Great service. Quiet ambiance. Delicious authentic Greek food! My son and I split the classic moussaka for appetizers. For our main choice, he ordered the Greek burger and I enjoyed the gyro and lamb! Every dish was perfect with taste of authenticity! This is an UWS gem!! read more

Symposium - Greek burger - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Both the exterior and interior of this place were lovely. The exterior is white with blue accents, twinkle lights, and pretty mosaic of green, yellow, brown spelling out the name of the restaurant: SYMPOSIUM. The interior boasted white brick walls, unique artwork, comfortable booth seating, along with plenty of tables and chairs. There was a cozy, welcoming feel to the spot. I had to try the Saganaki, which is flaming fried cheese and the waiter lit it on fire upon being served. This was such a fun dish and was melty, soft, with mild flavor. For my entree, I ordered the Lamb Chops, served with pita bread, salad, rice and tzatziki sauce. Lamb Chops were slightly charred, delightfully tender, and well seasoned. The pita bread was still warm, lightly crispy, nicely moist and paired well with the creamy tzatziki sauce. Salad was made of tomatoes and red onion was fresh with a tasty vinaigrette. I also got to sample the Moussaka and Greek Fries. Both were quite yummy. Moussaka was a beautifully composed dish with layers of succulent beef, saucy eggplant, fluffy potato, rich bechamel in a boldly flavored, savory red sauce, flanked by lemon potatoes. The Greek Fries were topped with feta cheese, oregano and other spices. These were perfectly crispy, full of wonderful potato taste. For dessert, I went with Portokalopita and Greek coffee. The Portokalopita consisted of shredded phyllo, orange, and yogurt pie. It did not taste or look like what I was expecting at all. It had a more cake like consistency and the orange flavor seemed kind of artificial. The coffee was velvety smooth and strong in a good way. Service was solid. Our waiter was personable and knowledgeable about the menu. We were well taken care of throughout our meal. I would be open to returning to try the Braised Lamb Shank. read more

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This is the OG place that my parents used to frequent when they were in Columbia. I was craving some moussaka, so I decided to pop over in between my classes. The staff were extremely friendly, the service was quick, and the ambiance was very casual and old-school. I loved the starter that I got with my moussaka-- it was pretty garlicky, but very very addicting. The meat moussaka was pretty good too! read more

Symposium - Classic Meat Moussaka - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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Been here since Day 1... I came to Columbia in 1962... The food is now much better!!! Guy knows what he is doing!!! Thanks!!! Neal Hugh Hurwitz NY NY Medellin and ISR read more

We had a party of 15 and the service was wonderful and the food was fantastic. It's a cozy restaurant with great comfort food. read more

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I really enjoyed this place. The food was super yummy and the serving sizes were big for the price. The ambiance was super cute with paintings on the wall. The lady who serviced us was a local artist and she was super sweet. The chef was also sweet and he explained everything on the menu for us. Great for students! read more

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THIS PLACE IS WONDERFUL!! Authentic Greek dishes that will make you feel like you're in Greece !! The depth of flavor in every dish is insanely good. I enjoyed every single thing I tried and wanted more. The waiter was sooo nice and put on a little fire show with one of our dishes which was very nice. Super nice staff . The place is cute too very authentic to Greece we loved it ! You feel like you're in a Greece without leaving New York. read more

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First visit in over 40 years. Good food and atmosphere. Good specials and live music on Saturday.

Best gyro I've ever had but very expensive. The service was fine overall. Food takes a little while to come out

Avoid this place if you have food allergies. Neither the waiter nor the kitchen understood gluten free.. They put pita bread right on the plate. The owner was very defensive when we complained. We hadn't been there since our student days 40 years ago and were very disappointed in the quality of the food. My fish was baked with a coating of grease in the oven. It tasted like it had been frozen. I got 1/2 potato and some type of cooked greens that was definitely not spinach. There were no gluten-free buns so my husband ate his cheese burger on a bed of greens. Coffee and tea were not hot enough. Initially the waiter said all the coffee was decaf. When we inquired further he said they mixed regular and decaf into the same pot. Does not appear to be a well-run restaurant. read more

I love this place! From the food to the staff, everything was enjoyable. The menu has so much to choose from. You must try their broiled cheese which comes out ON FIRE read more

Symposium - Shrimp - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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Placed an order online and our card was charged. We were waiting quite a while without confirmation, so we called the restaurant. Turns out they'd never received the order. Things happen, so I get it -- technology fails, accidents happen. But instead of helping us, they hung up without offering a solution. Now we've been charged for food we will never receive without a care from the establishment. Very poor customer service. read more

Our lunch here was a visit to memory lane. Back when we were students, this was mostly the place Columbia and Barnard students brought their parents for a good Greek meal. What I remember most was the artwork of Yanni Poskanoff, the owner-artist. His exuberant works filed the restaurant walls, ceiling and menu. Posnakoff passed away in 2020 but his artwork can still be seen in the restaurant, though they are darkening with age. We enjoyed their avogonolemono soup, grape leaves and eggplant dip with pita. They were all delicious. read more

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True philanthropy is when someone does a good deed and you may never know who they are. Well funk that. I did some digging and found out that Symposium Greek Resturant is going around and delivering piping hot full meals to residences in the neighborhood. I've never had Spanakopita before. In fact my Greek food repertoire begins and ends with a gyro. Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie) with a side of rice, green beans & peas is now my new jam. Flakey puff pastry surrounds a healthy serving of spinach and feta. It was delicious and hit my daily iron intake requirements. The prices are very reasonable for such hearty food. Being located near Columbia University has to be a godsend for the students. I'm hoping to go to grad school at Columbia so thus may all be kismet. I can't wait for all thus quarantine stuff to be over so I can sit inside with a good cup of coffee and some baklava. I wish the Symposium owners and staff all the best read more

Symposium - Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie), rice, green beans & peas - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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Great Greek food in a delightful environment! Very intimate and traditional feeling with interesting modern(?) art. The single server was pretty overwhelmed but food still came out quick (getting boxes and the bill took a bit though). Good rice, good meat. I had the lamb souvlaki, which was great. The real highlight was the hummus plate though--so good and came with a LOT of pita. Overall a great time!! read more

This place nears Columbia university so I see some college students go there. Their lunch specials are reasonably priced. And I ordered their lamb lunch special and it was fulfilling and yummy. They offer complimentary breads which are also yummy. The staff is super nice and friendly and they would like to talk and get to know their customers. It looks like a family run small restaurant and I love it for that read more

Symposium - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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Been coming here for some time now. Very old school NY place, with the random art on the walls, attitude of the servers (mean this in a good way), and setup with the booths. Not many places like this left. Food is decent, and while it's grown on me, it does not blow me away. Chicken kabab is the best thing I've had, with huge chunks of juicy chicken; my wife loves it although I wish it came with something other than rice and veggies. I typically get the chicken combo (kabab and gyro), which comes on pita with tzatziki, a lemon potato, and greek salad. I don't care for the gyro much but they don't make the dish without it. The tzatziki has a lot of garlic in it but I've grown to enjoy it. Greek salad is well made. Other things I've tried--shrimp kabab, saganaki, galaktobouriko--are also good. While it isn't the best Greek you can get, I'm happy to have this right down the block. Very worth a shot off of the beaten path. read more

Best Greek food I have ever had. I grew up in a Greek neighborhood and there were so many old school dishes I haven't had in yearssss and this place brought back many fond memories. My wife and I ordered a bunch of stuff and everything was better than the last. The lamb, the spinach pie, fresh feta, salads, hummus, and flaming saganaki were to die for. Symposium was opened by an artist and the decor is so beautiful and intriguing. Symposium is the definition of a hidden gem and Chef Dan and the staff here never miss! read more

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A hidden gem type of restaurant. The decor is so unique and has a ton of history behind it. Love places like this. I tried a few different items but you deff can't skip the dips/hummus. They are so flavorful, unique and have flavor combinations I've never had before. I love Mediterranean flavors and this place definitely brings the flavor in their dishes. The pita is also soooo fresh, soft and came out hot and steamy. The best way! The Chef also runs a few other kitchens in NYC that I've been to and also love so I knew the food wouldn't disappoint here. I can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu! read more

This is a small hidden gem. The service was excellent! They were on top of everything! The interior is beautiful filled with art work like painting even the ceiling is artsy. Sangria they mad is good and not too strong - oranges and apples the gyros are delicious and portions are nice with a big side of fresh salad. The tzatziki sauce is soooooooooooooooo tasty! Perfect amount of garlic and they are not cheap with it. Loved the food and service. Would definitely come back here again! read more

Symposium - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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I don't usually write reviews, but as a Greek, I have to say the food is fantastic, the waitress is super nice, and the Baklava is a must-try. The Greek coffee tastes just like home. This place blew me away! read more

Fair price and nice food. All good is kinda sour but acceptable. 26/person. I'll recommend read more

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Food was fantastic- my daughter made a reservation for 10 people and our food was outstanding. One special mention is the fact that at the time we got our bill, I had added 18% without even noticing that the gratuity was already added to the overall bill. The hostess call to tell me that my additional tip was not necessary and reversed it. Kudos not only for a great restaurant, but also a great service and honest and respectful staff. read more

Just really good food! I always get the chicken gyro and I highly recommend! Service is great!

Okay Greek food I didn't get the difference between Greek food and Middle East food tho. The tomato sauce shrimp is good!! read more

It was only OK. The dishes were well prepared, tasty, but there weren't any dishes that struck me as spectacular. I would try other Greek spots before returning here read more

I've known this place for about 30 years now. Always great, always delicious. I believe it's recently under new ownership, and they made a great place even better. all the food is very good, but i gravitate toward the lamb chops. . . read more

Love this little restaurant tucked away in a corner. Great food and friendly staff. A little bit on the pricey side but I think it has good value. read more

The food was amazing and Elena was fantastic. We both had lamb dishes and the sampler. We were so full afterwards. It can be a bit on the pricey side 3 things came to $75 but we were well aware of the area we were eating in. read more

I've been a customer since the 1980s. I was thrown off balance to walk in and find that there's new ownership after 38 years. Service is friendly but inattentive and slow. Menu has changed. Some things are better, others not. Many old favorites are gone and sorely missed. The feel of the place has changed and it's sad for a long time customer. Although it is superficially much like it was before it changed hands it's really a different place. read more

I ordered take out from here the other day and boy is the staff rude. They looked at me like I was speaking a different language. I learned about this place from google, and wanted to check out but they should really improve their customer service, does not make you want to come back. I asked how long for food and the waitress rudely said " depends what you order" normal takeout question to ask how long I should be waiting for. read more

It's all great. Whenever I get confused with the menu the person would show me a sample and have me taste it. The waiter explained everything I wanted to know patiently, fantastical service. Greek paintings, music, etc indoor area. read more

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A little disappointed. I got the vegetable plate with spanokorizo (spinach rice), potatoes, carrots, broccoli and zucchini. It's one of their vegetarian options. The spanakorizo was yummy, but the big vegetable chunks were bland and uninspiring. Felt like they'd come from a pack of steamed frozen veggies (and they composed half the dish!). It seemed as if anyone could have cooked them at home. If I returned, I would just order the spanakorizo on its own. In general, the price felt a bit steep for the portion size, and for the level of preparation. However, I will say that the baklava is delish! And the waiters are friendly, although service is a bit slow. Interior is dimly lit, and has a very old-school feel. read more

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Only ate here once, but will be back for more! -VERY QUIET. Quietest NYC restaurant I've dined at. -Staff is friendly -lots of options on the menu (to include vegetarian!) -food was fast, fresh and cooked great -great location just off broadway near Columbia campus Symposium Sampler (4/5) the preparation of this appetizer is just as great as the taste. I'm not a fan of taramosalata but this was fantastic. Skordalia was the best of this. You won't have a shortage of pita bread, lol. Mousaka (4.5/5) was amazing. For the price, taste, and how much you get this dish is a great choice. Pastitsio (4/5) also amazing. It's the mousaka with layers of pasta rather than eggplant. The potatoes that come with this are out-of-this-world delicious. read more

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Great food, amazing atmosphere, and super kind & attentive service! Perfect uptown find! read more

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It's comfortable reasonable friendly and the food is consistently tasty In sone ways it appears to never change (decor, tastiness of the food) in other ways, it seems updated ( pricing - ha!) Real Greek food - this is no diner . read more

My chicken gyro plate came with "chicken" that looked more inauthentically chicken than McDonald's chicken nuggets, half a potato (uncut), and tzatziki sauce plopped on on a pita. There was a salad on the side. I guess it's an assemble pita (and cut your own fries/potatoes). It was grossly overpriced for gross food. read more

Symposium - The texture (or lack thereof) of my chicken - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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This place has nailed the theme to cater to the academics, or nerds and geeks if you will (me included), that frequent the area. I forgot to snag a pic before the menu disappeared but take a look at the design from other yelp snaps and you'll understand why. The atmosphere draws nostalgia for a time none of us knew, creating a space where you wish Greek philosophers could sit with you and debate and discuss deep topics over gyros. Check out the ceiling, it's beautiful. The baklava seems pretty solid and authentic, but I've never been to Greece, so I can't really say that with any semblance of authority (not that I could if I've been to Greece, because let's be real, I'm a tourist) read more

This is the epitome of a homey New York Greek place. The flaming cheese is a must have and is accompanied by a hilarious "watch your hair, watch your eyebrows" every time it comes out (seriously. Every time.) The lamb souvlaki is to die for and so is most everything else. Not a high end restaurant but a little corner of the world that makes you feel like family no matter where you come from. read more

As a parent visiting my girl at Barnard, there has been a surprising lack of interesting places to eat in the area. I have really driven around, asked and Yelped the area with no real luck. The last time I visited though, she suggested Symposium, and I was very glad she did. I prefer old school places, which are slowly disappearing in this city. Symposium has clearly been around for some time. We started with the flaming cheese and honestly, should have ordered another. I ended up with the Souvlaki dinner and enjoyed it very much. Service was prompt and friendly, the booth was comfortable and we were not rushed in any way. A keeper! I will be back! read more