Queens Gazette

Zenon Taverna


 

 

31 YEARS ON 31ST AVENUE IS A LONG TIME, AND WE JOIN ZENON TAVERNA IN ITS 31ST YEAR, OFFERING GREEK AND CYPRIOT CUISINE, ALL HOMEMADE, TO ITS LOYAL CUSTOMERS. Just past the humble, rustic façade lies a traditional, whitewashed, stucco taverna filled with tantalizing aromas from the kitchen, and loyal patrons, old and new, who come for Xenon’s famous Cypriot dishes. The Papageorgiou Family makes everything from scratch using centuries old recipes from the sunny island. Better still, prices are kept low thanks to the ‘cash only’ menu, so a meal here is affordable, delicious, and memorable.

Wind down from your day and enjoy a cold Greek beer or carafe of house red, white, or rose wine while you nibble on the homemade olive bread and fine olive oil brought to your table. The menu hasn’t changed in 31 years because their signature dishes bring people back again and again. Zenon is famous for its homemade sausages called loukaniko made with special spices brought from Cyprus. These juicy sausages are then soaked in red wine and grilled over an open fire so the skin is crunchy and the inside, juicy ($10.95). Pork meatballs called sheftalia are also great to share, along with pan-fried cheese called saganaki. Perfectly grilled octopus is so tender and tasty, basted with fine olive oil and vinegar for a true Mediterranean treat. I love stuffed grape leaves called dolmades but have never had them stuffed with ground chicken and rice with parsley, herbs and lemon…superb! Yemista are stuffed, baked vegetables such as zucchini, tomato, and bell pepper filled with savory rice, chopped pork, tomato, mint, onion, and parsley that could make a light dinner as well. Vegan lentil pilaf is sautéed with onion and a touch of vinegar for a healthy dish, available as a starter or a main course. House-smoked pork loin called Lunza offers a tender, savory meal, marinated in red wine and crushed coriander, and sliced thin so that each bite melts in your mouth. This pork also made a nice lunch the next day.

 

 

Zenon Taverna has an all-inclusive Meze Meal from $26.95 to $29.95 per person. You’ll get five savory dips including house made hummus, eggplant dip, tahini, tzatziki, and skordalia garlic dip, as well as Cyprus salad and beet salad to start off with. Next choose your entrée from meat options, fish or seafood choices, or vegetarian options and enjoy!

What you may not know is that Zenon Taverna has a private, spacious Banquet Hall upstairs for your special events for 25 to 100 guests. With charming stucco walls and wood beam ceiling, private bathrooms, bar, and audio-visual equipment, your party or business event is sure to be a success. This is the perfect venue for bridal or baby showers, birthdays, engagements, anniversaries, and weddings. Choose from a lavish buffet luncheon or dinner, or a customized sit-down meal and let the experts, led by Harry and Elena, take care of the rest. They happily cater off-site too, and have gone as far as Washington DC and Philadelphia to bring their fine cuisine to loyal fans. They’ll even provide a traditional, Greek style spit-roasted barbecue for your backyard party, Church event, or corporate event.

Zenon Taverna is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, Monday to Thursday, from noon to 10pm; Friday from noon to 11pm; Saturday 11am to 11pm; and Sunday 11am to 10pm, cash only. See their website for menus, events, and photos, and they deliver free to your home or office. We are proud to congratulate Zenon Taverna and the Papageorgiou Family for 31 delicious years on 31st Avenue!

34-10 31st Avenue
Astoria – 718.956.0133

www.zenontaverna.com

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