As I think back on my second experience at MP, I must end it with a question mark, as I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about it. It’s not that my visit was unsatisfactory; it just left something to be desired. While the food was pretty good overall, it wasn’t anything as outstanding as some of our near and dear Greek staples in Astoria. Here’s a brief run-down of our meal. I’m curious to get your thoughts and personal perspectives on your MP dining experiences.
Grilled Octopus – This dish came highly recommended by a number of my friends, and I couldn’t wait to try it. I love a good octopus dish and this one seemed promising, as it arrived looking pretty fierce with nice grill marks. Mixed in with chickpeas and tons of fresh parsley, it was a great way to start this meal because it didn’t weigh you down but still satisfied your hunger. The octopus was cooked nicely too, but I wouldn’t say it was perfect.
Grandma’s Meatballs – We’re all suckers for good meatballs, and these looked and sounded amazing. I almost didn’t recognize them as the same meatballs Meg and I tried at MP’s opening party just this past May – reason being because they weren’t dressed with tomato sauce. Despite this tiny disappointment, the meatballs were still scrumptious and didn’t even need sauce because they were so supple and flavorful on their own.
Melitzanosalata – My friend Kimberly had a hankering for some eggplant dip and ordered this for the table. At first we thought it was a little excessive but in the end we couldn’t be happier to devour it. The taste was earthy and quite fresh, as this dish was also studded with a bevy of fresh herbs and even some roasted red peppers.
Pork Souvlaki – Once again being on the same page, Kimberly and I ordered a standard pork souvlaki sandwich, which MP is known for (not the pork per se, but just souvlaki in general). Although it was a pretty good dish, it fared quite standard and no one thing stood out to me. The tzatziki sauce they served it with was generally tasty, but the sandwich was on the drier side and therefore could’ve used more of this creamy sauce. The smashed fries were good in concept but the execution was just OK, feeling a little too oily.
Service and Cost:
Situated in their pretty upstairs dining room, we scored a great table for four and were expecting good service. Our waiter was pretty awkward, making comments that were in jest but felt just a little inappropriate (scolding me when I got up to use the restroom?) Not sure what it was, but the vibe was odd.
Costs are moderate and set us back about $40/person including cocktails, tax and tip.
2 Mmmms
MP Taverna - 31-29 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105
718.777.2187
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.mptaverna.com
I agree with you completely about MP, specifically the service. We had a waiter who was very awkward, making a lot of odd comments and just made us uncomfortable in general. I had much higher expectations for the food, and I feel the other Greek restaurants in the neighborhood have better food. I had a grilled fish with veggies and both seemed exceptionally oily to me, although I often crave the MP chopped Greek salad which is amazing. I'd like to give them another try, but when I want Greek food I tend to go to Telly's.
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