Excellent family style dining, great food, friendly service and cozy atmosphere Parking is a bit scarce, but people come and go so don't let that keep you away. read more

Reunion with some friends and this was the perfect spot to meet. My friends told me that Maria was on The Food Network Show - Chopped. We were a party of 12. We ordered off the lunch menu and the service was great. We shared the pikilia platter and got to choose what we wanted. We ordered the skordalia (potato and walnut), melitzanosalata (the eggplant), tzatziki and added the grilled octopus. Everything was very tasty but I have to say the grilled octopus was done really well. We each ordered our individual entrees. We ordered a bunch of different entrees and the group primarily consisted of mousaka, chicken souvlaki and pork souvlaki. Everyone loved their meals and we left pretty stuffed after that. Glad that I found out about this place as I will be visiting again the next time I'm in town. read more

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Very nice food. I liked their Souvlaki dish. I like how they made the food in a good presentation which was neat and easy to eat. Recommend. read more

Maria's Mediterranean - Souvlaki - Seafood Near Me - Bayside, New York

DO NOT ORDER from Maria's. I thought it was great that Bayside still had a restaurant that hasn't changed to an Asian restaurant yet, as most have. Then I ordered from Maria's last night. The bean salad was a complete ripoff. $28 once I added octopus. What I received was pathetic. Canned chickpeas on some crappy lettuce with two little tentacles. A complete ripoff. Being a "Chopped" champion should instill some pride in what you are serving. Especially for the price being asked. read more

I can't tell you what I had for dinner but I LOVED the dessert. Blueberry baklava with ice cream. I plan to go back just for that. Lemon potatoes were also excellent. Street parking was easy during the workweek but could be a challenge on weekends. The outdoor tent setup was charming and would be great for a date. Drinks were strong! read more

Maria's Mediterranean - Blueberry baklava - Seafood Near Me - Bayside, New York

Had a good meal there once, but about six months ago, when I tried to book a family party, two people were outright rude. So I booked Moonstone, a great Asian restaurant nearby. read more

My husband and I randomly chose this restaurant with the intention of trying something different. We were seated expeditiously and that was all for good service. We asked an employee for the waiter twice. Most importantly, we felt as though we were not welcomed. We based that on a couple of glances we received, our brown skin, poor service in addition to our trusted intuition. We had water, an appetizer, paid our bill and left. We're never returning. read more

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Tried getting into my favorite Greek restaurant (TK), but with a 45 minute wait decided to try Maria's instead. And I was glad that I did! What I noticed at first was the open-air entry providing a nice cool breeze. The interior colors were dark brown and beiges creating a nice Mediterranean feel. The appetizers were very good with ample portions. Highly recommend the grilled octopus and Greek salad. Next the entrees of chicken souvlaki, grilled shrimp, and lamb, pork and chicken over rice were enjoyable. Service was prompt and courteous. A good brewed coffee finished off a nice lunch experience. Worth the effort when hungry and in the Bayside Hills area. Parking was the usual grind, but it's what you expect in popular Bayside! read more

Went to Maria's for an early Sunday dinner with the family. Everything from start to finish was really good. We had a Greek salad, Maria's oysters, and fried calamari to start. The salad was good, the oysters were awesome, and the calamari was good just wish there were some tentacles. For a Main I ordered the swordfish filet with rice pilaf, the fish was perfectly cooked! A Bell Blvd staple. read more

Maria's Mediterranean - Maria's Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Bayside, New York

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If you're for a local Greek restaurant, Maria's is the place to go. I enjoyed that the provided pita bread and olives and chickpeas for the table. My family enjoyed the fish, shrimp and the lamb chop was soooo fresh and seasoned to perfection. Please note that on a Friday night, the restaurant is packed and somewhat loud because it is a relatively small restaurant. There is outdoor eating available as well! read more

I am not a person who usually writes reviews, but the quality of food that we had tonight at Maria's was so disappointing, that I have to write one now. Let me first say that the waiter we had was great, a really wonderful young man. This review has nothing to do with the service we received. This is solely based on the quality of the food. We started off with the grilled octopus, which was over cooked and salty like the sea. The 3 dips we tried with pita bread were good. I ordered swordfish with lemon potatoes for my entree. HUGE MISTAKE! It smelled and tasted so fishy, even under the sauce they poured on top! It was definitely way past its point of freshness and should never have been served. The lemon potatoes were so salty that they could not be eaten. Two others ordered chicken souvlaki with lemon potatoes, they could not eat their meals either because it was way too salty. Two others ordered the grilled chicken entrees with lemon potatoes and they could not eat their meals either since it tasted like the ocean. One other person ordered the bisteki with lemon potatoes and he could not eat his meal either because the insane amount of over salting issues as well. When the waiter asked us how our food was we all explained that it was way too salty to eat. He said he was sorry and that he would tell the manager. Before we paid the bill, my mother asked to speak to the manager. When she addressed all our opinions on the meals we couldn't eat because the amount of salt was too heavy and the fish was not fresh, he laughed in her face! His behavior and response was so unprofessional and really insulting to treat patrons so poorly that we will never visit this establishment again. The worst part is that my husband and I have eaten here before and couldn't wait to share it with our family. What an epic disappointment tonight! read more

My favorite Greek restaurant in NYC. Their Platter was absolutely phenomenal. The chicken was so tender and the variety of meats were all so good. My favorite was probably the grilled octopus and calamari. But honestly, everything was so good. I will be coming back again very soon. Can't wait to try more dishes from here. read more

Excellent food and excellent service. Have been to Maria's several times and each time the food has been excellent and beautifully prepared. The owner/chef greets each table personally with a smile. She and her food are so good in fact that Maria is a winner of Chopped!!!! Highly recommend!!! read more

We were there today for my mom's birthday. Great food and service! We had octopus, dips and fried pita chips among other savory foods. I had the stuffed sole and it was delicious! My kids had the Meat platter for two and the food was great and the amount of food was incredible! Wonderful experience! read more

All I wanted was a Greek salad because I felt like I'd been eating out all week and wanted something light and healthy. Maria's makes a great salad. Lots of fresh, crisp vegetables, 2 grape leaves stuffed with rice. Complimentary soft, warm pitas with olives and 2 other veggie based dips are given to the table. Everything was delicious and just the right amount of food. DH ate the chicken souvlaki with veggie rice and enjoyed it. DH and I also checked in on Yelp and each received a glass of wine, which was of better quality than most house wines I've had the misfortune to drink. I appreciated them serving us good wine as we weren't paying for it. Maria's is a cozy restaurant with delicious and healthy food options. Lots of vegetarian options so I'm always happy and satisfied. I've had the Vegetarian Moussaka on a previous visit and enjoyed it as well. It's definitely heavier due to the bechamel sauce so while not my favorite meal, it's yummy and very filling. read more

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Maria is like eating at home. Friendly staff and super delicious food. Unbelievable appetizers and pita chips! Go ahead ... any dish will be full of taste. read more

The family feeling you received when you arrive at this resturant is unbelievable. The food is absolutely delicious!! I have been spreading the word about Maria's ever since my first visit. The food is the real deal, an anthentic offering of Greek specialties from family recipes of the owners. Next time i come i want a try The Seafood with Orzo. I seen that dish coming out the kitchen a lot and looked amazing. everything from the service to the amazing food is absolutely the best ever. I dont undertstand why anyone would bash this place. Everything i have ever eaten here has been amazing. The food is top notch and the staff is so friendly its like im eating at a family members house every time i come here. This place is like a second home and i love everything about this place. The chicken with stuffed feta and spinach is out of this world from Maria's. Also the branzino i really enjoyed, despite hating fish with bones. The calamari and grape leaves were a home run, as well as the saganaki and greek salad. PRO'S Great food and service CON'S Seating here is very cramped and a hassle to get up to use the bathroom or smoke a cigarette. Overall GREAT place for a family dinner. Food is excellent and service is attentive. I look forward to coming again. read more

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Not as good as Avli the food had no taste and was portioned controled.Would not go back and food was to salty.

I came here for dinner with a couple of Yelpers after a recent Yelp Elite event. The interior was nice - Classy, peaceful and plenty of space. We were seated by the window and it was a great spot. After we ordered, we were served complimentary warm pita bread (and lots of it), as well as a trifecta of chickpeas in tasty sauce, sliced radishes and olives with rosemary and olive oil. I was not happy to see that there was still a bit of plastic on the radishes, which told me 2 things: The staff was not careful enough in the kitchen and it wasn't fresh. So, I just had some of the chickpeas with the pita and both tasted really good. The pita bread was well toasted, which is the way I like them. The menu was quite extensive, but I was actually able to choose what I wanted almost right away. I was interested in getting a classic Greek entree so decided to try Moussaka, which is a lasagna-like dish made out of eggplant and potatoes, with ground beef in between. They served a pretty large portion and there was some yellow rice and sautéed vegetables on the side: Onion, mushroom, carrots, zucchini and onions. That was a nice surprise because I thought I was only getting the Moussaka, which was decent. I enjoyed the meat which was nicely seasoned and there was plenty of it, but the eggplant and potato were a bit bland. The rice and vegetables were a nice combination though and went well with the main meal. The service was pretty solid but I wasn't that impressed by the food. I think I had high expectations because they had a sign in front saying that they were a Chopped winner. I wouldn't come back. read more

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I didn't even have a chance to even take photos of my food because I love Maria's and was too excited to eat. From the freshly baked pita to the perfectly cooked entrees to the decadent dessert.. everything from the moment you step in to the end of the meal is just perfect. We started with cocktails and raw oysters. I got beef souvlaki (flavor is impeccable) and my boyfriend got the baby lamb chops. Best lamb chops he's ever had. For dessert we got the blueberry baklava (this I did manage to take a photo of) and chocolate mousse. Very rich in flavor. We went today around 4pm and considering it was a Sunday during tropical storm Henri, it was obviously quieter than usual. Service was as friendly as always. read more

Maria's Mediterranean - Blueberry baklava - Seafood Near Me - Bayside, New York

Ever since watching Head Chef Maria Petridis win her episode of Chopped, I've been meaning to dine at Maria's Mediterranean in Bayside, Queens. Simply put, there's a reason why she won Chopped. From start to finish, it's some of the best homestyle Greek food around. For appetizers we went with the Haloumi (grilled goat cheese served over grilled tomatoes and pita bread) and the Spicy Loukaniko (homemade spicy or sweet sausage). The Haloumi was well done but the Loukaniko was the star of this portion of the meal. It was insanely flavorful and herbaceous with the perfect amount of spice. For the mains we went with the Avgolemono Soup (chicken soup with celery, carrots and orzo in egg lemon sauce) and the Mousaka (layered casserole of eggplant, potato and ground beef topped with bechamel). The soup warmed the soul and had that perfect amount of lemon. My favorite bites of the night came from the Mousaka; it was a perfect medley of veggies and meat with the bechamel bringing it all together. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that I'll be back at Maria's rather soon! read more

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Delicious meals. Exactly what you would hope for when you're in the mood for Mediterranean cuisine. Warm pita and small trio of chickpea salad, kalamata olives and carrots. This could've been a light meal itself. You could taste the quality in the olive oil that was drizzled over the carrots and olives. There was also just the right amount of fresh lemon taste. Ordered a bottle of Chardonnay that paired perfectly with all the flavors. For starters we ordered the grilled vegetables. Zucchini, asparagus, eggplant, roasted red peppers topped with a portobello mushroom all perfectly charred. For our main course we had the filet of lemon sole with a side of horta and the feta and spinach stuffed flounder with a side of lemon potato. The fish was topped lightly with a beurre blanc sauce (white wine, butter), the dishes were plated with fresh lemon and rosemary. Everything we had was flavorful and very tasty. The portions were huge and the fish was fresh. Our waiter and other staff were very attentive. The dining area was impeccably clean and nicely decorated. read more

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Maria's is the place I go to when I'm in the mood for Greek food. I know I can always rely on good food and great service when I come here. I usually get the chicken souvlaki with vegetable rice, lemon potatoes and the hummus with pita bread. The chicken souvlaki is cooked to perfection with a little bit of char and it pairs so well with the rice and the lemon potatoes. For appetizer we get the hummus and pita bread, it's a staple! The hummus is so creamy and delicious and eating it with warm pita bread... chefs kiss! You have to get the blueberry baklava for dessert, we almost didn't order it cause we were so full but I'm so glad we did! There was so many layers, textures, flavors in one dish. The flaky puff pastry, sweet nuttiness, blueberry filling and the ice cream on top was magnificent! I couldn't stop eating it even though I was so full. I would come back here for the blueberry baklava alone! But this place is definitely a place to check out if you're in the mood for good greek food. read more

Maria's Mediterranean - Blueberry Baklava - Seafood Near Me - Bayside, New York

We used to be regulars at Maria's. After Maria won on Chopped, there usually were long lines to get in, so we hadn't been there for a long time. We went to Maria's to celebrate our 30th anniversary. We were not disappointed. It was just as good as it always was. read more

Hello everyone. fyi I only post reviews if the establishment has disappointed me or its a great and enjoyed eating their My family and decided to go out and eat on Easter day.Most if not all the restaurants were fully booked .my last hope was to call Maria's and a very joyful and full of delight voice answered the phone with a welcoming hello.i asked if they had any open tables and had explained my difficult situation not being able to find any restaurants. She immediately told me just come by and will seat you.as I arrived there I was welcomed by a very nice gentleman (the owner) and went out of his way to occommdate us.as we entered Maria's the most wonderful and delicious aroma delighted my greek senses. That only means the food is delicious. The server was a very nice and attentive gentleman ,took our order .our salad arrived immediately and soon after our food (bakaliaro,cod) was in front of me .I couldn't help to be nosey and look Wharton others had ordered everything looked so delicious with the plates fully stacked and that delicious smell made me twice as hungry. My plate was full of bakaliaro not like other establishment that you got a small flat this piece of fish. This was a very good portion not salty at all and delicious. My daughter ordered lemon potatoes with chicken gyros .it was good tasting meal. I enough said .folks do go there its a wonderful greek experience and you really get good meal. Ps.iam only a customer and I was not paid to Write his review.honest! Now its my greek to go restaurant. Bravo!! read more

Wonderful food, service and atmosphere. Very crowded whenever I eat there. Definitely need a reservation.

I had an appointment nearby and was planning to eat elsewhere, but I walked by Maria's and was very curious. There were customers enjoying their food and saw their offer for a free glass of wine with a yelp check in so I went inside. The first impression was great! My server, Stephani was very friendly and offered some suggestions. The food come out very quickly and I truly enjoyed every single bite of it! I ordered a salad with grilled octopus and a main dish of lamb with lemon potatoes, and my free glass of house wine! I was in love! I will definitely come back!!! Great find! read more

Maria's Mediterranean - Seafood Near Me - Bayside, New York

Great food and service. Waiters were nice snd friendly. I had the kotobacon, which had that perfect subtle flavor that you expect from greek food. I also tried the flounder, and though tender buttery, and flavorful, it was also on the saltier side. Overall a solid dining experience, however. read more

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Was so excited to come here, not many places in the area have steak souvlaki, plus top it with a chopped winner?! Oh we were in there!! The server was friendly, everyone seemed very nice. But honestly the food fell a little short. I ordered mine medium well, my husband ordered well done, however both were more on the medium side. They served the skewers on the fries which made the fries mushy/soggy, I prefer crispy french fries. The tzatziki was good. Steak was a bit more on the bland side too. It just lacked what I'm used to with most steak souvlaki. The kids pizza was on a pita, but there was so much sauce & cheese which made it really soggy. I felt like it was a bit overpriced for what you get and wasn't really worth it to be quite honest. read more

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I did not know this was in my neighborhood... but once I found that a chopped champion was in my neighborhood I had to go try out this restaurant!! I had the moussaka which was AMAZING!!! It's one of their speciality and lemme tell you!! The service was amazing and the prices about $15-25 a plate. Quality/taste - 5/5 Atomsphere - 5/5 Price - 5/5 Quantity - 5/5 Cleanliness -5/5 read more

Maria's Mediterranean - Moussaka w/ Rice & Vegatables - Seafood Near Me - Bayside, New York

We had only appetizers and every single one was amazing. The blueberry baklava is excellent. Service is also top notch even though it looks like they could use help but they were extremely attentive and friendly. We'll definitely be back to try more dishes. read more

This place lived up to the hype. One aspect that really stood out was the service. Our waiter was very helpful when we asked for suggestions on what to order. He suggested a dish with two large shrimps which I believe he said was on a seasonal/special meal. He checked on us often and even got us an extra plate of the free small dishes. In addition to the shrimp, we got the twin lobster tails which was tastier than expected but also pretty pricey ($56 for tails) and the lamb souvlaki which was very juicy but kind of hard to eat because of how chewy it was. For sides we got the vegetable rice which was not out of the ordinary to be honest. One thing though, the complimentary pita bread they offer was absolutely delicious. I couldn't stop myself from eating all of it; best pita I've had! read more

Maria's Mediterranean - Seafood Near Me - Bayside, New York

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I'd Bookmarked Maria's because of their seafood options and kept it in my back pocket. Dishes looked mouthwatering and that drew me in. Since I was in the area and went for it. Maria's gives off a cute welcoming exterior. Inside design, on the other hand is, basic with a sizable bar. Hospitality was at a high at Maria's and we were immediately greeted and seated. Within 2 minutes, pita and olives were brought to the table. Our server was very attentive in the whole process, and never skipped a beat. Loved it! Settled on a tropical/Ouzo cocktail that was different but all right. Menu had an enormous selection of seafood and lamb dishes that made it hard for me to decide. Started with Grilled Octopus, that was tasty- though, massive for my liking and turned me off. My Garlic Scallop and Shrimp were nicely done, but I also devoured my husband's Lamb Kabobs, which were beautifully grilled. Maria's Mediterranean has good traditional Greek food. But, please accept my apologies.... I too, use another restaurant- a favorite of mine, as my base test for other Greek restaurants...and my Grilled Octopus was just grotesque. It was about the size of my arm and unsightly. Everything else we had was ok and I could order something else if I'm here the next time. read more

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This stretch of Bell Blvd is a cross section of Queens with a slice out of the diverse food scene to represent more than a dozen different types of cuisines. Maria's fits into this fabric by contributing fantastic Greek seafood to the mix. Sundays are as quiet as it gets in the area, so there was no wait for a table. Service is excellent as we are told the specials of the day and a basket of warm pita bread with a dish of olives in EVOO is placed on the table. We start with the grilled octopus, which was a large tentacle, but tender in repose on a bed of dressed arugula. It was almost sensual in both presentation and taste. The avgolemono soup was also outstanding and came in a huge bowl. The Greek Salad even had bonus stuffed grape leaves, which you don't see very often. Grilled Branzino was served with the fish turned out and deboned. It was flaky and tender with a nice char and smokey flavor, but was a little pricey at $35 (for the XL) which was the "market price". The Greek style Smothered Chicken was very tasty and was a large portion, great for sharing family style. A return trip is definitely worth it. read more

Pretty solid spot for dinner in Bell Blvd, Bayside. How did I forget to write a review for Maria's?! Our dinner started with fresh hot grilled pita bread with dip. My favorite had to be the eggplant, try this out! There were complimentary plates of black and green olives in olive oil with free refills. We also got the oyster platter to start with which was really fresh. I typically just use fresh squeezed lemon juice. At any Greek or Mediterranean spots, another must get is the Grilled Octopus. Their version of it was tender and lightly seasoned with salt. It is okay. My companions and I share a number of main courses which includes the Souvlaki, Chicken Souvlaki, and Calamari. Both the pork and chicken souvlaki dishes were pretty good, although, I would prefer it to be more tender. Side dishes are okay. Calamari was probably the best dish of the night. Super crispy and well seasoned. Marinara sauce is not your typical, it has heat in it! To finish off with a cherry on top, free glass of wine with Yelp Check-in! Decent dinner experience for Bayside but Astoria will remain as my go-to place for Greek food. read more

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This is the second time I tried this place. First time was during Covid, and well I was disappointed with the customer service, and the food was only okay. I decided to try them again and well I was extremely disappointed again. My seafood dish was over cooked to the point of being burnt and the entire dish lacked any flavor at all. Nothing about it said Greek to me. I wish I could have the owner taste my food so they can see how poor it was. I won't be coming back. If you want quality seafood go down to the block to Kyclades. read more

Came here as I was looking for something healthy to bring my brother and I heard it won an award . I really enjoyed my lunch here and will definitely come again. Service - they were very consistent with asking how everthing was and took the time to answer all my questions ( I can be a pains at times). The waiter put an additional order by accident but it was quickly resolved, no questions asked. Food - I ordered the chip and dip that included the hummus, egg plant and walnut dip. All was delicious. I even asked for extra pita bread and that was also on point. The waiter highly recommended the octopus and it was definitely the highlight of my lunch. Next came the chicken skewers and it did not come out dry. The finale was the desert - I ordered the blue berry baklava, and if you're into sweets, this is definitely for you. I've never seen one like this and it was beautifully presented. However, too sweet for me. Overall, good job guys and keep it up. read more

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Maria's continues to pull my heart strings. I absolutely love coming here. Service is impeccable and the food is amazing. You will literally never be disappointed! read more

We really enjoyed our meal at this Greek eatery with friendly wait staff who take the time to explain dishes and make you feel welcome. Ambience & service - check! As for the food... On a cold evening my husband had the beef short rib in tomato sauce over fries (Kokinisto) which was a treat, and I had the fried shrimp with vegetable rice. Both dishes were served piping hot and the waiter's recommendation of wine with our meal paired well. When I asked about a stuffed shrimp entree I was informed they were testing out a new recipe which they intended to roll out. It's nice to know they are adding to an already full menu. Finally there are some nice desserts including the Emek, a traditional Greek pastry worth every calorie. Enjoy. read more

Maria's Mediterranean - Fried shrimp and veggie rice - Seafood Near Me - Bayside, New York

You get an authentic Greek feeling- I felt as though I was in Greece eating delicious Greek cuisine - and the service is excellent!