Treat yourself to an authentic taste of Greece at SVL Souvlaki Bar. Whether you’re craving yeeros, burgers, salads, sticks or Greek desserts, you’ll find the perfect dish here.” So says SVL Souvlaki’s website, and I couldn’t agree more. SVL Souvlaki is great food….FAST! Definitely not fast food, Souvlaki Bar’s top quality meats, salads, soups, and sauces will have you joining their Loyalty Program and coming back for more with points on every purchase. There’s beer and wine too, and a comfortable dining room in which to enjoy your meal.
There are two convenient locations in Astoria: the Steinway spot at 34th Avenue, just outside the R train, and the Astoria Blvd. location, just downstairs from the N/W trains. The Stein- way location has a clean, modern dining room with light wood tables, booths, and red stools set around a circular table with an olive tree and a chic light fixture above. A neon sign proclaims: “I can be your yeero, baby!” The Astoria Blvd. location is outfitted in black and white with red accents. Owner and Astoria native, Peter Katsiaris, opened the first SVL Souvlaki Bar in 2015 and has built a loyal, ever-growing clientele, thanks to fresh Greek cuisine.
Appetizers include homemade spinach pie, which we devoured, handmade sausages, grilled haloumi cheese, stuffed grape leaves called dolmades, Greek nachos, and falafel bites. Their Greek spreads are so fresh, served with grilled pita bread to slather on hummus, Melitzanosalata, spicy cheese dip, and tzatziki yogurt dip. Clever yeero shots are four mini pitas to share filled with your choice of pork or chicken yeero, beef kebab or loukaniko sausage with tomatoes, onions, fries, and sauce. Try just one shot and save room for other dishes. Homemade lentil soup and Greek lemon chicken soup hit the spot with some pita. Imported Greek beer and wines make the perfect accompaniment to your meal.
SVL’s salads are bursting with healthy veggies and crunch. Horiatiki salad is loaded with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers, and Kalamata olives. Prasini salad is tossed with chopped Romaine lettuce, scallions and dill ($14.50). For dinner, I had the Prasini salad topped with savory, juicy gyro made from beef and lamb and had some left over for lunch the next day. You can also add a “stick” to your salad: beef kebab, grilled shrimp, grilled vegetables, feta-stuffed kebab, pork or chicken. These sticks are sold singularly, and in boxes of 6, 12, and 18. These sticks are great for family dinners and catered parties, along with their salads and sandwiches.
Harris, the kind server, brought us a platter of sizzling feta-stuffed bifteki with a colorful salad and saffron rice beautifully presented in a red enamel pan with triangles of grilled pita. For a small upcharge, add sweet potato fries, lemon roasted potatoes, or Greek style fries sprinkled with oregano and feta cheese, which are dangerously delicious!
The Mixed Plate is available for 2 or 4 people, though it can easily feed more than that and you can order one for delivery directly from their website www.svlbar.com. Call SVL Souvlaki and cater your next family event or business luncheon and leave the grilling to the experts. They offer platters of mini sandwiches, sticks, salads, and more, all hot and satisfying.
Pita sandwiches fly out the door for lunch or dinner, stuffed with beef kebabs, falafel, grilled salmon, chicken souvlaki, or bifteki with lettuce, tomato, onion, and choice of sauce. SVL’s smashed burgers are made from certified Angus beef with lettuce, tomato, onion, and your favorite toppings on a soft brioche bun ($10.75). A Greek take on a quesadilla is called the SVL Club or “Skepasti” where two grilled pita breads are layered with your choice of meats, cheese, and vegetables, then grilled to gooey perfection for a great lunch or shared starter.
SVL Souvlaki Bar has fabulous desserts too, reflecting sweet Greek treats such as orange cake, Loukoumades fried dough balls drizzled with pistachio sauce and chopped pistachios, rich walnut cake, baklava, caramel tart, Ferrero Rocher cake, and rice pudding, so save room for dessert or take it to go. Enjoy Happy Hour prices on beer until 7pm from $4-$6.
For authentic, fresh Greek food served fast, stop in on your way home or place an order directly on their website for fast, free delivery and earn loyalty points. With high quality meats, salads, soups, sandwiches and desserts, visit SVL Souvlaki Bar’s two locations in Astoria. Yasoo!
www.svlbar.com | Follow them on Instagram
