Taverna Kyclades

Yet another excellent meal at Taverna Kyclades this evening. Although this place is hardly a secret, at least not to the Astoria locals, somehow not all that many people seem to know about it. For Mediterranean seafood preparation it has few peers in any borough, at any price. Scrupulously fresh seafood, simply prepared is the reason to come here. Scallops are especially good--get them fried rather than broiled--as are the grilled calamari. Here, if it sounds good it probably is, although on a past visit the sole fillet stuffed with crabmeat was rather dry (I wonder if one can ask them not to broil it quite so long...). Stellar lemon potatoes. The only slight disappointment this evening was the cold antipasto, which is the usual trio of Greek dips: skordalia, taramosalata, and tzatziki. They all seemed a bit over-processed and bordered on gumminess (the dips at Uncle George's--the Astoria Greek restaurant internet foodies love to hate, though I have never had a bad meal there--have been superior on every occasion).

Still, overall the best Astoria Greek restaurant I know, and the quality/price ratio is excellent.

Taverna Kyclades
33-07 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria 11105
(718) 545-8666
http://www.tavernakyclades.com/
(N or W train to Ditmars, then a block and a half east)