of the crap that populates that area, this is the best choice! But bring your espresso in a thermos!

Why can't I rate a restaurant without some banal comment. Please fix this antiquated system. I ate at this restaurant and the food was good.

The food, environment and service are all great!! I recently found this place and went there two times in a week.

I had the best lunch experience in this downstairs cozy Greek cafe in Midtown. They have daily specials, from which I ordered stuffed peppers which tasted just like those I made in a cooking class in Greece. The waiter was from Tripoli and loved to connect over all things Greek. I had quick service and plentiful food. Tiny details make a big difference: their pita was amazing and fresh. I would love to come back for their happy hour specials.

The food caused pure amazement. This place harmonizes environment, food and complete experience. The employees make this place truly exceptional. They prepared unique components with surprising promptness. This place delivers outstanding attention.

A few months had passed since our last visit, and somehow the food was even more delicious than we remembered. Every dish we tried was, as always, full of flavor and expertly prepared. We finished with Greek yogurt topped with cherries and another with honey - simple, classic, and absolutely perfect.

Great service, 1st time with no clue what to order. They took time to explain and go over the menu and walk me through it. Really enjoyed it. Great flavor and service.

Honestly, this place may be a bit overrated. I got the lamb pita and the meat was pretty dry. The rest of the ingredients was what prevented the sandwich from being a complete dud, but the centerpiece definitely didn't pull its weight. However, I would definitely try this place again another day and see if it gets any better.

I have been a fan of Souvlaki GR for many years . Prices are reasonable and food is excellent. Our favs over the years have been lamb chops, lemon potatoes , meatballs , Greek salad , and of course pita wraps. Today, after our meal, on the way out, I asked them to get me baklava as take out . I got home and I am stunned to see how small the portion is for $12 bucks . I know inflation is hurting everyone but I think this is such a shame . Very disappointed . Nyc restaurants are increasingly becoming obnoxious . Please be better .

What a nice place to eat a casual dinner. Fairly small restaurant. Very clean. Comfortable, simple seating. Small tables - if you are three people you may want two. Light, non-intrusive background music. Clean, pretty small, but totally fine restroom. Super-friendly and helpful wait staff. On the night we had dinner it was two people. One "in charge" who was primary on food suggestions and ensured our food was just as requested. One primary on moving fast to keep everything working well. They did overlap in their work. Great job with ensuring we had plenty of water. The food was super-good and very reminiscent of Greece, which we have been to multiple times. For sure one of the most enjoyable Greek restaurants we have ever been to in Manhattan. SGR excels at simple, casual, great food, excellent service. Note that we prefer simple and casual. That said, we do totally love dinner at Daniel which we find to be friendly and so accessible even though it is, in theory, formal. Go figure. Taramosalata - 11/10. Along with the Taramosalata at Eleni's on 3rd Ave., our two favorites in Manhattan. Pita bread - 11/10. We love this pita. And at Souvlaki Gr you get SO MUCH it is insane. Horiatiki - 10/10. Delicious. Totally fresh ingredients. No doubt everything was procured that day.. Generous size. Crumbled feta. We typically prefer brined block feta but this was great. Keftedes - 8/10. Tasted great but a little bit dry. We're used to getting these in plenty of tomato sauce. Served a bit differently here. Dolmadakia yalantzi - 11/10. Among the best Dolmadas ever. In a sauce. This was a special. If it's available when you are there, we'd certainly suggest it. Kalamakia Paketo - 10/10 - we asked for all 6 skewers to be chicken. They were great. Came with Tzatziki which was absolutely terrific. Chicken already cut into smallish pieces which we appreciated. Lots more on the menu that we want to try. We'll be back soon.

I've been coming to Souvlaki for years, and it never disappoints! It can get busy so make a reservation. Definitely get the lamb, it's great. The decor and setting really make you feel like you're in Greece! It can get a little noisy, but that's part of the fun.

Great food fairly priced. A must try for delicious food. The souvlaki is delicious and freshly made.

I went with a group of friends to the midtown east location for dinner. The restaurant is lower than street level, so technically the basement but accessible directly from the street. The restaurant itself is very cute and well decorated. It feels much more homey than many other restaurants I've been to. When we got there the only empty tables were for 2, but the host pushed tables together for us to sit together. I initially expected the menu to be less expensive than it was, but I also didn't know how authentic the restaurant was. I ended up getting the SGR Souvlaki Pita, a pita with chicken kabob and a significant amount of feta cheese. The menu said this pita was spicy, but I felt the feta taste overpowered any spicyness. It paired well with the meat though, and the fries in the pita were well seasoned. Overall this place is very tasty and authentic. I thought it was overpriced when I saw the menu, but after trying it and thinking about comparable sit-down restaurants, the prices are pretty reasonable. I think this is the first real Greek place I've been to in NYC and it didn't disappoint.

This is the third location that I have tried, and I've been happy at each place. Excellent vegan choices for me and my non-vegan friends are always delighted with what they order. Friendly service and lovely ambience. The food here is even better than the food I have had in Greece!

General rule of thumb: Beef and lamb dishes are a lot better than the chicken dishes. Also good basically anything made with a tomato sauce as they happen to make a really good one. I'm surprised I never wrote a review for this place. I've been here several times which is partially evident from me having ordered a special which happened to have octopus and squid which I can't well eat anymore. The food overall here is good and the service is usually very pleasant. In terms of appetizers/salads, they have a very good version of gigantes when they have the special. It's not overly sweet or cinnamony and there's a good portion size. The horiatiki/ traditional Greek salad is tasty though my preference is the Dakos which is a Cretan salad consisting of barley rusk, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta, and a tasty sour dressing. It's also perfect for takeout as the rusk will still retain some of the texture. Their Spanakopita/spinach pie, Keftedes/meatballs (notably beef only instead of a mix,) and Kolokithokeftede/zucchini croquettes are fine with the former being a little bit difference in other places in terms of their presentation. In terms of spreads, they are pretty standard outside of the rather good Tyrokafteri/spicy feta spread which is probably because they have better feta than most places around the price range. In terms of main dishes, I once ordered the Youvetsi Thallasinia or mixed seafood with tomato sauce over orzo. This consisted of fresh calamari, shrimp, octopus, and various herbs and it is fantastic here which makes sense as it has the same good tomato based sauce. The portion size was quite large and there was easily leftovers. A Kokkinisto dish had a similarly massive portion and it was fine but I remember the meat (I think chicken) perhaps being a bit bland. Their usual menu has various skewers which are perfectly fine though the beef one was the best easily with the chicken being a bit chewy. The Arni Bifteki is a very tasty lamb burger and a whole lot better than the Bifteki Gemisto where the meat is completely overwhelmed by the cheese and it's just way too rich. I once had the lamb chops which were quite good and I have tried the stuffed peppers which were good also. The Yaourti Sakoulas/yogurt is probably the best dessert. Another time they gave us the Loukomades/donuts which consists of a big portion and they are fine but I prefer the ones found in Astoria of course (especially those drizzled with some sour cherry juice to help with the sweetness.) The baklava is fine but there's better places. In general, there are just better places but the portion sizes like with everything else is nice. Overall this place is quite good. They have pleasant service and the atmosphere is nice. Certainly some dishes are just a lot better though in general as noted get the lamb or beef as they tend to be much more consistent than the chicken. There's definitely better Greek places but the portions are good for the price point.

Fantastic Greek food. We ordered delivery via DoorDash and everything was delicious: - Horiatiki (Greek salad with chicken) was fresh, with the perfect ratio of chicken, greens, feta and tasty Greek dressing. - Moussakas, my favorite Greek dish, what I equate to a Greek Shepard's pie type comfort food, was wonderful. - Tzatziki -delicious cucumber dip with pita bread, so good! Definitely recommend. We will order all the same dishes again.

Hummus and souvlaki pitas were amazing! Cheap eat + amazing food, would absolutely recommend.

I have been to Greece multiple times and I must say that this is an authentic restaurant in every way. Great food, excellent service, and cozy ambience. I went to both Midtown East and West locations and enjoyed the atmosphere and Greek cuisine in both.

Cozy atmosphere with great service and excellent food. The wait staff was very accommodating and efficient.

Delicious Lamb souvlaki, however I'm only giving them 4 stars instead of 5, because I found a piece of a bamboo skewer inside my lamb souvlaki pita. Luckily I quickly noticed the piece of skewer while chewing my food. It could have been very dangerous, if I hadn't and I could have choked or cut my mouth. I will give them another shot because the host was attentive and kind, but the kitchen staff should be more careful when preparing people's orders.

One of my favorite greek restaurants! Everything was extremely well seasoned and cooked well. Would recommend the greek fries and dips with pita (didn't get a picture). I am definitely coming back again to try other dishes!

We loved our dinner out at Souvlaki GR. Great food, very friendly staff! We would definitely go again. We ate in the restaurant with our family of five while visiting from out of town.

Couldn't resist. Had to do it again with different food. I'm his time Lamb Chops, Moussaka, and repeat of Greek salad and Restina.

They charge over $16 for a salad that's half the size of a deli salad bar salad, and it consists of soggy old Tomatoes and mostly red onion. The feta was good quality but that is all. The meat sticks are TINY so know that before spending $7 on one, and they're dry and bland. I called and the man was VERY rude on the phone and argued that the ingredients to make the salad at expensive..... I get tomatoes for $0.99/lb at the grocery store so I can only imagine how much cheaper a restaurant gets them at wholesale price. English cucumber is $1.50 at the grocery, so again, much cheaper at wholesale price. LOOK HOW SMALL THIS SALAD IS!!!!

Nice restaurant and attentive service. There was a 15 minute wait for a party of 3 on a Friday night, so it was busy but not too bad. The pita were delicious, very flavorful and really liked the sauces in them. Will definitely return!

Food was a bit salty but my friend who is from Greek he loves it.. the place it's a bit tight like you can hear the next table conversation which make it a bit uncomfortable. But I love trying new food . I like the starters that I posted on this photo but I order like a lasagna and I didn't really like at all.. it was too soft and not flavor.

Everything about our experience at Souvlaki GR was perfect. Our waitress was attentive. The restaurant inside is so cute and decorated well. We ordered a trio of spreads- tzatziki, hummus, and spicy feta, chicken kabobs, shrimp kabobs, veggie kabobs, spanakopita, and fries. All of our food was phenomenal! The hummus was some of the best I've had and I love a good char on pita. Veggies were cooked to perfection and everything was seasoned so well. I am making sure to stop in again before I leave the city and I already know I will be daydreaming about Souvlaki GR for months to come.

I got the hot veggie pita side of halloumi, and the Greek tea. All of the food was great! Service was speedy and polite. Definitely worth a visit.

Great little place in the heart of New York, love seeking out the unassuming, this to be honest was a surprise after a 3 hour walk on the Island of Manhattan! Very Greek Vibe, Greek Mythos Beer, OPAAAAA all will be well in the world!.....Psssstttttt Can I break Plates here? ‍

Amazing food! So mad we stayed at the hotel next door to the 56th location, and only ate here the last night. When I come back to NYC this will definitely be on my list of places to return to. Service was efficient and seating was cute. Truly authentic delicious food cannot recommend more! Ouzo for everyone!

First time I am doing greek , The waiter was tops at our table, they hand you 3 sheets of paper which is the menu so I had the Bifteki Gemisto, two Greek burgers, stuffed with Greek cheeses, scallion, and dill, and white feta cheese on top. I think the menu said beef but it tasted like lamb. We started off with a hummus dip, I think it had eggplant and was good, and tasted fresh also. The burgers were ok but two were too much for me and I left one. The waiter gave us Loukoumades, as an on-the-house dessert. it was ok but nothing I would order myself I then took my Baklava to go, it was very flaky and the bottom was trench in a sweet syrup. but I would recommend a coffee if you have this.

First of all, I would definitely recommend this location over their other location. The hostess was very unfriendly at the other one, vs the atmosphere was nice (albeit a bit loud), and waitress friendly here. My friend and I each got our own chicken pita and split spanakopita. The spanakopita was a bit soggier than I expected-I wish the puff pastry was a bit crispier. But the flavor was great. The chicken pita was delicious and definitely super filling. It was chock full of fries and chicken, and the tzatiki sauce was refreshing and delightful. The wait for food was a bit long, but not too much of an issue. And at the end, the waitress came back with a plate of biscotti!! So cute and yummy. Will come back again!!

Attentive service, good food with more vegetarian-friendly options than is typical for a Greek restaurant, cozy interior that is set on the "garden" level (a few steps below ground). Prices reasonable (mid 20s for most entrees) and portions generous. Thumbs up.

I had first stumbled upon this place on the second date with the wonderful lady who is now my wife so this place is still a little nostalgic! I returned recently and it once again impressed me. It is located in the center of Manhattan near Broadway (we came before a show). ATMOSPHERE- 5 STARS Especially for being downtown, the atmosphere is really nice. It is painted to make you feel like you were in the Greek isles. The floor is painted like the stones in the isles and their are bistro lights hanging overtop. It was a nice elegant sitdown for our date. Loved the way they decorated. (I believe their other location was roomier too...although I haven't been). FOOD- being Greek, I am usually a harsh critic of Greek restaurants...I mean who can really compare to yiayias Greek cooking!!! But I was impressed with the food here. It was a bit different than what I was typically used to especially the spanakopita and kolokeffiakefftedes (no idea how you spell that...lol). They were a different take from what I was used to but very good. The meat plate was very tasty as well... LASTLY IM PUTTING THIS IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE IT WAS THAT GOOD...GET THE HORYATIKI SALAD...THE TOMATOES ON THAT SALAD ARE SO GOOD. I HAVENT HAD TOMATOES THIS GOOD EVER EXCEPT IN GREECE...THEY ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN ANYTHING HERE...yes it is worth the crazy emphasis...lol Overall this is a great little find and I enjoyed it quite a bit..I have already come back and would come back again.

Great Greek eats here. Definitely try the specials!!! Meat lovers pitzah and seafood rice special was delicious!!!