Pljeskavica in Astoria

Last week, the New York Times published a piece on pljeskavica, a burger that is prevalent throughout the Balkans. It can be had right here in Astoria, and how! I have never had one, personally, but it sure sounds delicious. I am going to have to try it now.

The Balkan Burger Unites All Factions

So, if you are looking for a taste of home, or looking to taste something new yet familiar, this sounds about right. There are a number of places where you can find it here in town, according to the article:

Brothers Pizzeria
30-50 14th Street
(718) 777-1111

Cevabdzinica Sarajevo
37-18 34th Avenue
(718) 752-9528

Pasha
31-01 31st Street
(718) 726-0230

Stari Most (Old Bridge)
28-51 42nd Street
(718) 932-7683

Image CC: Wikimedia Commons

Veggie Friendly Eating in Astoria

It is that time for resolutions and changes and perhaps for some eating less meat or trying a vegetarian lifestyle is high on your list. I’ve spent the last 20 years eating veggie, and I love all the fantastic veg friendly eating establishments Long Island City and Astoria have to offer. Here are my top choices for a great veggie meal that doesn’t consist of an assortment of unsatisfying side dishes!


The Veggie Wrap with Pesto at Mundo, from Little Girl, Big Appetite


Mundo
The jewel of healthy eating in Astoria! Choose from a wide variety of options including their perfect Red Sonjas, soups, dips and that hearty Veggie Wrap. Mundo has something in mind for every veggie, and their tapas style presentation means more to try, and less damage to the wallet. Plenty of vegan fare too, if that is more your thing. (31-18 Broadway)

Vesta
As a rather strict vegetarian, I appreciate clear menu marking of which dishes are ok for me to consume, and Vesta does a brilliant job at this task. Their locally grown, seasonally appropriate ingredients are also a huge plus in my book. Check out their deliciously layered salads, those Crispy Parm Brussel Sprouts, and the great assortment of pizzas (with whole wheat crust, too!). (2102 30th Avenue)

Café Bar
Home of Mediterranean Café style cooking, Café Bar has lots to offer people looking to cut down on their meat consumption. A wide variety of soups, sandwiches and salads are prepared with organic and healthy eating in mind. The Lebanese Salad is a hearty, protein packed salad that won’t disappoint. Their Homemade Veggie Burgers are also a knock out and a welcome change from the ‘Garden Burgers’ that are ubiquitous at most restaurants. Looking for something a bit lighter? Café Bar also has a great selection of juice and smoothies. (32-90 36th Street)

Aliada
Greek food and vegetarian eating don’t always go hand in hand, but this local favorite is actually quite veg friendly. The smoky Charcoaled Eggplant, Hummus, and Grilled Haloumi Cheese make quite the veggie feast, but the real stand out is their Horiatiki salad, a delicious Greek chopped salad with cabbage, cilantro, feta, olives, arugula, and a light lemon vinaigrette. (29-19 Broadway)

Bare Burger
Not surprisingly this organic burger joint has lots to offer non meat eaters. Their veggie patties are quite good and can be included on any of their fantastic combinations. Those looking for a change of pace should try their Portabella Burger option, bursting with flavor. Veggies will find lots of great salad and side options here too. (33 - 21 31st Avenue)

Fatty’s Café
A long time Astoria staple, Fatty’s has a great selection of non-meat options. Their ‘Make Your Own Salad’ offering is a great way to go- try the House Dressing, a smoky thick stunner. If you’re looking for something more substantial, their Grilled Veg with Hummus plate or Veggie Burrito with Mole sauce is always a winner. (25-01 Ditmars Blvd.)

Rest-Au-Rant
An unusual choice, Rest-Au-Rant is the king of the cheese plate, that yummy veggie staple. This cozy Astoria bar/eatery has lots of cheese plates to choose from, often in differing sizes. Enjoy a pressed sandwich or salad with your glass of wine if that is more your speed. (30-01 35th Avenue)

Ornella - New Italian Restaurant in Astoria

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a tasting at the new Italian restaurant Ornella, at Judith's invitation.  We were fortunate enough to enjoy our meal with the owners, Ornella Viterale (for which the restaurant is named) and her husband Giussepe, as well as a family friend.  I had been very curious about the restaurant, which previously housed the Brazilian restaurant Samba Grill (which I never got to try, unfortunately).  I love Italian food, so I was pretty excited about checking it out.

Our hosts and guests were lovely, which provided a great entry to an excellent meal.  As we chatted together, there was a plate of bruschetta in front of us.  Not being able to resist tomatoes and bread, I went for a piece early on, and was impressed by how flavorful the tomatoes were for this time of year.  The bread, which is house-made, was also good and substantial, and the two went really well together.

We were asked, "Do you like nuts?"  Well, I told them, "I love nuts!" (I really do).  They were happy to hear this and presented us each with a plate of homemade noodles made with chestnut flour, and served with roasted cherry tomatoes, arugula, and shrimp.  Such a delicious combination!  The noodles were thick and resembled the texture of dumplings.  They were beautifully colored, and the combination with the vegetables and shrimp was mighty tasty.  Apparently, this dish of chestnut noodles is common in their region.  I'd never had anything like it, so it was a real treat for me.

I also had a caprese salad, one of my favorite things to get at Italian restaurants.  Their version was a little bit different, in that it was served with buffalo mozzarella and also roasted red pepper along with the tomatoes.  I loved it, and especially adored the quality of the mozzarella.  It was soft and supple, almost resembling burrata, one of my favorite fresh milk cheeses.  The addition of the pepper to the dish made it more interesting than your average caprese salad.  I'd get it again in a heartbeat.

I am also a gnocchi nut.  I love the stuff!  So, when I saw their gnocchi dish, I couldn't resist.  The little potato dumplings were in a cream and gorgonzola dolce sauce, so rich and creamy, but not overly heavy, as the gnocchi were nice and light - no lead weight in my stomach that night.  It was sweet, salty, and savory all at the same time. Fantastic.

I did get a chance to taste some of my fellow diners' dishes.  I was especially fond of Ornella's swordfish, partnered with olives, capers, onions and tomato sauce. Its texture was flaky and light but substantial, a far cry from the tough swordfish I had years ago at BeniHana.  I also had a bite of a very interesting dish that Judith ordered, called Imbustata, which was basically a large "envelope" of pasta filled with roasted meats and mushrooms.  So savory, rich, and deeply flavored.  I might have to try that next time.

For dessert, they brought out what looked like fried eggs, sunny-side up... in actuality, it was two halves of a poached peach resting in a pool of vanilla gelato.  Two of my favorite tastes, I ate it up gladly.  After that, they brought out a plate of cake slices - tiramisu, chocolate mousse, and Italian-style cheesecake.  Although I'm a total chocoholic, and a devout fan of tiramisu, the cheesecake stole my heart.  It was light, creamy, and perfect.  Don't get me wrong, the other two cakes were excellent as well, but there was something really special about that cheesecake.  Later, I learned that Ornella baked the tiramisu and cheesecake herself.  I  highly recommend keeping room for dessert - you won't regret it!

The space itself is narrow but doesn't feel cramped, and certainly gives the impression of more space than I got when peering into Samba Grill.  The walls are painted to resemble stone walls, nice and light, with street signs named after Ornella and Giuseppe's children.  I found myself feeling relaxed and comfortable there.

Prices are on the moderate side - $8-10 for appetizers, $15-19 for pastas, fish and meats from $18-25, desserts from $5-8. See the Foodista for more menu details.  Please see her review here.

Ornella Trattoria
29-17 23rd Avenue (Ditmars neighborhood)
Astoria
718-777-9477

Photo credit:  (c) Judith Klein Rich

Astorian Weekend Edition 19.11.09

The weekend before Thanksgiving is a good time to chill before all the big holiday get-togethers. Check out a fun, casual eatery, watch football or enjoy a party at the Beer Garden.

Have you been to Stamatis yet? It’s an old Greek food staple in the heart of Astoria and their food is legit. Recommendations include the tzatziki dip and the chicken souvlaki platter. 29-09 23rd Avenue, Astoria. 718.721.4507

This Friday, check out Mezzo Mezzo for their 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. happy hour. They’ll feature a signature free buffet, $4 draft beers, house wines and $12 hookah. 31-29 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.278.0444

Toast to freedom this Saturday (5 p.m.) at the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, when they’ll celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. Admission is free and they’ll have $2 wine, vodka shots, Czech liquor and $10 pitchers of Czech beer. Nazdravie! 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria. 718.274.4925

Are you ready for some football? There are plenty of great places where you could catch the game but two in particular include Gleason’s, where on Sunday they serve 25 cent wings, and also the newly-opened Yolo, which has a $10.95 weekend brunch special. Gleason’s – 33-08 Broadway, Astoria. 718.626.5393. Yolo - 22-55 31st Street, Astoria. 718.777.1177

If you’re in the mood for something low-key, visit 24 Wine Bar (pictured above) this weekend. New things happening here include press coffee, vegan brownies, muffins and free wifi. Brunch may be in the works soon so check back to find out more. 25-19 24th Avenue, Astoria. 347.777.6164