Maria's Mediterranean 38-11 Bell Boulevard, Queens, NY 11361

"I came here a few years ago to celebrate a birthday, but revisited Maria’s this past week. To start, the chef that opened this restaurant is a Chopped Champion, so you walk in with high expectations. As soon as you enter, the greeters are welcoming and warm. Since we visited in the holiday season, a highly decorated tree was up and made the restaurant feel festive and warm. Our waiter was very helpful with guiding us through the best of the menu, and we did a family-style meal trying multiple dishes. Starters: - Dips & fried pita: delicious. We tried the pureed potato, bell pepper, and tzatziki dips. The most delicious was the bell pepper dip, and the potato puree one was a close second. - Maria’s oysters: I’m not much of a seafood person, and this was my first time trying oysters. The oysters were adorned with a spinach dip and it was definitely very tasty. - Fried Calamari: a classic - Fried Zucchini: tasty, and a little simple compared to our other dishes - Lemon potatoes: potato wedges, delicious as a side. - Octopus: again, not a huge seafoodie, but the octopus was a delectable surprise for me. Main Course: - Stuffed chicken is my mainstay, it is a dish for those who don’t venture out for food, yet it is flavorful - Fish: this was also flavorsome, and would recommend Dessert: -Lemon Pie slice: I’m typically more of a chocolate for dessert person, but this lemon pie was a refreshing end to the meal - Ekmek: THIS. This dessert is what took it home. Its a vermicelli base with a custard on top. Although we were all full, we continued at it because it was so delicious. Highly recommend Maria’s for my Mediterranean lovers! It’s a bonus for seafood lovers!"

"Our experience at Maria's Mediterranean started on a high note with a selection of classic Greek starters such as tzatziki, saganaki, and spanakopita. The main course brought a mix-up; we were served swordfish souvlaki instead of the steaks we ordered. Although the server acknowledged the mistake when he realized it, he did not offer an apology nor did he clearly communicate the plan to rectify it. Instead, there was an attempt to persuade us to accept the souvlaki. This left us feeling as though we were at fault for the restaurant’s error. The swordfish steaks, when they arrived, were disappointingly under 1/2” thick, which unfortunately led to them being slightly overcooked. However, the beurre blanc sauce was superb, providing a flavorful accompaniment that enlivened the dish. The moussaka, with its savory béchamel sauce was authentically flavored and thoroughly enjoyable. The chicken souvlaki also received high marks for its taste and preparation. Reflecting on the entire evening, we spent a comfortable two and a half hours at the restaurant without feeling any pressure to vacate. Despite the mix-up, the overall service and dining experience were excellent, capturing the essence of Greek hospitality."

"The food was simple, but all the flavors were on point. Fresh pita was delish, and my 3 year old couldn't get enough of the hummus. The bathroom was clean, which is always appreciated when you dine out with kids. The service was very accommodating. Party of 10 and no complaints, which is a big accomplishment, especially for my mom, who doesn't like most restaurants."

"There was a sign at the front of the restaurant saying there’s parking in the back, there is no parking. Atmosphere: it was a quiet, very nice to be able to have a conversation with my group. Service: wait staff was excellent. Food: I got the surf & turf — the beef souvlaki was great, the lobster came out raw."

"Enjoyed brunch. Service is on point and food was all tasty. Really enjoyed the special appetizer with hummus and ground beef with chips."