The first time I went to Cavo was for my cousin's birthday party a few months ago. We got there around 9 on a Friday night and spent a couple of hours in the front bar drinking, ordering small plates and talking. There was a group of 15 or so of us (of course only 10 of us stuck around for the check...aren't birthday's grand?), but we'd all had 2 or 3 drinks and several plates to share and with tip the bill was around $50 a person. For the atmosphere, the time we spent there and what we got I thought that was VERY fair. I just moved from the Upper West Side to Astoria and I would put this on par with Evelyn Lounge for price, atmosphere, and crowd.\r
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If the owners are trying to make it FEEL like you are in Manhattan, don't be surprised by Manhattan-ish prices. That's a good rule for any place you venture into. \r
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If you want a good price, go to one of the neighborhood bars--I ordered a Bailey's on the rocks, Whiskey and diet coke, and a soda at a place down the street from Cavo and my total was $8. I was also standing next to a mullet. You get what you pay for.\r
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The second time I went to Cavo I went just for dinner, and was blown away. The food was fantastic, and it was a greek/mediterrian/nuevo american fusion experience. The owner came by our table twice and made the best recommendation of the night--get the small plate of shrip. In fact, get two. Outstanding. We were a party of 6 and we ordered 9 small plates (almost everyone on the menu). Everything was delicious. We were there on a Saturday and left around 11. No smoke, no noise, no problems.\r
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There was a line of people at the door waiting to get in when we left, and I could tell that it was starting to become more of a 'club' at that time of night--NOT MY SCENE. But dinner, before 10:30, was great and I would recommend it to anyone. The Host was a little obnoxious (I think the decor fooled him and he thoguht he WAS a Manhattan somebody), but otherwise I had a great time.
Pros: The small plates--THE SHRIMP
Cons: The high strung maitre d
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