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

See all

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

See all

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

I loooove Symposium - not really for the food, but because of the vibe. The restaurant is run by a few guys. There are two guys in the kitchen, sometimes a younger guy, but there's the older guy that everyone knows. He's like your funny, slightly perverted grampa. Hysterical and amusing. The food, without him, is just ok. With him, the saganaki (and its flame) comes to life and the lunch specials come with his chuckles of approval or his hinting groan of disapproval. And then there is the decor. You can spend days trying to figure all of it (and maybe even the menu) out. Overall, a great spot for a quick lunch by CU that actually has some personality to it. PS: Skip the wine. read more

Love this place, here since 1969 and it shows! Perfect skordalia! Excellent service, superclean read more

See all

I love Symposium and have been coming here for years. The food is yummy and you cannot beat the neighborhood vibe. There are certainly Greek restaurants that are better or more authentic, however if you need to satisfy a tzatziki craving and enjoy the feel of a locals joint with friendly staff then Symposium is the place. No shortage of regulars and Columbia students on any given night of the week. Recommend the cheese (it comes out flaming!) and any of the gyro platters. read more

Tasso is a wonderful host. Every time I come here I feel like I'm back home with friends. he know how to welcome and treat you with care and professionalism. But the food is not as good as it used to be. The kebabs I had were dry and the rice and vegetables plain. The quality was still good, but the dishes weren't as interesting... something I feel I could easily cook at home as well. Nevertheless, prices are unbeatable, and the place is still a warm cozy corner in the Columbia area. read more

I got takeout from here, so I don't know what the service would be like, but the food was great! I had the lamb exohiko, which I was a bit wary of initially since it was $21.45, but it lasted me two meals (and I eat a lot). The flavor of the filling was as layered as the flaky phyllo pastry, the helping of vegetables was a nice relief from the cheese, and the rice was kind of unnecessary but good to have anyway. I would definitely recommend coming here for some good food read more

I have dined in here in the past, and I have ordered takeout many times. This is such a cute little place near Columbia University. It gives off a great Greek family vibe. The workers here are very nice and always helpful. I definitely recommend this restaurant for great Greek food. read more

This was a favorite of mine.... But had delivery the other night and am so disappointed in this new ownership. Food is not at all the same. Will not be returning -- so disappointing! read more

Great food, Great service, creatively decorated. The service is fantastic in this cozy atmosphere. Have been going here for years. Highly recommended. read more

Symposium is delicious and a true neighborhood institution. Get the taramosalata, the moussaka, and the baklava. The staff is friendly and welcoming--it's the best. read more

I can't say enough good things about this place. It was a go-to for me when I was a student at Columbia and I love to visit now that I've long since graduated. The food is delicious, "home style" Greek favorites like your grandma used to make. The prices are still reasonable. The staff is friendly. It's the kind of place you'd like to know is still there, nothing different, because they nailed it long ago and it's still excellent. read more

OK, so the decor is a trippy throwback to the 70's including paintings that date back to that period. Cool man! Where are my bell bottoms? Unfortunately, the food I ate was a less than trippy throwback as well. Yes, the large cubes of white meat chicken in the skewers were moist and tender, notably so. But there wasn't any discernible spicing and any grilled flavor they might have once had was lost in a unidentifiable sauce that had been infiltrated by the over cooked (or were they canned?) green beans and peas with some nubs of red pepper. Or was it just that the liquid from the vegetables had swamped the whole plate? Boiled potato and white rice confirmed the safe--"Greek American"--blandness. I suppose my recently taxed digestive system was happy; my palate, not so much. read more

Oh no... new owners! We have been coming to this place for 10 years but apparently it is under new ownership. It seems like the prices have gone up a little, which I can understand, but they also changed the beloved gyro platters. They used to come with a big salad and a small boiled potato. Now you get a little rice and a very small salad. We will keep coming back to see what other changes have been made, but so far we are skeptical. read more

A neighborhood institution. Great food. Friendly servers. This is REAL greek food. Not fancy just flavorful and filling. You want to impress friends with some old school NYC, take them here. You want a home-cooked type of meal, check them out. read more

This is a neighborhood staple that's under new ownership. Especially in a place like UWS, people don't like change, so while I haven't read the most recent reviews, I'm sure they're peppered with folks saying it's not the same. With that said, I was a bit skeptical when I saw the new menu design and a mention of an "executive chef," but I have to confess that I do think the restaurant has improved. While they removed the beloved olive oil from the tables, the ingredients seem fresher, the food tastier and just generally things seem to be running more smoothly. The same staff still greets you with a smile and the interesting artwork still graces the walls. So long as the ownership continues to operate with consistency and respect for the neighborhood/regulars, I'm optimistic that Symposium is here to stay. read more

Nice Greek food in the neighborhood. The boss is a very friendly and funny person. Grilled cheese is absolutely *on fire*

Definitely a good value for what you get. I too found the menu quite illegible... I had to ask which dishes had orzo as that's what I was craving, but aparently it only comes with a heavy-sounding lamb stew. I got a gyro instead -- and was a bit disappointed as the lamb did seem somewhat prefab (like a Greek steak-umm). However, the flaming cheese, pitas and sangria were all top-notch. I'll go back again and try something different next time. read more

I fell in love with this place, even though I've only been there once. First of all, yes, it's underground and it's slightly dinky, but it has charm. When you walk in, instantly you're greeted with friendly, warm faces. The decor is soothing and rustic -- just my kind of place. The entire restaurant oozes familial sentiments. It seemed as if the owner knew most of the people who ate there. He genuinely inquired about their lives, hugged them, gave them extra pita bread. Second, for around 8 bucks, I got a delicious, flavorful chicken dish. The chicken was broiled and obviously marinated with spices and herbs. I took my books with me. No one ever rushed me. The owner and his son came over, chatted with me, and joked with me. Basically, if you're looking for scrumptious, fairly healthy food and good vibes, this is the place to go. read more

I called in for a pickup order. When I entered, the waiter yelled and told me to sit down and served me a 'to-stay' meal. It gets better, I asked if there's white sauce on the side for a Souvlaki, since many Greek/Turkish spots add sauce on the side. He brings out a plate of Tsaziki and charges an additional $9. As for the Lamb Souvlaki, the meat tasted like rubber and had no flavor. It was just dipped in some Campbell's gravy with under cooked rice and watered down vegetables. I highly do not recommend this place. There's way better options in the neighborhood. read more

I went here for a department lunch and it was pretty good. We had a reservation for 14, but 10 showed up and that wasn't a problem. Water was quickly refilled and orders promptly taken once our entire party was present. The waiter started by bringing baskets of hot and fresh pita that were quite delicious. Everyone seemed to order either the gyro platter or the Symposium salad. I went with the gyro platter. It had plenty of meat on the pita and delicious sauce and a sizeable side salad. The food was good and filling. I never felt like we were rushed at all, and the manager had no problem dividing the bill between some cash and some credit card. Overall this was a good experience with good food and good service. I would say there is nothing too exceptional or exciting about the food (except the flaming cheese, which nobody got), but it is solid and seemingly consistent good quality. read more

Excellent spot near Columbia University. Terrific lunch special. Tasty dishes like pastitsio and moussaka. Quality and polite service, pleasant and quiet atmosphere. read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. Food is always fantastic and always a friendly atmosphere. The meats are tender and juicy, and rice and vegetables always cooked to perfection. The lemon chicken soup is the best in the city, we come here almost once a week because the soup is THAT good. The pita bread is warm and soft and better than I thought pita bread could ever be before I found this place. The "old man" waiter is an absolute DELIGHT. He is always there but always in a good mood making us feel like family. Chatting with him is always a treat. To the insensitive prick who posted a picture of him napping, grow up and appreciate his hard work all day everyday at this restaurant. Most people his age are not or can not even work. He may need to rest here or there but he is obviously more of a man than you are with a GOOD HEART. We will be coming here often for years to come. read more

Symposium - Chicken kebob & steamed vegetables. A+++++ - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

We have been going there since.... 1970? !!!!! It was great then and it still is. "How's your mother?" The owner would always ask. One time... they lost or it was delayed or some such... no liquor license. We are all disappointed to hear this from the waiter. We say okay how about water ? The waiter says... "have the coffee".. we say... no... we don't really want coffee. He says.. looking at his pad and pen..."Have the coffee." We look around... everyone is drinking coffee. We say... let's have the coffee. And drank ouzo out of coffee cups all night on the house. And we were no one special. The Symposium is what was and is special. read more

Not quite sure how this place has been around since 1969. I like the interior. It has an old-school, diner feel. The decor is outdated but sort of comforting for a long standing Greek joint; tight booths with higher than usual tables, as well as several tables spread throughout this basement level restaurant. Unfortunately, the food is just meh.... (Less than decent). The pita was good, was served warm and soft. The olives, I am almost certain, was from a can. I ordered the Red Snapper fillet poll Orzo for the rice and got a clumpy side of orzo with red sauce.... it was cold and clumpy, must've been made yesterday. Who serves the leftovers... GTFOH! read more

Symposium - Red Snapper Fillet, served with Vegetables and Orzo (I sub'd the rice) - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

The gyro platter was ok well the pita bread and lamb. I'm not s fan of feta.Very quiet setting. the waiter was supper cool gave me some history about the place. I felt disrespected the waiter is soo nice but there was some favoritism. we came before a men & he son they got their food before us. I heard the guy making fun of me & the waiter was in the convo. read more

See all

Many people ordered gyro but my friend and I chose Moussaka and Pastitsio. Watched Saganaki burning was quite interesting and the cheese turned out so good. read more

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

See all

I think this place is my favourite around Columbia. The moussaka is a must-try. It is cooked to perfection. The Greek Sangria is nice, too. We are yet to try the salad platter, but the owner said that it would be too much food and recommend that we have it next time. Pity, but we will definitely visit again. (The owner is really friendly, although he seems to have an idiosyncrasy of sitting solo diners between couples.) read more

Symposium - Roast lamb - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Love these mid-block restaurants owned and operated by family members making real-deal authentic food. There are not as many of these hidden gems around, so it's a real treat to find one. Perhaps the best spanakopita I've ever eaten read more

I've lived in the neighborhood for five years and wish I had discovered this place sooner. We did delivery for Oscars night and were happy with every aspect: menu selection (healthy options, authentic Greek options, kid-friendly options), cost, and speed of delivery. The shrimp kebab was fantastic, as were the veggies and rice that came with, and the eggplant dip and pita were incredible. A delightful meal. read more

Maybe my favorite restaurant in morningside heights. PERFECT service here. Very friendly and helpful. Perfect food! I recommend the appetizer combo plate. I also recommend the lamb with rice and vegetables. Super juicy! Perfect place also for a fun night with friends. Just get a pitcher of sangria and you are guaranteed to have a perfect night. read more

Most important tip you can get about this place: GET THE CHEESE. It's on fire. And it's so good. The ambiance is nice and service on top. Food was okay but I will stop by again definitely for the cheese (see picture... mmm) read more

Symposium - Mussaka and spinach pie. Mussaka much better than the pie haha. - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Lovely return to an old favorite. Greek comfort food - symposium platter, sangria, and plates of rice and fish. And absolutely still the warmest staff in NYC. Thanks for a great evening! read more

Very underrated place near Columbia. Great as a alternative to places on Amsterdam and Broadway, which would either be deli, fast food or something a tad more expensive, all of which crowded. They serve lunch menu here, and lamb souvlaki is cooked to perfection. Portion is on the smaller side, but everything on the plate tastes yummy, and is probably the right size for most college students' appetite anyway. Service can be on the slower side. read more

More Subterranean than Mediterranean... Sure they take reservations but, like the Seinfeld joke, they don't know how to keep them. If that wasn't bad enough, they shuffled our part of 6 from table to table to table, until we landed right in front of the door (in the middle of the winter), getting frozen and dealing with everyone's coats. As for the food; Greek is a general way to describe it. I was appalled by the saltiness of the lamb, not to mention that dry, over-cooked, almost stringy quality. It came with lima beans and carrots, you know - the generic mixed vegetables you thought you would never have to deal with after college. The rice tasted like it had been in a steam tray for a few hours. Any hint that it was once a grain had long passed. The staff was fairly apathetic. The menu, arguably the pinnacle of this dining experience, is very creatively drawn. I will give a restaurant a pass for one or two foibles. Symposium will get neither a pass nor a return visit. read more

I'm appalled I didn't find this place sooner. I've been living 4 blocks away for a year now, and never really noticed it. Who expects a restaurant to be between avenue blocks, though? Really. This place is located between Broadway and Amsterdam on 113th, and it's straight out of the 1960s. The decor is very hippie-ish, and the menus are a sort of psychedelic-style drawing that require examining, rather than reading. But after you get past that initial hurdle, the food is superb. I had the Symposium salad, which is described as a "conglomeration of appetizers", and I wasn't disappointed. Basically consisting of various spreads, some vegetables, and a basket of slightly toasted pita bread, it caters to what makes me tick: bread and sauce. After that, I had the gyro platter, which was equally delish. To top the whole experience off, since my girlfriend and I looked youngish, they assumed we were Columbia students and gave us a 20% discount. Coincidentally, we're both Columbia students. read more

This is the worse I mean the worse food ever get in manhattan I can not believe how this restorants stay on business. Is cheap but not worth penny All the food is olld and reheat it twice not say in three to four time Even the plates or glasses are not washet properly . If you care about your health stay way from this place Mean it !!!! read more

Symposium - Greek Near Me - New York, New York