To eat or not to eat, that is the question. Welcome to our new column for The Beacon, called Beacon’s Bites, where I, Evie, and my colleague, Finn, review restaurants around Queens that were recommended to us by Forest Hills High School staff and students.
This month, the two of us ventured out to a Greek restaurant, Zorbas, in Astoria, recommended by Mr. Katsiaris, AP Eng. Language and Composition teacher.
Before we give our review, let’s break down how we’ll review our restaurants moving forward. Using a five-star system, we look at four different components.
Quality: The caliber of the food itself
Affordability: How much does the food cost?
Service: Was the service good?
Aesthetic: The vibes! Is the food presented well? Can you bring somebody on a date there? Is it a classy establishment?
Our goal was to assess Zorbas under this rubric. We started by making our way to the restaurant, which was located next to the N train. We arrived, sat down, and put in our orders.
Evie: I ordered a plate of lamb souvlaki, ordered meat on a stick, with rice and pita bread. The lamb was well seasoned and neither undercooked nor overcooked. The rice was just the right amount of soft and contrasted really nicely with the juicy meat. The pita bread added a nice flavor into the mix on the plate.
I personally give the food 4 stars out of 5.
Finn: I ordered a lamb gyro which was made with care and well-balanced as a warm, crispy, and perfected cheese pie for my main meal. I also enjoyed a salad that perfectly hit the spot even though it was simple.
The lamb gyro was cooked perfectly and had an even amount of toppings. Everything worked perfectly and complimented the cheese pie I had. The cheese pie was truly the highlight of the meal; it was baked perfectly and the cheese melted just right so it didn’t burn my mouth… thankfully. It is a great place to go with some friends for a good bite and quite affordable.
I’d give it a 4 stars out of 5.
The results are in! Beacon’s Bites gives Zorbas a…
Quality: 4/5 – The food itself was quite good and flavorful. As Alex Turner would say, 4 stars out of 5! It was missing a little something to get that five rating, but the food was still high quality, especially the lamb.
Affordability: 3/5 – We paid about $48 for two full dinner plates, which for authentic Greek food, wasn’t a bad price. Maybe not the most affordable for a high schooler, though.
Service: 5/5 – Easily the best part. The man who gave us our food was very friendly and the service was fast.
Aesthetic: 3/5 – The aesthetic of the place was a little bland, but there was a wall of drawings that was welcoming with a nice patio in the back.
Averaging out, we give Zorbas a 4/5!
