I took a trip out to Astoria as I was told that MP Taverna has one of the best octopus dishes in the city AND if you read my blog....you know how much I love octopus! I have been to one of Michael Psilakis' other restaurants and always had a great meal so I would expect nothing less coming here.
The restaurant had a great decor and it was a beautiful evening so we sat outside. My dining partners and I decided to start with the spreads: eggplant, yogurt, and hummus, all of these were completely delicious. The pita that came with it, some of the best pita ever! Warm, soft and pillowy, it was fantastic.
We also ordered the tomato salad with cucumber, feta, and grilled onions. I loved this dish as well; the tomatoes were fresh and juicy, the cucumbers were bright, the feta creamy, and the onions provided a great grill flavor.
I ordered the octopus for my dinner and I do have to say this is probably in my top 3 favorite octopus dishes. It came on a chickpea salad of veggies and herbs with olive oil, balsamic and olives which all played nicely together. However, all your flavors could be spot on but to have a good octopus dish, you have to cook it perfectly and they sure did, crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. I will have dreams of this octopus.....
For a fantastic Greek meal in a great setting, head to MP Taverna, its worth the trip to Astoria!
MP Taverna
31-29 Ditmars Boulevard, Astoria, NY 11105
