Symposium Greek Restaurant
“As far as entrees you can't go wrong with the gyro or souvlaki; again these aren't the best gyros I've ever had but they are more than serviceable.”
“Where else are you going to get real Greek food in Morningside Heights?”
“Tasos, Chris and Van will treat you like royalty, but in a sincere and authentic way, which sets them apart from many high-calibur restaurants.”
Symposium Greek Restaurant
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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I had a chance to try Symposium Greek Restaurant last Saturday after my cousin's ordination at Saint John's the Divine. My aunt treated a whole group of us; a party of twelve. Rather than ordering from the menu, my cousin preordered a bunch of small plates for everyone to share, like family style.
The plates I sampled were The Symposium with pita, Mousaka, Potpourri of Greek, salmon, gaganaki (fried cheese), and filet of sole. I enjoyed The Symposium and Potpourri of Greek the most. I had also enjoyed the baklava for dessert
As a visitor, I liked that restaurant was very clean, but had the warmth of a ma and pa establishment. The hosts/waiters were very cordial and welcoming to our large, loud party. They seemed really grateful and personally congratulated .my cousin's achievements. It wasn't filled with obnoxious tourists and touristas. The other diners looked like they were residents. Hey, if I lived in the city, I would be there often too because I would want to support a business who cares about their customers.
I went to Symposium fairly often when I lived in the area back in the mid 1980s. Went back recently just to see if it still exists. It does and its as steady as ever. The taramasolata, baba, hummus all rock. The entrees are large and authentic.
I came here once on a weekday night. The place was not very crowded, but I've seen it pretty full a couple of other times I passed by it. I had the gyro platter with chicken, which was pretty good. I really like that the dish was decently priced ($11-ish) and had a sizable portion. Although the service was kind of spotty and the staff were not very responsive, I overall appreciate the quality of the food here, especially considering the price level.
The food is not stupendous, but the sampler salad with a glass of wine is pretty tasty! Nice atmosphere, too. Ducking in here on a rainy night and relaxing with some good food is a nice way to spend the night. Not a fan of the entrees I've tried, I stick with the salads and appetizers.
So back when this kid I know was trying desperately to win me over, he was being all smooth, trying to wine and dine me, claiming that he was going to take me to Symposium for a plate of flaming cheese. Myeh. Whatever.
Flash forward four years. That kid successfully wined and dined me after all, and guess where he took me for dinner for our four year anniversary? To Symposium! And, after all these years, he finally bought me that plate of flaming cheese.
Jeez, THAT took long enough. Ha!
Symposium is truly an old school joint in virtually every meaning of the term. Established in 1969, you can tell these walls have some stories, and virtually all of the older staff has likely been here throughout the duration of its time being open. A large communal table is the showcase in the center of the room, with old-school booths lining the sides; these are the kind of booths that you don't want to it in during the summer for fear of your thighs sticking to them. (Ha!) The service was friendly, shouts of "Opa!" abound every time a plate of flaming cheese came out to a table. When ours came out, the avuncular waiter warned me to tie my hair back and armed me with a plateful of lemon wedges to extinguish the fire!
The food was excellent, and the flaming cheese was as wonderful as the beau claimed it would be. The lemon on the heated exterior was magical. Think queso fundido, but more citric with pita bread. It's so fantastic! The menu, though artistic, was actually a bit overwhelming to read; since "chicken gyro platter" stood to me, I went for it. He went for the traditional gyro platter. Both were delicious, though my chicken was a hair on the dry and fragile side; nothing that a few spoonfuls of their excellent tzatziki sauce couldn't fix!
I'm glad the beau kept his promise after all of his years and got me my flaming cheese. Ha! This place is definitely a one – of – a kind spot!
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.
This place screams "authenticity". The food is awesome. The atmosphere is wonderful. The service is friendly. The sangria is abundant. Flaming cheeses are constantly flying around the room.
The Symposium appetizer can really serve as a meal in itself, and all of the dips are so addictive that every time I go there with a group we always end up ordering more. The octopus salad is great, as are the gyros.
The place is homey and festive, and great for group gatherings and parties. When it's slow, we've had some really great and hilarious conversations with the manager about Greece and international politics (if you're into that kind of thing).
Super friendly waiter! He was such a doll. I absolutely adored him. He's pretty old and I think he runs the place but make sure to make conversation with him!
Small place with lots of seating. Don't haev to wait much at all for food to come out. Got the flaming cheese and lamb shishkabob. Flaming cheese was awesome, and spritzing lemon juice to extinguish the flames was fun. The complimentary pita bread that came with it was soft yet not soggy. The lamb dice came with rice, veggies, and potatoes. All very good. But I do have a few complaints: flaming cheese got really cold/hard really fast and water pitcher is a disaster waiting to happen (there's no way to avoid spilling water). Otherwise, I had a very pleasant meal for slightly above average prices. Awesome vintage cash register, equip with crank! No American Express.