Easter Hungries

Trying to figure out where to have a nice meal on Easter Sunday? Check out the run down by our own Foodista of tasty eats in town!

Where to Eat on Easter Sunday [The Foodista]

New French Bistro in Town - Les Minots

I've become aware of the presence of a new French bistro in town - Les Minots on 30th Ave and 47th Street. Perusing the website, it certainly looks promising, with prix fixe lunch and dinner menus, as well as a la carte and brunch menus. I'm particularly intrigued by brunch (it's one of my favorite meals). They also deliver. Events are in the works, including what sounds like a fun Sunday evening - a $19.95 prix fixe dinner and a movie. I hope to check it out soon and will report back when I do.

Bistro Les Minots
47-16 30th Avenue
Astoria
718 606 2535
Info.bistrolesminots@gmail.com

Il Bambino Scores Again

Just a quick note - tonight I had dinner at Il Bambino and it was fabulous. Their soups are always amazing and tonight was no different - tonight's was potato and spinach and it was wonderful, with complex flavors (I love how they serve it with a crostini slathered with pesto). The baby green beans with croutons, parmesan, and truffle vinaigrette was delectable and remains one of my favorite Bambino menu offerings of all time. Tonight they were offering a crostini with truffle butter and parmesan (it was truffle night for me!), which was out of this world. Also had the goat cheese with fig spread crostini. Finished off the meal with their chocolate truffle cake - this thing is a chocoholic's dream and it can be easily shared by 2-3 people. Cappucino was excellent, and nicely bitter enough to offset the richness of the truffle cake.

I tasted one of their white wines, the Sauvingnon Blanc from New Zealand, which was like a party in my mouth. So tasty. The red we had was a Spanish Grenache and Tempranillo mix and was nice and fruity.

I liked seeing the dining room almost to capacity. This place continues to produce great meals with top notch ingredients. The staff is always friendly and helpful. Still highly recommended (I consider them to be in my top five favorite restaurants in Astoria).

Il Bambino
34-08 31st Ave
Astoria
(718) 626-0087

Photo credit: (cc) Meg Cotner

30th Ave Taco Truck To Have Additional Digs

Just read on astorians about the new restaurant opening soon by the same people that run the fabulous El Rey del Taco truck on 30th Ave. The exchange:

Question: While walking to the Steinway R/V station I saw a new awning across the street (A few storefronts down from that "El Mundo Discount" store, just north of the Thai take-out.). It read "Azteca Pride/El Rey del Taco." Can anyone confirm or deny that that's the taco truck people? (I mean the one in front of Rite Aid.)

Answer: Went to taco truck tonight and asked about this, they are going to have the restaurant and still have the truck.

Hot dog, this is great news! The taco truck is well loved in Astoria and they do make some of the best Mexican food in town. Here's hoping the restaurant will put out food of equal quality. Yum potential is high.

Photo credit: (cc) Meg Cotner

New Restaurant in Place of Anna's Corner

The southeast corner of 23rd Ave and 31st Street has a new tenant; this is the old Anna's Corner, though it was something else after that, the name of which I can't remember. Anyway, the new place (apparently Greek) is called Psitopolio Ta Vlahika. From what I can tell, they will sell souvlaki, and have free delivery. More to come...

V-Day, Astoria Style

Last weekend I mentioned a few places for Valentine's Day dinner. Here is a larger list of suggestions for a romantic dinner on Thursday:

Bistro 33, $50 prix fixe
19-33 Ditmars, 718-721-1933

Cavo, $65 prix fixe
42-18 31st Ave, 718-721-1001

Mundo, $65 prix fixe, 6 and 8 p.m seatings
31-18 Broadway, 718-777-2829

718
35-01 Ditmars, 718-204-5553

L'Incontro
21-76 31st St, 718-721-3532

Stove
45-17 28th Ave, 718-956-0372

Locale
33-02 34th Ave, 718-729-9080

Valverde
36-02 Steinway St, 718-786-2070

Tournesol
50-12 Vernon Blvd, 718-472-4355


For a cozy, romantic drink, you might consider Rapture, Stini Yiamas, or Central Lounge. Cavo, 718, and Bistro 33 also have very nice bars. Astoria has a few nice wine bars, including Crescent and Vine, Vino di Vino, and Rest-Au-Rant.


Then there's Fatty's Valentine's Day party @ 10pm, which should be a rockin' time! They're at 25-01 Ditmars Blvd, 718-267-7071.

Whatever you do, enjoy!

Astorian Weekend Edition 07.02.08

I'm back! Thanks to flooz for covering last week - I learned this week that a tree knocked out my internet - 7 days without internet is like an eternity! Oh well, I did end up catching up on my Netflix queue...

Now, if you're of the romantic persuasion, this is the time to make your Valentine's Day reservations. Astoria has a lot of lovely options, including Bistro 33 ($50 prix fixe), Mundo ($65 prix fixe) 718, L'Incontro, Stove, and Locale. More on this subject next week.

Take a visit to the Czech Republic this weekend at the Beer Garden. Thursday night at 7 p.m. the Laco Dezci Jazz Orchestra plays in the Beer Cellar restaurant. No cover, no minimum. Then on Saturday at 7 p.m. they're showing a selection of recent Czech films (in Czech with English subtitles): With Kisses from Your Love (Libam te a miluji); Low Level Flight (Nizky let). Both are directed by Jan Sikl.

I also walked by Inside Astoria (37-20 Ditmars) on my way back from voting Tuesday, and noticed they are having a sale. I love that place, and they always have interesting stuff there.

On Sunday evening, stop by the Albatross Bar (36-19 24th Avenue) for $5 Cosmos!

I've also been spending some time at Cafe Soleil (Astoria Blvd South between 37th and 38th Streets) and love it. They've got free wifi, tasty snacks, and normal sized lattes. Small means small, Starbucks! But my favorite thing at Soleil is the fresh juice. I had apple, carrot, orange juice last weekend and it was fantastic! The space is really cute, too.

For something completely different, attend either the Yixing Teapot or Chinese Brush Making Workshop at the Brickhouse Ceramic Art Center (10-34 44th Drive). Registration Fee is $110 for each, and that includes materials fee and lunch.

Lastly, our friend Zora mentions Leng Thai (33-09 Broadway), which has been open for about a month. I peeked in the other day and it looked really nice in there. I hear the food is pretty good, too. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Agave is Mojave

This past weekend I pointed out the new restaurant under construction by the Ditmars stop on 31st Street. Well, they're open as of tonight! They've named themselves Mojave and apparently it's fantastic! There's a lot of chatter about it over on Astorians, so check it out. We'll be by soon and will bring you our own review as well.

Nice to see something really different and good come to town!

Mexican in the 'Hood

There are a few new Mexican places open or opening soon in Astoria. This weekend I went to Guacamole, a nice little place on Broadway (between Steinway and 38th Street) that replaced a fast-food Mex place (that's what the waitress told me). The space is calming with the green walls, and the food is definitely tasty. I had a chicken and vegetable quesadilla and my dining companion had a beef wrap; we shared a chicken tostada. The best thing about the meal was the salsa chile de arbol, a red-yellow spicy pureed sauce served on the side. The guacamole was very good, too. I had a glass of horchata, which was particularly creamy and not overly sweet. I wonder if they put dairy in it...

Walking home from Guacamole, we passed by Luna de Juarez a soon-to-be-open restaurant on the corner of Steinway and 28th Ave, the location of the old Santorini Cafe. I read about this place originally on astorians, and from what I can gather from her message the grand opening is this Friday:

they have a great chef who just loves to cook and supposedly the Guacamole will be done table side, the Fajitas nothing like your use to, and they will make their own mole, hopefully with this great Colombian Chocolate Cordillero.

There's also been chatter about a new place opening up where the old All-Star Burger was on 31st Street near Ditmars under the subway. The lease is held by the same person who owns Agave Restaurant in Manhattan, so it's expected that this will be the Astoria outpost of this well-received Southwest restaurant. I've peeked in the space while walking by and it's looking really nice inside. And yeah, while it's not really a Mexican place, it's definitely worth mentioning. Astoria has nothing like this, so it's very exciting to see a new cuisine come to town.

El Athens Grill

After the Art Home Gallery opening last week, my friends and I were suddenly hungry. M mentioned that she'd seen a little Mexican place around the corner. I racked my brain trying to figure out what it was and then it dawned on me - "that little taco place", AKA El Athens Grill. The reason I actually knew the name is due to the Roving Gastronome's post from last month. So, we stepped in and ordered tacos.

They were pretty good! I mean, not life-changing, but definitely tasty. My al pastor wasn't too spicy, but it had good flavors and I liked how the pork was a little crispy. M's sausage taco was probably my favorite, which had many layers of flavors, ending in one that was kind of floral. The green sauce they gave us was really good, too. Sadly, they didn't have horchata - I guess they had run out or something.

Most everyone speaks Spanish only, so you gotta order en Español.

I hear the tortas are great, too! I liked the altar they had, as well:

El Athens Grill
30-11 30th Ave
Astoria

Athens Tavern (was Anna's Corner)

Well, this place has gotten a bunch of press lately! No longer Anna's Corner, it's become a fancy-schmancy place, with what sounds like amazing haute Greek cuisine. My friend Debbie went to Athens Tavern for a tasting and here's what she said:

This is definitely not the norm. It is quite high end, with a Chef brought in from Athens. We tasted a number of items; they were all eclectic and delectable. It is not cheap, but for a special occasion, I would recommend this. Some of the items on their menu include:

• Stuffed onion pearls with octopus in mavrodafni reduction
• Grilled grouper fillet with basil sauce, served with black eye bean salad
• Roasted beef marinated with herbs & orange, served with mushroom mashed potatoes
• Rabbit with bergamot and mashed sweet potatoes
• Grilled dry aged black Angus steak with orzo pasta and mushrooms

It is wonderful for a special occasion. I believe that dinner for two, with a drink would run you between $75 to $95, depending on what you have.

The only other high end restaurants that would compare are Christos and Piccola Venezia. I don't know of any others of that caliber in Astoria.

Sounds good to me! The other night I walked by and the place was really hopping, filled with people wearing nice suits and fancy dresses, enjoying all sorts of interesting looking dishes.

The Daily News and the NY Times have also written up this place. I think it will definitely be worth a visit.

Anna's Corner Is Now Athens Tavern

I walked by the location where Anna's Corner was (31st Street and 23rd Ave) and saw that a new awning had gone up with the name "Athens Tavern". I passed by there a week or so ago and asked a couple guys outside (they were taking a smoke break from their work on the space) what kind of restaurant it was going to be and they said "a fish restaurant". Not like we don't have many of those in the neighborhood. But, as Elias Corner and Taverna Kyclades get mixed reviews, maybe a new fish restaurant could give them both a run for their money. I just hope they don't get their fish from the Astoria Fishery on 31st Street - that place smells rank!

Queens Restaurant Week

It's restaurant week here in our fair borough! The lunch and dinner specials - around $20 for 3 courses, tax and gratuity separate - happen this week until Thursday, September 20th, and then Monday, September 24th to Friday, September 27th. There are a number of places participating in Astoria and Long Island City. Thanks to John at about.com for putting this Queens Restaurant Week information together:

Astoria:
Arcos Restaurant, 33-05 Broadway, 718-204-2142
Barril Grill, 30-18 Broadway, 718-545-8498
Bartolino's Italian Restaurant, 34-15 Broadway, 718-728-7522
Euros Restaurant, 45-01 Ditmars, 718-204-0168
Gandhi Restaurant, 34-14 30th Ave, 718-956-7555
Margarita Ville Restaurant, 38-01 Broadway, 718-777-1707
Mezzo Mezzo, Mediterranean, 31-29 Ditmars Blvd, 718-278-0444
Mundo Cafe & Restaurant, 31-18 Broadway, 718-777-2829
Opa Souvlaki, 28-44 31st St, 718-728-3638
Paparazzi Restaurant, 40-17 30th Ave, 718-274-9312
Pinocchio Palace, 32-02 30th Ave, 718-932-4976
Ponticello Restaurant, 46-11 Broadway, 718-278-4514
Sanfords Restaurant, 30-13 Broadway, 718-932-9569
Time Cafe, 44-18 Broadway, 718-606-0500
Zenon Taverna, 34-10 31st Ave, 718-956-0133
Zorba's Souvlaki Plus, 29-05 23rd Ave, 718-956-7266

Long Island City

Da Gianni's Ristorante, 21-50 44th Dr, 718-707-0442
Island Restaurant, 35-15 36th St, 718-433-0690
Masso, 47-25 Vernon Blvd, 718-482-8151
Riverview, 2-01 50th Ave, 718-392-5000
Tennisport, 51-24 2nd St, 718-392-1880
Tournesol Restaurant, 50-12 Vernon Blvd, 718-472-4355
Waters Edge Restaurant, Continental, The East River at 44th Dr, 718-482-0033

Personally, my favorite in Astoria is Mundo and in LIC is Tournesol. What are your favorites?

Ditmars and 35th - Something's Happenin'

I am curious, like that man in the picture, as to what is going in at this "doomed" restaurant corner. It was mussels and frites, was empty for about 2 years, now...? I heard somewhere, "Mediterranean". I hope it's not sushi, we have too many of those in the neighborhood. Many hope for Indian.

Ali's Kabab Cafe on No Reservations

There was chatter here and there about Tony Bourdain coming to town to eat at Ali's Kabab Cafe as part of his No Reservations show on the Travel Channel. A number of people said they thought they saw him on the streets of Astoria, but they weren't sure. Well, he ate at Ali's and loved it! Ali cooked him a bunch of offal, not my cup of tea, but it sure impressed Tony Bourdain. Here's the video - enjoy!

Alba's Pizza

I've been eating at Alba's Pizza for a couple years now, mainly because it's so convenient, being up the street and all. I was there this weekend and learned they have a new takeout menu! They've increased their pasta offerings, for one thing, and the menu itself looks more inviting in its layout. While I was there this weekend, I tried their Grandma slice. I have extremely high standards for Grandma slices, having eaten many of them from the wonderful Via Pizza in Stony Brook. Well, Alba's makes theirs a bit differently than what I'm used to, but the flavors were fantastic! My boyfriend and I liked it so much we had two slices! Highly recommended.

They also will make pizza with a whole wheat crust, which is great in this age of heightened awareness of whole grains. They also serve whole wheat spaghetti - also a great option. I haven't had any of their pasta dishes, so I'm looking forward to trying them.

By the way, you can order pizza from them online, here. They accept credit cards, which is a plus.

Alba's Pizza
36-20 Ditmars Blvd
Astoria, New York

Photo credit: Alba's Pizza

Ali and his Kabab Cafe in the NY Times

If you haven't seen it already, head on over to the NY Times to read Peter Meehan's review of Kabab Cafe, with Ali featured prominently. Reminds me that I need to get over there soon!

• Pita With a Generous Helping of Quirkiness

Brunch at Bistro 33

Latest news from wonderful neighborhood eatery Bistro 33: their outdoor seating is set up and they are offering brunch! From 11am-4pm every weekend, you can head over for a delicious meal - here are some of the things on their brunch menu:

• Cajun omelet - crawfish, andouille sausage, red peppers, green onion
• Apple Brie Omelet
• Quiche Lorraine
• Blueberry Pancakes
• Truffled Eggs and Salmon
• Sushi Brunch (bagel roll [salmon, cream cheese, cucumber] & spicy tuna roll)

Not to mention mimosas, bloody marys, and of course, coffee. Yum!

Mastercard and Visa are now accepted, which is pretty convenient. So, check 'em out! Bistro 33 is on the corner of Ditmars and 21st Street in Astoria.

Kabab Cafe Finally Re-opening!

Via JIA friend Zora on Chowhound:

Straight from the horse's mouth: the long dry spell is over! Ali will be back in the kitchen [today]. (I think the super-auspicious date is a coincidence?)

He has done some major revamping of his kitchen, due to perpetual hassle from the fire-code people, so expect some new stuff on the menu.

This is great news! I've had some terrific meals there and look forward to returning for more. Kabob Cafe is on Steinway near exotic 25th Avenue.

Photo credit: flooz!