The Absolute Best Seafood Restaurant in Astoria

You walk into most Astoria seafood spots and the fish case decides your dinner before you do, and honestly, that is fine by me. This neighborhood runs on Mediterranean blood and garlic butter, from the pick-your-own counters where the staff steers you right to the tavernas where the grilled octopus makes you forget your own name.

You can go from a raw bar with bold cocktails to a spot that gives you complimentary garlic bread and expects nothing in return. The grilled calamari alone is worth braving the weekend crowds.

Your only real problem is choosing which classic to hit first, so here is the rundown.

Le Petit Pêcheur

Highlights
Pick your own fresh fish
Cooked exactly your way
Impeccable, friendly service
Argentina shrimp are superb
Calamari Provençal is a must

You walk in and the fish case decides your dinner. That is fine by me. Pick your own. Tell them how you want it cooked. They nail it. Every single time. The Argentina shrimp? Superb. Sweet, tender, gone before you miss them. The calamari Provençal is a must. It disappears fast, so order two. The service is impeccable and friendly. Almost annoyingly so. They remember you. They treat you right. No fuss, no nonsense. Just excellent fish cooked exactly your way. If you want a fancy show, go elsewhere. If you want a perfect meal, stay here. Your taste buds will throw a party. You are welcome.

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Sabry's Seafood

Highlights
Freshest seafood you’ll find
Killer squid and branzino
Fluffy pita, great sides
Fair prices, generous portions
Handles big groups well

Look, I am picky about squid. Sabry's wins. The freshest seafood you will find in Astoria, full stop. The squid is killer. The branzino? Also killer. Everything tastes like it swam yesterday. The pita is fluffy. The sides are great. The portions are generous without being stupid about it. Prices are fair, which is a miracle these days. They handle big groups well too. No one gets lost in the shuffle. You will leave full. You will leave happy. You will already be planning your next excuse to come back. That is a promise, not a threat.

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Astoria Seafood

Highlights
Fresh pick-your-own seafood
Staff helps you choose
Garlic butter salmon shines
Calamari is crisp perfection
Complimentary garlic bread wins

Three words: garlic butter salmon. That is the whole reason you come here. Okay, maybe not the whole reason. The pick-your-own seafood case is dangerous. In the good way. The staff helps you choose. They steer you right. The calamari is crisp perfection. Not chewy. Not greasy. Just right. And then they bring complimentary garlic bread. That alone earns a round of applause. The place gets busy. It gets loud. Do not care. You are here for the fish. You are here for the butter. You are here for the garlic. Bring breath mints. Bring a big appetite. You will need both.

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Taverna Kyclades Astoria

Highlights
Grilled octopus and lamb chops
Ten-star hospitality every visit
Kids genuinely welcome here
Calamari, smelt, exquisite flavors
Magical water refill service

Taverna Kyclades is the kind of place that spoils you for every other restaurant. The grilled octopus is tender. The lamb chops? Even better. You will dream about them later. The hospitality is ten stars. The kind of warm that makes you forget it is 90 degrees outside. Kids are genuinely welcome here. That is rare. The calamari and smelt are exquisite. And the water refill service is magical. They never let your glass sit empty. You pay for the quality. You get the portion. You leave with a full heart and an even fuller stomach. This is a classic for a reason.

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Off The Hook Raw Bar & Grill

Highlights
Fresh, top-shelf raw bar
Warm, attentive family service
Creative seafood-brunch mashups
Generous portions, great leftovers
Bold drinks with real liquor

If you like your seafood raw, this is your spot. The raw bar is top-shelf. Fresh. Cold. Perfect. The family service is warm. They treat you like you are part of the clan. That is rare. They also do this creative brunch mashup thing. Who knew seafood and eggs could be best friends? Now you know. Portions are generous. You will have leftovers. Good luck resisting them later. The drinks are bold. Real liquor. No watered-down nonsense. Bring your crew. Bring your appetite. Leave with a smile and a slight buzz. You will not regret a single bite.

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Psari

Highlights
Broiled combo melts in mouth
Perfect Sunday outdoor seating
Tender, juicy salmon standout
Homemade garlic bread bonus
Birthday-worthy from start to finish

Sunday afternoon. Outdoor seating. The sun is out. You order the broiled combo. It melts in your mouth. That is not hyperbole. The salmon? Tender. Juicy. A standout. The homemade garlic bread is a bonus. Soak up every last drop of juice. The whole meal feels birthday-worthy from start to finish. Even if it is a random Tuesday. The service is attentive without hovering. You relax. You eat. You repeat. This is what good seafood tastes like. No gimmicks. No nonsense. Just honest, delicious food. Go for the fish. Stay for the leftovers. You will not be sorry.

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Sala Astoria

Highlights
Tapas worth returning for
Service that goes above
Cocktails with real flair
Skip the paella, share plates
Spacious, modern, camera-ready room

Skip the paella. I am serious. You will be tempted. Resist. The tapas are where it is at. Share plates. Trust me. The service goes above and beyond. They refill your water. They check in. They care. The cocktails have real flair. Not just for show. They taste good too. The room is spacious and modern. You could film a cooking show here. The brussel sprouts are truly top-tier. Even the vegetable haters will be converted. Come with friends. Order everything. Toast to your good taste. You will leave satisfied. You will also leave with a new favorite place. That is a win.

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Loukoumi Taverna

Highlights
Honest manager, fair billing
Great grilled octopus
Excellent fried feta
Ideal for big groups
Fresh, quality appetizers

The manager is honest. He will tell you when you are ordering too much. That is rare. That is valuable. The grilled octopus is great. The fried feta is excellent. Perfectly salty. Perfectly crispy. The appetizers are fresh. Full of quality. This place is ideal for big groups. They do not bat an eye when you show up with eight people. Ten people. Twelve people. They handle it. The billing is fair. No hidden charges. No surprises. You will feel taken care of. You will also feel full. Very full. Go hungry. Leave happy. That is the Loukoumi way.

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Blue Island Fish Market

Highlights
Fresh fish, friendly staff
Great selection available
Repeat customers welcomed
Quality worth returning for

It is a fish market. Do not expect a white tablecloth. Expect fresh fish. And a friendly staff. That is what you get. The selection is great. Everything looks like it jumped out of the water this morning. They welcome repeat customers. You will be one of them. The quality is worth returning for. You grab your fish. You cook it at home. You feel like a chef. Or you order it to go. Either way, you win. This is not a fancy night out. It is a reliable spot. It is a good spot. Bring your own pan. Bring your own skills. The fish does the rest.

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Anassa Taverna Astoria

Highlights
Warm, unpretentious Greek dining
Outstanding, balanced lobster pasta
Crisp, light fried calamari
Attentive, friendly hostess service
Memorable meal without pretension

Anassa is warm. Unpretentious. The kind of place that feels like a hug. The lobster pasta is outstanding. Balanced. Buttery. Just the right amount of seafood. The fried calamari is crisp and light. Not a grease bomb. The hostess is attentive. Friendly. She remembers your name. That goes a long way. You will have a memorable meal without any fuss. No stuffy vibes. No snooty looks. Just good Greek food. You will leave full. You will leave happy. You will start planning your next visit before you even pay the bill. That is the magic of this place. Do not miss it.

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Stamatis

Highlights
Authentic menu, fair prices
Quick, hearty meals
Fresh fish to go
Friendly, professional staff
Historic Astoria favorite

Stamatis has been around forever. There is a reason. The menu is authentic. The prices are fair. You get quick, hearty meals. No frills. No delays. The fresh fish to go is a game changer. Grab some for tomorrow. You will thank yourself. The staff is friendly and professional. They know the regulars. They know what you want. It is a historic Astoria favorite. It lives up to the hype. You will not find tourist traps here. Just solid Greek classics. Come for the lunch rush. Come for the early dinner. Just come. Your stomach will be grateful. Your mood will be too.

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Mar's

Highlights
Wooden bar, cozy vibe
Smoked drinks that impress
Basque cheesecake is mandatory
Brussel sprouts truly top-tier

The wooden bar sets the tone. Cozy. Inviting. You want to stay a while. The smoked drinks are impressive. They taste like a campfire in the best way. The Basque cheesecake is mandatory. Do not skip dessert. You have been warned. The brussel sprouts are truly top-tier. Crispy. Charred. Perfectly seasoned. You might even order a second plate. This is more of a cocktail-and-small-plates spot. Not a full seafood blowout. And that is okay. Sometimes you want a drink with smoke and a snack with crunch. Mar's delivers on both. Bring a date. Bring a friend. Bring yourself. The vibe does the rest.

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