The Buccaneer Diner has been a fixture on Astoria Blvd. for 28 years, and in keeping with tradition, the quality and variety of dishes is better than ever. Owners Costa and Maria Alexiou treat all their customers like family and put lots of care and pride into every meal served. This high quality is due to the extra effort made by Costa himself, who selects his own fish and seafood from the market, eliminating the middleman and passing the savings on to his customers. In addition, he cuts his own steaks fresh to order and even grinds his own beef for Buccaneer Burgers. The manifestations of that sense of pride keep people coming back time after time.

The Buccaneer Diner specializes in fresh fish and seafood, with one of their favorites being the Fisherman’s Platter. This enormous platter includes stuffed shrimp, deep sea scallops, stuffed filet of sole, baked clams and a Brazilian lobster tail, served with a salad, choice of potato and vegetable for just $17.95. A dish like this would cost at least twice as much elsewhere. Fresh calamari, crabmeat, mussels, scallops and baby octopus sautéed in olive oil and garlic and heaped on a bed of linguine comprise Frutta di mare. A filet of sole, filleted on the premises, is broiled with lemon or sautéed with white wine, butter and lemon for a melt in your mouth dinner. Fresh deep sea scallops prepared in a similar fashion are served with a mound of garlic mashed potatoes.

Even the house salad is special at Buccaneer. Fresh baby greens, such as frisee and arugula, are tossed with red, ripe tomatoes, red cabbage and carrots with your choice of dressing.

An Early Bird Dinner is featured Monday through Thursday afternoons from 3 to 6 pm. Choose among fresh fish, roast beef au jus, pasta, chicken parmigiana or baked meat loaf for just $11.95. This low price includes salad, potato and vegetable, as well as dessert and coffee. It’s an excellent way for people watching their pennies to enjoy a great meal out. There’s even a reduced price cocktail menu to accompany the meal. See their ad for more details.

The Buccaneer Diner 93-01 AstoriaBlvd. East Elmhurst 718-457-6803 The charcoal broiler renders juicy 16-ounce New York cut sirloin steak and tender filet mignon. Try three choice pork chops with apple sauce for $12.95. A half chicken with all the extras is just $11.95. Greek souvlaki can be ordered on a pita or as a platter with French fries and Greek salad. Chicken souvlaki and a number of simple, grilled chicken dishes are also available.

If you like pasta, try the linguine puttanesca, tossed with tomato, black olives and capers, topped with grilled chicken or shrimp. On Sundays, special roasts are slow cooked such as lamb, veal or loin of pork. When it’s too hot to cook, take advantage of these home-style meals in a clean and comfortable setting. A glass of wine is the perfect accompaniment.

The lunch menu features smaller portions of dinner entrees for around $8.95, as well as a host of sandwiches, salads and burgers. The beef is hand-ground each day to make thick, juicy burgers, topped with favorite fixings. The Buccaneer signature burger is nine ounces of juicy beef topped with sweet, caramelized onions. The waffle-cut fries are addictive. Grilled chicken breast on a toasted bun with crispy bacon and cheese is served with fries, lettuce and tomato. Triple decker sandwiches layer roast beef and Swiss cheese with favorite toppings. Enjoy a large Greek salad with creamy feta cheese, stuffed grape leaves and olives for lunch or dinner, or order a grilled chicken breast cut up over a crunchy house salad.

Buccaneer Diner makes all its own baked goods, so dessert is really special. In the middle of the night, the smell of fresh bread, cakes, muffins and pastries being baked right on the premises advertises the owners’ presence. Warm challah bread and creamy cheesecakes are often purchased whole to take home. The cheesecake is legendary, as is their carrot cake. There’s also chocolate layer cake, strawberry shortcake and rice and chocolate puddings. The coffee is great, too.

Come for breakfast and enjoy fluffy French toast made with their own homemade challah bread or a stack of pancakes with butter and syrup. Eggs, omelets, muffins, Danish pastries and oatmeal are some other good choices. Orders can also be packaged to go.

The Buccaneer Diner, with some of the friendliest wait staff you’ll meet, is conveniently located on Astoria Boulevard, just off the Grand Central Parkway and down the road from LaGuardia Airport. It’s an ideal place to eat before or after a Mets game and there’s plenty of free parking. Visit Buccaneer Diner for breakfast, lunch or dinner, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. They specialize in fresh fish and seafood, fresh cut meat and burgers and home baked goods. Don’t forget the Early Bird Dinner specials.