The Bottom Line
Ovelia is known for its delicious, reliable, and excellent Greek food. There is something for everyone - carnivores, vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free. Ovelia has a wine list that includes a number of wines from Greece, a delightful cocktail menu, and a nice selection of beer on tap and in bottles. Seating is indoors and out, where great people watching can be had.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Located a short walk from the N/Q subway.
- Consistently excellent Greek food
- Excellent house made loukaniko, a traditional Greek sausage
- Vegetarian and vegan dishes available
Cons
- Parking, as in most of Astoria, is challenging.
- It's a very popular place, so getting a table at certain times can be difficult.
Details
- Ovelia's Address - 34-01 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103
- Phone - 718-721-7217
- Website - http://www.ovelia-nyc.com/
- Hours - Mon 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Tue-Fri 10:30 a.m.-12 a.m.; Sat 9:30 a.m.-12 a.m.; Sun 9:30 a.m.-11 p.m.
- Public Transportation - N/Q to 30th Avenue
- Parking - Parking is troublesome in the area; best to take public transportation if possible.
Review
There are a lot of Greek restaurants in Astoria, a neighborhood that's the center of Hellenic life in NYC. So, you would expect there to be some exceptinal Greek restaurants in town. Ovelia fits that to a T.
More than simply a fresh fish joint, Ovelia is a "psistaria," or "grill house." That means you'll encounter meats - lamb, chicken, quail and pork - grilled and served in familiar Greek style. And on the subject of Greek terminology, according to the restaurant the word "ovelia" means "the ancient ritual of cooking lamb on a spit over an open flame." But don't worry about only finding meat on the menu. Fish and seafood are served as well.
Along with grilled meats and fish, the Greeks like to serve a series of small plates (we'd liken them to appetizers) - referred to as meze in Greek. Ovelia comes through with some delicious classics and some new combinations. Both hot and cold meze are available.
As for the cold meze, classics like skordalia, tzatziki, and taramosalata are offered, along with bastourna (cured beef). The hot meze offerings are a little more daring - feta cubes fried in a sesame seed batter with honey; fried calamari in a buffalo hot sauce; and kafteri poppers (feta and jalepeños coated and fried, served with sauce. More familiar hot meze are also available, like grilled halloumi, zucchini croquettes, saganaki, and Ovelia's famous housemade loukaniko.
As far as main dishes go, you'll find everything from grilled meats and fish, to vegetarian and vegan dishes. Lamb kebabs and grilled pork chops are some of the grilled specialties. Whole fish, like porgy and sea bass are available, as well as grilled shrimp and baby shark. Vegetarians and vegans can enjoy dishes like the meatless moussaka (vegetarian) and the Ovelia salata (vegan), a salad topped with a variety of grilled vegetables.
Ovelia also celebrates barbecue with its Rock n' Ribs on Wednesdays. Real southern fare is made right alongside Greek specialties, and the 'cue is delicious. Feast on buttermilk fried chicken, ribs, pulled pork and chicken, and more. Sides like mac and cheese and collard greens are available to complete the meal.
As for dessert, there is a huge selection. You'll find classic Greek sweets like baklava, galaktoboureko, and loukoumades. You'll also find more American-style desserts, like apple crumb pie, frozen cheesecake, and crepes. Dessert wines and warm sweet cocktails, as well as coffee, are also on the menu.
Ovelia also has a great wine and beer selection. There are a number of Greek wines, both red and white, plus wines from more familiar places like California and Italy. Beer, both by the bottle and on draught, are available. House cocktails are also a treat, including a rosé-based Ambrosia Sangria and an award-winning Sikatini (brandy and vodka infused with figs and white cranberry juice).