Astoria Seafood
“Not only is the seafood fresh and delicious the Greek salad is as well as are all the sides.”
“We added a scrumptious Greek spinach pie and salad then headed to our table and popped the BYOB rose we brought along with us.”
“- Grilled Octopus: I think this has got to be one of the best grilled octopus I have ever had.”
Astoria Seafood
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Love everything that is Astoria Seafood! I have been buying raw fish and sometimes cooked fish to prepare at home and always have a positive experience. It is a little confusing to a new comer, and all the commotion can be intimidating. Just ask anyone for help and you'll be fine! Employees move and talk quickly but are really very kind.
Recently, we decided for lunch at the office we wanted to splurge a little and get some seafood take-out. We only wish we would have called ahead because it took about 45 mins. The place was packed when we arrived. For those who haven't been here, its an open seafood market that also seconds as a BYOB restaurant. You can order some salads or pre made dishes, pick your own seafood out to be cooked to your liking, grab a table and bring out your own wine, beer or whatever and have at it! They will provide an ice bucket and cups if you need it. Prices just cant be beat. This was our estimated takeout break down (which goes the same for raw, cooked or dine in)
We bought:
-1lb of lobster tails (about 4) for $22.00
-1/2 lb of sauteed scallops for $1.00
-1 lb shrimp (half fried and half sauteed) $12.00
-1lb of fresh fried calamari $5.00
1 large Greek salad around $8.00
1 side dish of steamed artichoke and carrots around $5.00
Came in at around 65.00 for three of us to have an insane seafood feast. Everything freshly made before our eyes. I cant wait to come in and bring a bottle of white!
This place is a ruckus of fishy goodness so be ready for the excitement. We went on a Friday night at 7 with a party of 6 and did not have trouble getting seated but if we had come later may have.
It is BYOB
1. When you arrive you first pick out your fresh raw whole fish or filet to have cooked
2.Then you take your fish to the counter and specify whether you would like it grilled, fried or baked. At this time you can also order one of their excellent Greek salads
3. Then you show the waitress your receipt and she finds you a table, where you food will then be brought
Not knowing these steps proved somewhat chaotic but the staff was helpful and understanding.
The best things we had were: Black Sea bass grilled, red snapper grilled and the fried grouper. The shark was only so so.
The staff was great and the fish was excellent and very reasonably priced. This is the best way to have a fresh fish meal on the cheap at a sit down restaurant in NYC
PURE CHAOS! we loved it regardless 🙂 We went around 7 when it was super busy.
1. When you first get there, go straight to the back, get some clear plastic bags and put the seafood you want in individual bags. Do not wait on the line at the entrance!
2. Pay for your seafood at the counter. Tell the cashier how you want the food cooked (grilled, fried, etc.) and your name. If you want sides (fries, salad, rice, etc.) or a drink order it here. Btw, it's BYOB!
3. Take your receipt and go back to the front of the restaurant.
4. Tell the hostess the name you gave the cashier and how many people are in your party.
5. Wait on line for your name to be called.
6. When your name is called, you will be seated and your food will be brought out to you.
It's pretty confusing and intimidating for first timers like myself but I really enjoyed the experience. We had grilled lobster tails, scallops, jumbo shrimp and red snapper, and fried calamari. All the food was so fresh and cooked to perfection.
If you want something, you need to be aggressive about asking for it because the waiters are all very busy. However, once you do get there attention and ask for whatever you need, they'll get it to you very quickly.
Sometimes you walk into a place, and you know you're going to have a good night. As we were walking up, the bouncer at the strip club down the street goes "you know, if you come here, you'll smell better than fish by the end of the night". The fact that he knows to tout passers by in this way speaks to the popularity of Astoria Seafood.
This place is legit. There are no menus, no orders to be taken. If you're the squeamish sort who cares about sustainable fishing and if the fish you're about to eat had a name and was fed an all vegetarian diet, then this is probably not the place for you. This is not to imply that the fish here fed from the body parts of small children or anything. The point is that that there is a time and a place for those questions, and this is not it. Let it go.
Survival Guide:
1. Walk up to the fish stall, grab some plastic bags, and bag your fish, calamari, mussels, clams, etc. Yes, by yourself. Yes you'll likely touch something raw.
2. Take it to be weighed and tell them how you want it prepared… fried or grilled. Grill prep is simple, with lots of garlic and olive oil. You can't go wrong.
3. Give your name to the cross looking motherly woman with the cigarette limply hanging from her lips to await your table. Don't get in her way otherwise (unless you can offer a light).
4. Once you sit, the words that she grunts at you is simply asking if you want a small or large salad (note, a small salad fed 3 quite hungry grown men), bread (which will come grilled and basted in olive oil), or grilled potatoes.
5. Bring lots of booze. This is BYOB, and you'll probably be a little drunk by the time the food arrives because it takes a while (they are constantly packed to the point of bursting). And don't complain, because you'll just be met with icy stares.
6. Bring good company.
7. When your food arrives, eat quickly because they don't serve you in courses and if there isn't room on your table when the next batch comes, you'll be scolded.
8. Feel free to get up and dance at the end of the night when they turn the music up. You won't be out of place.
This is not a place for airs. This is a place to relax, drink, and eat copious amounts of seafood. Appreciate it for what it is.
It's a must that I upgrade Astoria Seafoods rating to 5 stars. This place allows me to eat a variety of freshly caught perfectly prepared seafood for the price of dinner at Dallas BBQ.
After about 5 visits they have been consistent in delivering some of the best seafood I have ever eaten and arguably the best value in the city of New York.. If that wasn't enough BYOB is an invaluable benefit of dining here. I have had the shrimp,scallops,baked clams, calamari, prawns, king crab and salmon here and its always superb!
There's more details in my prior review. The purpose of this review is to give this place the 5 stars it deserves. Last time I deducted a "star" for service. Once you understand how their system works you can't blame them. The pick your own seafood method keeps their costs and your bill down. They really are giving you a restaurant experience in the middle of a busy fish market. Ever since I came here I've never been anywhere else for seafood.
OK This is defintely a great place to come if your in the mood for Fresh handpicked by you seafood cooked your way and in the portion sizes you want. Prices aren't bad, seafood is priced per pound.
What isn't great here is peak power hour (Chaotic Madness) which starts around 5:00pm on weeknights and a little bit earlier on weekends which means wait times are an hour or more, the seating and dining here is small for its popularity and designed for getting down to the nitty gritty grubbing and not for fancy dining, if your comng in with a friend or family better have someone grab a seat to hold the table immediately. You can always pick out the seafood you want, pay, have them cook it the way you want and take your food to go but again wait times for this option is about an hour just the same. The whole scene at peak hours is a mob house, tighlty packed and standing room is at a premium – I waited outside in my car for my order.
Now that we got all of that out the way what I ordered and thoughts below.
I Like all my seafood Grilled but can only eat Shrimp Fried
* 5 stars – Branzino Baby – Nice Mediterranean seabass – I asked that it be Grilled and it was grilled to perfection – I eat everything head and all – I Loved it and will always be a repeat order for me.
* Octopus – I ordered 3 legs we're a greedy family and I asked for this grilled – I can't rate this and would never order this from here again – would be my luck the Octopus was not cleaned properly and my entire order was grilled with lots of grit or sand in it but obviously we couldn't eat it – too late I was already home with this order so we threw it out.
* Shrimp – 5 stars – really can't go wrong with fried Shrimp but noted they have a few different sizes to pick from here and these weren't the biggest but nice enough. I think these were just shy of being too fried, having just missed the mark of being overfried the Shrimp were perfect.
* For the sides we ordered the Famous Lemon potatoes and they are righfully one of the very best Lemon Potatoes sides Ive ever had – huge too – your going to love these.
*** Tip to you***
If you know what kind of seafood you want and don't mind them picking it out for you, the option to call in your order ahead is available that way you have no wait time when picking your order up to go and provided you pace yourself on arrival for your pick up order.
Astoria Seafood , food is delicious, Clean and well season
My favorite part is a BYOB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*You pick what you eat*
They will cook it as your choice. how much fresh can you get. The wait time is about 30-40 minutes that's when you take your bottle of wine pop it and that's when the fun just starts.
I Came here in middle around 11am- 12am. The place wasn't pack yet but it defenetly change in a few minutes, it got jam real quick, Most customers seem to work around the area, From construction workers to Bank Clerks and Car sales personal.
The food delicious they give you complementary bread, We had Anna as our waitress she was so pleasant and helpful, really a mermaid In a sea of man. The staff seem in a lot of stress, not for us customers more for the cook who was in he's mojo in the kitchen making our food. Scary, it seems his the boss well as I presume because he's the shot caller . If we wanted more bread or more sauce in our dishes its seems it was up to him to get it .
*Even with such delicious meal I felt intimidated a little bit. Not good for kids, at least younger then 4.*
We got the Grilled Calamari, Lemon Potatoes and the Grilled Snapper, everything was delicious!
I'll be coming back, Usually I'll go to City Island but this is a few step from home, fresh seafood, why not.
Great concept! Pick your own fresh seafood and have them cook it either, steamed, grilled, or fried! There's not much sides to choose from and no other meats other then seafood so dont go with someone who doesnt eat seafood. Its pretty busy in here and no one really helps you. So beware of how you're rushed to pick the seafood and then wait for your table