#InauguralReview #AstroDiner Since 1980 by Myron Averkiou, Andria Averkiou, Tom Aronis and Anastasis Kaklamanos #1361AvenueoftheAmericas #Midtown
If you are in Midtown Manhattan and are looking for a clean spot with All-American straightforward cuisine, Astro Diner is a terrific option! Started in 1980 by Myron Averkiou and Tom Aronis, it has expanded ownership to include Myron's daughter Andria Averkiou (from Cyprus) and Anastasis "Tasos" Kaklamanos (from Athens) today. This is the first restaurant that Andria and Tasos have owned.
We were impressed with the salad section of the menu on our first visit to Astro Diner. The salad at the top is representative of a House salad that would be incorporated into an entree, and we chose ranch on the side. The Greek Salad was a triumph and we chose to add shrimp, which were grilled well. We found it to be fresh and authentic right down to the dolmades: stuffed grape leaves with rice and dill. Feta, tomatoes, olives, radishes, sardines and romaine rounded out the party.
The Caesar Salad of Romaine, Seasoned Croutons and Romano cheese was dressed nicely with house-made Caesar dressing and no raw eggs, utilizing anchovies sourced from Greece. Spinach pie is a staple of Greek cuisine and the Astro Diner version makes you feel at home when you might be staying in a nearby hotel. Astro Diner tells us their clientele is 40% tourists and 60% locals with 44 seats inside.
The burgers are another section of the menu that deserves your attention. Half a pound of beef was perfectly medium rare with munster cheese, white onion, tomato, lettuce and sweet potato fries. The Pesto Burger below is shown with curly fries and a house-crafted pesto sauce that hits the spot! We look forward to seeing what they do next.
