Grilled Octopus and Shared Greek Plates in the Bronx

Ilios Taverna sits on Middletown Road in the Bronx, a neighborhood room where Greek cooking leans on coastal kitchens and family recipes. The menu is built for sharing, with mezze and mains that land in the middle of the table and get passed around. Order the grilled octopus, charred and dressed simply, then work through the starters before the classic mains arrive. The saganaki comes crisp and phyllo-wrapped, a golden, pan-fried cheese that disappears fast among a group. Portions run generous, and a few plates cover a full table. The dining room reads elegant without feeling stiff, and service stays attentive across a long dinner. Regulars rate it 4.8 across 289 reviews, and the kitchen keeps the same hours seven days a week, from noon to 10 PM. Bring a group, plan to linger, and let the octopus and small plates set the pace.