Greek cuisine is renowned for its variety, freshness, and distinctive flavors. The combination of traditional Greek ingredients, spices, and cooking techniques creates unique tastes! In Queens, lovers of Mediterranean cuisine gather at SVL Souvlaki Bar. Read more on queens1.one.
Location – The “Greek Island” of Queens
In the early 1900s, the first Greek immigrants arrived in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens in search of the American dream. The New York Times once described it as a “Greek island in New York’s sea.” Greek immigration peaked after World War II, and by the late 1960s, Astoria had become home to many Greeks. Throughout the 1980s, their numbers continued to grow. Eventually, the area also welcomed people from China, the Arab world, Italy, Spain, Ukraine, Croatia, Serbia, Portugal, India, and other nationalities.
Business and restaurants are deeply rooted in Greek culture. However, most Greek immigrants who came to Astoria started with low-paying jobs, such as flower vendors or waitstaff. After accumulating capital, they opened their own restaurants, cafes, tavernas, bakeries, and churches. SVL Souvlaki Bar was founded in 2015 by Astoria native Peter Katsiaris.
Two Locations
You can taste SVL Souvlaki Bar’s offerings at two locations in Astoria, and delivery is also available. The restaurant on Steinway Street features light wood tables, red stools around a round table with an olive tree, and an elegant lighting fixture above. The location on Astoria Blvd. is decorated in black and white with red accents.
Both Greeks and Americans love SVL Souvlaki Bar for its warm atmosphere, traditional music, wide food selection, and friendly service. The restaurants successfully handle competition from Mexican, Italian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern establishments in the area.
What to Try?
Start your culinary journey here with appetizers such as:
- Spanakopita (a pie with spinach, feta, onion, eggs, and spices)
- Sausages
- Fried halloumi (a semi-hard, salty cheese made from goat and sheep’s milk that is often grilled or fried due to its high melting point)
- Dolma (stuffed grape leaves with rice, sometimes with minced meat, or served vegetarian)
- Falafel (fried patties made from ground chickpeas, served with pickled vegetables and a spicy sauce or sesame paste)
- Signature Greek spreads with grilled pita bread
- Mini pita (a mini version of pita bread, filled with pork, chicken, beef, or loukaniko (Greek pork sausages) with tomatoes, onions, fries, and sauce)
- Beef skewers
- Grilled vegetables
- Souvlaki (grilled meat and vegetable skewers)
- Juicy shrimp
Try the sauces made here, such as tzatziki (Greek yogurt, fresh cucumber, dill, and garlic); chipotle aioli (garlic, lemon juice, chipotle pepper, mayonnaise, salt, and black pepper); tyrokafteri (a spicy feta and red pepper sauce); aioli (garlic, salt, and olive oil); and hummus (chickpea puree with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, paprika, and tahini).
SVL Souvlaki Bar’s salads are full of healthy ingredients and bursting with flavor. For instance, the “Horiatiki” salad contains tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers, and kalamata olives. The “Prasini” salad includes romaine lettuce, green onions, and dill. Customers can also create their own salads with greens, vegetables, olives, meat, or vegan sticks.
Forget about fast food and try one of SVL Souvlaki Bar’s burgers. Greek burgers, called “bifteki,” are baked beef patties mixed with tomatoes, onions, parsley, feta cheese, and breadcrumbs. The authentic Greek flavors in bifteki instantly transport you to a Mediterranean celebration. The dish is served with potatoes. When the potatoes are baked and most of the liquid evaporates, the burgers remain moist, making them juicy. The baked patties become browned and caramelized on the outside, while soft and tender inside. The potatoes are roasted to a crispy, creamy texture with an appetizing lemon-oregano sauce.
For dessert, try baklava – a pastry made with layered filo dough, nuts, and syrup, popular in Eastern cuisine. Other customer favorites include galaktoboureko, a Greek and Turkish dessert made with layers of golden-brown filo dough soaked in melted butter and filled with creamy custard. You can also enjoy a slice of rich nut cake, rice pudding, or Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts.