E Taverna and the Meze

The other day I went to the E Taverna restaurant and tried out the Meze. In Greece, meze is an appetizer that can be served with a drink between meals. It can be served hot or cold, simple or complicated, but either way can still be enjoyed as a small meal to prepare you for the main meal. My mother and I were able to buy a greek salad ($8), calamari ($12), leek pie ($9), pikilia (meat) ($15)*, and was given a selection of freebies, appetizers and desserts served on the house.

Before I was given the food I paid for, they served me a small bowl filled with toasted pita bread and a sauce still unknown to me. The use of garlic gave the bread such flavor and intensity that my mouth welcomed the new taste immediately. Soon after receiving the bread, the Greek salad that I ordered was ready. It was simple, yet the variety of ingredients in the salad gave it a sense of authenticity. In the salad there was feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and peppers. Grown in Greece, feta is made from both sheep’s and goat’s milk, and is a crumbly aged cheese, commonly produced in blocks, and has a slightly grainy texture. They can be found in salads as well as many desserts.  Soon after we had finished the majority of the salad, the calamari was ready and that, too was served in a basket. The calamari had a sense of satisfactory taste as it was drenched by moi with lemon. Next, I was served my favorite, the leek pie. Leeks are favorites in all types of Greek cooking, but are special favorites baked with cheese in phyllo pasty. With the right amount of cheese and leeks, I considered this to be my favorite Greek meal. I was also given the Pikilia, which is an assortment of sausage, meatballs, pork, and chicken. All meats were given a twinge of lemon, making one feeling delightful with what they ate. While I asked for them to pack the food to bring home, they surprised me with a free slice of galaktoboureko, a Greek dessert. Honey was the main factor of its sweetness, and I enjoyed it a lot.

Overall, I enjoyed E Taverna, a small restaurant filled with Greek authenticity. I would rate this place 11/10! Definitely coming back here in the future.

Stephie

*All prices are for 2 people. Total was $44, $22 for one person.

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E Taverna

26-19 23rd Avenue, Astoria 11105 NY

www.etaverna.com

Phone Number: (718) 606-6606

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Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feta

http://greekfood.about.com/od/filledphyllopies/r/prasopita.htm