Symposium in New York

Mediocre food. Good atmosphere

The grilled chicken was ok, nothing impressive

What a great experience. Fun lively place with great service and the food was delicious. Loved it. Coming back

Unfortunately they forgot about our order and the food took 70 min to come out, and required us waving them down. The food was good once it came out though!

Great food and quick delivery!

The restaurant was chosen because my friend has been wanting to eat there for quite some time. The restaurant is located between Amsterdam and Broadway. Heavy traffic because of the college when I arrived they had about six table people. The hostess and the server were open and pleasant. The atmosphere was OK. The surface was fine however the food, unfortunately I did not find enjoyable. I crossed this restaurant off my list I will not return. Dietary restrictions: Trying to make better choices in eating so went for a healthier choice leaning toward the Mediterranean lifestyle.

Eat here. The chicken egglemon soup - I could have eaten three bowls and nothing else. Roast chicken was lemony, garlicky - delicious. The Rice absorbed the lemony chicken. String beans were also delicious. Service is friendly, prompt and attentive. Atmosphere is intimate with art from the restaurants old days.

This place was an absolute gem! The service was beyond exceptional - with the chef Dan making sure my friend and I were well taken care of and served promptly. The entire we had was PATZARIA ME SKORDALIA, excellent and home made, and I had the AVGOLEMONO - creamy chicken soup with a dash of lemon. Then I ordered the chicken gyro plate (on pita with fresh chopped tomatoes,lettuce and the most dreamy tzatziki sauce with a large serving of rice from the prix fixe menu; my friend had the GARIDES MAKARONADA (shrimp, feta, tomatoes on ribbon pasta) which she said was tasty and truly flavourful followed by desert : PORTOKALOPITA which is was a dreamy pie with heavy orange overtones topped in a generous honey like sauce. The bill for the two of us, with one Alpha beer each was truly reasonable - the whole dining experience reminded me of the beautiful Greek Tavernas I visited when I was in Athens - and the food was on parr with the city as well. I m from out of town but I will definitely make this my go to restaurant whenever I m in New York ;)

Always consistently good food plus fast delivery.

Lunch specials are one of the best, however you can order whatever works for you. Lots of food on my plate.....was stuffed

The most tender and delicious lamb and pork of any restaurant. Delivery amazing. Love this restaurant so much!

Very good nice food friendly I m recommend I need come again Nino thank you

Great food super friendly good atmosphere

A hidden Greek treasure in a beautiful part of Manhattan. Excellent food and staff, def going back for more!

Service was excellent. Food was very good. Prices were reasonable and diversity of the menu was good. The Greek white wine I had was excellent. The meatballs were excellent also. The gyro meat was very good. However they hosted a very large group of people smack in the middle of the room taking up most of the smallish space, maybe 40 people in one long table. It changed the environment completely and not to mention the noise of the professors of their students were making. If that is common I wont go back.

The worst burger you can get on planet earth!

It was fine. The food was decent, but it doesnt feel distinct enough to justify the price. Happy hour seems like a good deal, so maybe that would be a better time to stop by.

Great and delicious spreads and food! The place is really cozy and lively. The staff is very kind. I definitely recommend!

Recently, my wife and I discovered Symposium, a hidden gem in North Manhattan, while driving home. Its Greek sign beckoned us into an experience reminiscent of the cozy taverns in Athens, where entering feels like stepping into a secret cave or basement. Celebrating Greece s Independence Day and the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25th, we were delighted by the traditional dishes that paid homage to these significant events, much like the celebrations back home in Greece. The highlight of our meal was the cod with garlic spread ( ), a signature dish for the day, embodying the essence of Greek tradition. Our feast also included crispy octopus, kalamarakia, French fries sprinkled with feta, shrimp saganaki, a refreshing Greek salad, authentic Greek coffee, portokalopita, and the sublime galaktoboureko. Each dish transported us to Greece with its authentic flavors, as if homemade. Accompanied by a Savvatiano crisp, cold white Greek wine, served in an ice bucket to maintain its chill, the dining experience was elevated. The staff s politeness and hospitality added to the warmth of the evening, and the generous aperitif of Samos wine from the manager before our departure was a gracious touch. Symposium stands out not just for its genuine Greek cuisine but also for being the sole authentic Greek restaurant above 110th Street in North Manhattan, making it a perfect choice for our family. We are grateful for the memorable evening and look forward to returning. Thank you, Symposium, for a wonderful dining experience. Until next time.

Great inexpensive Food. Loved the deserts!!

As a Turk, I must say that the food was really delicious and the staff were very sweet and hospitable. Thank you very much

Finally, it is a restaurant that I would recommend to people who will visit New York! Its a very sweet place with a very nice atmosphere! The staff were very polite and the service was very nice. So is the food! Appetizers and galaktoboureko are definitely a must try! I hope I will go again!

The food was not tasty, the waitress was pushy and told us that we had to pay all together as a group and couldnt pay separately. My moussaka was frozen and absolutely tasteless. In the end, I said it was inedible. The waitress automatically included the tip in the bill, which surprised me a lot, as I wouldnt have left her a cent. I do not recommend this establishment. Unpleasant, unattractive, and with poor service.

After we seated down, make us wait for over 20 minutes without serving any water or hand the menu to us. We tried to ask the waitress at the front for the water and menu, she just ignored our and keep played her phone. We ended up go out the restaurant by sitting in the restaurant for almost half hour without anything.

Incredible food in a comfortable atmosphere. Wonderful service. Highly recommend the lunch special (and the desserts!). Will definitely be going back.

Went with friends. Not busy on a Monday night. The service was adequate, the food was very good and reasonably priced. Very casual atmosphere.

Spectacular Greek restaurant that s been around forever. Really great food really great service they used to have the best really trippy menu, but it looks like they ve changed it to a different format. Either way gotta love it.

Delicious and fresh! Easy ordering on online and delivery was fantastic. Can t wait to try everything on the menu. Gluten free options were perfect! Dietary restrictions: Loved the gluten free options. Maybe try to offer a gf pita option would be my only suggestion. But their non gf pitas were the best we have ever had.

Great food. Great service. Chill atmosphere

I live in the neighborhood and have a lovely experience every time I come for lunch or dinner. A real gem!

Food was very fresh and delicious! Service was top-notch!

Very old and cozy place!

Love this place. Food is incredible, and service is warm, friendly, and attentive.

i never write bad reviews but i m suspicious of the recent good reviews that have been posted here fyi, this is not the same restaurant anymore. there are new owners. the changes to the gyro platter have been so unfortunate. you only get a tiny bit of rice, no salad or potato anymore. and the fries came with PARMESAN on top. at a greek restaurant! it was disgusting.

I ve been to Symposium several times but this is the first time I m leaving a review. I enjoy their beef souvlaki, but I LOVE their hummus and pita. As long as they don t change that, I will keep coming back. Ordering online from them is very worthwhile because they will throw in free pita with your order. Also, their owner is so funny and nice! If Columbia started burning down, I d stay by Symposium with a water bucket to make sure nothing happened to them.

I ve dined a couple of times now at Symposium and absolutely love their food, the artwork and delicious wines. The chef is very friendly and accommodating. Definitely a place to go to for authentic Greek cuisinex

The gyros here are soooo good! The meat is absolutely delicious! This is my new go to every time I go to St. Lukes!

Great food, great prices, terrific service, cozy atmosphere, tirokafteri was spectacular as was fish kabobs, slightly charred pita bread, tzatziki, cant wait to go back.

Very basic, overpriced and in all honesty wrong recipes of known Greek food plates.

A hidden gem type of restaurant. The decor is so unique and has a ton of history behind it. Love places like this. I tried a few different items but you deff can t skip the dips/hummus. They are so flavorful, unique and have flavor combinations I ve never had before. I love Mediterranean flavors and this place definitely brings the flavor in their dishes. The pita is also soooo fresh, soft and came out hot and steamy. The best way! The Chef also runs a few other kitchens in NYC that I ve been to and also love so I knew the food wouldn t disappoint here. I can t wait to come back and try the rest of the menu!

I love this place! From the food to the staff, everything was enjoyable. The menu has so much to choose from. You must try their broiled cheese which comes out ON FIRE

Very nice cozy restaurant with rich history and great Staff. Chef Dan came out and explained each dish that was brought out. Love the ambiance there, which is perfect for date night in a nice, quiet area of the city. I would recommend Symposium to anyone and EVERYONE!! Superb Greek cuisine and the sangria is delish!!

Very nice food and very sweet owners.

I have been coming here periodically since the 70s. They are a staple

Greek unpretentious Greek cooking and atmosphere - so very rare in the city now :/ They even have house red/white wine by the glass, 1/2 & full carafe. Established in 1969 and hasnt changed, which is a very good thing. Take a step back in time when most restaurants were like this here...

Great local Greek restaurant with so much history and culture. Truly a staple and gem in the area. The place is filled with art from a great Greek artist. The food is authentic and delicious. The servers are friendly and exudes pride for the place.

The food was tasty, but the portion sizes were way too small for the price ($25 for a small piece of salmon, a little rice and a few vegetables). I left hungry.

An old Columbia University neighborhood favorite with new management. The old menu has been retained and expanded, but that s all that has bern changed: Original ceiling and 60 s era paintings still give the place a nostalgic aura. Long ago, student neighbors were married at this inexpensive and welcoming place. Vegetarian options: Some selections like vegetarian moussaka. Parking: No parking. Kid-friendliness: Lots of families with kids for whom the families generally older rice-based dishes and kebabs Wheelchair accessibility: Inaccessible: front stairs are steep, but have handrails for those who need them.

This restaurant is reminiscent of old style New York City homes with brick walls, wooden panels, and low lit environment. The service Sunday evening was excellent and delightful. The meal was delicious and well served.

I ordered take out from here the other day and boy is the staff rude. They looked at me like I was speaking a different language. I learned about this place from google, and wanted to check out but they should really improve their customer service, does not make you want to come back.

Perfect place!!!! Thank you

The Saganaki, flaming cheese cant be beat

Wonderful dining experience! The owner is absolutely lovely and the food was delicious.

Great food and great people! Very kind and helpful staff :)

Tasty and fresh food, vegetarian friendly my boyfriend loved the moussaka. Noticed they had a big table so definitely good for large parties

amzing food authentic greek food

The food was amazing and Elena was fantastic. We both had lamb dishes and the sampler. We were so full afterwards. It can be a bit on the pricey side 3 things came to $75 but we were well aware of the area we were eating in.

Have to admit that the food is as good as in Greece. Amazing! Highly recommend this place. Very polite and friendly staff

Ate at Symposium for the first time in a few years. Always liked it, but today was exceptional. Apparently they got new ownership 6 months ago and a new chef. There were some new dishes, and the flavoring and sauces were quite unique in the best of ways. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves Greek food.

Ordered delivery from here for the first time tonight. The food came super quick- about 30 minutes-that s good for a Saturday night. The combo dips: excellent- all the ingredients very fresh. Classic Greek salad with a big hunk of feta- and very crisp, well- washed and fresh romaine and veggies. Some delicious, slightly charred and soft pita breads. Avgolemono soup was rich, lemony and perfectly seasoned. Beef shish kebab with a side of Greek lemon potatoes were also really nice- and the meat flavorful and tender. We were quite happy with the meal and will definitely order again!

Amazing food and great service!

Delicious food and great service :) our waitress was really kind and happy to accommodate my dairy-free requests

A great place to teste delicious Greek food the chef Dan is amazing!! High recommend!

delicious and pretty

An Upper West Side GEM! You feel transported to a time when Ellington, Hemingway, Dali, or Baldwin had a meal and took in the Manhattan life. Vibrant and mysterious as the atmosphere demanded, but what was important was the food. A must experience for a New Yorker and better with a partner or a couple of buddies. Try their special or their vegetarian. I had their roasted chicken and double thumbs up! If youre lucky, youll meet the friendly waiter that has worked there for 30 plus years! Outstanding service!

Absolutely the best restaurant in the area. Held an event for 30+ people here and it was a hit. Wonderful appetizers, entrees, and amazing service. If you want to host an event, I definitely recommend doing it at Symposium! The art on the walls make it a beautiful space, the music selection and overall ambiance is great as well. And of course, Chef Dan is a pleasure to work with. Definitely wonderful for smaller dinners as well. Eat here!!!

Absolutely the worst customer service

Delicious food in a very pleasant atmosphere. We ordered a beef and chicken combo. Very good portions. For dessert, Baklava, delicious.

Awesome food and atmosphere, but very hot inside, I guess they dont have an AC

Under new ownership and the food is great!

Sure. The Calamari was all bread and no Calamari. It disintegrated in your mouth could not finish. The one small bite of calamari I found was more chewy than bubble gum and the whole dish reeked of stinky fish. The Moussaka was not only cold in the middle but also the béchamel was cold too with no flavor. You must have gone from the fridge to the plate. The lamb was bland and the vegetables over grilled. It was worse than taking a microwave lasagna out of the freezer and just eating it cold. The waiter was very nice though but not at all apologetic nor did anything to correct how upset it was apparent I was. It s not his fault the kitchen was putting out embarrassing stuff but he could pay attention.

Great food! Just a bit long of a wait so it can be tough to eat within the lunch hour.

Relaxing atmosphere. Good food

Wow! I love this place, super delicious Greek food and absolutely wonderful customer service! Portions are large and the prices are reasonable. Our lovely server went above and beyond to ensure we had a very nice meal. Highly recommend!

So it was my first time eating at a Greek restaurant and it was with a big group of around 16. The owner was super nice to us, so we got to try the pita bread and a light dish for free. Everything was really good :) love their chicken gyro!

Love eating here! Food is good and the owner/staff are lovely.

We had lunch. The dishes are pretty big, sharing a small symposyum as an appetizer and asking a souvlaki lamb then, I was completely full, even though I was pretty hungry. Anastasio, the server, makes you feel like you re in a truly greek restaurant, given his knowledge of each dish and his greek soul. My brother and his girlfriend ordered a chicken gyro platter each, which was also really big and yummy. We were three and spent a total of $67. I ll definitely come back.

Service is very nice but food is terrible. Everything was terrible

I had an appointment in the area and had not eaten lunch so I popped in on the recommendation of a friend. It was late afternoon, but they welcomed me in. I ordered the chicken kebab and a Greek salad. Both were fresh and delicious. It was also a lot of food, but I ate every bite. The rice was perfect. I didnt have room for dessert, but I will be back.

The inside of this restaurant felt capacious and cavernous. I must admit that I found it a little bit dark and isolating. But thats less a fault of the restaurant than a consequence of my being there by myself at around 3:00 in the afternoon. As for the food, it was fine. I had the lamb. It was neither the best nor the worst lamb Ive had in my life. Portions were reasonably sized, and the price was reasonable. I have few explicit complaints, except that I want more than the simply adequate when I choose to go out to eat. So Im giving three stars, though I admit that had I come here with a large party at around 7:00 or 8:00 at night, the atmosphere would have felt much more soothing and bustlingly alive.

Very old school Greek restaurant. Been around for decades. Great food at affordable prices.

I walked today to West 113th Street by mistake and surprisingly found an excellent restaurant with the best soup, delicious lamb -- wow! -- made me think of my mamas cooking. Very kind staff. Will surely return

Real home cooking, served with genuine warmth a favorite for many years the prices are fair and they let us linger i can t say enough nice about symposium ! And bravos to Taos !

A social group I belong to held a private event at Symposium last night and I was very impressed. They served 45 diners family-style, with several choices for each of the three courses. Everything was delicious (the vegetable moussaka being a standout) and the staff was courteous and remarkably efficient. I look forward to returning.

Ive been eating at Symposium for 29 years - at least once a year and, on many years, multiple times. My favorite Greek restaurant anywhere. You must must get the mixed-salad appetizer. Along with the warm pita that comes with it - I can eat this dish any day, every day!

The food was the best and most authentic Greek food around. Tasos was an outstanding host. It was like having a meal by an old friend!

Best Greek food Ive ever had, lovely people, excellent service! Safe, friendly, delicious. Highly recommend!!

Great food and ambience

I liked the Greek food, good location, close to the university

BEST Greek food in NYC! Service is amazing. We never come to NYC without going to this place! the Greek sangria is amazing, the flaming cheese is awesome too! So much flavor, the atmosphere is cozy and you can feel the love when you walk into there.

Great food, and their service is even better. Just like having dinner in grandmas house.

Hadnt been back since the beginning of the pandemic. Still as great as before: the only authentic restaurant around Columbia campus.

Comfortable Greek restaurant with excellent food and courteous service.

The worst lamb souvlaki in New York. The vegetables were watered down. The Tsaziki sauce is extremely over priced at $9. Terrible service overall. There s much better turkish food if you re looking to spend on an overpriced meal here.

Visited for the first time 40 years ago while in school. Still eating there...

One of the best gyros Ive had in my life. Other half of the plate was a heaping salad that kept me satisfied and full.

Cheap fast-food quality for nice restaurant prices. The meal actually made me laugh because it was so underwhelming and overpriced. The vegetarian plate pictured below was $14.95 .for unseasoned steamed vegetables and a quarter of a potato. The Kapama was $30.00 wasted.

Probably not a surprise when you walk into this almost empty place that the service is disinterested and the food is even less so. We ordered a spanakotiropita, which was so soggy that we asked for it to be re-baked. When it returned, it was edible. The peasant salad was also edible, which is a compliment. Then onto the souviaki, tough meat,but mushy overcooked vegetables. As I said, the empty tables reflect the general opinion of this neighborhood. The wine...fairly cheap, and even cheaper tasting. Oh well.

Hidden gem in the UWS. The owner is really sweet and the food is great.

Tasty Greek food! The portions are pretty large and the owner is very nice.

No ventilation during covid

Exactly what you would expect in a true Greek restaurant, hospitable, friendly and very welcoming...oh and phenomenal Tzatziki! Owner was also an absolute gentleman, made us feel like we were visiting family!

Great service and food.

Goood food. Columbia intellectuals with vivacious dialogues.

So amazing food and friendly atmosphere

This is the best Greek restaurant in so far that weve got

Good attention

A cozy gem of a restaurant where the walls and ceilings are covered in art. The food and wine never fail to restore me. Ambiance cant be beat for an evening of warm conversation with friends. Has kept an honored spot for over ten years in the close circle of cafes and restaurants in the city that I trust to never let me down.

Every dish we ordered was fantastic, particularly the lamb. Great for big groups!

Excellent food.

The service was great. The food was amazing. I had the combo gyro and lamb souvlaki with an extra skewer of the pork souvlaki and ate every bit of it. The homemade pita bread is also delicious, I will definitely be back.

Delicious food

I really wanted to like this place but the portions were small, microwaved, bland and the service was indifferent at best! My experience was at lunch, so perhaps the dinner experience is better but that seems unlikely. I also was not impressed with the desserts, mine clearly was not fresh! I will not be returning.

I love nothing more than a psychedelic relic, and I always imagine that Greek hippies opened this place in 1968. Comfort food is good. No pretentions nor conspicuous consumption... just hope the good folks rediscover the place.

good food

O-pah

Great

Decent set of vegetarian options and nice desserts.

Very nice

Excellent service and food.

Dining there fo 50 years. Great greek food and wonderful staff.

Most important tip you can get about this place: GET THE CHEESE. Its on fire. And its so good. The ambiance is nice and service on top. Food was okay but I will stop by again definitely for the cheese (see picture... mmm)

Wonderful place!

The Food is very good

Gyros and spanakopita are awesome

Awesome

Weve been going there our whole lives. A perfect place for family meals. The best appetizer platters ever. May they live forever.

Always a hit!

Old fashioned , diner looking restaurant

Authentic Greek restaurant with great Greek Beer! Come and see.

Real Greek food with very friendly staff. The portions are large enough for two people to split and still have food left over. Very well prepared and delicious.

This place has an amazingly friendly staff, great atmosphere and fantastic food.

Charming quiet Greek diner a few steps down from street level. Good food, friendly service. So much better than Toms.

Old standby can count on good food modestly priced quiet can talk to people

Good food and good prices

Food is great!

So not Greek. Do not recommend

This was a little bit of a let down. One dish was very good and another was mediocre. The service was disorganized for a place that he been in business since the Vietnam War. OK, but not great.

Less of a fancy restaurant and more like visiting Grandma and having her cook for you.

Good food, and good service. The lunch special is worth it!

Lovely

Cozy greek place with nice ambiance, friendly staff, and very good food. The pita bread and gyro platters are really good!

Im half Greek, so am picky about my Greek food. I have to be honest and say that the food here is among the worst Ive had. The problem seems to be that they use cheap ingredients, and it shows. The Greek salad, for example, was made with wilted iceberg (!) lettuce and tasteless, cold tomatoes. The chicken Saganacki was very salty and the chicken was chewy, like the kind you get at a bad Chinese take-out. Overall nothing here was appetizing and I couldnt wait to get out of there. If you want more impressive food, go to Kyclades in Astoria, Taverna Mykonos in Elmwood Park, NJ, or Anassa Taverna on East 60th street in Manhattan.

Good value student basement student pub located on frat row of Columbia University neighborhood. Very good Greek style Taramasalata.

This food is not worth to be called greek. I am coming from Greece, I know what I am talking about. Worse Greek food I have ever had!! And way too expensive for the bad quality you get. Its an exploitation of people who have no idea how greek food normally tastes like!

Very good Greek food. The staff are attentive and friendly, and if you come more than twice they will remember you (or at least they remembered me) If its your first time you have to try the flaming cheese (saganaki). I recommend the stuffed (with feta and spinach) flounder and the Greek salad (which is big enough to share). The house red wine (from Greece) is good. If you havent completely overeaten (or even if you have) the Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts or the galactaburiko (sp? Its Filo dough filled with cheese and soaked in honey) are both terrific desserts. The restaurant is in the middle of a block of attached row houses (they were built as houses but now theyre small multi tenant apartment buildings or student housing), in the lower floor (2-3 steps below street level) of one of these dwellings. It is a Columbia neighborhood institution, its been there at least since the early 1980s. I miss the hand drawn cartoon menus...

I loved this place. The staff treated us so well and the food was so amazing. My husband and I both got the beef gyro combo plate and it was awesome. They put literal pieces of steak in it, which is so good. Also, I love the inside of the restaurant--I think it looks cool. Highly recommend this place if you like good Greek/Mediterranean food.

Family operated, authentic Greek cuisine

Nice place, low key and friendly, fair prices, big portions but the food isnt super tasty. Edible.

Amazing hospitality, really great waiter that makes you feel right at home. The food is good too. Worth dropping in.

Excellent authentic Greek cuisine everything is prepared in house and you cannot beat the lunch specials

A holdover from at least the 70s, this place is notable for its amazing murals & paintings (by one artist) and its loooooong communal table . Its authentic Greek food has only gotten better over the years. The waitstaff is crusty, funny, and supercompetent. Its a great place to have long, conversation-rich meals.

Really amazing, authentic, greek food. One of the few places in the neighborhood unchanged from my childhood and one of my favorite places to eat in the world. The sampler and the lamb, the flaming cheese and delicious sangria, you cant go wrong. In the summer, they have an outdoor garden in the back that is lovely and there is a giant table inside where you can sit next to other people. Great for large or small groups, families.

Very not impressed by this place. I feel like I couldve gotten better Greek from the deli.

Low key, not super expensive Greek restaurant. Food is tasty.

The food and atmosphere are so fantastic. The staff is friendly and very helpful. Some of the best greek food in the city.

Very boring joint. Dim lighting. Archaic systems. No payment receipts. Extremely laid back. Okay staff

Good place to hang out with friends