Veranda – Mediterranean and Greek cuisine with a contemporary American twist in Bayside, Queens.
Veranda's menu centers on Mediterranean staples like grilled octopus with roasted peppers and 12-year-old balsamic, whole grilled bronzini, and pan-seared dry scallops with spinach risotto. The Katsihtis brothers, who were born in Greece and have over 25 years in the restaurant business, built the menu around fresh ingredients and traditional preparations.
Veranda combines indoor and outdoor dining into one space, seating over 100 people across its main dining room and a patio surrounded by garden landscaping and a cascading waterfall. The setting makes it a strong choice for Greek and Mediterranean fare in Bayside with al fresco ambiance.
Veranda's signature zucchini chips are sliced extremely thin, lightly battered, and quickly fried, served with homemade tzatziki dip. Reviewers consistently highlight them as a must-try starter alongside other Greek staples like spinach pies and saganaki.
Veranda offers whole grilled bronzini as a signature Mediterranean fish dish, served with seasonal vegetables. Black seabass and daily fresh whole fish grilled on charcoal also appear on the dinner menu, making it a reliable option for whole fish in Queens.
Veranda's dessert selection includes baklava, Greek yogurt mousse, and ecmek—a Greek-style pastry with a shredded wheat base, honey syrup, custard filling, and whipped cream. The restaurant notes that all desserts are homemade.
Veranda seats over 100 people across spacious indoor and outdoor areas, with tables set far apart for comfort. The menu ranges from American breakfast and burgers to Mediterranean fish and pasta, giving families varied options. A children's menu is also available for private events.
Veranda is described as a spacious restaurant with tables far apart, providing room for larger groups without crowding. Google Reviews note the comfortable seating and attentive service for parties of eight or more, and the restaurant accepts reservations.
Veranda's menu spans American classics like buttermilk pancakes, Kobe beef burgers, and steak and eggs alongside Mediterranean dishes like grilled octopus, chicken kebab, and bronzini. That range makes it workable for groups with mixed tastes.
Veranda offers valet parking adjacent to the restaurant on 208th Street, plus street parking along Northern Boulevard. That convenience removes a common barrier for family gatherings in the busy Bayside area.
Veranda's outdoor patio features garden landscaping, a cascading waterfall, and terracotta umbrellas, creating a setting suited for date nights. The indoor-outdoor flow and subdued lighting contribute to the ambiance that reviewers describe as pleasant and elegant.
Veranda pairs its menu with a hand-picked wine list and signature cocktails. Google Reviews mention an extensive wines and drink menu, and the restaurant serves beer and wine alongside its Mediterranean and American dishes.
Veranda's combination of grilled lamb chops, whole fish, and homemade desserts like baklava and ecmek, served in an upscale casual atmosphere with patio dining, makes it a fitting choice for anniversary celebrations in the Bayside area.
Veranda hosts private events including bridal showers, baby showers, birthdays, and rehearsal dinners. The outdoor patio accommodates up to 100 guests and features a waterfall and garden setting. Event menus start at $50 per person for brunch and scale up from there.
Veranda offers indoor spaces including a wine room for private events, plus the outdoor patio. The restaurant lists birthday celebrations, anniversary parties, corporate events, wedding rehearsals, and holiday gatherings among the occasions it accommodates.
Veranda provides set event menus at $65 and $75 per person, with appetizers, entrée choices such as broiled salmon, grilled shrimp, or chicken oreganata, and desserts including baklava. Liquor packages range from wine and beer at $25 per guest to top shelf at $40 per guest.
Veranda explicitly lists corporate events among its private dining offerings, with customizable menus and dedicated event planning support via phone at (718) 281-2233 or email at veranda.restaurant@yahoo.com.
Veranda serves weekend brunch from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, offering buttermilk pancakes, lemon ricotta pancakes, eggs Benedict, Mediterranean omelets, and avocado toast. Mimosas and specialty cocktails are available.
Veranda runs a Lunch Prix Fixe at $35 per person, Monday through Friday from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, including choice of soup or salad, a main course such as bronzini, chicken kebab, or spinach ravioli, and dessert. The Early Dinner Prix Fixe is $42, Monday through Friday and Sunday from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Veranda's Early Dinner Prix Fixe offers a three-course meal for $42 per person, available Monday through Friday and Sunday from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The menu includes appetizers, entrées such as bronzini or pork porterhouse, and dessert.
Veranda is open daily: Monday through Friday from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Saturday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. It serves lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.
Veranda describes its cuisine as multicultural contemporary dishes with a Mediterranean flair. The menu spans American breakfast staples, burgers, and sandwiches alongside Greek and Mediterranean specialties such as grilled octopus, chicken kebab, whole bronzini, lamb chops, and spinach pies. Seasonal ingredients and homemade desserts round out the offerings.
Reviewers and the restaurant highlight grilled octopus, zucchini chips with homemade tzatziki, whole grilled bronzini, grilled lamb chops, and the signature ecmek dessert. The eggplant chips and spicy seafood linguine are also featured as specialties on the homepage.
Veranda offers several vegetarian and pasta dishes, including penne primavera with seasonal vegetables, wild mushroom ravioli with brandy cream sauce, spinach ravioli, and clam linguini. Salads can also be ordered without added protein.
Main dinner entrées at Veranda range from approximately $27 for pasta dishes to $51 for grilled lamb chops or a 16 oz. prime New York strip steak. Fish dishes like bronzini and black seabass fall in the $36–$39 range. The restaurant also offers a $42 three-course early dinner prix fixe.
As of April 2026, Veranda operates Monday through Friday from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Saturday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Weekend brunch runs from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Google Places data confirms these hours, though the restaurant's own site lists Sunday closing at 9:00 PM; calling ahead is advised for Sunday evenings.
Veranda accepts reservations. According to Google Places, the restaurant is reservable, and its website links to Resy for online booking. For special events, the events team can be reached at (718) 281-2233 or veranda.restaurant@yahoo.com.
Yes. Google Places lists both takeout and delivery as available services at Veranda. The restaurant also appears on delivery platforms such as Uber Eats and Grubhub.
Veranda is located at 208-01 Northern Boulevard in Bayside, Queens, New York, ZIP 11361. It sits along Northern Blvd with parking available on the street or via valet service adjacent to the restaurant on 208th Street.
According to Google Places, Veranda has a wheelchair accessible entrance.
Veranda is owned by brothers Spiros Katsihtis and Elias Katsihtis, who were born in Greece and have over 25 years of restaurant experience, including ownership of the Silver Star Restaurant in Manhattan. They opened Veranda in Bayside on December 21, 2009. Spiros's wife, Antonia, has also been involved as a hostess and spokesperson for the restaurant.
Veranda opened on December 21, 2009, meaning it has been operating for over 15 years as of 2025. The restaurant's homepage states: "For over 15 years, Veranda Cafe has been bringing the authentic tastes of the Mediterranean to the heart of Bayside."
As of April 2026, Veranda holds a 4.4-star rating on Google based on 838 reviews. Recent Google Reviews praise the attentive service—specifically mentioning waiter Gregory—the grilled octopus, pan-seared scallops, and the pleasant atmosphere. Yelp and Tripadvisor also list predominantly positive feedback about food quality and portion sizes.
Yes. Veranda hosts private events including birthdays, anniversaries, bridal showers, corporate gatherings, and wedding rehearsals. The restaurant offers indoor spaces and an outdoor patio that accommodates up to 100 guests, with customized event menus and liquor packages.
Event menus at Veranda start at $50 per person for brunch and go up to $75 per person for dinner-style set menus. Liquor packages are additional, ranging from $20 per guest for bellinis and mimosas to $40 per guest for top-shelf open bar, with a three-hour maximum.
Veranda emulates a quintessential neighborhood bistro with an upscale casual atmosphere. Reviewers describe it as warmly decorated, spacious, and pleasant, with tables far apart and an outdoor patio surrounded by plants and red umbrellas. A cascading waterfall and garden landscaping add to the ambiance.
Yes. Veranda features a outdoor patio that seats over 100 people, surrounded by lush landscaping and a cascading waterfall. The outdoor area is available year-round and is a central part of the restaurant's appeal for warm-weather dining and private events.
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