The Feed first look: MP Taverna

Greek-American chef Michael Psilakis made his name repping his Hellenic roots, diving into the country's coastal fare at his uptown joints, Kefi and Fish Tag. So it's no wonder the TV toque (star of BBC America's No Kitchen Required) headed to Little Greece for this modern Mediterranean tavern set to open in late April. An Astoria offshoot of his popular restaurants in Nassau and Westchester Counties, the 150-seat bi-level eatery whips up the same menu as its sister locations: fried calamari with tomato-yogurt sauce; Greek paella packed with shellfish and spicy lamb sausage; and garlic-imbued branzino with fingerling potatoes and cherry tomatoes. Enjoy small plates (tsatsiki with warm pita) over Santorini wine and Mythos beers at the marble bar, or hunker down for a feast of whole-roasted spring lamb, kid goat or veal shank in the rustic, wood-paneled dining room. When the temperatures rise, glass accordion doors open onto Ditmars Boulevard, offering an additional 100 seats for alfresco dining. 31-29 Ditmars Blvd at 33rd St, Astoria, Queens (718-777-2187)

MP TAVERNA MENU

MEZE
Soup of the day, PA
Meatballs- olives, onion, garlic, tomato sauce, $8.50
Greek sausage- pork, leek & orange, $9
Cypriot lamb sausage- yogurt, pita, $9
Barrel aged feta- pelopennese olive oil, mountain oregano, pita, $11
Gyro spiced beef sliders- spicy pepperoncini, onion, $9.50
Crab croquettes- arugula salad, lemon-garlic remoulade,    $12
Octopus- Mediterranean chickpea salad, $11
Crispy cod- garlic & potato puree, tomato sauce, $8.50
Scallops- cauliflower, dried cherry, brown butter $12
Mussels & gigantes- tomato, spinach, Greek pork sausage, bread crumb, $9.50
Fried calamari- cauliflower, chickpea, spicy tomato & yogurt sauce, $9.50

DIPS
Served with warm pita
Yogurt- cucumber & dill, $8
Chick pea- sundried tomato & herbs, $8
Eggplant- roasted peppers & garlic, $8
Combination of all three, $12
   add cucumber wedges, $2, extra pita, $1.50

SALADS
MP- lettuce, cucumber, tomato, olive, onion, feta, peppers, $8.50
Tomato- cucumber, string bean, grilled onion, feta, $9.50
Bulghar- date, almond, pomegranate, olive, red onion, pistachio, $8.50
Dried fruit- young greens, smoked almonds, red onion, Manouri cheese, $9

BURGERS & SANDWICHES
Served with smashed fries & pickles
Beef burger, $13
   add American cheese $1, smoked Graviera cheese $1.50, feta cheese $1.50
Lamb Burger, $16
Souvlaki (pita wrap w/ tzatziki, onion, peppers, tomatoes, romaine)
   chicken $12.50 / pork $14 / beef $16

ENTRÉES
Dumplings- spicy lamb sausage, sundried tomato, pine nut, spinach, tomato, feta $15
Long fusilli- roasted tomato, garlic, feta, spicy croutons, $15
Greek paella- shellfish, spicy lamb sausage & orzo, $22
Roasted lemon chicken- dill & garlic roasted fingerling potato, $15
Dourage- grilled whole and filleted, vegetable of the day, $19
Grilled branzino- fingerling potato, cherry tomato, garlic, olive, $19
Lamb shank- orzo, root vegetables, lamb jus, $23
Hangar steak & Greek sausage- smashed fries, $19
Mix grill- Cypriot lamb sausage, pork tenderloin, chicken, Greek pork sausage, $22

SIMPLY GRILLED
Served with a choice of salad or side
Fish of the day, PA
Branzino, $19
Swordfish, $19
Salmon, $18
Chicken, $15

SIDES
Vegetable of the day, PA
Smashed fries, $7
Sautéed spinach, $6

WHOLE ANIMAL
Throughout Greece, important celebrations are often marked by
the roasting of a whole animal. It would be an honor to continue this tradition  with you, your family, and your friends.
Spring lamb / kid goat / suckling pig / shank of veal / rack of rib steak / pork butt / whole fish, PA
Please allow a minimum of five days notice.