Fine Greek dining with an emphasis on fresh seafood features a lengthy wine list and outdoor tables.

(347) 482-1431

141 E 48th St (Lexington Avenue)
New York, NY 10017 40.755168 -73.973098

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Neighborhoods: Midtown Center, Midtown

AVRANY.COM

Hours:

Mon-Fri 12pm-4pm, 5pm-12am

Sat 11am-4pm, 5pm-12am

Sun 11am-4pm, 5pm-11pm

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 8.08.11

Category:

Restaurants, Wholesale Restaurant Supplies

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Cuisine:

Greek, Seafood

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What People Are Saying About Avra

The Owner

Avra

Owner

Avra specializes in grilled seafood using only the freshest and most flavorful ingredients available. "Simple cooking is the best cooking," is our mantra at Avra. A beautiful lithrini from the Mediterranean or an American snapper from the Atlantic dressed only with extra olive oil, fresh herbs and lemon, or a classic octopus grilled to perfection are dishes that exemplify Avra and the essence of Greek cooking.Innovative Greek architect Yianni Skordas has turned the spacious Avra interior into a cozy dining environment which also includes a courtyard for al fresco seating in the…

Provided by CityGrid

Read more from the owner

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Fine Greek dining with an emphasis on fresh seafood features a lengthy wine list and outdoor tables.

ambiance
95.83000183105469% positive
  1. “Excellent Greek food and great atmosphere.”
  2. “The food was great the service was terrific and the ambiance was outstanding”
  3. “Great ambiance, pathetic service”
  4. “The atmosphere was relaxing, the lights were dimmed just right and we had a view of the beautiful falling snow outside.”
  5. “The ambiance is extremely comfortable & relaxing with polite, efficient service.”
  6. “great atmosphere, good service a bit pricey but well worth it.”
dessert
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “The dessert was chocolate molten cake which was also amazing.”
  2. “Fish with no flavor, desserts below average, and service very poor.”
  3. “Assortment of desserts (to appease my girlfriend's sweet-tooth) were all amazing.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “Beautiful interior, great affordable wine.”
  2. “The champagne brunch is a bargain and includes a a choice of a few alcohol drinks or fresh juice.”
food quality
95.38999557495117% positive
  1. “had I known that the food would be so delicious, flavorful, creative, and plentiful, this would have made the top of my list much sooner.”
  2. “Perfect cheese & olive plate, Stuffed Grilled Octopi were fantastic, my salmon wrapped in grape leaves was new, interesting and delicious, brother's swordfish was perfectly cooked and seasoned well.”
  3. “the place is always very busy so you know they are doing something right, i would send many people to eat the great greek food”
  4. “The menu is a nice combination of greek favorites and fresh seafood, which is reinforced by the 'fish market like' display of whole fish in front of the kitchen.”
  5. “mediocre dishes for an over-rated dining experience.”
  6. “delicious fish, octupus, loup de mare, and calamari.”
  7. “was embarrassed, upset and no matter that The food was great as I have gone there more then 10 times this year but NO more.”
  8. “Our waiter was attentive and the food was great.”
  9. “First, the table was not set properly, the silverwears were dirty, the waiter barely spoke english-he had a strong accent, the fish plater was OK but the floor smelled like bleach!”
  10. “This was the best seafood I've had in a LONG time.”
  11. “The food is great!”
  12. “Good music but mediocre food and service”
  13. “Great food.”
  14. “Each one had its own unique flavor, the ingredients were fresh and the serving size was generous.”
  15. “The main course which was a wild alaskan salmon wrapped in grape leaves served with roasted vegetables was simply the best I have ever had.”
  16. “started the meal off with their fantastic bread, which comes with olives, a jam, and a sweet butter for dipping.”
  17. “Excellent Greek food and great atmosphere.”
  18. “The service is ok, nothing great but the food was worth it.”
  19. “Great place to impressive your date with good food, even better place to impress your client on an expense account.”
  20. “the food is the best greek food i ever had and i have been to many greek restaurants.”
  21. “the food was very good but very pricey.”
  22. “It has to be one of the best seafood experience that I ever had.”
  23. “The food, the service and the atmoshphere were all excellent.”
  24. “and i never had a bad meal.”
  25. “The food was great the service was terrific and the ambiance was outstanding”
  26. “The french toast was excellent and the party loved the poached eggs served in phyllo dough with spinach.”
  27. “Great music, great service, fabulous food.”
  28. “The fresh fish and sefood dishes we tried were served in massive portions and superbly seasoned and cooked (or uncooked in re: to perfect tuna!)”
  29. “However, that being said If you are looking for a place to relax, not feel rushed and have a great meal at a reasonable price then this is a place worth visiting.”
  30. “also LOVE greek food but this place is no longer worth the attitude you get from the second you walk in to the minute you pay.”
  31. “The fish was wonderful we tried 3 different varieties and we found it to be fresh and tasty.”
  32. “went back for the second time, after the waiter called "honey" the first time, because I really enjoyed the food.”
  33. “Avra is a very lively restaurant with amazing authentic Greek cuisine and fine service.”
  34. “then had their "Greek toast" -- a vanilla-version of French toast with maple syrup and fresh blueberries and raspberries.”
  35. “The sides of bacon and candian bacon were all a decent size.”
  36. “the food is great, the room is nice, and the service was just right.”
  37. “would go here again for a nice meal.”
  38. “All wait staff and manager's were wonderful and the service was outstanding, great food and a great range of choices.”
  39. “Our waiter recommended we try the whole fish from the grill.”
  40. “They were unlike a lot of crabcakes I am used to-- there were large pieces of fresh crab and less of the breading.”
  41. “Outstanding food and service”
  42. “Great seafood”
  43. “The fish selection was extensive and the food overall was outstanding.”
  44. “Just feel good knowing that I don't have to travel far to get some great seafood.”
  45. “The champagne brunch is a bargain and includes a a choice of a few alcohol drinks or fresh juice.”
  46. “The branzino was so mild, and it was filleted right at the table, so you could see all the fresh herbs that were stuffed in the fish for grilling.”
  47. “Not only has it become my favorite Greek (above Molyvos, Milos, S'agapo) but it offers great seafood--fresh and varied.”
menu variety
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. “You have a good variety to choose from on the prix menu.”
  2. “All wait staff and manager's were wonderful and the service was outstanding, great food and a great range of choices.”
  3. “Our server had an excellent knowledge of the menu and explained”
  4. “The fish selection was extensive and the food overall was outstanding.”
  5. “They have a prix-lunch menu for 30 bucks which is a bit pricey.”
  6. “The menu is a nice combination of greek favorites and fresh seafood, which is reinforced by the 'fish market like' display of whole fish in front of the kitchen.”
  7. “The staff was attentive and amiable, and our server was very helpful when selecting from the extensive grappa and ouva selections.”
  8. “loved the flexibility of the menu - switch appetizers for entree, adjusting portions, etc.. (when you go , you'll see)”
  9. “The fish was wonderful we tried 3 different varieties and we found it to be fresh and tasty.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Great place to impressive your date with good food, even better place to impress your client on an expense account.”
  2. “However, that being said If you are looking for a place to relax, not feel rushed and have a great meal at a reasonable price then this is a place worth visiting.”
  3. “The Octopus is as good as they say,( but it's good at every Greek place, right?)”
service
82.06999778747559% positive
  1. “Service was attentive but not overbearing.”
  2. “rarely find need to travel above USquare for fantastic meals and service, but Avra is defintely something worth venturing uptown for.”
  3. “The food, the service and the atmoshphere were all excellent.”
  4. “Good music but mediocre food and service”
  5. “The ambiance is extremely comfortable & relaxing with polite, efficient service.”
  6. “great atmosphere, good service a bit pricey but well worth it.”
  7. “the food is great, the room is nice, and the service was just right.”
  8. “The service was friendly and present without being intrusive.”
  9. “First, the table was not set properly, the silverwears were dirty, the waiter barely spoke english-he had a strong accent, the fish plater was OK but the floor smelled like bleach!”
  10. “The service was good but rushed.”
  11. “The staff was attentive and amiable, and our server was very helpful when selecting from the extensive grappa and ouva selections.”
  12. “have never once written a bad review, being a server makes you very understanding of the pains and trials that servers endure, but this experience was that bad.”
  13. “Great ambiance, pathetic service”
  14. “Service was terrible, the waitress was rude, forgot our sides, was absent.”
  15. “Our waiter was nice and we were seated promptly”
  16. “Excellent service.”
  17. “Horrible service”
  18. “Outstanding food and service”
  19. “The service is ok, nothing great but the food was worth it.”
  20. “Our waiter recommended we try the whole fish from the grill.”
  21. “so the service really sucked!”
  22. “Fish with no flavor, desserts below average, and service very poor.”
  23. “Finally, a place in NYC I can tell people to go to when they ask me for a good Greek restaurant.”
  24. “the place is always very busy so you know they are doing something right, i would send many people to eat the great greek food”
  25. “Great music, great service, fabulous food.”
  26. “Our server had an excellent knowledge of the menu and explained”
  27. “went back for the second time, after the waiter called "honey" the first time, because I really enjoyed the food.”
  28. “All wait staff and manager's were wonderful and the service was outstanding, great food and a great range of choices.”
  29. “First was in the summer and the waiter was excellent and the sardines were great so I brought in clients from all over for dinner in late November.”
  30. “Our waiter was attentive and the food was great.”
  31. “The food was great the service was terrific and the ambiance was outstanding”
  32. “Avra is a very lively restaurant with amazing authentic Greek cuisine and fine service.”
  33. “If the prices weren't so high, I'd go all the time because I really loved the server.”
value
88.33000183105469% positive
  1. “also LOVE greek food but this place is no longer worth the attitude you get from the second you walk in to the minute you pay.”
  2. “However, that being said If you are looking for a place to relax, not feel rushed and have a great meal at a reasonable price then this is a place worth visiting.”
  3. “The fresh fish and sefood dishes we tried were served in massive portions and superbly seasoned and cooked (or uncooked in re: to perfect tuna!)”
  4. “They have a prix-lunch menu for 30 bucks which is a bit pricey.”
  5. “If the prices weren't so high, I'd go all the time because I really loved the server.”
  6. “the food was very good but very pricey.”
  7. “The flavor was outstanding, the portion was generous and the presentation was inviting.”
  8. “rarely find need to travel above USquare for fantastic meals and service, but Avra is defintely something worth venturing uptown for.”
  9. “Each one had its own unique flavor, the ingredients were fresh and the serving size was generous.”
  10. “Beautiful interior, great affordable wine.”
  11. “The service is ok, nothing great but the food was worth it.”
  12. “loved the flexibility of the menu - switch appetizers for entree, adjusting portions, etc.. (when you go , you'll see)”
  13. “live part-time in the neighborhood so I enjoy frequenting the best restaurants during the week, regardless of price.”
  14. “started with the lobster bisque - amazing, with huge peices of lobster.”
  15. “great atmosphere, good service a bit pricey but well worth it.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “also LOVE greek food but this place is no longer worth the attitude you get from the second you walk in to the minute you pay.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

05/31/10

not worth the attitude

by Elizabeth1111 at Citysearch

I used to love this place but over the years the hostesses grew leaner and meaner. I live part-time in the neighborhood so I enjoy frequenting the best restaurants during the week, regardless of price. I also LOVE greek food but this place is no longer worth the attitude you get from the second you walk in to the minute you pay. I've watched people come in with a slew of empty tables that were never filled and they waited hours to sit down. You think the owners would have more brains for profit but they try to play the game of exclusivity even though it's no longer in vogue. What a shame as it used to be one of my favorites but I will not go back again.

  • Pros: good food, nice ambience (aside from staff)
  • Cons: bad attitudes from hostesses and staff, pricey
1 Star Rating: Poor

05/25/09

Good music but mediocre food and service

by Fancyfolk at Citysearch

Ok-ambience is fine but exorbitantly priced brunch menu. Poach a few eggs at home will be more ideal.

Don't attempt to ask for more bread either.

  • Pros: live band
  • Cons: brunch menu not recommended
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/20/09

Outstanding food and service

Contributor at Citysearch

All wait staff and manager's were wonderful and the service was outstanding, great food and a great range of choices. A must try for dinner or lunch with inside or outside option in eating.

1 Star Rating: Poor

04/30/09

Would LOVE to rate the food but mine never came

by uwsgirl18 at Citysearch

I mean seriously... horrendous. my food didn't come to our table of 4 at the other time as the same 3. Or ever. Even worse, cocky waiter says "it will be 7 minutes". 25 minutes later my husband, sister and brother in law are done with their main course, with mine nowhere in sight. The waiter has the gall to say "oh, it never came?" like I'm to blame. He wanted to bring me a FOUL greek yogurt dessert as a consolation prize. Should I have felt lucky? To add insult to injury, nothing, not ONE thing, comped on the bill. Poor excuse for greek food (nigerian prawns and maine lobster? really?), positively barbaric manners, and i will most certainly go out of my way to steer every manhannite i know away from this measly little engine that couldn't.

  • Pros: if you love attitude
  • Cons: oh so many
3 Star Rating: Average

04/14/09

Great raw sampler seafood

by foody77 at Citysearch

I went back for the second time, after the waiter called "honey" the first time, because I really enjoyed the food.We were seated all the way in the back,closed to the bathroom and close to a large party!! The waitress came, never smiled, took our wine order, opened the bottle and that`s about it!! All she did was filling our white wine glasses!! We finished the bottle even before we were done with the apps!! Another waiter took our order and never worried about us! So we had to wave to get someone attention!! so the service really sucked!! Again!! The food is great!!

  • Pros: Very fresh seafood
  • Cons: Service

The Details on Avra

Place Categories:

  • great greek food
  • good fine service
  • good greek restaurant
  • mediocre good service
  • fantastic meal
  • outstanding ambiance
  • nice waiter
  • delicious fish
  • wonderful seafood experience
  • nice better place
  • wonderful wait staff
  • nice jazz music
  • mediocre food
  • great atmosphere
  • affordable wine
  • good grilled octopus
  • too bad avra
  • authentic greek cuisine
  • outstanding flavor
  • fantastic sunday brunch
  • truly disappointing experience
  • nice combination
  • not love place
  • great seafood
  • really loved server

Message from Avra

  • Simply the Best Fish
  • 2000 years to create menu
  • Al Fresco Dining in Courtyard

Avra specializes in grilled seafood using only the freshest and most flavorful ingredients available. "Simple cooking is the best cooking," is our mantra at Avra. A beautiful lithrini from the Mediterranean or an American snapper from the Atlantic dressed only with extra olive oil, fresh herbs and lemon, or a classic octopus grilled to perfection are dishes that exemplify Avra and the essence of Greek cooking.

Innovative Greek architect Yianni Skordas has turned the spacious Avra interior into a cozy dining environment which also includes a courtyard for al fresco seating in the summer.

Everything about Avra is homey. From the flowers to the limestone floors and stonewashed walls of the interior remind one of the traditional white walls and blue roofs often seen in postcards of Greece and its famous islands.

Avra