31 Years on 31st Avenue
Zenon Taverna
34-10 31ST AVE., ASTORIA
718-956-0133
ZENONTAVERNA.COM
@ZENONTAVERNA
NOVEMBER 2 0 1 9 I BOROMAG.COM 35
Photos courtesy of Zenon Taverna
FOOD + DRINK
Zenon Taverna has long been a
staple for local residents, offering
authentic Greek and Cypriot cuisine
in the Astoria community for
the past 31 years.
Trained chef Stelios Papageorgiou
left Cyprus and worked three
jobs until he could open his own restaurant
in 1988 — the same 31st Avenue location
where Zenon Taverna still stands
today. His son-in-law, Harry Ioannidis,
now owns and operates the fullservice
restaurant.
“The neighborhood has
changed, new families
coming in, but all the old
Greeks still come back
to get their food,” Ioannidis
said.
Part of what sets the
restaurant apart from
the other neighborhood
Greek spots is its
incorporation of Cypriot
food and culture into the
menu and dining experience.
Chefs use unique spices for
dishes and a special preparation process
of their loukaniko (sausage).
“Our sausage is Cypriot style, which is
soaked in red wine for about seven to 10 days
before it’s made so it has a very different flavor
than some of the Greek ones you’ll find out
there,” Ioannidis said.
Nearly all dishes, from butchered meats to
dips, are made in house and made to order.
Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are
also available, and they are designated on the
menu with symbols.
Ioannidis explained that Zenon Taverna
recognizes the Cypriot and Greek belief that
meals should be a social experience.
“Food’s supposed to be about being
social so you get together with family, you
sit down, you have a meal, you enjoy it,
but it’s also about being in that moment
with them as well,” Ioannidis said.
BY SAMANTHA WANDERER
Meze, Cypriot-style tasting menus, are another
specialty at Zenon Taverna. Customers
can choose to sample from meat, fish or
vegetarian options to get a broad feel for
the menu.
Multiple daily specials are available, and
most days include vegetarian and glutenfree
options.
Starting Nov. 12, the restaurant will add a
new special every Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m.
where kids eat for one dollar with purchase
of an adult meal.
Zenon Taverna also partnered
with Allergic to Salad, a group
that offers Master Chef classes
to children in partnership
with local restaurants,
on Nov. 5.
“We’re going to teach a
class and make a Cypriot
specialty, and then for a
week we’re going to sell
that specialty in house,”
Ioannidis said before the
event. “All the proceeds will
go to the school.”
For customers who want to
bring Zenon Taverna home with them,
delivery, to go, and catering options are all
available.
“Our delivery area just increased to encompass
a larger area of Astoria,” Ioannidis
said.
Catering from Zenon Taverna is also popular
throughout the tri-state area.
“In Philadelphia they had a singer from
Cyprus perform, and an organization …
there wanted authentic Cypriot food so they
contacted us,” Ioannidis said. “We went out
there and brought our food.”
Larger parties also have the option to hold
their events in a second-floor banquet room
that can accommodate up to 75 people for
birthdays, weddings and other events, complete
with bathrooms and bar service. For
parties of less than 25, there is a minimum
spending amount required.
Photos courtesy of Charlotte Muller
/ZENONTAVERNA.COM
/BOROMAG.COM
