tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87099195929584187842024-03-12T20:01:49.795-04:00eateryROW: FOREST HILLS11375Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.comBlogger167125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-73558051966418974252019-10-03T14:51:00.000-04:002019-11-20T12:18:31.154-05:00MOJO<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://mrmarquetti.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><b>MOJO</b></a></div>
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• 70-20 Austin Street</div>
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• Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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• (718) 261-6162 •</div>
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One of the newest additions to the area is Mojo, a Latin fusion restaurant in the old Exo Cafe location tailor-made to give Cabana a run for its money. The atmosphere is fun and energetic. Latin samba music plays loudly and pitchers of sangria seem to be at every table. The place is just trendy enough that you can dress up a little (not too much) and not feel out of place, but not so trendy that it'll have the half-life of a carton of un-refrigerated milk. There's even an actual executive chef with Michelin star experience at the helm, which is a nice perk, though if Mojo wants to actually put itself in competition for that honor, they still have a way to go.</div>
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I've been to Mojo three times now. The first time the wait was for a table was over an hour and dinner was had elsewhere. The other time was on Labor Day weekend with my girlfriend, when the neighborhood was deserted, and final time was recently with my parents at a relatively early hour. Also, we booked through OpenTable, which helped. Service both days was energetic and polite, but the servers, I've noticed, have a habit of disappearing for interminable periods of time. The moral of the story is nurse your water. You won't be getting any more.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBp_YkBnSEsJ-TLK3cvPO9iO2TvWZpVUoLtF_2rxIrZxSRiKYK94pOwsxBzuD-tEf0HBpBr5XEezHLSVuLXPjD8xWhcy9Ls8uGAU67B-KOUho1P9ymcyuxaSs9T_0GOZHugte7kKTtme4/s1600/PSX_20190927_215931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBp_YkBnSEsJ-TLK3cvPO9iO2TvWZpVUoLtF_2rxIrZxSRiKYK94pOwsxBzuD-tEf0HBpBr5XEezHLSVuLXPjD8xWhcy9Ls8uGAU67B-KOUho1P9ymcyuxaSs9T_0GOZHugte7kKTtme4/s640/PSX_20190927_215931.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Far and away, the best part of the dining experience at Mojo is the appetizers. All of the four that I sampled are great. The <b>Guac & Chips</b>, guacamole with both tortilla and plantain chips was incredible and is a must-get for you guac lovers. It'll vanish in minutes. The <b>Spanish Kebabs</b>, skirt steak strips served over yuca fries was delicious but a bit tough. It tasted great, you'll love it, but it's in your interest to ask for a proper steak knife to cut it. The table knife that your napkin is wrapped around simply won't be enough. Tender like warm butter, this was not. For a softer-on-the-teeth appetizer, get the fantastic <b>Chicken Taquitos</b>, spicy chicken with Oaxaca cheese and tomatillo sauce. They're small and you're probably going to be hungrier after eating them than before, but they're great. These might be the best tacos in the neighborhood, rivaling the taco cart on Continental. And anyone who knows me knows that I don't say that lightly. Lastly, the <b>Wagyu Chimi Sliders</b>, open-faced wagyu beef sliders with plantains. caramelized cabbage and picked radishes were similarly great. Drizzle some of the tangy pink sauce on top and your eye's'll roll into your head. The only downside is that they tend to fall apart while you're eating them. Honestly, none of the appetizers that I had were less than delicious.</div>
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The entrees were less impressive, however. That isn't to say that they're not good, but they just weren't in the same class as the appetizers were.<br />
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The entrees are refreshingly different from what you might be able to find elsewhere in the immediate area, though they did lack the visual appeal that I was hoping for given the pedigree of the chef. On the first trip, my girlfriend ordered the <b>Jumpin' Lomo</b>, a steak and onion and tomato stir fry with a side of truffle fries and rice. It was good, but stir fry was dumped lazily onto the fries, which were themselves dumped lazily onto the plate. The dish itself was good however. Well spiced and not too heavy. She liked it as much as I did, and I would recommend it. My entree was the <b>Chicken Mojo</b>, a chicken breast under a very heavy and thick cream sauce with a side of rice, plantains and black beans, and again, everything just sort of seemed tossed onto the plate. I didn't hate the dish, but would not get it again. The chicken was extremely dry, and the sauce became a necessity instead of a perk. The black beans/rice/plaintain side dishes were generically forgettable, and I was so full by the end that I could barely breath. That said, since it took nearly twenty minutes for a waiter to appear to ask for the check, I was able to digest. </div>
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On the second trip, the one with my parents, the entrees were much improved. My mom ordered the <b>Macho Marino</b>, a seafood bisque of fish, shrimp, scallops, and calamari. The bisque was tangy and creamy and everyone at the table enjoyed it very much. It was served with a garlic rice which was fine, but was left mostly untouched. My dad ordered from the ceviche menu and chose the <b>Down The Hatch</b>, a goblet of lime-juice seared shrimp, calamari, and catfish with corn, plantain chips, and topped with fried calamari. This would be a great heatwave dish and is certainly not an appetizer-sized meal. I'll be honest, I enjoyed it but am a minimalist when it comes to ceviche. My father, on the other hand, loved it. Under the auspices of eating healthily, I chose too chose a fish dish and ordered the <b>Blood Orange Salmon</b>, a fillet of salmon, with cherry tomatoes, plantain chips, and asparagus under a creamy blood orange sauce. The fish was cooked perfectly, and all of the pieces of it worked well together. I enjoyed it thoroughly and would recommend it. My only issue, which might not be an issue to you, is that the sauce was <i>very</i> sweet. Like, syrup sweet. And there was a lot of it, to the point of sometimes being all that could be tasted. Half as much would have gone twice as far. </div>
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Mojo is on OpenTable, and I recommend reserving if you can, as I often see people waiting for seats on popular date-night days. Appetizers average about $13, entrees average about $23. I'm glad Mojo is here, and I will be going back.</div>
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bvnbvnbv <br />
<br />Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-7085629137441765622019-06-10T12:47:00.001-04:002019-06-10T12:47:27.449-04:00METRO TACO<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://metro-taco.com/" target="_blank"><b>METRO TACO</b></a></div>
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• 102-15 Metropolitan Avenue</div>
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• Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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• (347) 494-4947 • </div>
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Sitting just around the corner from 71st on Metropolitan Avenue is one of the neighborhood's newcomers, Metro Taco. A new, different kind of Mexican restaurant. See, it's not Mexican the way Five Burros or El Coyote is Mexican. It's not cantina Mexican. It's Mexican as filtered through the lens of Williamsburg. And, for the record, that's a good thing. </div>
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Inside, a bookcase divides the dining room from the bar, which isn't big and serves more as a waiting room than a dining area, though I did plunk myself down there one quiet weekday for a meal. The walls are crisp and bright white. Patio lights line the ceiling evoking the illusion of dining at a Club Med. If only they painted the ceiling light blue... Metro Taco doesn't take reservations, so on a weekend, at a popular time, expect to wait for about an hour, as I did, with twenty twenty-somethings. On a weeknight, you'll get a table right away. Metro Taco may have a bar, but it isn't one. The music isn't loud, the patrons don't get drunk and wander home lit like candles doused in vodka. The neighbors won't be kept up past 10pm, when the doors close.</div>
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The menu is small. No great big phone book of enchiladas and fajitas. There are some appetizers, some entrees, and a selection of the eponymous tacos. A small cocktail list exists, as well some beer and sangria-on-tap. Having time to kill, Lutsy nursed a Sangria on her first trip here, which we both liked, while I stuck with the local favorite, a Finback IPA. For the record, service on this, the busy night was, in a word, poor. The staff was very friendly, but to call it slow and disjointed would be polite. Once we were seated, I ordered an Old Fashioned (because I'm a sophisticated person and that's what we do), while Lutsy ordered the most popular drink on the menu, the Pink Panther, a tiki bar vodka-based favorite made with grenadine and pineapple. If I saw one person drink this, I saw twenty. The Mezcal negroni, which I got when I returned alone, was not, sadly, very good. Strong enough to strip paint. But I'll never get it again.<br />
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I've heard some people complain that the portions are small, especially for the price. Each taco dish comes with two tacos, and depending on what you order, that could mean each taco costing you seven bucks. But while that <i>seems</i> true on paper, it's not. The food at Metro Taco is filling and cheap enough that you could get a taco plate and get an appetizer or a side dish and still not break $20. Plus, these complainers clearly never ordered the <b>El Burrito Gordito</b>, which clocks in at two pounds worth of pork, chorizo, rice, beans, and jalapeno. I'm desperately trying to fit into the jeans I owned two years ago, so I can't attest to whether I can recommend it or not, but the guy at the table next to me told me that it was pretty good, and took most of it home. <br />
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The <b>Salsa Flight</b> appetizer is a selection of four salsas and a basket of ginormous (each "chip" is about six inches long) house made tortilla chips. Way too much food, and way too little salsa. Honestly, I love the concept. But in practice, the salsas blend into each other and get forgotten and the plastic cups the salsa comes in feels both wasteful and cheap. If I ran the restaurant, I'd offer diners a choice of salsa, and if I ever order it again, I'm just going to select one and ask them to give me four times as much in a soup bowl. And I'm going to split it with the table, because this could be a meal on its own. I fully endorse the <b>Adobo Brussels</b>, an adobo-seasoned Brussels sprouts appetizer with a dusting of cheese and topped with pickled onions. It's one of those perfect-dishes. It feels healthy, it's hearty, it tastes great, it's unique. The pickled onions add that tangy blast that one wouldn't expect until it happens and the dish is spicy enough to give your mouth a tickle without causing any discomfort. </div>
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Lutsy ordered a <b>Quesadilla</b>, grilled chicken, peppers, onion, and cheese. This is a pretty standard dish, served in a pretty standard way. It wasn't bad, though it didn't break any new ground either. Will people get off their wobbly old chair at Dirty Pierre's and go to Metro Taco instead? That remains to be seen. I ordered the <b>Mexico City Halal</b> entree, a riff on the halal cart meals of chicken and rice with hot sauce and white sauce that NYC has become famous for. This one comes with a wild rice blend and huge topping of avocado and you know what? It's really good! If you want something both different and familiar, you aren't gonna do much better than this. Seriously. In fact, I'm starting to crave it now. </div>
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Tacos are Metro Tacos thing, but they're some of the more weak menu items. I won't say that they're bad tacos, because they aren't. And I won't say that you'll get better tacos at Chipotle or Five Burros, because you won't. Still, I predict that the line at the little taco cart outside of Citibank won't be getting shorter any time soon. I'm one of those people who routinely orders his hamburgers with an over-easy egg bleeding its guts out between the meat and the bun, so I had a lot of hope for the <b>CEC</b> <b>tacos</b>. Chorizo, quail egg, and cheese. But mostly, all I tasted was chorizo. That's fine. I like chorizo. But the chorizo was strong enough to drown out the other flavors. The <b>Pulled Pork tacos</b> were a little better. Served with a sweet and tangy pineapple chili salsa, they had a little more going on. They had depth, if you know what I mean. Oddly though, the best of the tacos that I tried were the ostensibly plain-juana <b>Roast Chicken tacos</b>. There was some pulled white meat chicken, some avocado, some salsa, some onion, some pico de gallo, and none of the flavors were fighting for dominance. They just played nice and this wound up giving me the most joy, albeit at the expense of giving me the least thrill. Still, I should have asked for another lime wedge.</div>
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Something that Metro Taco embraces is the vegetarian diet. About a quarter of the menu, which is already small, is vegetarian. In fact, on the day that I was nursing my beer and Brussels sprouts at the bar, I sat beside two women, one of whom was a vegetarian chef who specifically took her decidedly not vegetarian friend out to dinner at Metro Taco for the vegetarian dishes. If the exultations that I overheard were any evidence, they both had a good meal. </div>
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So Metro Taco scores an A+ for atmosphere and presence. Despite my criticism that not everything on the menu is great, everything on the menu (that I tried) is good. I've complained for years that Forest Hills needs more restaurants that not only serve good food, but <i>create good food. </i>New dishes. Not just storefronts. I have a feeling that once the growing pains of opening from scratch smooth over, the chefs there will find more interesting dishes to come up with. At least I hope so. </div>
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In the meantime, if you want to check out a fun, casual, different, hip place nearby where the music isn't blasting and you can actually have a conversation and don't feel like you're eating dinner in the restaurant of a dance club (Mojo, I'm coming over to you soon) then I think Metro Taco should be on your list. </div>
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Sides average $6. The burrito gordito is the priciest thing on the menu at $24. Everything else from entrees to tacos to "shareables" (appetizers) averages $13. Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-31942286977882594042019-03-21T22:03:00.001-04:002019-03-21T22:13:31.443-04:00OBA<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>OBA</b></div>
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<b>• aka: OBA Mediterranean Gyro & Grill </b></div>
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• 70-35 Austin Street</div>
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• Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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• (347) 308-6901 • </div>
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If you're the kind of person who finds solace in the long lines at Great Adventure or Disneyland, who takes pleasure in waiting for the next 6 train to come because the one arriving is too packed to get into, then OBA is your kind of restaurant. Do you want a seat? Huzzah! You ain't getting one. OBA, the new Mediterranean restaurant on Restaurant Row, will take you in about an hour.</div>
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...unless you're me and you go at three in the afternoon like a geriatric who insists that Florida might as well be Alaska what with how cold it is.</div>
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Yeah, I <i>COULD</i> wait an hour for a table to get a gyro. Or, I could buy a six pack of beer, hit the halal cart for a lamb platter (extra hot sauce, don't go nuts with the white sauce) and spend the remaining 55 minutes of that hour playing Fallout 4. But I have a blog. So here we are. </div>
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OBA, which I'll assume stands for Omediterranean Bgyro & Agrill, is a totally unassuming, pleasant place for lunch or dinner. For the record, the menu doesn't change regardless of time of day. So if you get lunch here, it's your dinner. The big glass walls allow for tons of light, and I imagine that come spring and summer, the sidewalk will be filled with tables. If not, man, will they have dropped the ball. The interior is simple without being spartan. Low key without being dumpy. You could eat here in a track suit or a real suit and feel equally in place. </div>
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The biggest downside is that it's cramped. The second biggest downside is that the door constantly locks itself open, allowing cold air to blow inside, and someone has to close it. </div>
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So. The food. It's all right. That's about it. It's perfectly fine. I want to say that it blew me away, and that my eyes rolled into my skull with each bite, but that didn't happen. Instead, I got some decent meals for a decent price. I've been here a handful of times, so here's my overall take. Every table gets a loaf of bread and olive oil to snack on. It's delicious. It might be the best part of the meal and it's free. The <b>Stuffed Grape Leaves</b> are good and you should absolutely order them when you come. A squirt of lemon juice on top will always leave a smile on your face. The <b>Lentil Soup</b> on a cold day is amazing and they could sell this stuff by the gallon if they tried. I simply cannot overstate how cozy a hot lentil soup in when it's twenty degrees out. Finally, the <b>Lahmacun</b>, a flat meat "pie" is perfection. It costs four bucks, it's the size of half a pizza and it's delicious. This could easily be your whole lunch. But don't be an asshole and take up an entire table just to order one lahmacun. Get it to go. </div>
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The appetizers were above par. How about the sandwiches? I tried a <b>Lamb Pita</b> sandwich and a <b>Falafel Wrap</b> sandwich. They were both... meh. The pita sandwich was large, but layered in such a way that eating it meant eating first having a vegetarian sandwich, then having the meat. The wrap is a much much better option. Sadly the falafel was pretty dry and tasteless and, once you add hot sauce and tzatziki sauce, you can't tell the difference between the falafel and the lettuce and tomato. That's the next downside: there are only these two sauces and salad is the only topping.</div>
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Speaking of the salad, it comes with every dish. It's in the wraps, it's next to the kebabs, it comes with some of the appetizers, it's the universal side dish. It add a vibrant pop of color to your instagram photo. Thankfully, it's a <i>good</i>, albeit plain, salad. Lutsy ordered the <b>Small Lamb Shish Kebab</b> plate, which means one skewer of lamb. Same amount of rice. Same amount of salad. Three or four pieces of lamb. This did not go unnoticed and was not terribly appreciated. My mom ordered the <b>Lamb Shish & Lamb Adana Combo</b> plate. Lamb adana is ground lamb; it is not gyro lamb. The lamb cubes were tender, flavorful, and juicy. The lamb adana was spicy. Not in a hot way, but in a spice way. I ordered the <b>Half Char-grilled Organic Young Chicken</b>. Lest ye be thinking that ordering half of a chicken might be a wee much for you, banish those fears. This is not half of an Oven Stuffer. This is half of a cornish hen. The chicken itself came skin-on and with a good amount of charring from the oven. Frankly, I liked the char. It wasn't overdone and made the bird a little different from what one normally finds out there. Unfortunately, the chicken could not have been more dry had they tried. I'm used to eating chicken with my hands, and here it was a necessity as the meat had to be pried off of the bone with your fingernails. I threw on some sauce and it tasted fine, but they really need to cut that baking time down by a chunk.<br />
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OBA is, at it's most basic, a higher class version of The Halal Guys. Food cart food, but brick and mortar. Yes, there's a more extensive menu than the cart food (the chicken dish pictured above, soups, seafood), but it's roots are the essentially lamb platter around the corner with rice. </div>
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I do like OBA, and am almost certain to return. It's relaxing, not too expensive, I love the bread they put on the table when you arrive, and they have good service with very nice waitstaff. I do wish that the food was better; had more oomph to it though, and for that reason I can safely say that if I ever show up for dinner and there's a line, I will always go somewhere else. It's good, but not good enough to wait in line.<br />
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Appetizers average $7, entrees average $17, sandwiches average $9. <br />
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Copyright eateryrow.com 2019.Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-18715443022829739212018-10-25T18:03:00.000-04:002019-02-01T17:19:03.977-05:00BAMBOO YA<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.bambooyafh.com/"><b>BAMBOO YA</b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
• 69-12 Austin Street</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
• Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(• 718) 265-8388 •</div>
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As I was writing this review, it dawned on me that I was treating Bamboo Ya, the new Japanese spot in the Austin Street dead zone, as though it was a regular restaurant, and I was holding it to that standard, which is inaccurate and unfair. It's not a restaurant, it's a diner. A diner that serves Japanese comfort food instead of American comfort food. To compare Bamboo Ya with Katsuno or even Narita would be as useful as comparing T-Bone to Jack & Nellie's. Bamboo Ya is a diner. <br />
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The first thing Bamboo Ya did upon taking over the location was a complete and utter gut-job. Nothing of the old floor-plan remains. In fact, the new space seems to be twice the size, stretching so far beyond the old walls of Bann Thai that one could think it tunnels under the LIRR tracks. The interior is clean and bright and modern and new and has six seating options: bar, sushi bar, window area, dining room, booths, and Japanese booths. Lutsy and I chose the booths. Then I noticed that they were right on top of the bathroom. Oh well. </div>
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Did I mention that the restaurant is bright? It's bright. Very bright. Clearly, fifty ceiling lamps weren't enough to ward off the vampires, so every table gets its own pendant. You could dine in sunglasses, I kid you not. This might be great for families with kids, but it's about as romantic as an airhorn. Speaking of noise, there's no music. Luckily, the other patrons (if you don't count the bar areas, Bamboo Ya was a little less that half full on a Saturday) were talking loudly enough to create some privacy, but once they go home, your conversation will be the only thing breaking the silence.</div>
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If there was ever a cover by which to judge the book of a restaurant, that cover is the menu. Is the menu fifteen pages long? Are there photos? Is it laminated? Do they prop it up against the wall behind the salt shaker? Bamboo Ya hits all but the last one, but give it time. Like most diners, the menu is a phone book overflowing with meal sections, from ramens to ceviches. Photos help kids point at what they want, and the plastic pages are easily cleaned with a little spritz of 409. </div>
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Lutsy and I decided that there are plenty of other places to get sushi within a fifteen minute walk, so we stuck with the hot food options. Every entree comes with a <b>Miso Soup</b> or salad and we got miso soup. I'll say this right away, it was good, easily the best miso soup in the neighborhood. Very rich, almost heavy with plenty of little bits of greens and tofu. For our appetizers, Lutsy ordered something that looked pretty unique, <b>Duck Nachos</b>, while I went with <b>Barbecued Squid</b>. The duck nachos were actually pretty good, with rice chips and relatively lean duckmeat. The one downside is that it's mostly a salad and once you get past the goodies on top, it's all lettuce. My squid was decent, but I've had better. The portion, as you can see, was a good size, but the meat was a little tougher than it should have been and the glazing was a little too thin. As a result, it was a little bland. In a very un-diner-like fashion, it was beautifully plated, and I threw a pic of it up on my Instagram feed (<a href="http://www.instagram.com/eateryrow" target="_blank">which you should follow here</a>).</div>
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For her entree, Lutsy got the <b>Chicken Teriyaki</b>, which she enjoyed more than I did. It comes on a sizzling cast iron plate over some broccoli and with a little bit of corn. Chicken teriyaki is generally hard to mess up, and this was perfectly fine by diner standards, but the chicken was way too dry for my liking. I ordered the <b>Saki-Miso Glazed Salmon</b>, which was both good and terrible. Although the salmon could have used a little more glazing. it was moist and flaky, and it was not a small portion. They didn't skimp on the filet. However, while the salmon was hot to the point of being scalding, the vegetables that you see pictured underneath it ranged from lukewarm to refrigerator-cold. It was very clear that this dish was not prepared from scratch at the same time, but pieced together from whatever had already been cooked earlier. Not cool, Bamboo Ya. Not cool. Unless we're talking about that potato, which was, in fact, quite cool.</div>
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This kind of sloppiness was a consistent theme of the evening, as not a single dish arrived with any of the others. The entrees were served about seven or eight minutes apart from each other and the appetizers were served five or six minutes apart. Even the miso soup wasn't delivered together, with the waiter dropping off one, then running to the kitchen to get the next. Lest you think that this was just our table, I was watching other patrons and everybody got their meals served one dish at a time. When we asked for the check, the waiter wandered off never to be seen again and we had to ask another someone else, who literally provided it within ten seconds.</div>
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We didn't drink anything and the whole meal cost about $60, plus tip. I might come back one day to see how the sushi stacks up against the competition, but I wasn't terribly impressed overall, and the fact they've had a location in Rego Park makes this all the more surprising, as this isn't their first rodeo.</div>
Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-6969696818899364302018-09-13T21:00:00.001-04:002019-02-01T17:19:20.239-05:00FOREST HILLS BIERGARTEN<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://cobblestonespub.com/"><b>FOREST HILLS BIERGARTEN</b></a></div>
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• 117-18 Queens Boulevard</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
• Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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• (718) 263-9754 •</div>
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Once upon a time, back in the Gilded Age, beer gardens were a big thing here in New York City. They dwindled away over the decades but suddenly, now that we're in a new Gilded Age, they're back! Seemingly, they've sprouted up everywhere, even as pop-ups in unused summertime parking lot. The closest that Forest Hills has had to one would be the Finback Brewery tasting room. Failing that, denizens of our fair hamlet would have to trek out to middle-of-nowhere backwaters like Brooklyn and Astoria. Thankfully, the fine folks at Cobblestones, the Queens Boulevard pub about three-quarters of the way between Continental Avenue and Union Turnpike, decided to right this particular wrong.</div>
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The Forest Hills Biergarten isn't the biggest beer garden in the city, but it's hardly the smallest, and it's a right proper one. There are murals and greenery. Long tables dominate the seating. There's a waterfall wall made from beer taps. Along with the food menu, the bulk of the beer is German or Oktoberfest themed. There's a bean bag toss, a six-foot tall Jenga block set, and a bunch of table games for people to play with. Forest Hills is a demographic melting pot and the customers that I saw were of every race and age. The beer garden was loud and lively without ever getting loud and obnoxious. You could have a conversation. Lutsy and I showed up around 9pm and got a seat right away, though there were precious few left. </div>
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Lutsy ordered a wine cocktail; some kind of frozen margarita type thing that was sweet and fruity. Very girlie. I ordered a liter of Hofbrau Oktoberfest that was the size of my head. Very manly. She did her nails and I beat my chest while we went over the menu deciding dinner. The food, as I stated, was very beer-garden-y. Bavarian pretzels and bratwurst and so forth. Having never eaten at Cobblestones before, I can't speak to whether this was their regular menu. Feel free to leave a comment if you know. In the end, I chose the <b>Chicken Schnitzle Club Sandwich</b>, which came with pickles and German potato salad. Neither Lutsy nor I expected the potato salad to be warm, but no biggie. It was pretty good. As was the sandwich, and I inhaled it much faster than I expected. Lutsy chose the more pub food traditional <b>Buffalo Chicken Wrap</b>. Not exactly currywurst with spaetzle... but whatcha gonna do? She liked it and the fries that it came with, and would get it again. Her one nit to pick, the one stick in her craw, was that it was too small, and looking at the photo anew, yeah. It's small.</div>
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The Forest Hills Biergarten is a great addition to the neighborhood. The beer list doesn't pay much, if any, attention to the craft microbrews that have taken over the scene in recent years and the food is basically bar food, but that's the point. This is a beer garden. You go to have fun, drink, eat, play. There are games and TVs and pretty much anyone can go and feel at home. Go for a not-romantic date night or with your buddies or with the kids. I can say very honestly that the Forest Hills Biergarten might have the most social atmosphere of any place in walking distance. And I walk long distances.</div>
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Just about everything on the menu, from the food to the drinks ranged in the $10-$15 zone.</div>
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Just an FYI. the entrance is not through Cobblestones Pub, but around the corner and down the side street. </div>
Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-54170789107119125542018-06-07T18:50:00.000-04:002019-02-01T17:19:39.219-05:00RIMTIN<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>RIMTIN</b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
• 104-02 Metropolitan Avenue</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
• Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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• (718) 674-6503 •</div>
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Where once sat Queen's only Michelin-starred restaurant, Danny Brown, now sits Rimtin, an upscale but casual Mediterranean spot. Open for about a year, Rimtin is long past the point of finding and ironing out any opening-day wrinkles and sculpting the most appropriate menu. Lutsy and I have had it on our shortlist for quite some time, and we finally got around to going. And I wish they had hired me on as a consultant first. </div>
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The interior of Rimtin is a decidedly nice one and on the surface, they would appear to have done everything right. But there are all of these tiny mistakes that add up and are especially odd given how this isn't the owner's first restaurant. Rimtin only just got a liquor license, so there's no wine list. They just ask you what varietal you'd like a glass of. That's fine, but it's been a year and the central design element is a big fancy bar area. There's no website, which would be fine fifteen years ago, but is just bizarre these days. There isn't any music playing, so unless the whole place is busy, your conversation is projected for all to hear. The bathroom is clean, but once you pay attention, you see that it's been painted very sloppily. In the dining area, the left side of the room has bright lighting while the right side is shrouded in darkness, which is completely nonsensical. For some reason there's a television on the back wall, which I suppose could be for... I dunno, ESPN?</div>
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Once we placed our order the waitress, who was extremely nice, brought out a warm basket of delicious bread and some olive oil, which was promptly devoured. We ordered two appetizers to share, <b>Stuffed Grape Leaves</b> and <b>Zucchini Pancakes</b>. The grape leaves were a must-order. Once I saw them on the menu there wasn't even a conversation to be had. And they were good. Very good. Sweet and light, with a little tartness from the lemon juice, I can safely say that they were a good choice. Far and away better than anything you'd get at a supermarket. The zucchini pancakes were also good, but not at the same level. They were a little too charred for my taste and relied too heavily on the yogurt sauce to have much flavor. But for a fried dish, they didn't <i>feel</i> fatty and I enjoyed the illusion of eating something healthy.</div>
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We both opted for lamb entrees, as lamb tends to be a bit more rare on restaurant menus. I really don't understand this, as Americans love beef, and lamb is quite beefy, but such is life. Lutsy got the <b>Adana Kebab</b>, a pair of ground lamb cylinders served with a scoop of rice pilaf, a small side salad, a grilled pepper, and half of a grilled tomato. The other half of that grilled tomato found its way onto my plate, the <b>Lamb Shish</b>, which is quite literally the exact same dish but with cubed lamb instead of ground lamb. The adana kebab was too dry, which resulted in a rather flat taste, so I don't really recommend that one. The lamb shish (kebab) was, on the other hand, quite good. Tender, medium rare, flavorful. </div>
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Both dishes had an optional side of <b>yogurt</b>, which we both went for. I shit you not, Rimtin gives you what appears to be two cups of yogurt. Therefore, our meal included four cups of yogurt. Unless you plan on taking it home to throw granola in come morning, I highly discourage ordering this particular supplement. </div>
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We both enjoyed our experience at Rimtin, and I fully plan to return and try the chicken and other dishes offered here, but this leads me to my final critique. I know that when I do so, I'll get a small side salad, a tomato, a pepper, and some rice pilaf. And that's fine. But it's not better than fine and it will never be better than fine. Because it's lazy. Am I asking too much because this is Queens, not Manhattan? No, and fuck you for saying that and fuck you for giving outer-borough restaurateurs reasons to go to Brooklyn instead. </div>
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In the end, I like Rimtin and they can expect to see more of my money in the future. They're a comfortable spot with lovely staff, a decent kitchen, and they are relatively inexpensive. But I'd like to see some imagination on the menu, to be handed a decent wine list, to hear some music on the speakers, and maybe one day they can get around to fixing the lighting.</div>
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Expect to pay around $10 for an appetizer and $20 for an entree, on average.Rimtin is not on OpenTable.</div>
Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-22869394522983988312018-04-11T18:08:00.000-04:002019-02-01T17:19:54.950-05:00NUMERO 28 PIZZERIA<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://www.numero28.com/menu-and-locations/forest-hills/"><b>NUMERO 28 PIZZERIA</b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
• 107-12 70th Road</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
• Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
• (718) 544-4600 •</div>
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If there's one thing that this blog advocates for, it's for the inclusion of more restaurants to the area. Good ones. Fun ones. Cool ones. Ones that might make people in Manhattan or Brooklyn go "hey, nice." Well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Numero 28 Pizzeria, the rather highly regarded minichain that sells upscale wood-fired pizza recently opened a Forest Hills location and I decided to go... four times. </div>
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Numero 28 is sort of like a cross between the gastropub feel of Station House and the Italian restaurant feel of Tuscan Hills with a thin crust pizza menu a la Nick's. The exposed brick walls, Edison bulbs, and glowing ball table lamps are youthful and cool, but the dark woods and red leather seating along the wall between the bar and the open hearth wood-fire oven lends an upper-class atmosphere to the place. As a result, Numero 28 is able to appeal across age demographics, alienating no one but those with little kids. </div>
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On none of my four trips to Numeo 28 did I order standard Italian entrees, so if that's what you're looking for a review of, then I hate to disappoint you, but you're gonna be disappointed. I did, on the other hand, try two of their appetizers and both were very good. The first appetizer, the <b>Polpo Alla Griglia</b>, a grilled octopus leg with Brussels sprouts over a butternut squash puree was more than very good. It was amazing. It was tender, lightly charred, exploded with flavor, and both Lutsy and I absolutely loved it. The other appetizer I tried, on a subsequent excursion with my parents, was the <b>Sicilian Rice Balls</b>. The rice balls, which are filled with a meat sauce and mozzarella cheese, are about halfway between the size of a golf ball and a tennis ball, come in a group of three, and are served in a little bowl of sweet marinara sauce. We all liked them very much, and I'd certainly get them again. My parents were happy to have tried them but weren't swooning. "I prefer the ones we had in Sicily," my mom remarked. First world problems notwithstanding, I predict that you'll enjoy them.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWDyxlsZ8rh3rgnbzZ0FUXTqQMRagOr0ZwRmhCMZ8RTIg4XU3JqIuiCBt4GzRNAeyktA-gEvIFZP-dLkFi1jmsQIbBtLu0aj4IEKj8A3PNubpck3NDhLC_QmDz5mz5KD0mQSbWgYvyZta/s1600/AdobePhotoshopExpress_c5defbdfad424fedafe02ddfe1535ed1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWDyxlsZ8rh3rgnbzZ0FUXTqQMRagOr0ZwRmhCMZ8RTIg4XU3JqIuiCBt4GzRNAeyktA-gEvIFZP-dLkFi1jmsQIbBtLu0aj4IEKj8A3PNubpck3NDhLC_QmDz5mz5KD0mQSbWgYvyZta/s640/AdobePhotoshopExpress_c5defbdfad424fedafe02ddfe1535ed1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2wME92tO2LiNd3JJuZ_0S0shdQIcY3Ibwx8Irnbw-H2-2VA2gzFuLo_LKWJMC6vZ9Mf0u1TlFYPS3g7zAoOGzdqfGvensWgh_jZqiae754NJpACp2hoCsKh8N6-YDjtzUV0-1dGUSZ7c/s1600/WP_20180226_14_41_22_Rich.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2wME92tO2LiNd3JJuZ_0S0shdQIcY3Ibwx8Irnbw-H2-2VA2gzFuLo_LKWJMC6vZ9Mf0u1TlFYPS3g7zAoOGzdqfGvensWgh_jZqiae754NJpACp2hoCsKh8N6-YDjtzUV0-1dGUSZ7c/s640/WP_20180226_14_41_22_Rich.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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In no particular order, I tried seven pizzas from Numero 28. All were good even if I didn't like them. Case in point, the <b>Marinara</b> pie was particularly awful, but that's my fault because I was a schnook and didn't read the description. Others out there might say "hey, this is loaded with anchovies and capers and doesn't come burdened with pesky cheese? Who could ask for more?!" That said, I'm sure it was a good pizza. It's just that I'm the wrong market for such a dish. On the other side of the spectrum, the <b>Numero 28</b>, a white pie with speck and mushrooms, was insanely good. I wish they made a red pie version because, at the end of the day, red pies are where my heart is. Speaking of white pies, aside from the Numero 28 the white pies, across the board, were weaker than the red ones. The <b>Salsiccia e Friarielli</b> pie, which comes with spicy Italian sausage and broccoli rabe (gotta have my dark greens), and the <b>Pere</b>, which is a Gorgonzola pie topped with walnuts and thin spices of pear were both just okay. The Salsiccia was understandably bitter, but also kinda dull. I'd absolutely get it again, mind you, but I'd want to get it with a companion who is ordering a red pie so we could split the two. Meanwhile the Pere, which one would expect to be sweet, wasn't. Indeed, it was somewhat bland. I really can't recommend the Pere, but Numero 28 can fix it by adding a drizzle of honey and a drizzle of balsamic reduction. THEN I think it'd be great.</div>
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The <b>Margherita</b> pizza is the closest to a standard plain pie that I saw on the Numero 28 menu, and it's not going to disappoint you. The marinara is sweet, there's just enough fresh basil to give you that amazing aroma without turning the pie into smelling like a dry goods store, and they don't skimp on the cheese. Skimping on the cheese is the biggest threat to a good margarita pie and Numero 28 loads the pie down with fior de latte (the go-to cheese on most of their pizzas). If you want something with a little bit more oomph, the <b>Fricchettone</b> and <b>Rustica</b> pies are great. The Fricchettone is loaded up with kale, sausage, basil, and two kinds of cheese and honestly is just heaven on a plate. The similarly optioned Rustica uses green pepper, which I thought made the pizza a little less complex and interesting on the tongue. On the plus side, it's easier to pronounce, especially after two glasses of malbec. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXIVYbqMB1j-_ZQ_i_TMkN7qxaXVn0e6E7-ljIdzswQzsK5Nt5ifksGGT_NLEl7QGBT_umZMtuZ73pO7LbUSj68J9RgGjzfJx0cZd7st2SmOPVPovinLsN6sNc1qH6iaK_E8MMi0RYbW0/s1600/WP_20180325_16_01_49_Rich.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXIVYbqMB1j-_ZQ_i_TMkN7qxaXVn0e6E7-ljIdzswQzsK5Nt5ifksGGT_NLEl7QGBT_umZMtuZ73pO7LbUSj68J9RgGjzfJx0cZd7st2SmOPVPovinLsN6sNc1qH6iaK_E8MMi0RYbW0/s640/WP_20180325_16_01_49_Rich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margherita (top) and Pere (bottom) pies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8z61sGHQ1sltDjlpr9H2nKjRTg9O5YTrPOiu-Y2_gS9DjsbAKEzlPw8hxFh3tlFfYTjZB8k8Xrq7iZBWX97rTl9lkVxHHvaF9kjDcv6rNy0ufqRfWPk5gFqp7mDqLeJHSAxDoecx429zP/s1600/AdobePhotoshopExpress_5eaad12033d14762bfc8563158c79df2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8z61sGHQ1sltDjlpr9H2nKjRTg9O5YTrPOiu-Y2_gS9DjsbAKEzlPw8hxFh3tlFfYTjZB8k8Xrq7iZBWX97rTl9lkVxHHvaF9kjDcv6rNy0ufqRfWPk5gFqp7mDqLeJHSAxDoecx429zP/s640/AdobePhotoshopExpress_5eaad12033d14762bfc8563158c79df2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fricchettone pie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nbJ3MQfSjzspGgaTv9csy9PcwSy4_8HP4GHiLxSogpLWkmcOVdPwY3PkIbYoMdZ8gFLcmES8thPSsEmM2ruGE46b-4cYTij4XgEtQM4Y8C3Y_Br1ieXlvQKsRnhqaZGsHknaz9bwDv7w/s1600/WP_20180224_20_10_21_Rich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nbJ3MQfSjzspGgaTv9csy9PcwSy4_8HP4GHiLxSogpLWkmcOVdPwY3PkIbYoMdZ8gFLcmES8thPSsEmM2ruGE46b-4cYTij4XgEtQM4Y8C3Y_Br1ieXlvQKsRnhqaZGsHknaz9bwDv7w/s640/WP_20180224_20_10_21_Rich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Numero 28 pie</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheO8_-yuFN_BxnZuNkMhyphenhyphenD6FBum_GpDZbKQbhvGtkTL1v_Wj3nczEzO4Wx5cx_m7wxaNE5w8P4dlVeRAjmhQhdFRsW2cHxP_IizfS11yeATZaIIXJ_ewOhZd3Rpx4NsyTL3JfKrHOSfOaT/s1600/WP_20180226_14_42_38_Rich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheO8_-yuFN_BxnZuNkMhyphenhyphenD6FBum_GpDZbKQbhvGtkTL1v_Wj3nczEzO4Wx5cx_m7wxaNE5w8P4dlVeRAjmhQhdFRsW2cHxP_IizfS11yeATZaIIXJ_ewOhZd3Rpx4NsyTL3JfKrHOSfOaT/s640/WP_20180226_14_42_38_Rich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marinara pie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_GXFWP1PfjEphGumcDZztpJnjKmHBPUvTu8vvMAENYeggZ_MxXAXR6Kir79DbiWUjo7Y8TBTCfyu_lZPnWqXQV6FIRjoXXO3hqmuBEjveMQPnhpe4NbmmZE2YFfAv4aGAyxi0Sc756YE/s1600/WP_20180406_19_24_20_Rich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_GXFWP1PfjEphGumcDZztpJnjKmHBPUvTu8vvMAENYeggZ_MxXAXR6Kir79DbiWUjo7Y8TBTCfyu_lZPnWqXQV6FIRjoXXO3hqmuBEjveMQPnhpe4NbmmZE2YFfAv4aGAyxi0Sc756YE/s640/WP_20180406_19_24_20_Rich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rustica pie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNZYfSFpoDQUehrDeX_9UGMCT1xF7q9rwxMvlsF1TEUHlFECSMULon4epudKF6go1NlEHuhwCGlycnq1PeFBZHlfRwhE3OX52Q2cMDiI6YiXsVIkjiORLpMcK4yi6XnpbTCaRROpST6xK/s1600/WP_20180406_19_24_30_Rich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNZYfSFpoDQUehrDeX_9UGMCT1xF7q9rwxMvlsF1TEUHlFECSMULon4epudKF6go1NlEHuhwCGlycnq1PeFBZHlfRwhE3OX52Q2cMDiI6YiXsVIkjiORLpMcK4yi6XnpbTCaRROpST6xK/s640/WP_20180406_19_24_30_Rich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salsiccia e Friarielli pie</td></tr>
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Having now sampled a rather large swath of Numero 28's pizza menu, I can state unequivocally that they know what they're doing. The pizza is most similar to Nick's in theory, but not in practice. Nick's is where I'd go for a more traditional pie if I want that pie in this style. Numero 28 is more specialty-focused. There's no basic cheese pie; no pepperoni pie; no plain white pie. And while they have a "toppings" list where one could presumably build the pie of their choice, since there's no basic cheese pie to build it on, the toppings section seems like a waste of menu real estate. Plus, as I alluded to before, Numero 28 isn't really kid-friendly. I'm not saying that they'll kick you out, but Nick's with it's bright lights and big booths is way way better for families with children.</div>
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Side notes to the management: <i>please</i> lose the TV over the bar. NASCAR and negronis do not mix. </div>
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Each individual pie is about 12 inches in diameter, which is enough for one person to eat without stuffing themselves to bursting, and costs an average of $17. They also make pies for "couples" that are bigger, and "family" sized pies that are about a yard long.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8S6SpqjAjkQ2WGfIaXCUwe73LAJpNNG1kC0JoXHgr29sxCiJuFahnU410bzGrEMBOhAPu5MUv9WH4JG4ykoXINVbA8PFWspWjr1AEhKTWtAsKaA1UOysen2U3DSSNQLM0PPkdzgBgtK_U/s1600/WP_20180325_15_34_55_Rich.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8S6SpqjAjkQ2WGfIaXCUwe73LAJpNNG1kC0JoXHgr29sxCiJuFahnU410bzGrEMBOhAPu5MUv9WH4JG4ykoXINVbA8PFWspWjr1AEhKTWtAsKaA1UOysen2U3DSSNQLM0PPkdzgBgtK_U/s640/WP_20180325_15_34_55_Rich.jpg" width="640" /></a>Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-20958930128397121002018-03-08T15:47:00.001-05:002019-02-01T17:20:05.762-05:00XIN TASTE<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>XIN TASTE LAN ZHOU HAND PULL NOODLE</b></div>
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• 72-38 Austin Street</div>
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• Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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• (718) 520-5199 •</div>
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A late lunch brought Lutsy and I to Xin Taste a few days ago. We wanted cheap, good, fast, and not burgers. Neither of us had been to Xin Taste, the pulled noodle spot on Austin Street. Pulled noodles have become quite the trend in the last year, with restaurants popping up across the city; Chinese cuisine's answer to ramen. It makes sense. I won't get into politics, but life ain't cheap. Hence, the rise in demand for dining options that are. Enter Xin Taste. Huge portions and not a burger in sight.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0LMKPke2HCERpKy9uvgtVly9cggFAABOcvRXdmIPbx5pXt3nsC4O-0hzhD97oJyQIlSWs0A_-SWqje3bxJlv0MAj-HaZl4XvEZHkr8RlfzPqXwPSW7_gWma8orVEYGDpzAFYEUEUPv02/s1600/WP_20180303_16_52_09_Rich%252B%2525282%252529+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1457" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0LMKPke2HCERpKy9uvgtVly9cggFAABOcvRXdmIPbx5pXt3nsC4O-0hzhD97oJyQIlSWs0A_-SWqje3bxJlv0MAj-HaZl4XvEZHkr8RlfzPqXwPSW7_gWma8orVEYGDpzAFYEUEUPv02/s640/WP_20180303_16_52_09_Rich%252B%2525282%252529+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Xin taste is small. It has just a few tables and one long counter. If you're like me, your inner nerd emerged began and you immediately thought of Blade Runner. If only it was pouring rain, pitch black out, and the cars flew. Definitely grab a seat along the wall, watch the chef through the window make the noodles from scratch and whip them like jump-rope stretching them out, and enjoy the coziness of eating at the only noodle bar in the area. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HzBKg8r2eaW8iHgYd8wgF0K3w2N23u1j_MB_0xn6VqkApjjmHOkyqOGREz0ycHKfII5Qzwjlbpd5J0BOpFHrSNCEXloey612nuV8gUEbLSGtGbQV-Am0MrB3m_L0xzqnP9W3z2B_I4ae/s1600/WP_20180303_16_26_18_Rich.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HzBKg8r2eaW8iHgYd8wgF0K3w2N23u1j_MB_0xn6VqkApjjmHOkyqOGREz0ycHKfII5Qzwjlbpd5J0BOpFHrSNCEXloey612nuV8gUEbLSGtGbQV-Am0MrB3m_L0xzqnP9W3z2B_I4ae/s640/WP_20180303_16_26_18_Rich.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Lutsy and I both ordered soups with thin noodles. She ordered <b>Roast Pork La Mein Soup</b>, and I ordered the <b>House Special La Mein Soup</b>. All of the soups come with your choice of beef broth or clear broth. "The clear broth is pretty tasteless, but the vegans like it" said the girl taking our order with a no-accounting-for-taste look on her face. "Sometimes, they even just ask for plain hot water." I told her we'd go with the beef broth.</div>
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The soups both came loaded with cilantro and scallion and with a hard-boiled egg and some additional veggies. Throw in some hot pepper or vinegar and let your sinuses open up while you smell that deliciousness. The bowls are big. I'd say you get a solid quart's worth for your money. The main difference, if not the only difference, between our choices was the meat. The House Special comes with a variety: spare ribs, roast pork, roast beef, and sausage. I was most surprised by how good the sausage was. And if anyone ever asks you if you should throw your spare ribs into a soup, you now know that the answer was yes. The one downside was that the cuts are cheap and by the time the soup was done there was a little collection of fat or bone or cartilage to throw away on the side of the tray. All the same, this was a great bowl of soup. I couldn't wait to return. </div>
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So I did. I came back a few days later by myself to try a stir fry. I chose the <b>Roast Pork Dao Xiao Mein</b> (the wide noodle). Again, the amount you get is massive. The couple next to me, as they were leaving, remarked how full they were and probably won't need anything else for the rest of the day. This is clearly a common response. The wide noodles are thick and doughy and they stick together into delicious globs. The meal is essentially a stew. It's thick and syrupy. There were mushrooms, tomato, bok choi, and sprouts along with my roast pork, but not nearly as many as I would have liked. More vegetables are always a plus in my book, especially with a dish as starch-heavy as this. That doesn't mean it wasn't good. Even though I preferred the soup, and will likely stick to soup at Xin Taste from now on, I all but licked my plate clean.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivodhvSG8SUMYioTcAbuBfZT872amceKC7Tzb0uN3uCmy5vNcvq1EKFlsPsn5LlGIzcK2MKebafqaT_1pp15Kw9L6XJrYjQVcz4blXWxA5T2M6eJyVjwUmdAadeKx4505w2qkeFZTpePRT/s1600/WP_20180308_14_13_45_Rich.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivodhvSG8SUMYioTcAbuBfZT872amceKC7Tzb0uN3uCmy5vNcvq1EKFlsPsn5LlGIzcK2MKebafqaT_1pp15Kw9L6XJrYjQVcz4blXWxA5T2M6eJyVjwUmdAadeKx4505w2qkeFZTpePRT/s640/WP_20180308_14_13_45_Rich.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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"So how is this soup different from ramen?" Lutsy asked as we left. Well, I told her, it's hard to explain but you'll see for yourself when <a href="http://www.eattheworldnyc.com/2015/11/tamashii-ramen.html">Tamashii</a> opens up down the block.</div>
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Each bowl of soup or stir fry dish ranges from $10 to $13. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJBpFw4VqfSHtVGZZLlmVLl8htQ4AqjdCnaiMY45Kg_A-WmRSc9YB_ufVXBXx-F8MXZBeZR-iG1ZJVUM-2XBNYdZSfNAItRVZS-urT8JhxhJG8VAw5Pv_HBICUNrzVLgkP24EQUUYUfZc/s1600/WP_20180303_16_27_48_Rich.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJBpFw4VqfSHtVGZZLlmVLl8htQ4AqjdCnaiMY45Kg_A-WmRSc9YB_ufVXBXx-F8MXZBeZR-iG1ZJVUM-2XBNYdZSfNAItRVZS-urT8JhxhJG8VAw5Pv_HBICUNrzVLgkP24EQUUYUfZc/s640/WP_20180303_16_27_48_Rich.jpg" width="640" /></a>Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-48778546567230053582018-01-11T20:27:00.001-05:002018-01-11T20:28:15.843-05:00TUSCAN HILLS<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.tuscanhillsnyc.com/Site/index.php"><b>TUSCAN HILLS</b></a></div>
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110-60 Queens Boulevard</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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(718) 487-4500</div>
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"Arrivederci Ovo Sodo," was what I thought to myself as I stepped into Tuscan Hills' new location. Ovo Sodo, Tuscan Hills' more casual sister, was my favorite Italian restaurant in the zip code that didn't have "Tazzina" in its name and I was sad to see it go. It was bright and airy and relaxed, had a great brunch, and, most importantly, made the "OvoSodo" Pizza. But a lack of packing in customers meant that Ovo Sodo was not long for this world. Meanwhile, Tuscan Hills wanted a better location. As it turns out, being smack halfway between Continental and Union Turnpike was less than ideal. </div>
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I had hoped that the new Tuscan Hills would absorb some of the Ovo Sodo elements (both design-wise and menu-wise), but that was not the case. It's all but a carbon copy of the original location; its decor is darker and subdued. More romantic and has that more traditionally Mediterranean look. If Ovo Sodo was where you would meet your girlfriends to split appetizers and gossip, then Tuscan Hills was where you would take your girlfriend on her birthday.</div>
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So I took my girlfriend there on her birthday. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFgf1oq70bIPdHFlBeo5gPsp8grXWY2r8rjVeoXwEXv9RZ50EXrOZxLB3IKz210oJ2GxN0aum0TUkiFoBA0jdtSsBjbHug5zXhluPtzHIiHBjwBL73gnz424q8LQoDSFIQDoOHrEXVSsd/s1600/WP_20180105_21_27_07_Pro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFgf1oq70bIPdHFlBeo5gPsp8grXWY2r8rjVeoXwEXv9RZ50EXrOZxLB3IKz210oJ2GxN0aum0TUkiFoBA0jdtSsBjbHug5zXhluPtzHIiHBjwBL73gnz424q8LQoDSFIQDoOHrEXVSsd/s640/WP_20180105_21_27_07_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Lutsy and I were led to a seat by the window where I patiently waited until the table in the middle of the photograph above this paragraph emptied and was reset so I could take a decent shot. As we drank our wine and poured over the menu, I found myself straining to find something to order that seemed unique to Tuscan Hills. Prosciutto wrapped asparagus doesn't make that list and Lutsy and I have learned that fried calamari should be reserved for New England bars, covered in jalapeños, and served alongside a hoppy IPA. So, in skipping the old standbys, she chose the <b>Rustico Bruschetta</b>, a mushroom bruschetta with mozzarella and truffle oil, and I ordered the <b>Fagioli All Uccelleto</b>, a braised and crusted spicy sausage over cannellini beans and cherry tomatoes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NyAfCY3UXWwvEQVnyDQBzqknJBgvt6v36dMrBnYh6I6ZFAuKDcfQJ825pZe5Owi86uhUnHHlTazCPHMMpNQ28R3h_lN_12k0D5Ld15ji328qfxdfsbZeOhOXgalAqA2zSDXkHNVLIDuP/s1600/WP_20180105_20_44_37_Pro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NyAfCY3UXWwvEQVnyDQBzqknJBgvt6v36dMrBnYh6I6ZFAuKDcfQJ825pZe5Owi86uhUnHHlTazCPHMMpNQ28R3h_lN_12k0D5Ld15ji328qfxdfsbZeOhOXgalAqA2zSDXkHNVLIDuP/s640/WP_20180105_20_44_37_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Sadly, the bruschetta was a miss. Serving it on a small cutting board was cute and certainly "rustic", but serving it on a few leaves of lettuce was somewhat pathetic and sucked all of that rustic cuteness right out the door. "You gonna eat your salad?" I said after the dish was finished. Lutsy did not reply. Still, we didn't come here to gripe about poor garnish choices, we came to eat, and this particular bruschetta made us wish that we had eaten something else. I can't beat it up and claim that it was inedible, because that's far from the case, but it was dry and bland. The dish needed something else, like a cream sauce between the mushrooms and the cheese. Something to moisten it up. On the other hand, the sausage was very good and much larger than I was expecting. If all you want for dinner is an appetizer, this is the one to get. The sausage, as expected, had a little bit of bite to it, and it paired very well with the almost creamy beans and tomato. Add in the lack of unnecessary lettuce leaves and it's win win win!</div>
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For the main course, Lutsy was debating between the lasagna and the <b>Pici Alla Fondelli</b>, fettuccine with olives in a wild boar meat sauce. The bold font might have given it away but she opted to try the lasagna another time and chose the pici alla fondelli. This was the better of our chosen two entrees. The fettuccine was phone-book-thick; they say it's fresh-made). The meat sauce was delicious, and I think there should have been more of it. Wild boar in general is a bit like a gamey cross between pork and beef, and this was no exception. So if you're a meat sauce fan, enjoy wild boar, and like having every third bite explode with the bitter tartness of an olive, then I highly recommend this dish. </div>
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Initially, I was planning to get the wild boar as well, but in order to sample more of the menu, I went for the non-pasta option of the <b>Pollo Al Peperoni</b>, a massive, pounded flat chicken breast with mashed potatoes in an onion pepper cream sauce with balsamic drizzled on top. When one flattens a piece of meat like chicken breast, because it's so lean, it's hard to keep it from drying out when it cooks. As a result, the chicken was not as moist as I would have liked. But the sauce, which was rich and thick and filled to bursting with flavor, more than made up for it. Add that heavy sauce to the very thick mashed potatoes and you have leftovers coming home with you. The portions at Tuscan Hills are not small.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmxoHJSNfYrTMLaOZmDIKHTbyWMAmwiKWwJSDJmo8JfrwlOrTYF7-P0xmhy2vtjkzpxxhvK4ptyms8W3SwKiQ4DctCM9qrhuypbpeIX9JBQzVnHvHqfj3XFZc_OiRtzsQWRAEfl33u0kX/s1600/WP_20180105_21_01_02_Pro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmxoHJSNfYrTMLaOZmDIKHTbyWMAmwiKWwJSDJmo8JfrwlOrTYF7-P0xmhy2vtjkzpxxhvK4ptyms8W3SwKiQ4DctCM9qrhuypbpeIX9JBQzVnHvHqfj3XFZc_OiRtzsQWRAEfl33u0kX/s640/WP_20180105_21_01_02_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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We thought about dessert, then decided on going to Martha's instead, possibly meeting up with some friends who had basically been locked out of their apartment and were holed up waiting with some cake. But the friends left before our meal finished and, stepping outsidem we remembered just how cold 14-degrees actually is. So we went home, as dessertless as an Atkins diet plan.</div>
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If you liked the old Tuscan Hills, then you'll like the new one. It's a
total fold-over from the original location, but this spot is less
cramped. I hope that they bring back the build-own-pasta that they used to have (unless I just made that up, in which case they should add it to the menu), and I hope that they resurrect the pizza menu from Ovo Sodo, especially the OvoSodo pizza, because that pie was perfection. In the end, Lutsy and I had a good time. The staff was very friendly,
the wine pours were large, and the service was pretty good. The food was
good, though I regret to say not amazing. There's an intimacy to Tuscan
Hills that very few restaurants in walking distance have, save Jack
& Nellie's and Reef and I'm sure that we will be back at some time in
the near future. There were more hits than misses, and the prices (while
not low) are decent. As a neighborhood Italian restaurant goes, it's a
good spot.</div>
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Appetizers overall average $12, pastas average $18, entrees average $24. Three glasses of wine, two appetizers and two entrees, plus tax and tip came to $105.Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-6513123006006237642017-10-18T20:40:00.002-04:002018-04-06T08:58:41.475-04:00QUEENS BULLY<div style="text-align: right;">
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<i>(edit: the stools are better now! I claim responsibility.) </i><b><br /></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.queensbully.com/"><b>QUEENS BULLY</b></a></div>
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113-30 Queens Boulevard</div>
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Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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(728) 520-8600</div>
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Queens Bully, the Southern-inspired gastropub on Queens Boulevard that opened this Summer, is literally around the corner from where my girlfriend lives, so walks to her place are often filled with the sweet smell of barbecue smoke. Once upon a time, the location was home to the oft-derided Baluchi's Indian restaurant and, indeed, Queens Bully is owned by that same family. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOcGjx1fCOY9ynCxucLrgGHq-sKHGoWcafyCndJRW8949GRYMZkbe5FOWGqxzzb2cJBMROhwpn3-KqZFqNuyB7_-y66S_XLkTpU8A82us6E-0trO8Wn-eRvD59tB36KIbq_9lizUTIFVy/s1600/WP_20170909_18_35_41_Pro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOcGjx1fCOY9ynCxucLrgGHq-sKHGoWcafyCndJRW8949GRYMZkbe5FOWGqxzzb2cJBMROhwpn3-KqZFqNuyB7_-y66S_XLkTpU8A82us6E-0trO8Wn-eRvD59tB36KIbq_9lizUTIFVy/s640/WP_20170909_18_35_41_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I've been to Queens Bully about a half dozen times, allowing me to get acquainted with the place and see how it's ironed out its opening day kinks. Facebook at the time was alight with people complaining about waits of two-plus hours, turnover in the kitchen, and of course a cold bathroom. These grumbles have mostly subsided, except on Yelp, which is all but expected.</div>
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I happen to like Queens Bully, but I don't love it. So this review is going to be chockablock with criticism not out of negativity, but because I want it to succeed. I will try not to be petty, though I will probably fail. </div>
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To start off, I like the interior. A lot. It's big and airy and dimly lit without being dark. It feels just right for a gastropub that does barbecue. That said there are two aspects of said interior that I hate. The bar stools are awful. They're uncomfortable, hard to move, difficult to get in and out of, and their height relative to the bartop is too low. Maybe the bar is too high? Whatever the reason, as someone who almost always prefers to eat at the bar instead of at a table, these stools are a huge negative. And speaking of sitting at the tables, many of them have four legs instead of one in the center. So you can't move. You can't cross your legs or shift. I've twice asked to move to the large communal tables where at least I don't bang my knee every two minutes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmvJL2369z5WIyj7ekYB29v2D7bsyKnI4x4EcU01NUZzAD34ROJF3MOMZe0DN5lusZz0esj3BRxoooBLOPhhhL_usGDhjCZGVhv7tamCgbxziF3ZPC37tjoTR0-MwcUJSBbYRunhWaA2r/s1600/WP_20170909_19_14_49_Pro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmvJL2369z5WIyj7ekYB29v2D7bsyKnI4x4EcU01NUZzAD34ROJF3MOMZe0DN5lusZz0esj3BRxoooBLOPhhhL_usGDhjCZGVhv7tamCgbxziF3ZPC37tjoTR0-MwcUJSBbYRunhWaA2r/s640/WP_20170909_19_14_49_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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The menu is a decent size, but there isn't any focus. Queens Bully likes to call itself a barbecue restaurant, but that's not really true. There's barbecue, but it's not close to majority of the menu. It's more Southern than anything else, but there are also empanadas, tacos, naan pizzas, a Mediterranean mezze plate, ceviche, Korean wings, a Bavarian pretzle, fish & chips... No. NO NO NO! This is supposed to be barbecue! If one goes to the website, the first thing that pops up on the screen is BBQ CULTURE... in all caps! Barbecue and fish & chips do not go together. Barbecue and a mezze plate do not go together and the result is the menu having little to no flow. The last time that I went (last week), Lutsy (girlfriend) stared at the menu for, I shit you not, a solid twenty minutes trying to decide what to order. If Queens Bully wants to be a barbecue place, great. They need to shitcan half the menu.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WWjPOlZwb8CNStzch9LToaeTZRXHTBhnmq7MPQyrRgPWmiMzSHmHk4YNzyWzz1PRjcq9yejmRIorjUmgfae2W78rMfLprwcYim8A0VDtTR7qpD8c3swbzAHHdZ2ursSLb-4XRDMXCqyU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-10-18+at+6.46.25+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1200" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WWjPOlZwb8CNStzch9LToaeTZRXHTBhnmq7MPQyrRgPWmiMzSHmHk4YNzyWzz1PRjcq9yejmRIorjUmgfae2W78rMfLprwcYim8A0VDtTR7qpD8c3swbzAHHdZ2ursSLb-4XRDMXCqyU/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-10-18+at+6.46.25+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that Instagram-worthy shot! You should probably follow me on Instagram. </td></tr>
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Take those critiques how you will. What about the food itself? </div>
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The <b>Avocado Fries</b>, served with a light breading and a side of both BBQ and chipotle aiolis are crazy good. There's only four, so savor them. Chew slowly. They are amazing. I went in thinking "this'll be meh" and could not have been more wrong. Order them. I order you. The <b>Truffle Mac & Cheese</b> is okay. Honestly, when I went with a buddy of mine the servers brought everything out to the table at once (which we told them to do; it wasn't a fuckup) and by the time I got to the mac & cheese I was so full and so half plastered that I couldn't have finished it if my life depended on it. That said, I give it a B and think it should lose the breadcrumbs. Meanwhile the <b>Ill Bully BBQ Poutine</b> - french fries with bacon, a beer gravy, and a blue cheese crema, was pretty good, but not poutine. I like poutine. Nay, I love poutine. I traveled to Montreal just to eat poutine. This was more like glorified cheese fries, which is fine, but it doesn't look so good on a menu when you put it that way. I liked it and would get it again, but the dish would be improved 1000% by using fat steak fries instead of thin fries. Thin fries and gravy turn to mushy potato slop. </div>
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One day, I ventured over all by my lonesome, attempted to be healthy, and ordered the <b>Kale & Beet Salad</b>, a plate of kale, quinoa, beets, and bacon thinking "kale, beets, quinoa? Sure there's bacon, but that's three superfoods against one super-villainfood." Learn from my failure. This was less a salad than a veritable mountain of ultra-diced <i>fried</i> kale with enough quinoa to fill a hippie's breakfast bowl. It literally crunched like it was granola. The whole thing was a disappointment. But I ate it because A) I paid for it and B) I'm sure that there was a vitamin in there somewhere. </div>
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Most recently, my trip with Lutsy was win win, the <b>Chicken & Waffle</b> was fantastic. Fried chicken atop a waffle, with a chipotle aioli and syrup. While the menu says it comes with "upstate maple syrup", do not let that lie fool you. As someone who only buys the real thing, I know fake when I get it. Menu bullshitting aside, it was delicious. Lutsy got the <b>Fried Chicken BLT</b>, a buttermilk fried chicken breast with bacon, pepperjack cheese, and a chipotle aioli. She gave it a thumbs up but I give it three thumbs up. When I went with Seth about a month ago, we ordered <b>Bully Burgers</b>, a chuck and short rib blend of meat with a "secret sauce" (McOohlala), cheddar and pork belly. "Yup, it's a burger" Seth said. And he was right. It was a burger. Yum, but not oh my God yum.</div>
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On the barbecue side, I was personally less impressed, though Lutsy disagrees. I ordered a half rack of <b>Off The Bully Baby Back Ribs</b>, which came with fries, slaw, and a cube of cornbread. The cornbread was good and it was nice to have that little layer of honey on top for added sweetness. But the ribs, while certainly better than anything I could have made at home, were far too dry. There is no comparison between this and Dinosaur BBQ, though this is within walking distance. Maybe I got a dry batch, but I was let down (BBQ CULTURE should mean fall off the bone tender). However, Lutsy got a half pound of the <b>Chopped Pork Shoulder</b>, served with the same sides, and she was enamored. She liked it more than the fried chicken sandwich, which I did not see coming, and still talks about how she wants to go back and get it again. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuUo3tNZvQbWh9NNKJ7W4h-3PAi9NGvYs7qDRUOXd-wSycVP0IePyrPA0jGye40TgsVTUIrc7ePAIKJQJziRvhJ0aw4sqzfwy1eM_tjwX3FtqYnYF-j3-enEir_9Xaw6b4FibIRcvMuBi/s1600/AdobePhotoshopExpress_e62a73eebe3b4965883551089680a7ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuUo3tNZvQbWh9NNKJ7W4h-3PAi9NGvYs7qDRUOXd-wSycVP0IePyrPA0jGye40TgsVTUIrc7ePAIKJQJziRvhJ0aw4sqzfwy1eM_tjwX3FtqYnYF-j3-enEir_9Xaw6b4FibIRcvMuBi/s640/AdobePhotoshopExpress_e62a73eebe3b4965883551089680a7ed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmYTVaKwiUtUtcX4w6hBBO27d6UnK0riV99buwt_NVqEEbHD6f4JX5yQk-ZSeFAPF6M6J3GFVlqPvvWz_lYABq51MMG0f6I35xaEiHz4A2vd-d8ozwQgYTEc1hY1Lv6xAFSgkov8nHVA1/s1600/AdobePhotoshopExpress_22cc9148267e4667acd07a27b309c7f4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmYTVaKwiUtUtcX4w6hBBO27d6UnK0riV99buwt_NVqEEbHD6f4JX5yQk-ZSeFAPF6M6J3GFVlqPvvWz_lYABq51MMG0f6I35xaEiHz4A2vd-d8ozwQgYTEc1hY1Lv6xAFSgkov8nHVA1/s640/AdobePhotoshopExpress_22cc9148267e4667acd07a27b309c7f4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In conclusion, Queens Bully has some edits to make and some misses to swap for hits. But I like the joint overall and while I don't see myself as a hardcore regular, I so see myself there again soon. The beer list is decent, the service is very good, the lines are shorter. But I'll be at the bar, cursing the stools.</div>
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Appetizers average $13, sandwiches average $15, naan pizzas are $13, cocktails are $12. The most expensive single-person thing on the menu is $25.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZuFtJ8QuD0NkEORiy9MVxDC4M8U8HR8956oqbesT4sIojF5u4Z2n_ra3BJKGatHQMJPUDlCwg2UgsQzHW-h6ZRcFsx-o6COvla8rtIDou-3b0yJbSfoVLR_P0LcZo2IK_fqrAMPGSPYw/s1600/WP_20170909_18_47_54_Pro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZuFtJ8QuD0NkEORiy9MVxDC4M8U8HR8956oqbesT4sIojF5u4Z2n_ra3BJKGatHQMJPUDlCwg2UgsQzHW-h6ZRcFsx-o6COvla8rtIDou-3b0yJbSfoVLR_P0LcZo2IK_fqrAMPGSPYw/s640/WP_20170909_18_47_54_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-3103443607310055722017-06-19T11:48:00.000-04:002017-06-19T11:48:28.252-04:00AUSTIN PUBLIC<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.austinpublicforesthills.com/"><b>AUSTIN PUBLIC</b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
71-28 Austin Street</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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(718) 575-0070</div>
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If you've ever been to a bar after work in Murray Hill or Turtle Bay and said to yourself, "I wish we had a place like this here in Forest Hills", then Austin Public is for you. There's a range of mass market beer on tap, from cheap to less so (Coors Light, Goose Island, Sam Adams, etc.); there's plenty of long bar to grab a seat at with plenty of TVs playing sports; the crowd is solidly 25 to 35 years old; the music is yell-across-the-table loud; there's a fully stocked bar but no one will be requesting a cocktail other than a Jack & Coke anytime soon. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SRZ2MLtqKWp8MVxAsc0C0ZAT-ODhdLC3O62joD1nw2emopI-rPoUcIGS027D23SoY0w9lRqpzfPclL0YgYim4nJcEaaTZpjE0e5w17tYaXRzpDoe4sggqQId7_zQysaQGkeBsnpZTrXq/s1600/WP_20170615_18_35_56_Pro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SRZ2MLtqKWp8MVxAsc0C0ZAT-ODhdLC3O62joD1nw2emopI-rPoUcIGS027D23SoY0w9lRqpzfPclL0YgYim4nJcEaaTZpjE0e5w17tYaXRzpDoe4sggqQId7_zQysaQGkeBsnpZTrXq/s640/WP_20170615_18_35_56_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Having not eaten at Austin Public for some time, I decided to shoot on over with Pike and his wife - who for the sake of being lazy I will call Pikette - and Lutsy, for a quick bite. Indeed, since the server forgot to bring us our appetizer, it was even quicker than we anticipated. When I arrived, I sat at the crowded bar, nursed a beer, and waited until my friends showed up. By 7:30PM on a midweek night, the bar was pretty full, but the dining area was half full. Still, Austin Public is large, so there were plenty of diners. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvYe7_nFpUb-oEA84s39V8ebUEZbQTQ5cH1f0XdoV58MjJHyBy27hN4shRj3kmZTFw_h0RMGSoLSaqxSR6lZGAeKebkNjOV-T4BFCEg9cFxPhf4uYzoCZDuWVw1JtI10HzLcQI0AZX9s1/s1600/WP_20170615_19_32_21_Pro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvYe7_nFpUb-oEA84s39V8ebUEZbQTQ5cH1f0XdoV58MjJHyBy27hN4shRj3kmZTFw_h0RMGSoLSaqxSR6lZGAeKebkNjOV-T4BFCEg9cFxPhf4uYzoCZDuWVw1JtI10HzLcQI0AZX9s1/s640/WP_20170615_19_32_21_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
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Everyone soon arrived and we were led to our table, given a pitcher of water, and proceeded to choose our dishes. Like I said, we had ordered an appetizer for the table to share (fried calamari), but it never showed up andm although our waitress was very polite and apologetic, we decided to forgo those calories this evening. Pike and Pikette, ever the pair, both ordered the <b>Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich</b>, a buttermilk battered fried chicken breast with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a paprika aioli on a roll. I ordered <b>The Austin Smokehouse</b>, a sandwich of smoked pork, smoked brisket, gouda cheese, and fried shallots on a brioche roll. Lutsy went with the <b>California Chicken Sandwich</b>, a sandwich of thin-cut grilled chicken breast, avocado, arugula, and goat cheese. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cVsZd0COQzAK0_NmMRAnDSy9xWPMRrIyLn339z-TKz-qZ55qMOR-1bqcRCChK5FdZa2lWKMvv2vnnkatzZm_5iAmKH8wNF_5z_AY36kC7y_19hepKkanace6cVlgC7hq8PI_9D_SvahY/s1600/WP_20170615_20_13_08_Pro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cVsZd0COQzAK0_NmMRAnDSy9xWPMRrIyLn339z-TKz-qZ55qMOR-1bqcRCChK5FdZa2lWKMvv2vnnkatzZm_5iAmKH8wNF_5z_AY36kC7y_19hepKkanace6cVlgC7hq8PI_9D_SvahY/s640/WP_20170615_20_13_08_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I'll be blunt. None of these three was particularly good. The buttermilk fried chicken was both excessively greasy <i>and</i> dry. The smoked pork was so fatty that it drowned out most of the flavor. The California chicken sandwich was the best by virtue of tasting not-bad. "The roll was toasted too much," Lutsy opined. But at least she ate her dinner, something I didn't bother to try to do. "I think I like the food more than you," said Pike, "but it was at best mediocre." All of the sandwiches come with french fries that you will bury in ketchup and never think twice about.</div>
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I don't
want to dislike Austin Public. I want to like it very much. The staff
was nice despite the order screw up, the location is great and the layout is well done. I want to say "There's a lot of potential here and I hate seeing it wasted." But while I guess that I personally think that it would be nice if it was a bit less generic, but the truth is that its genericness is almost certainly a selling point. You've been there a hundred times before you've walked through the door. </div>
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Other than to fix the mediocre food, it'd be nice if they toned the music down a teensy notch. It's crowded already. No one can hear anyone else's conversations. Everyone hates the sign out front that looks like it was stolen from a Texas megachurch, but at this point, I've accepted that it ain't going anywhere. Still, he bathroom is godawful and people outside can watch you pee. That sucked. One selling point back when it opened was that they'd have live music
and trivia night, and they sure did since I've been there a few times
guessing who FDR's first vice president was. Do they still do it? The
website hasn't been updated in six months for some reason, so who's to
say? </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y6FtDfqOyS3TIhpIZezXc5Qa6sdDez7Z6gF2TY_kRhwnNqBcJZWXbfcRrPnpH3sUcTQwF_tBshjUJ0MjJCkg76kWJ9IIKzUL1w30zDr8XmWYAd-Ry4WSomNyXFV5SORBwbSyeI8WdGDQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-15+at+10.59.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1600" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y6FtDfqOyS3TIhpIZezXc5Qa6sdDez7Z6gF2TY_kRhwnNqBcJZWXbfcRrPnpH3sUcTQwF_tBshjUJ0MjJCkg76kWJ9IIKzUL1w30zDr8XmWYAd-Ry4WSomNyXFV5SORBwbSyeI8WdGDQ/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-06-15+at+10.59.14+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, update this shit. It's nearly July.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Sandwiches cost between $15 and $20, entrees cost between $15-$25. My happy hour Coors Light was $4.Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-85792957429881575752017-05-08T18:56:00.000-04:002017-06-09T17:36:54.352-04:00KEUKA KAFE<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://www.keukakafe.com/"><b>KEUKA KAFE</b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
112-04 Queens Boulevard</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(718) 880-1478</div>
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<br />
When I first reviewed Keuka Kafe, back in 2013, they had just opened up as the neighborhood's latest, and only, wine bar. Danny Brown (now on the Upper East Side of Manhattan... no comment) and Jack & Nellie's had long since decided to eschew the wine bar schtick and go full-on restaurant, leaving quasi-snobs like me with basically no options to tipple in style. Following suit, Keuka has, too, become a restaurant, adding a whole menu with entrees and everything. That said, their size makes is a bit more acceptable to grab a table, order a cheese plate and a glass of something other than Chardonnay, and chill. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnCDVdrwAvwXb2YJHBquNutlEWykh6zCVARewaPy-TyKiL2XS4FcbHcUwRwzEsoADrSnumuQToPCUaPH0S9WeRLvKpgfBkQWwcqZ4iWqU0ZtkwQvU-M1IXg0O0qxnb7zVMsdKuaUWP5gm/s1600/Keukaout.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnCDVdrwAvwXb2YJHBquNutlEWykh6zCVARewaPy-TyKiL2XS4FcbHcUwRwzEsoADrSnumuQToPCUaPH0S9WeRLvKpgfBkQWwcqZ4iWqU0ZtkwQvU-M1IXg0O0qxnb7zVMsdKuaUWP5gm/s640/Keukaout.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Like I said, Keuka's small and seating is limited, though they do take reservations... but not on OpenTable yet. Occasionally, there's a wine tasting and they'll close for a few hours to do that (you can follow them online or get on their email list for that info). But more often than not, it's a place where simple yuppies can stroll in and grab a seat, and enjoy a nice bowl of mussels. Though perhaps not on a Friday.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGXAmaDnP8GJaAlZtyv1Tfez_hRJ1F-82OQeFO_CYs5yCwgWpOlrvI3DTp4P2OlYLuelJTSSxypsc6k2ALrS5r2MDCqz21iZtSqacobjlbo0Q-kyHYpMhDnWH9tUyrjQOMKVbeeCAzwRq/s1600/Keukain2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGXAmaDnP8GJaAlZtyv1Tfez_hRJ1F-82OQeFO_CYs5yCwgWpOlrvI3DTp4P2OlYLuelJTSSxypsc6k2ALrS5r2MDCqz21iZtSqacobjlbo0Q-kyHYpMhDnWH9tUyrjQOMKVbeeCAzwRq/s640/Keukain2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xuIjgnWF8sPF8_iylnf7veJt3eRtbkWgm1DmjnmEm1XqLC8AEs1PaZMyTgD-yi3AD1To3sgEV5rcllRcdM58rzrZEVTOXOTBgCr0RKoTa5rUeMQW3nu8MuRr5xC8nk5OGhqtOlcfYQIL/s1600/KeukaIn.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xuIjgnWF8sPF8_iylnf7veJt3eRtbkWgm1DmjnmEm1XqLC8AEs1PaZMyTgD-yi3AD1To3sgEV5rcllRcdM58rzrZEVTOXOTBgCr0RKoTa5rUeMQW3nu8MuRr5xC8nk5OGhqtOlcfYQIL/s640/KeukaIn.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Initially, Keuka Kafe was all about New York State wine, hence the name referencing one of the Finger Lakes. Over the years however, they've dropped that focus. There's still a heavy New York State wine presence on the wine list, but it's no longer an exclusive thing. There's also a small selection of craft beer for your friends who aren't wine people. No cocktails. </div>
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For my most recent couple of trips to Keuka, I've gone with either Lutsy or Bro. Lutsy and I both tend to start our meals with something light so on one such excursion, I ordered the <b>Arugula Salad</b>, which is a simple arugula salad with Parmesan shavings and a lemon vinaigrette. It's a thoroughly pleasant, thoroughly forgettable dish that I'd get again and recommend, because it made me feel healthy. Not everything has to win a James Beard award, after all. Lutsy ordered the <b>Fresh Burrata</b>, a mozzarella ball stuffed with ricotta surrounded by basil and cherry tomato and under a rich balsamic glaze. Actually, this was also a pretty light dish, despite it being cheese stuffed with more cheese. </div>
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The most recent time that Bro came, he ordered the <b>Richmond Hill Waffle</b>, a gluten-free chick pea waffle covered in <b>Chicken Tikka Masala</b>. This is a skippable dish. The chicken tikka was fine without being better than fine and the waffle was tasteless unless it was under the sauce, whereupon it was soggy to the point of being like biting into a wet paper towel that had just been used to clean up spilled chicken tikka masala.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLt-6-yjQ4tzEN_HS5cEGunL7wgWx00uCOpbtXfpbOwiOSoot3962VrWIvk5EaKbgA_Z8Q8cVKr_21ue6NeaeyfitqIGVtfJn3REE-eskRqF3Svl9ftWbBlWdKvuB4Xfbq_xZBM89yz8rb/s1600/Keukawaffle.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLt-6-yjQ4tzEN_HS5cEGunL7wgWx00uCOpbtXfpbOwiOSoot3962VrWIvk5EaKbgA_Z8Q8cVKr_21ue6NeaeyfitqIGVtfJn3REE-eskRqF3Svl9ftWbBlWdKvuB4Xfbq_xZBM89yz8rb/s640/Keukawaffle.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Mussels</b> are where Keuka really shines the brightest. They have a small
variety - <b>Spicy Garlic Tomato, Red Thai Curry, and Chorizo White Wine</b> -
and I've tried a all of them and all are recommended, though personally, the curry ones are the standout winner. The spicy ones are a bit spicy, I won't lie, so bring a
tissue. Truth be told, I look forward to the Keuka Mussels the same way I look forward to the Dirty Pierre ones and I'm a near regular for Dirty Pierre's mussel night. Keuka also does well on the <b>Pizza</b> front. While I wouldn't
order one of their pies to take home to watch Simpsons reruns, there's
something I thoroughly enjoy about slowly eating a small pizza with a
glass of red. Pictured below is the simple <b>Master & Margarita</b>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2l0ai2KWJZMHFAHCGjhIcQyeGGNg3mjt2fdzf-2HWRfmcjiOCC4dn515odkrCZSzLhQmorjSp4WKC2xIsBM03g9CqXltdUCx3GQo6J7JqLmdBCrcUVX2NodPggdoP0-aTM0R3kFIiCEj/s1600/AdobePhotoshopExpress_b9d3eed307c0421f880d6e66a7234628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2l0ai2KWJZMHFAHCGjhIcQyeGGNg3mjt2fdzf-2HWRfmcjiOCC4dn515odkrCZSzLhQmorjSp4WKC2xIsBM03g9CqXltdUCx3GQo6J7JqLmdBCrcUVX2NodPggdoP0-aTM0R3kFIiCEj/s640/AdobePhotoshopExpress_b9d3eed307c0421f880d6e66a7234628.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Keuka also has a collection of sandwiches, many of which are named after local streets like the Ascan & Burns, the Jewel Avenue, and the Slocum Crescent. But I went with a more alliterative <b>Fig 'n' Pig</b>, a baguette sandwich with prosciutto, fig jam, brie cheese, and arugula. If there was ever a more wine bar appropriate sandwich (cheese, bread, charcuterie, figs!) I haven't found it.<br />
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My thoughts on Keuka's expanded menu are generally positive, though I do think that there's room for edits and reductions. Or maybe they could do a separate menu for the meats and cheeses to keep the page from feeling so crowded. That said, I can't recommend the place enough. It's always pleasant, the music isn't loud and obnoxious, and the staff is super friendly. It's laid back, classy without being snobby, and not too hard on the wallet.</div>
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Wine will run you an average of about $12 per glass and food will run you an average of $14 per non-entree, non cheese board dish. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEL5GF3Vep4pd_7-DFZNlcpSkqtyTqMeqOhphhpP4VQpCAkAsh8NdSV0AjyZLoMd3W2_UE5FMaAGiu_TTP09Wv1_YrcoLhtN_RxgIeG4XfyAn5rLw1AzoqrEfNJAZvVXus6U5oGnOOoKAl/s1600/Keukawine.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEL5GF3Vep4pd_7-DFZNlcpSkqtyTqMeqOhphhpP4VQpCAkAsh8NdSV0AjyZLoMd3W2_UE5FMaAGiu_TTP09Wv1_YrcoLhtN_RxgIeG4XfyAn5rLw1AzoqrEfNJAZvVXus6U5oGnOOoKAl/s640/Keukawine.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-13340449067580381152016-12-16T13:14:00.000-05:002016-12-16T13:14:49.392-05:00NINE THAI<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>NINE THAI</b></div>
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110-70 Queens Boulevard</div>
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Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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(718) 575-0983</div>
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Just ten minutes earlier, I had been nursing a beer at a nearby bar and told the bartender that I was about to meet a friend dinner at Nine Thai and asked her if she'd ever been there. She made a good-luck-with-that-face before saying "I don't like to speak ill of other businesses." Oh geez. This does not bode well. I left and walked over, finding Pike standing just inside an all-but-empty room. They didn't seem to know what to do with us. "I don't think they get many visitors," Pike deduced. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5uvgwUppeJXjT7HYsr7ZIlPEfdfhDg4NU_L8cnA_CLZ2TqArYnxEv3BaRfmhIgJXhrq0jUVi1B7bs3qBSAIZPIQzRW6zJlGW1nQ0V8aV-2V4HQPOg_o0l0nKYnVrmq-PEmoD7sdIiNvZ/s1600/WP_20161214_18_46_49_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5uvgwUppeJXjT7HYsr7ZIlPEfdfhDg4NU_L8cnA_CLZ2TqArYnxEv3BaRfmhIgJXhrq0jUVi1B7bs3qBSAIZPIQzRW6zJlGW1nQ0V8aV-2V4HQPOg_o0l0nKYnVrmq-PEmoD7sdIiNvZ/s640/WP_20161214_18_46_49_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Eventually, someone we assumed was a waiter gave us some menus and showed us to a very wobbly, mildly sticky table. After pointing out that the menus were for lunch, our waiter, an affable guy who seemed genuinely out of his depth even at this particular point in the kiddie pool, laughed at the error and gave us a pair of, let's call them well-loved dinner menus. As we thought about what to order for our meal, the waiter asked us if we'd like something to drink. Pike asked for a Diet Coke. They didn't have any. "It can be Diet Pepsi, I don't really care." Sweatpants explained that the only soda that they have is regular Sprite. "Sprite it is."</div>
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Winter is finally in upon us and the soup cravings have begun, so we knew that we had to order a couple bowls of piping hot soup. What could be better? Pike ordered the <b>Tom Yum Soup</b>, a spicy tomato-based soup with lemongrass and vegetables, while I chose the Tom Kha Soup. Pike said that his Tom Yum was decent, if a little bit spicier than he was expecting. He's had better, he's had worse, but it was not bad for what it was. After his tasting sip, Pike put the spoon down. "I'll wait until yours comes." And we waited. Eventually, I told him he didn't have to be polite anymore. "Maybe they only have one pot and have to make every bowl individually."</div>
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Before the Tom Yum soup was finished but not before it started to cool, Pike's second course came. He didn't really want an entree in the classical sense, and instead ordered the <b>Thai Boulevard Combo</b> plate. Just to take a step back, when the waiter initially took our order, Pike asked for the combo plate to be his main course and to please bring it out when the entree that I ordered comes to the table. "Oh yeah sure" said our waiter with a tone of voice that implied with certainty that he had absolutely no idea what was just asked of him and, no surprise, the request fell on deaf ears.<br />
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The Thai Boulevard Combo is basically an assortment of various items from the appetizer menu. Shrimp rolls, spring rolls, dumplings, and fried wontons along with three dipping sauces. Plum sauce, peanut sauce, and a black vinaigrette - whatever that is, with a hand full of carrot shreds haphazardly tossed on top for what I can only assume is an attempt at a garnish. The combo plate, as one might expect, did not come with any Tom Kha soup. Pike looked at the plate in front of him like this was somehow his fault, hesitant to accept his meal. I told him to eat. "I want to see how this plays out." </div>
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Without beating to death each deep fried gem in the combo, one can sum up the totality of it as forgettable and generic. Pike wasn't impressed with any of them, either. Attempting to tart up an utterly tasteless spring roll up with a little bit of the black vinaigrette goop was a mistake and I nearly gagged.</div>
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Eventually, I was brought the appetizer I ordered, the <b>Chicken Curry Puffs </b>(still no soup). Some people order Pad Thai as a litmus test for how good a Thai restaurant is, but I prefer curry puffs. As for these, I've had better. Yeah they were okay, but they were far too greasy, far too bland, and presenting them on a bed of sad wilted lettuce didn't do them any favors in the image department. The menu said that the dish would come with a cucumber sauce (as most curry puffs do), but instead it came with some kind of sweet and sour sauce that was the consistency of ultra thick honey. These mediocre puffs were the best part of the meal.</div>
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Still no soup. But hold on, here comes the waiter. Time for some soup! Wait. No... he's putting on his coat and grabbing some bags... and now he's getting on his bicycle and pedaling away. Our waiter was also the delivery guy. "You know," Pike began as our waiter faded off to the horizon, "you might have gotten your food faster if you were still at home."</div>
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The waiter was replaced with a very apologetic woman who said "sorry" between every third word. She was far more attentive and even brought me my soup. "Would you like anything to drink?" Do you have any Diet Coke? "Sure, I'll go get some." And, credit where credit is due, she put on her coat and was about to run over to 7-Eleven to score us a six pack before Pike stopped her. As for the soup? Skip it.</div>
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<b>Tom Kha Soup</b> is a coconut milk soup with, in my case chicken and vegetables and normally I love it. Normally. This simply wasn't good. The broth was so sweet that it was hard to take down. It was almost a syrup. Meanwhile, the chicken was extremely tough and rubbery and the number of vegetables were a pittance. It was all but a bowl of ultra-sweet milk.</div>
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I wasn't looking forward to my entree anymore. The poor <b>Beef</b> <b>Pad Kee Mow</b>, aka drunken noodles, was following an unbroken stream of disappointment and, like its brethren, maintained that tradition to the best of its ability. The dish was gloppy and gelatinous and verged on slimy. I love spicy food, but here, it was almost as though hot peppers were the surrogates for flavor. I'm the kind of guy who gets extra hot sauce at the halal truck and this was hot even for me. The beef was practically inedible. The pieces that I had were like chewing into a Pink Pearl eraser; the chunk Pike got was literally just sinew and had to be spat out. I didn't get more than a few bites out of this.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpM6hpwaYeeAS-sC2cAdwGYt9agSYmIpbtSm74diFZtpvmXlvR5l7uxrlgBRabnBl9ZqpLY-M7mNi2ySUqJWJUPgk9oby_W5d3iW7pR4pkliTgXoe8MW_eXocApQOCqyDvKjnQZVv9JvSY/s1600/WP_20161214_20_32_46_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpM6hpwaYeeAS-sC2cAdwGYt9agSYmIpbtSm74diFZtpvmXlvR5l7uxrlgBRabnBl9ZqpLY-M7mNi2ySUqJWJUPgk9oby_W5d3iW7pR4pkliTgXoe8MW_eXocApQOCqyDvKjnQZVv9JvSY/s640/WP_20161214_20_32_46_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Our grand feast, after tax and tip, cost $60. Don't ask me how. As we headed out the door, the waiter returned. Round trip delivery time: 36 minutes. </div>
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Perhaps one could chalk up this comedy of errors to growing pains, but since this is the new location and new name of the old Thai Boulevard, that doesn't hold water. Forest Hills has a goodly sum of decent Thai restaurants to both eat at and order from and I don't predict returning in either case.</div>
Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-9906014504321620732016-10-18T13:02:00.000-04:002016-10-18T13:02:27.419-04:00SNOWDAYS<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.snowdaysnyc.com/"><b>SNOWDAYS</b></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
72-24 Austin Street</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(347) 960-8517</div>
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Let's get something straight right off the bat. New Yorkers stand on line. We often stand on line while listening to our Pandora playlist online. We do not stand <i>in line</i>. Standing in line is what people from other states do. Being "in line" is defeat and subordination. "So and so is falling in line with what their party leadership wants" etc. If you are in line then you have lost and you have succumbed. We do not succumb. We are at this place, wherever that place is, because we have chosen to be, not because we were told to be. This single-file row of humanity is the very representation of our willingness as New Yorkers to act in a polite and orderly manner; our dismissal of the the scrum. Should the urge hit us, should the line be too long relative to our desire to acquire the goods we seek and/or the penalty for not having them, we could choose to go take our business elsewhere. This happens at Trader Joe's more often than I care to admit, and it was in that vein of taking my business elsewhere that I wound up never going to Snowdays until recently. The line was too long and I, dear readers, refused to get on it.</div>
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However, once the novelty did wear off and summer did not, I decided to go. I mean, what better time to go for ice cream than in the summer month of mid-October?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUVAqc8v-0w9mxvfmnsnCujbv4_e_c6T0jQCVLCRoG7GfaE1_1O-Las_kfbeGtL9b5kOx3hkGjj-G5LvcYkSfgqAl4JutVqn6hM4evA6G992D12Pjl1_8YRD5VnlYCHrfKysoWxN0ysRu/s1600/WP_20161013_15_59_48_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUVAqc8v-0w9mxvfmnsnCujbv4_e_c6T0jQCVLCRoG7GfaE1_1O-Las_kfbeGtL9b5kOx3hkGjj-G5LvcYkSfgqAl4JutVqn6hM4evA6G992D12Pjl1_8YRD5VnlYCHrfKysoWxN0ysRu/s640/WP_20161013_15_59_48_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Snowdays is a mini-chain of "shaved cream" ice cream shops with about a half dozen locations, mostly in Manhattan. Shaving cream, they say, is an adaptation of the the Asian shaved ice dessert but this time using cream, leaving us with an ice cream-like dessert. Snowdays offers a variety of flavors like green tea, sesame, coconut, and cheesecake; not flavors you might be more used to like coffee, butter pecan, chocolate, or strawberry. Then you can toss on a variety of toppings and syrups. </div>
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Ice cream, gelato,
frozen yogurt. These are all very similar. Yes, there's bound to be
some schnook who bangs their fists on the table and screams "NO!" before
launching into a five minute long speech about how different they are
that no one is actually paying attention to, but they are. To prove my
point, the following exchange has never happened: "Honey, I feel like
getting some ice cream before heading home." "That sounds fun! There's a
great gelato place around the corner." "Oh. Nevermind."
Shaved cream, on the other hand, is quite different, at least from a
texture point of view. Shaved cream is so much lighter, has so much air
in it, that it feels sharper. The texture isn't creamy until you have a
spoonful of it in your mouth and you've let it melt. You aren't going to
be repulsed. You'll just notice that it's different for about three
seconds until it becomes the same.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYOIhna5OwGQUkK6S8Tq76Z1Jjs8Bt5p8OikzEqIvORN9_bAthdIsR7rlVJaZCGVJi7M40pFnP-D2dwRPqGHxf4Vp37_oq00AFnGxehIT2wEWITyfrlZT0JEervGp-8yWnO4L2alFlepD/s1600/WP_20161013_16_01_39_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYOIhna5OwGQUkK6S8Tq76Z1Jjs8Bt5p8OikzEqIvORN9_bAthdIsR7rlVJaZCGVJi7M40pFnP-D2dwRPqGHxf4Vp37_oq00AFnGxehIT2wEWITyfrlZT0JEervGp-8yWnO4L2alFlepD/s640/WP_20161013_16_01_39_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The interior of Snowdays is small, but trendy the way a Greenpoint coffee bar would be (if they replaced the cartoon character with local art). All of the tables seat two people, but the wall is one huge bench, so coming with a handful of cohorts shouldn't be a problem so long as there's a table available to crowd around.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC3ngNFCWm4lL4kmV6Cy71hyeIbFT-Jp_DAs4QKzZl2kKLzpoxXlS3tlWcT37Bxst3Q4bbL5DF7fmZ-jeSeLDHeJ9wXgfj0B5NPIrPOHZPLii5pMJUsV60hOgAUo7HXoUl1TSnOalTX33/s1600/WP_20161013_16_03_07_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC3ngNFCWm4lL4kmV6Cy71hyeIbFT-Jp_DAs4QKzZl2kKLzpoxXlS3tlWcT37Bxst3Q4bbL5DF7fmZ-jeSeLDHeJ9wXgfj0B5NPIrPOHZPLii5pMJUsV60hOgAUo7HXoUl1TSnOalTX33/s640/WP_20161013_16_03_07_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8GzsF6-4gtLRdJrBVNbUVUVlM7295W04iB94De4GJoeEqgivZxZrSTFm2uqLHEjO-XAHWUxIpI7Whb6a3keEhLs5Q7k6xmWQ8rYHkhyphenhyphenYWcyjVMGogS4skedeOCUSfna4BWHGpvpa-VRF/s1600/WP_20161017_16_15_56_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8GzsF6-4gtLRdJrBVNbUVUVlM7295W04iB94De4GJoeEqgivZxZrSTFm2uqLHEjO-XAHWUxIpI7Whb6a3keEhLs5Q7k6xmWQ8rYHkhyphenhyphenYWcyjVMGogS4skedeOCUSfna4BWHGpvpa-VRF/s640/WP_20161017_16_15_56_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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When I walked in I spent most of the time staring at the menu trying to figure out exactly what to do. Given the variety of toppings, you have thousands of possible end results. Add to it the obscure shaved cream flavors and you can understand my dilemma. In the end, I tried two of their own combinations: The Original (first pic) and The New Yorka (second pic). <b>The Original</b> is a sweet milk shaved cream with Cap'n Crunch cereal, blueberries, and a peanut butter sauce. I'll be honest, this did not look appetizing in the slightest. But hey, I didn't come to give points on plating. In the end, it was very good. Sweet cream is a mild flavor and does a great job of highlighting the flavors it's joined by. So if you like blueberries and peanut butter (and who doesn't) and enjoy having a little crunchy texture in there, too then I recommend getting this. <b>The New Yorka</b> uses a cheesecake-flavored shaved cream with vanilla wafer, strawberry slices, and whipped cream. Much like the sweet milk, cheesecake was extremely mild. There was a hint of cheesecake, to be sure, but only a hint. The strongest flavor was the strawberry and the whipped cream. In the end, I doubt I'd get this one again because while I like strawberries and whipped cream, that wasn't really what I was ordering. Next time I'll get something with sesame shaved cream.</div>
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If getting a soft-serve cone at McDonald's for a buck is your budget, then consider Snowdays well beyond your price range. My two "small" cups were just a hair under $8 each. Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-1574860931194637452016-06-21T23:21:00.001-04:002016-06-24T16:01:16.525-04:00JADE EATERY & LOUNGE<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.jadeeateryandlounge.com/"><b>JADE EATERY & LOUNGE</b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
1 Station Square</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(718) 520-7714</div>
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Jade Eatery & Lounge (referred to from this point forth as simply Jade) was one of the very first restaurants that I reviewed on my illustrious journey into bloggerdom. It was one of the first "trendy" spots to hit Forest Hills, back when Thai food in general and Asian fusion in particular was the peak of what defined trendy dining. Jade took an empty shell that had sat vacant and literally rotting for years and made it a comfy, almost sexy place to go on a nice summer day. Not only did they add outdoor seats, a cocktail lounge, and a Buddha statue to the neighborhood, they were one of the few outer borough OpenTable restaurants. So, given how long it had been since last I gave them a word, it seemed appropriate to revisit the place and see how it's held up over the past eight years. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtWEU4ElF7IAA92eO-lrUHxf43fXq5FCspN4lVn2ZgEoDeorm_uAAVcfuA9DpQN2U6T0GkYsrF-OziTrG3srq2eel3zeawl-HzM9Tq98-3h0PNW-NcFM-qQojKQhGJ43LIO14tm8sQPSq/s1600/Jadeout2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtWEU4ElF7IAA92eO-lrUHxf43fXq5FCspN4lVn2ZgEoDeorm_uAAVcfuA9DpQN2U6T0GkYsrF-OziTrG3srq2eel3zeawl-HzM9Tq98-3h0PNW-NcFM-qQojKQhGJ43LIO14tm8sQPSq/s640/Jadeout2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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This particular Tuesday night, Jade was surprisingly crowded. I arrived with Dudeman and Shrink at 8pm. All but a couple of tables outside were taken and the interior was half full. Our waitress was very nice, but overwhelmed by the volume of customers and it showed in the very slow service and incorrectly placed order (note to all wait staff: please buy memo pads. They're cheap and very useful. <a href="http://www.staples.com/Ampad-Wirebound-Pocket-Memo-Book-3-x-5-Narrow-Ruled-60-Sheets-Book-3-Pk/product_887556">Staples sells them 3 for $5</a>.). The kitchen was slow too. Appetizers did not all arrive together and the time between ordering and course one, and between course one and course two was significant. "Did they forget about us?" was uttered more than once. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUbMq11z3fNcrjeqtMijPubtCU6lJeCt3VPya3r5JKOC7SxdZgIGsEDSAe8oWbU2o7SKsSoH2lyioSOdYHSyeRld5j5-ZREhPmi9ezhZYtUlX5NWxlNzLs-i83jjnhIEdu9i-Q_F64K-0/s1600/Jadein.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUbMq11z3fNcrjeqtMijPubtCU6lJeCt3VPya3r5JKOC7SxdZgIGsEDSAe8oWbU2o7SKsSoH2lyioSOdYHSyeRld5j5-ZREhPmi9ezhZYtUlX5NWxlNzLs-i83jjnhIEdu9i-Q_F64K-0/s640/Jadein.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzCm4vrxcBX0YPSDuvVnLTkHc0IDULbG0Q8ePQAYL3ecAkHa7TchzxPTBFE6L0NWisydri0WQNXKNXQnJy3dAWIfCxpiEGDbBFFgD6xFgJZL07Hci21fvLELtPxwL8JAJnhx2iGibQw3q/s1600/Jadebar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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Sitting outside by the brick streets and manicured flora and stoic traditionalism of Station Square is an inherently relaxing experience and far removed from the energy of the interior. Quotes line the walls, the lighting is purple, pop music is playing, and fish swim in the wading pool at Buddha's feet. In the rear is a sexyish lounge that should never have been given a television and a hallway lined with Asian artwork and paintings that are available to purchase. If Jade was in Tribeca, it would be packed to the gills. But it's in Forest Hills, and the family friendly nature of the neighborhood meant that there was a steady stream of elementary school-aged kids running around and gawking at the fish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzCm4vrxcBX0YPSDuvVnLTkHc0IDULbG0Q8ePQAYL3ecAkHa7TchzxPTBFE6L0NWisydri0WQNXKNXQnJy3dAWIfCxpiEGDbBFFgD6xFgJZL07Hci21fvLELtPxwL8JAJnhx2iGibQw3q/s1600/Jadebar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzCm4vrxcBX0YPSDuvVnLTkHc0IDULbG0Q8ePQAYL3ecAkHa7TchzxPTBFE6L0NWisydri0WQNXKNXQnJy3dAWIfCxpiEGDbBFFgD6xFgJZL07Hci21fvLELtPxwL8JAJnhx2iGibQw3q/s640/Jadebar.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Banish from your mind the menu of old. Jade is no longer a Thai restaurant that hints at Asian Fusion, the way is was when they opened. Now they are full on Asian Fusion with only the barest hint of Thai. Sushi rolls take up more than a page of the menu and the entrees are primarily better-plated variants of what you would get from your average Chinese take out spot. Is the food bad? No. Not at all. But is the food great? No. Not at all. It's food for when you're hanging out with friends and want to chill, or food for when you're with people who are hesitant to have anything too ethnic. Think of Jade as a PF Chang's with one location.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPdOb5MMlZgxTbdzhVna5CA67NsFycpHhKD7OtP48u3SZwkh_lQNF6HIWIAM1Q-GksXef7NJcfcylEUIqJT8DZAO8L0GxOCNxWVbrHee7AFhiPH4-F4sjWoyB32XO4tFTNYSPp4oO3sD_/s1600/Jadeapps2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPdOb5MMlZgxTbdzhVna5CA67NsFycpHhKD7OtP48u3SZwkh_lQNF6HIWIAM1Q-GksXef7NJcfcylEUIqJT8DZAO8L0GxOCNxWVbrHee7AFhiPH4-F4sjWoyB32XO4tFTNYSPp4oO3sD_/s640/Jadeapps2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We split three appetizers. First, the <b>Chicken Satay</b>, a staple of every Thai restaurant. These were better than most. Usually, the chicken comes out beaten to a pancake, leaving it dried out and fused to the wooden kabob stick. Jade's was moist, hearty, and with a nice charring. The peanut dipping sauce was rich but not overwhelming. We also ordered the <b>Curried Crab Dumplings</b> which were pretty weak. Had someone told me that they were from the frozen food aisle of Stop & Shop, I wouldn't have argued with them. They were fried to a crisp, and while they were far from inedible, they were also far from remarkable. Lastly, we ordered the dish that is a requirement on every Asian fusion menu, the <b>Sushi Pizza</b>. Who doesn't love sushi pizza? Made with tuna, salmon, spicy mayo, tobiko, scallion, and the sauce used on eel rolls, you can't go wrong with this six-inch pie. It's light, tasty, and well worth getting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCTPSgHoo-OfvYasZkPTOveMAlvnpiUuLfdLd7nzEs4MvgVGKd2QvbXKlfrBs3qhiMFeS5PTBsgAvt8ZtG8PhR3jWxAE41yCZjZtaoj_l3IoHNWZh33O6OPub-6PK3Oz9MQIlWQGHFw_7/s1600/Jadentree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCTPSgHoo-OfvYasZkPTOveMAlvnpiUuLfdLd7nzEs4MvgVGKd2QvbXKlfrBs3qhiMFeS5PTBsgAvt8ZtG8PhR3jWxAE41yCZjZtaoj_l3IoHNWZh33O6OPub-6PK3Oz9MQIlWQGHFw_7/s640/Jadentree2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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For her entree, Shrink ordered the Bulgogi Beef, Jade's take on the popular Korean dish. In it's place, she was given <b>Mongolian Beef</b>, Jade's take on the popular Chinese dish. Again, I reiterate, memo pads are useful. The beef, served with onion and a veritable mountain of scallion, was thinly sliced, tender and heavily coated in a sweet sauce similar to what you would get from Red House. It was good. Everyone liked it and I'd certainly recommend it. It wasn't bulgogi<b> </b>though. Dudeman's entree was easily the weakest of the three. He ordered the <b>Crispy Thai Beef</b>, which came with loads of red and green bell pepper. Yes it tasted good, but they went overboard with the batter. As a result, the "crispy" was emphasized over the "beef". Certainly, I don't know where the Thai part came from. My entree was the <b>Massaman Curry Snapper,</b> two fish fillets over a mix of tofu, eggplant, onion and cabbage in a thick peanut sauce (soup). It was very good and I'd easily easily easily get this again. They went a bit nuts on the volume of sauce, which concealed all of the goodies down below, but throw in some rice and you'll be fine. Every part of the entree was filled with flavor. I highly recommend it. </div>
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In the end, Jade gets a thumbs up, but not an enthusiastic thumbs up. The location is great, the space is great, and the service is friendly. The service is also slow and the food is tepid. If you show up expecting anything more than a
fun place to hang out in while eating glorified takeout food, then
you're kidding yourself.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, it's a great place to go with friends for big wacky sushi rolls and fruity cocktails (if you're into that kind of thing). It's great if your friends aren't adventurous eaters or if you have kids and have had it just about up to here with going to Friday's. The rear lounge area could be a great place for cocktails if anyone
knew that the lounge existed and the cocktail menu was better. The sidewalk seating under the trees is great on a summer day and God knows that this neighborhood needs as much outdoor seating as it can get. If you can appreciate these things, can overlook the slow service, and aren't expecting your tongue to relive its trip to Phuket, you'll enjoy yourself. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jade's closest direct competition is <a href="http://eateryrowforesthills.blogspot.com/2015/01/moca.html">MoCA</a>. I would say that MoCA's wins on food, but not by a whole helluva lot. Jade, however, wins on physical space. Glowing tables and a mirrored ceiling do not beat a koi pond and Station Square view.<br />
<br />
Appetizers range average $10, entrees average $18, large rolls average $17. </div>
Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-44587902454236896612016-06-03T18:33:00.002-04:002017-06-09T14:00:07.602-04:00PREMIUM BURGER WARS!!! BAREBURGER vs. SHAKE SHACK vs. TWIST & SMASH'D<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Twist N Smash'd is closed.</i><b> </b></div>
<b>PREMIUM BURGER WARS!!! </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>BAREBURGER vs. SHAKE SHACK vs. TWIST & SMASH'D</b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><a href="http://71-49-austin-street.bareburger.com/">BAREBURGER</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
71-49 Austin Street</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(718) 275-2273</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><a href="https://www.shakeshack.com/location/forest-hills/">SHAKE SHACK</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
71-26 Austin Street</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(718) 928-3234</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><a href="http://twistandsmashd.com/">TWIST & SMASH'D</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
72-06 Austin Street</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(718) 261-4527</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hamburgers. Like pizza, they're easy to find and it's rare that they stand out. So it is with great joy that we now have three acclaimed hamburger spots here on Austin Street. Bareburger, Shake Shack, and Twist & Smash'd. They've all had great press, they're all delicious, and they're all within a block of one another. For science, I went to all three in three days and ordered their regular, no-frills cheeseburger, and compared the differences between the three restaurants. Which one is right for you? Read on. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
FYI: I ordered cheeseburgers because a hamburger without cheese is just ridiculous.</div>
<br />
<b>Bareburger</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfvGTDwN0XBZCTdplpM02zXhydHyr3UM-_14GPLMzYjek0LMvddT_3pRjbuv8Z-_sDa7XZF82OkTocqzmSNaE9gyLJnyrftZl3WuTX5X6_Xtr1STXd3owtefzxUOLa113sRzLvy30PPOY/s1600/WP_20160603_15_22_50_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfvGTDwN0XBZCTdplpM02zXhydHyr3UM-_14GPLMzYjek0LMvddT_3pRjbuv8Z-_sDa7XZF82OkTocqzmSNaE9gyLJnyrftZl3WuTX5X6_Xtr1STXd3owtefzxUOLa113sRzLvy30PPOY/s640/WP_20160603_15_22_50_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzrzZMNAsn6mJLkOhnCjNLiULzfI4wofhRKk0zpmwr5_HrN2bkvsGrt8rjSgvqz62lHrzToDlrtTfzKsGC8Td58aNp2aV7aPtyrr5q6eTY4sdoHaOQrnv68eR1oGAwmGDsMAdyQgg5jfy/s1600/WP_20160603_15_07_45_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzrzZMNAsn6mJLkOhnCjNLiULzfI4wofhRKk0zpmwr5_HrN2bkvsGrt8rjSgvqz62lHrzToDlrtTfzKsGC8Td58aNp2aV7aPtyrr5q6eTY4sdoHaOQrnv68eR1oGAwmGDsMAdyQgg5jfy/s640/WP_20160603_15_07_45_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8NZ0IjLr_oWRtsRn2jVAipD2_e2iAqc5H6YGd__MhydzU5rWrgbXgLiTITYg6nyTo-6aTmFHE8WfgLnp6Ffb10IDwjVBWaFQI7wPY2hLy-7xs7aPZYF-TexGbNjwklvOt2DK68h1t9Ug/s1600/WP_20160603_15_05_48_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8NZ0IjLr_oWRtsRn2jVAipD2_e2iAqc5H6YGd__MhydzU5rWrgbXgLiTITYg6nyTo-6aTmFHE8WfgLnp6Ffb10IDwjVBWaFQI7wPY2hLy-7xs7aPZYF-TexGbNjwklvOt2DK68h1t9Ug/s640/WP_20160603_15_05_48_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<i>Cost of burger: $9.95</i><br />
<i>Time to arrive: 7 minutes.</i><br />
<i>Size of burger: Large.</i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bareburger is the most mature of the three. It's a sit down restaurant with a full liquor menu. In keeping with its organic, grass fed, wild game burger menu (elk, bison, etc) the interior is designed to be reminiscent of an Oregon log cabin. Bareburger sells cocktails, wine, craft beer, shakes, salads, serves brunch, has a kids menu, and they cook the meat to order. Because they have table service, you don't place your order and then go hunting for a table while your food gets cold. I ordered the Standard Burger, which comes with pickles, onion, and a tangy sauce, but no lettuce and tomato. My diet root beer came with free refills. At $10 for the burger, this was the priciest of the three places, and once you factor in tax and tip, it's $13. On the upside, despite what the Metrocard comparison implies, the Bareburger burger is about double the size of the others. They use a full sized brioche bun and the patty is a solid inch thick. The Bareburger burger is a meal, not a snack.</div>
<br />
<b>Shake Shack</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxF1w_S00CdorkAbg_uGaTbMQn4ZTUW_USFYQ5d5Mg0KElRxCUqHAGiXy5Fwd53Wu_785OwN6LKb9AYG72Mqw-igkt2XAPklCGMQQUg8-j5qTB1EAyp-rh5PLM0VBnxOdzdcCUQ7k0Qnve/s1600/WP_20160527_15_43_55_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxF1w_S00CdorkAbg_uGaTbMQn4ZTUW_USFYQ5d5Mg0KElRxCUqHAGiXy5Fwd53Wu_785OwN6LKb9AYG72Mqw-igkt2XAPklCGMQQUg8-j5qTB1EAyp-rh5PLM0VBnxOdzdcCUQ7k0Qnve/s640/WP_20160527_15_43_55_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMz2-0H8dqoApuz9PN-7g_N5rGiH5vxzwBoaM7AhfsW3PKdig1Sg6UVeLn0oQmvoCte8OFZx3QQTA8uTGm8MMHx-1hFzCCBgAdw26E6WNd1qrmc3WjgIUS7Imv05mXvrjau4cG-h6Q3JrW/s1600/WP_20160602_15_54_07_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMz2-0H8dqoApuz9PN-7g_N5rGiH5vxzwBoaM7AhfsW3PKdig1Sg6UVeLn0oQmvoCte8OFZx3QQTA8uTGm8MMHx-1hFzCCBgAdw26E6WNd1qrmc3WjgIUS7Imv05mXvrjau4cG-h6Q3JrW/s640/WP_20160602_15_54_07_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFuED7xv3PdtlN3irRmJXBpSUW-NIFc1ER1eW_lCIB9ZqXXOVmeWxJSX5ok-fuyR3AdfzL1PnWvz_3EdX_WlPLl22PmcUy66d0He68TQiXF618IaIfAZIMddnF4HGvdJ_Gqf_GEH4wQx8/s1600/WP_20160602_15_46_16_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFuED7xv3PdtlN3irRmJXBpSUW-NIFc1ER1eW_lCIB9ZqXXOVmeWxJSX5ok-fuyR3AdfzL1PnWvz_3EdX_WlPLl22PmcUy66d0He68TQiXF618IaIfAZIMddnF4HGvdJ_Gqf_GEH4wQx8/s640/WP_20160602_15_46_16_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<i>Cost of burger: $5.29</i><br />
<i>Time to arrive: 10 minutes.</i><br />
<i>Size of burger: Medium.</i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Shake Shack is the most recent addition to the block, and the most famous, being started by restaurant mogul, Danny Meyer. (I guess we lose Danny Brown, and get Danny Meyer?) The interior is modern, sleek, and minimalist, but heavy on reclaimed wood. Utilizing the old Strawberries store space, there is a lot of indoor seating in the back and on the second floor. This was still nowhere near enough however, with lines opening weekend stretching out the door and down the block. I was told that 45 minutes to an hour was the norm. Then you can seat hunt. Shake Shack is fast food for grown ups. Hormone-free meat, hot dogs, shakes, chicken sandwiches, the typical fast food menu. But they also serve beer and wine. Still, you order from the board and seat yourself. And not for nothing, the ten minute wait, which was when they were <i>not</i> full to bursting, was slower than Bareburger.</div>
<br />
<b>Twist & Smash'd</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ryeslQ2prDoLBIFqnWLWtTnJ8Z2L2K3H1gMK-9vDnIssbdqzV0DfPJELFH2pTS3HxC4LYbMVvcz0dFtDyr3Hks8dKcszs-QCB13hEAwOV2X3ovVenBfK-EAk3ZuGhPXLHW-IyjBCHzgN/s1600/WP_20160603_15_26_02_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ryeslQ2prDoLBIFqnWLWtTnJ8Z2L2K3H1gMK-9vDnIssbdqzV0DfPJELFH2pTS3HxC4LYbMVvcz0dFtDyr3Hks8dKcszs-QCB13hEAwOV2X3ovVenBfK-EAk3ZuGhPXLHW-IyjBCHzgN/s640/WP_20160603_15_26_02_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRyxX4vWCJBGS_Cu89VztaCL8AHsmrUzK5SkyIuex97b2YaST0qtFvFCsBjKNhh9DZ38edkF7r_tej8Fzknl6VUOQllnQr8nrgSoRdS-UsFZ12bUfF_a-EiR9sUHB5yRmqClCNVsmoDDL/s1600/WP_20160527_15_40_33_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRyxX4vWCJBGS_Cu89VztaCL8AHsmrUzK5SkyIuex97b2YaST0qtFvFCsBjKNhh9DZ38edkF7r_tej8Fzknl6VUOQllnQr8nrgSoRdS-UsFZ12bUfF_a-EiR9sUHB5yRmqClCNVsmoDDL/s640/WP_20160527_15_40_33_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v14QCO22RZ0InbNaw5HxMxPRUYpaIFmiTmw3S4Ec9m0mQPUCEqeSoKwtFnSaXVcpOpZO13r4U3T85zUZ9DxEqNNCMM2I1pfmuZ4iopcKBJMdGRXRw8vFSQ1_1sd7N16s5WVGbTvOzkT6/s1600/WP_20160601_14_12_53_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v14QCO22RZ0InbNaw5HxMxPRUYpaIFmiTmw3S4Ec9m0mQPUCEqeSoKwtFnSaXVcpOpZO13r4U3T85zUZ9DxEqNNCMM2I1pfmuZ4iopcKBJMdGRXRw8vFSQ1_1sd7N16s5WVGbTvOzkT6/s640/WP_20160601_14_12_53_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmNwJlYqMza-veyQ-IQPxU6LH7iRSeYU2XUJ0cQLFWDucxZG-rv8QdLPXTIJjpEarwpk5c91pBc_LEnUInHiOQ7eavQEvewsSAA5LIZFuFnBQTEi10sZby1tbtOCgxrU9c-h5y0vdEu5Y/s1600/WP_20160601_14_22_49_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmNwJlYqMza-veyQ-IQPxU6LH7iRSeYU2XUJ0cQLFWDucxZG-rv8QdLPXTIJjpEarwpk5c91pBc_LEnUInHiOQ7eavQEvewsSAA5LIZFuFnBQTEi10sZby1tbtOCgxrU9c-h5y0vdEu5Y/s640/WP_20160601_14_22_49_Pro+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<i>Cost of burger: $6</i><br />
<i>Time to arrive: 10 minutes.</i><br />
<i>Size of Burger: Small.</i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Twist & Smash'd started here in Forest Hills, got good press, and <a href="http://www.twistandsmashdsports.com/">expanded into Astoria</a>. While this location is (very) small and has a limited menu, the Astoria one is massive, is a sports bar with bocce, beer pong tournaments, beer for drinking, an expanded menu, and brunch. The burgers at Twist & Smash'd, made from Angus beef and served on a potato roll, are fantastic with a but. But: they're a bit greasy, they're very small, and they fall apart. From a construction perspective, the rib of the lettuce and the cap of the tomato should never be used. The Twist & Smash'd physical space is, as I mentioned, small but it does have a rear patio area that is nice in good weather and has some games if you have little kids who want to play. I wish that the interior was brighter and had better air conditioning. The vibrant orange paint is light-absorbing and oppressive. If it was a nice light blue or light grey and bright, the orange tables would be a happy contrast, and it wouldn't feel like the ceiling was caving in on you. Twist & Smash'd is the least crowded of the three despite its amazing burgers, and I'm willing to bet that this is why. Having nothing to drink other than iced tea and lemonade doesn't help much, either.</div>
<br />
<b>Conclusion:</b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The biggest shock was that Shake Shack wasn't the clear winner. I mean, a year ago when I did my <a href="http://www.eateryrow.com/2015/05/fast-food-burger-smackdown.html">Fast Food Burger Smackdown</a>, Shake Shack got the gold. Having tried all three within hours of each other, the Shack was actually the <i>least</i> flavorful. Perhaps this was a one time thing, perhaps we've succumbed to the hype, or perhaps when you compare it to Wendy's and Checkers it's not really a contest. This isn't to say it wasn't delicious. It was. I ate two of them and I'll eat more if the wait time isn't 45 minutes. I imagine that this will subside as the novelty becomes the norm.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Twist & Smash'd was the clear loser for interior design. Forget their lack of having a soda fountain. It's almost like they don't want anyone sitting and spending time there. Unlike Shake Shack, which has vast windows and tons of light, Twist & Smash'd is dark and uncomfortable. But the burger was amazing. In fact, the burger would have maybe even won if only it didn't dissolve into mush like a sugar cube in the rain and wasn't so small. It's basically an oversized slider. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bareburger gets the win. The burger is pricey, but it's big, you're guaranteed to have a seat while you eat it, the space is inviting, the meat is cooked to order, you can have a beer or a cocktail, it's kid friendly, and the burger is, of course, delicious (or it would have joined Cheeburger... not in this article). The downside is of course that you need to commit real time to eat here. Even though the time to get the food was actually shorter than either Shake Shack or Twist & Smash'd, given that it's a full-on restaurant, you can't just rush in and rush out.</div>
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* * *</div>
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Feel free to leave polite comments!</div>
Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-53503880291249227542016-04-11T16:29:00.001-04:002016-04-11T16:32:50.184-04:00TASTE OF SAMARKAND<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.tasteofsamarkand.com/"><b>TASTE OF SAMARKAND</b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
62-16 Woodhaven Boulevard</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Middle Village, NY 11379</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(718) 672-2121<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Every so often I venture beyond the Forest Hills zip code to see what's to eat out there in the wild, unruly yonder. Typically, the rule is that I have to be able to walk there from my apartment. So, when the Times wrote a very positive review of Taste of Samarkand, the Uzbek restaurant on Woodhaven Boulevard, I put on my comfy shoes, grabbed my buddy Seth, and we headed over. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre9KauCrGVoytDhK_bqbo-vhSoUzZ7Pwi21VhP2NTyT1pNiz4R3P5brUM4dSIfcRqyeEAOo91NJmXjt9PnSr139sYPCO08WiLb3_9HM28jcYJWlYCRsxxs3ZjVviFzECyffm48RTDovWL/s1600/Samarkandin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre9KauCrGVoytDhK_bqbo-vhSoUzZ7Pwi21VhP2NTyT1pNiz4R3P5brUM4dSIfcRqyeEAOo91NJmXjt9PnSr139sYPCO08WiLb3_9HM28jcYJWlYCRsxxs3ZjVviFzECyffm48RTDovWL/s640/Samarkandin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
How good was it? Was it even any good? It's spelled out in detail in the citywide blog. Just click 'n' read.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.eateryrow.com/2016/04/taste-of-samarkand.html">CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REVIEW.</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HtEYEjF7QmUuUYn8Ph-TKXtyVtydMWEzbrC6OUaLx_urW7L5vQO7643VBvTMNijEc6LWE2GgyEe3cAxf06sf1XJvtouKcO6wpvXWkJMIP3bY-XZBrHXTDWW89U5l048uHb_q47mwlwU9/s1600/SamarkandApp2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HtEYEjF7QmUuUYn8Ph-TKXtyVtydMWEzbrC6OUaLx_urW7L5vQO7643VBvTMNijEc6LWE2GgyEe3cAxf06sf1XJvtouKcO6wpvXWkJMIP3bY-XZBrHXTDWW89U5l048uHb_q47mwlwU9/s640/SamarkandApp2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-16676264868466625502016-01-22T11:48:00.002-05:002016-01-22T11:48:50.600-05:00TUSCAN HILLS<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.tuscanhillsnyc.com/"><b>TUSCAN HILLS</b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
115-20 Queens Boulevard</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(718) 487-4500</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
At a certain point, out of both fairness and utility, I'm going to have to start returning to restaurants that haven't been reviewed in a while. Tuscan Hills is as good a place as any to start. It'd been years since going here, largely because it's a little out of the way for me and its sister restaurant, Ovo Sodo, which I happen to like a lot, is much closer. My first visit to Tuscan Hills was years ago, when I was dating Operagirl. I was sick at the time and going out to dinner was, looking back, a bad idea. Long story short, on the walk home I regifted what I'd eaten to some poor guy's lawn. Subsequent visits were more comfortable.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh89mhS-W-ntyg0crpliMWmu4u1-4cyS74CFgjjJvjgj99ZuSIGz33r-HPjK2zjCsPxHYyr_VyaSl2D9vuOKwUiKhLGul2dyWYZ407zcjIGXNk4hHLGUMGq6LADRyxyV4L9ZUZl06jAx4R/s1600/THout.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh89mhS-W-ntyg0crpliMWmu4u1-4cyS74CFgjjJvjgj99ZuSIGz33r-HPjK2zjCsPxHYyr_VyaSl2D9vuOKwUiKhLGul2dyWYZ407zcjIGXNk4hHLGUMGq6LADRyxyV4L9ZUZl06jAx4R/s640/THout.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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This time, I went with Pike. Tuscan Hills was about two-thirds full and we had no trouble getting a table. As you can see, the decor is more rustic Italian bistro than the John's Of 12th Street-esque traditional red sauce places where the staff wears that tuxedo-like uniform. It's upscale casual (though frankly, the jerkoff in the photo could have at least taken off his baseball cap. If you so desperately need to wear a Yankees cap at the table and dress like a bum, go to Buffalo Wild Wings... (God, I sound like an old man. Still, seriously, take off the fucking hat).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC28Z2sUfk_UFkFlFXl1FQNRNYzq-RFy_M-LQAknpN7bh99dB9sva3r3SziZvTPw_lklrNArdrdYjicc4gzdF7WwU3ZFqyQAP-sCrKyeqW4TME5FdA95G09AGB4-SSID2x2J0xTPhq8j8/s1600/THin.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC28Z2sUfk_UFkFlFXl1FQNRNYzq-RFy_M-LQAknpN7bh99dB9sva3r3SziZvTPw_lklrNArdrdYjicc4gzdF7WwU3ZFqyQAP-sCrKyeqW4TME5FdA95G09AGB4-SSID2x2J0xTPhq8j8/s640/THin.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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My appetizer was the <b>Insalata Di Polpo</b>, an octopus salad with olives, carrots, capers, and lemon. If you don't like tart, cold Mediterranean salads, I'd skip it. But in my opinion, the salad was very good, and I'm glad I tried it. That said, the octopus was a wee bit tougher than I would have liked. I know nothing about cooking octopus, but I know I've had it more tender before. Pike ordered the <b>Cozze Marinara</b>, steamed mussels in a tomato garlic broth. We both liked it. The mussels weren't very large, but they also weren't gritty and the sauce had some bite to it. Maybe I wouldn't order it every day, but it was a refreshing change of pace from the more ubiquitous white wine broth one usually finds their mussels made with. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5b-SbWyW_RF0CUoI1iqsV0Cr00WrCFt5xAqXdN_kR2KX1LGczfUg2TSutGOj9AVydXUW7k70oo-GLW3fcKN12rSPnAO2BojnPT_ZkT5i7FHJeudRiFj8OAj18I250KKma0NlbZtMnmL4/s1600/THoctopussalad.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5b-SbWyW_RF0CUoI1iqsV0Cr00WrCFt5xAqXdN_kR2KX1LGczfUg2TSutGOj9AVydXUW7k70oo-GLW3fcKN12rSPnAO2BojnPT_ZkT5i7FHJeudRiFj8OAj18I250KKma0NlbZtMnmL4/s640/THoctopussalad.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrApHt9gsI2XHS1DMX8Z77oTbwgSvWGe0Klul6j_NWP2pJVZSqjN67BsmyF8qJwlE9xfijtdSaMWac3lrQ2y-vMgSTFs27AABenmYVb-Wpuj1nFRkgpxwhlKoDeRcIF03U8JEsssSELaVO/s1600/THmussels.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrApHt9gsI2XHS1DMX8Z77oTbwgSvWGe0Klul6j_NWP2pJVZSqjN67BsmyF8qJwlE9xfijtdSaMWac3lrQ2y-vMgSTFs27AABenmYVb-Wpuj1nFRkgpxwhlKoDeRcIF03U8JEsssSELaVO/s640/THmussels.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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For his entree, Pike opted for the <b>Ravioli Con Gamberi</b>, a cheese ravioli dish with mushrooms, shrimp, and tomato in a light tomato sauce. He enjoyed it and I recall it being a very flavorful, light dish. I ordered the <b>Pici Alla Fondelli</b>, fettuccine in a wild boar and black olive ragout. The pasta was perfect and the sauce was <i>almost</i> perfect. The olives added a little too much sourness. If they used half as much, I'd have been enthralled. Much like my octopus, the wild boar was a little on the tough, dry side, but I'll chalk that up to wild boar being a decidedly gamey meat. I wanted to love the dish and I would have, but for the overabundance of olives.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgCmDtqylxh9Ro2y4311IyM4ONBJmfSuKRfQlSiBjM0893L9fgm1JufIgbcOl1alC9JOnh2CMWxp8Rz6DHmFBJPJOUBhQtVFp04AOBt-OgHqrcDP6WYkyK4HF4_pD_riW1wfq7DYzcxFs/s1600/THshrimp.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgCmDtqylxh9Ro2y4311IyM4ONBJmfSuKRfQlSiBjM0893L9fgm1JufIgbcOl1alC9JOnh2CMWxp8Rz6DHmFBJPJOUBhQtVFp04AOBt-OgHqrcDP6WYkyK4HF4_pD_riW1wfq7DYzcxFs/s640/THshrimp.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-_dZ6dFEzwO52zmTTAqWlrBOVGDQeYiCFpaRfiatearhUXbattaM203ryElzXZJye0PaUDtG4nbSpS6MaOUI6IlCy1nxOPSz_6KWLJrEcOS1VIHcWUVcG8T4MhS6c9kJI_80-c60nSYA/s1600/THpasta2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-_dZ6dFEzwO52zmTTAqWlrBOVGDQeYiCFpaRfiatearhUXbattaM203ryElzXZJye0PaUDtG4nbSpS6MaOUI6IlCy1nxOPSz_6KWLJrEcOS1VIHcWUVcG8T4MhS6c9kJI_80-c60nSYA/s640/THpasta2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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This was one of those rare occasions where we ordered dessert and the reasons completely escape me. Pike ordered the <b>Panna Cotta</b>, a vanilla cream pudding that was perfectly fine. I ordered the <b>Cannoli Alla Siciliana</b>, which left a little to be desired. Maybe it's having grown up a short walk from Veniero's that leaves me nonplussed by most Italian pastry that isn't Veniero's but this particular cannoli, with a little chocolate shell was brittle, didn't have much filling (basically it just drained onto the plate), and desperately needed to be dunked into my coffee like a doughnut.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wQfAuEK1J6SEz7sA8-QsJt_qhhmQFmy5RPRqWeZpD0I3slonI-X87_yc5efyenuNvC89VHl3aSLVB91gP7FZ_R5t6_JqNucGAdEO0VYo3_upEwF6_V5doXUct0YOQmmfYXM8G-Vdp4RL/s1600/THdessert.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wQfAuEK1J6SEz7sA8-QsJt_qhhmQFmy5RPRqWeZpD0I3slonI-X87_yc5efyenuNvC89VHl3aSLVB91gP7FZ_R5t6_JqNucGAdEO0VYo3_upEwF6_V5doXUct0YOQmmfYXM8G-Vdp4RL/s640/THdessert.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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We did not order drinks, so I can't speak to the wine list, but expect to pay an average of $12 for an appetizer, $15 for a 13-inch pizza, $17 for a pasta, and $24 for an entree. On the whole, I enjoyed my experience. The staff was pleasant and neither ignored you nor was in your face every five minutes. The lights seemed a bit bright for dinner, but the atmosphere was relaxed. That said, neither Pike nor I were completely blown away by any particular part of the meal enough to make the hike something that we would do with any regularity and on the walk back to our neck of the woods agreed that between Ovo Sodo and Tuscan Hills, we preferred Ovo Sodo. Although if looking in the window at the empty tables is any indication, we may well be the only people in the borough with that opinion.</div>
Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-23990005105769246752016-01-04T11:39:00.001-05:002016-01-04T11:48:56.521-05:00AAHELI<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><a href="http://www.aaheli.us/">AAHELI</a></b></div>
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71-51 Yellowstone Boulevard</div>
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Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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(718) 674-6298</div>
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Once upon a time, there was an Italian restaurant that had existed since the dawn of time. Dawn turned to dusk and it closed, becoming a kosher restaurant called Pomegranate. Dusk turned to 7pm and Pomegranate folded. At 7:01, Pomegranate, the kosher restaurant turned into... Pomegranate the Indian restaurant? No. Wait. Hold on. It's actually Aaheli. Aaheli the Indian restaurant. Better known as:</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Aaheli Indian Restaurant</span>, formerly known as <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">POMEGRANATE</span>. This is actually their second location, the first being near Columbus Circle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5Tfe5yQ5ejYFt2MmrnGMdeVIS0URqpytAMQbwropVERZTUs2M2hMWGZyVibOjUR7IAgJQFTmDH08M8l1mLko0G1Z9EfHbZEerJi40swHKRcGEwNau7D4y1pEpoNmrYABVmFCOOvn6B1k/s1600/Aahleiout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5Tfe5yQ5ejYFt2MmrnGMdeVIS0URqpytAMQbwropVERZTUs2M2hMWGZyVibOjUR7IAgJQFTmDH08M8l1mLko0G1Z9EfHbZEerJi40swHKRcGEwNau7D4y1pEpoNmrYABVmFCOOvn6B1k/s640/Aahleiout.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Okay, so they refuse to replace the huge, glowing, color-changing sign for reasons that I can only assume have to do with hiding themselves from their bookie. "Hey Vinnie, where's that Aaheli place the boss wants us to 'visit'? All I see is a nail salon and a dry cleaner." What about the interior? Uh, fairly awful. Whoever painted the inside did such a half-assed job that they should be sued, and the white tables with pink tablecloths make you feel like you're dining at a bat-mitzvah-to-be. Okay, how about service? I give service a 2 out of 5. Our waiter looked haggard, everything took forever, we were upsold constantly, and flagging him down just for a water refill required an effort just shy of firing up a rescue flare.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhY6gX8Igz5enovmIfdmfThhecgVmA7w_zWYoQY6_fLRBAmT_UtoKdWvLzg3jYVKvhDiCoHep0R_G4gfgNi51KvZ8uz9ANOn-XD7kE-JNlw7HavSNENzbhUiFFmWG-q1P__fPKZhrwDK5/s1600/AaheliIn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhY6gX8Igz5enovmIfdmfThhecgVmA7w_zWYoQY6_fLRBAmT_UtoKdWvLzg3jYVKvhDiCoHep0R_G4gfgNi51KvZ8uz9ANOn-XD7kE-JNlw7HavSNENzbhUiFFmWG-q1P__fPKZhrwDK5/s640/AaheliIn.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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AND YET!<br />
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And yet despite this laughable shittyness, I forgive them. Because the food is very good. At the end of the day, even if the decor is embarrassing and the service not up to par, they can crank out a quite tasty dish. And they're BYOB, which will save you a few bucks. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7ixZwttMNf_V1OXYyoF6PTW3PnT3SRA-OdxULgi_i7fMglyQxERlO1gtwy0e1Kq6RJpaxLKGhOJ5uVHLTvfyJS17ZUVlqqE434YaxOxUEU1wYAedGrbR3e_odhyphenhyphenDqgqnlW-QKoz_GJZN/s1600/AaheliSoup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7ixZwttMNf_V1OXYyoF6PTW3PnT3SRA-OdxULgi_i7fMglyQxERlO1gtwy0e1Kq6RJpaxLKGhOJ5uVHLTvfyJS17ZUVlqqE434YaxOxUEU1wYAedGrbR3e_odhyphenhyphenDqgqnlW-QKoz_GJZN/s640/AaheliSoup.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Soups are Aaheli's weak spot. I typically love <b>Mulligatawny Soup</b>, a spicy split pea soup, and who wouldn't like a bowl of <b>Coconut Soup</b>, made with curry seeds and cumin? But man were they thin. Mulligatawny broth might be a better description. Ditto for the coconut soup. The same cannot be said for Bro's choice, the <b>Sambar Soup</b>, a much thicker, heartier lentil soup, which was quite good. </div>
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If the soups were a letdown, then it was all uphill from there. I won't beat every dish to death with an adjective-laden paragraph. The menu is pretty big, and there are only so many ways to say "the chickpea-based sauce was delicious." So take my word for it that every appetizer and main dish I had tasted very good. The <b>Tawa Shrimp</b>, shrimp sauteed with curry leaves, onion, and bell pepper was delicious. So much flavor, but so small a portion. You could inhale the whole plate in ten seconds. The <b>Lamb Madras</b>, boneless chunks of lamb cooked in a coconut curry sauce, was heaven. The lamb was tender enough that one could cut it with a spoon if need be. Bro, having been dating a vegetarian for a couple of years, has learned to shun the shunning of vegetarian entrees, and he ordered the <b>Bhartha</b>, an eggplant dish that was similarly rich and flavorful. Deciding to go carb-heavy after an upstate bike trip, I ordered the <b>Chicken Biryani</b>, chicken cooked and served buried in a spiced, herbal rice. The chicken was a little dry, I won't lie, but it was still fantastic and guilt-inducing.</div>
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I did not get tandoori chicken or any curries, and not for any real reason other that to try something different.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SorSMJvcdm1x8Ttn4aQJTpFKAWqr9lFp0vUzf19mmvJd2rKfIYrjvg7KwSbTKRfOgZCpcpWZAd-XZ5mUsF_rpXhdBy6JHIyc7MNdaHcUoJZSkSEv3MXJkRQnznFRGAY2bfm9dabY_Vbw/s1600/AaheliEntrees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SorSMJvcdm1x8Ttn4aQJTpFKAWqr9lFp0vUzf19mmvJd2rKfIYrjvg7KwSbTKRfOgZCpcpWZAd-XZ5mUsF_rpXhdBy6JHIyc7MNdaHcUoJZSkSEv3MXJkRQnznFRGAY2bfm9dabY_Vbw/s640/AaheliEntrees.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We were upsold on getting the <b>Garlic Naan</b>, which was fine, since who doesn't like garlic naan, but looking back, once you smother the bread in thick sauces, it probably isn't necessary. </div>
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Indian food has this image as being inexpensive. I don't know where this comes from, since it never is (maybe the buffets are, but I don't eat food from a trough). When Bro and I ate at Aaheli, sans any drinks, we ponied up almost $80. Entrees average about $15, which isn't expensive by any measure, but it's also not "cheap", although you will have leftovers the next day, and Aaheli is BYOB. So, you'll definitely save a nickle or two bringing a bottle from home.<br />
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Aaheli, being on Yellowstone, might be a bit of a schlep for some of you (though it's perfect for me), but it'll be a rewarding schlep and you can burn off the calories on the walk.</div>
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<i>One complaint:</i> I asked for every dish to be served "very spicy". Not mild. Not medium. Very. Not once were we given dishes that were anything but mild. </div>
Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-5985367786905546662015-11-12T12:47:00.001-05:002015-11-12T12:47:34.733-05:00ROVE<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><a href="http://www.rove7227.com/">ROVE</a></b></div>
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72-27 Austin Street</div>
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Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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(718) 233-3183</div>
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When I learned that the guys behind Jack & Nellie's were opening a new restaurant, Rove, in the spot where Bonfire Grill used to be, my first thought was "I love Jack & Nellie's! This is great!" My second thought was "Couldn't they have named their restaurant after a different political consultant?" Titular commentary notwithstanding, Rove is, for all intents and purposes, at least thus far, Bonfire 2. </div>
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When I started writing this blog, in 2008, there were precious few decent, full restaurants in the neighborhood outside of Q (which, by the way, is now Jack & Nellie's) on Ascan Avenue. Going on a date or getting brunch meant schlepping out to Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Astoria. So when Bonfire Grill opened, it was a breath of fresh air. Finally, a decent brunch. Finally, a place with a decent drink list. Finally, a restaurant designed to attract people like me, the upper 20s-low 30s, demographic. The food at Bonfire was always decent and, even if it would never be the kind of place that people would get on the subway to go to, it was a great standby place to go when you didn't want to travel. </div>
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This is basically my thoughts on Rove. It only just opened, so the menu currently very small and will almost certainly double in size, but unless it changes dramatically, it will be upscale bar food appetizers and comfort food entrees. In essence, Rove will be using the Bonfire playbook. This is good news for people who felt that Bonfire filled a certain niche in the neighborhood and bad news for those who were hoping for something a bit more culinarily artsy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7cYYzjTVDmhcxMHRp0PfggsJljnr1st-8GNnAhpKE8J5QNUysSyNPRWI2nyqqb3ZxExJcjR_sYj33ESg4Jl9mKtkWNH_H4u09FUrf2ALFQD7TLew7_84Vorz_1ipM8a_OlZqjmO_c7De/s1600/Roveout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7cYYzjTVDmhcxMHRp0PfggsJljnr1st-8GNnAhpKE8J5QNUysSyNPRWI2nyqqb3ZxExJcjR_sYj33ESg4Jl9mKtkWNH_H4u09FUrf2ALFQD7TLew7_84Vorz_1ipM8a_OlZqjmO_c7De/s640/Roveout.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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When I arrived with Pike at 7 on a Thursday, the place was deserted; by 7:30 almost every table was taken. This was actually Pike's second time at Rove, having been there a few days earlier with his girlfriend. The interior set up, as you can see, is basically unchanged, but the decor, with it's rougher wood accents and exposed brick, is more industrial. While Rove retains the televisions over the bar, and has buffalo wings on the menu, at least it doesn't try to imply that it's a fancy place. That said, if you show up wearing a sports jersey, I will still want to kill you.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyL8S_V6ng4Mz6GdvYBlJHjgP4TzKTN7ZXsTbfBUnGQbZh3Zngl6dBkl5YaQCbHY6qv1d4YEdslanEHEOgwnpgN9ubNy53pGnMY1CaP6N9JpvnbC_bBlA9IoiYVjjnk4yFBkP9MczbbDE/s1600/Rovein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyL8S_V6ng4Mz6GdvYBlJHjgP4TzKTN7ZXsTbfBUnGQbZh3Zngl6dBkl5YaQCbHY6qv1d4YEdslanEHEOgwnpgN9ubNy53pGnMY1CaP6N9JpvnbC_bBlA9IoiYVjjnk4yFBkP9MczbbDE/s640/Rovein.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Maybe Rove will one day offer deviled eggs and French onion soup, but for now, the limited appetizer menu was clearly showcasing that they were aiming for the upper echelon of bar food. Tempted by the filet mignon bruschetta, I instead chose the <b>Boneless Sriracha Chicken Thighs</b>, also known as boneless dark meat buffalo wings. Pike thought that they were too spicy, I didn't, but I like hot. I can recommend them, and I would get them again, but the name implies a wee bit more than they are. Pike chose the <b>Pork Buns</b>, a trio of pulled pork bao-style sandwiches which were delicious. Tangy, sweet, soft, crunchy, hot, cold. It basically hits every part of your mouth in sequence.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCeeiC6NZCLPWSbuFbIP9MOfrcEBY8V_V0MaAlwCrVTDv2rIcaOg3Mw-X1vIiRMCuusuEAEvST5UPQz0KMuKjBK9j2vL3OR6YyK2d2g4O9DQYG7XEoPTDOSsfLuRmVJ1CUR4GrjeZLwLD/s1600/RoveSriracha.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCeeiC6NZCLPWSbuFbIP9MOfrcEBY8V_V0MaAlwCrVTDv2rIcaOg3Mw-X1vIiRMCuusuEAEvST5UPQz0KMuKjBK9j2vL3OR6YyK2d2g4O9DQYG7XEoPTDOSsfLuRmVJ1CUR4GrjeZLwLD/s640/RoveSriracha.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPycMJXRLWTOmto4B5EvD8Q_GgUoyz9xnMi7fA2scCSjSIiZfEuZpb7GhKLnCIkFQsVzSP1LG9fdOO38hx3zttkGzTzycGwcvu4o_nf60QdTcRmJaHbBGW0Qo4qvJAvu8cY4VP9xm6U9s-/s1600/Rovebuns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPycMJXRLWTOmto4B5EvD8Q_GgUoyz9xnMi7fA2scCSjSIiZfEuZpb7GhKLnCIkFQsVzSP1LG9fdOO38hx3zttkGzTzycGwcvu4o_nf60QdTcRmJaHbBGW0Qo4qvJAvu8cY4VP9xm6U9s-/s640/Rovebuns.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pike ordered the <b>New York Sirloin Steak</b>. Last week, he and I went to Aged and the steak was... pretty bad (note to self, re-review Aged from scratch). So when he started eating, I asked him if this was any better. "It's like night and day. Though they could have trimmed off this piece of fat right here." He cut me off a piece and it was pretty good. It won't be putting Spark's out of business any time soon, but compared to what we had last week down the block, there isn't really any competition. The steak comes served with two classic steakhouse sides, creamed spinach and home fries, neither of which were anything to write home about. My entree was the <b>Crusted Chicken</b>, a roasted 1/4 chicken (breast and wing) with a breadcrumb crust under a jalapeno cream sauce. The chicken was tender and the jalapeno cream sauce was anything but hot. The jalapeno was there for taste only. It was quite good, but because it was bone-in, I felt like I was fighting the food. This came served with grilled zucchini and carrot mashed potatoes. Both were pleasant, though if no one told me that there were carrots in the mashed potatoes, I'd never have known.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3Tjwjh04ii6cvoN-Izf9MEIqQWq3zkr40qu3GPLGjJcN9NPs3OLzWSSFWL_7ff-6rnncW5O94zX-7JUsVQI06BqzhnoynzFsVOScJ3iGz1_2YFWsSrrJ1NTQr4sm9wn3tbROD70McUnG/s1600/Rovechicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3Tjwjh04ii6cvoN-Izf9MEIqQWq3zkr40qu3GPLGjJcN9NPs3OLzWSSFWL_7ff-6rnncW5O94zX-7JUsVQI06BqzhnoynzFsVOScJ3iGz1_2YFWsSrrJ1NTQr4sm9wn3tbROD70McUnG/s640/Rovechicken.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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So, so far so good. Bonfire in its latter days was starting to go downhill and it's nice to see that Rove has taken the space and improved on it. I'll for certain be returning and I hope that the expanded menu is a good one. By the way, all of the staff that we interacted with were very very nice. </div>
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Appetizers average $12, sandwiches average $14, entrees average $22.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTq5A9MkUf-zjrbbtzVqqimKPzqDz63-i1ZL3-0jdkvHieEzRMjHOxyfWZSVMpV-v7huMwgLoaF3WpWFVLpP1dENKP2dd9slSIas4C4qN52ipBAonVhH5Cj6XDKZTS608s7OIjdh-xONO/s1600/Rovecard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTq5A9MkUf-zjrbbtzVqqimKPzqDz63-i1ZL3-0jdkvHieEzRMjHOxyfWZSVMpV-v7huMwgLoaF3WpWFVLpP1dENKP2dd9slSIas4C4qN52ipBAonVhH5Cj6XDKZTS608s7OIjdh-xONO/s640/Rovecard.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-68422410130618788692015-09-27T14:57:00.000-04:002015-09-27T16:29:28.837-04:00Brunch Report - EAST OCEAN PALACE<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Brunch Report</b></div>
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<b>EAST OCEAN PALACE</b></div>
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113-09 Queens Boulevard<br />
Forest Hills, NY 11375<br />
(718) 268-1668</div>
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Dim sum brunch, the Chinese tradition of eating various forms of filled dough churrascaria style, was something that I had, until just now, never before tried. Shameful, I admit. Now that I have, I'm all but certain to do it again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghafjS9ibpm3G6d8jrYKjVGWmwHFd8DV-NxNTVzhc2z3gpDd1KO3ls8yETyivjpmQeqHUNJWOU9LqmuraS311R78snY8mIpCArFr1xF_ptaUfVRT3hlhvLwIk9-0LblmkDAROAyzaz-Ctr/s1600/EOPout.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghafjS9ibpm3G6d8jrYKjVGWmwHFd8DV-NxNTVzhc2z3gpDd1KO3ls8yETyivjpmQeqHUNJWOU9LqmuraS311R78snY8mIpCArFr1xF_ptaUfVRT3hlhvLwIk9-0LblmkDAROAyzaz-Ctr/s640/EOPout.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
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For the uninitiated, the dim sum brunch is nothing at all like the Euro/American brunch you're used to. There are no mimosas, no eggs benedict, no reading the Sunday Times while slowly nursing your sixth coffee. Instead you sip tea as an endless stream of carts are wheeled to your table, their pushers offering you random buns, dumplings, chicken feet, and rice bowls. The place was packed when we arrived around 11:30. We waited about
fifteen to twenty minutes for our number to be called. By the time we left, the line to get in
had people waiting on the sidewalk. My guess would be that by 1pm, you
should expect a wait of forty-five minutes or more. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjooo0ErWNGF3bAoOYe7dkwgu5zfCENZ_2D1csAL_OIs5Y2pesQAE6As88-fKd1X4UYDx4Her3bL0mXgeW4gwjV1icPMGpTNk-3uRKGutz_z-5U_zW-E9ZtGauBxy0py5BgRON3L1zy0Oa/s1600/EOPin.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjooo0ErWNGF3bAoOYe7dkwgu5zfCENZ_2D1csAL_OIs5Y2pesQAE6As88-fKd1X4UYDx4Her3bL0mXgeW4gwjV1icPMGpTNk-3uRKGutz_z-5U_zW-E9ZtGauBxy0py5BgRON3L1zy0Oa/s640/EOPin.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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My ex-girlfriend used to say "I want all of the food! Because food!" That
pretty much encapsulates the experience. The sheer quantity and variety
of what got wheeled up to our table was astounding. No sooner would a cart lady give us a dish than another one would show up. There's no
menu. What are these things? Who knows? You don't speak Chinese and they
don't speak English. Just point and take. Also, loosen your belt a
notch (you'll thank me later).</div>
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I'm not going to even attempt to tell you what the names of any of this stuff is, and the photos are not 100% of what we ordered. Suffice it to say, there's a lot of pork, a lot of shrimp, and more carbs than you can imagine. Kosher celiacs on Atkins, this place ain't for you. On the whole, it was delicious. There were a few misses (Pike liked the sticky fried rice and the shrimp wrapped in egg and I didn't. I liked the fried tofu; he took one bite and pushed it aside), but in the end, we ate so much that those few little kerfuffles barely mattered.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlMu5fjSxNZFdaMz_ScP1NawXObrkBHXEyMlKXcA8Va4-nHLDlDmzFYAJw-lSmDCSKcuq01mrlzhBRQqeVvZLfxck0HuI9ODpB6Y1O_APYlQxhsCZV9cdGXUW4EwDzPEJure6zUG39Nuu/s1600/EOP2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlMu5fjSxNZFdaMz_ScP1NawXObrkBHXEyMlKXcA8Va4-nHLDlDmzFYAJw-lSmDCSKcuq01mrlzhBRQqeVvZLfxck0HuI9ODpB6Y1O_APYlQxhsCZV9cdGXUW4EwDzPEJure6zUG39Nuu/s640/EOP2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's pork in there. </td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlL_Jy5orZEtROJXwgBp_5OxO_WiQ_HfcjJCtwlMeKDnIhiDZkHxnCRBdyz4eUoJCCTQq8gO1BwIu9Oy4RFla_bVl8gZY4QsiaDHgthX5yeeSvBHU344s1kprrS6HnssOXouQiuBtAbyW/s1600/EOP3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlL_Jy5orZEtROJXwgBp_5OxO_WiQ_HfcjJCtwlMeKDnIhiDZkHxnCRBdyz4eUoJCCTQq8gO1BwIu9Oy4RFla_bVl8gZY4QsiaDHgthX5yeeSvBHU344s1kprrS6HnssOXouQiuBtAbyW/s640/EOP3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dough soaked in chicken broth. Like a matzo ball. Kinda.<br />
(I've been told that this was a fish broth. Maybe everything really does taste like chicken)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnsx5_QngSHBZduiLKXlJi8ucz52Fmtg-Zvcjh0K1hs34NjRoUABlp1KfZ3mYJG1Vo7aF7UkQIREH5Kn9twsvciM1qTjNP-MxUfynR4TFjWhRxOZ5_jhMBSuGcuzix1e2-nR01W-obINd/s1600/EOP4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnsx5_QngSHBZduiLKXlJi8ucz52Fmtg-Zvcjh0K1hs34NjRoUABlp1KfZ3mYJG1Vo7aF7UkQIREH5Kn9twsvciM1qTjNP-MxUfynR4TFjWhRxOZ5_jhMBSuGcuzix1e2-nR01W-obINd/s640/EOP4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fried dough, wrapped in a noodle, buried under a sweet sesame and peanut sauce. Get this. </td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShZaKOi_OfzMzLuZwErETILFtAVjzlvnXMUIvdirWuzuaW3anR2Mq-NnS5ISEmEv2VifA_qNUlJKMPj30tqiQ2ei235K3oN53n8MkIl6C43Yzn2-c-IJAs4jgH0743NzxReGs73ORqIOC/s1600/EOP6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShZaKOi_OfzMzLuZwErETILFtAVjzlvnXMUIvdirWuzuaW3anR2Mq-NnS5ISEmEv2VifA_qNUlJKMPj30tqiQ2ei235K3oN53n8MkIl6C43Yzn2-c-IJAs4jgH0743NzxReGs73ORqIOC/s640/EOP6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A soft bun stuffed with guess what? Did you guess pork?</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4pGwSP1pK0ykSiX2RWMnlJyBr0ciFps0l1eSHQhDIMhutBJnzpWiJUBQpMx7YN6rFet1EJUxmTlOZvSf1lFqOYJiPuW8Yw4CQROjcjFQttAIBcJYY6vRhNLIzQ9Vdix9EdNjp6luhyphenhyphenqZ/s1600/EOP5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4pGwSP1pK0ykSiX2RWMnlJyBr0ciFps0l1eSHQhDIMhutBJnzpWiJUBQpMx7YN6rFet1EJUxmTlOZvSf1lFqOYJiPuW8Yw4CQROjcjFQttAIBcJYY6vRhNLIzQ9Vdix9EdNjp6luhyphenhyphenqZ/s640/EOP5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another kind of pork bun, this one with a glossy sweet glaze.<br />
Plus fried tofu and steamed shrimp wrapped in fried egg. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZlWULUXyfQcuC0mevwO4Pu_g2TWbN5duw2McL6rMGAIXVKW-ZAQ-rJOqbS3-dHfALlcKNw-lZmGRmg4Ku-LWeZPkfOX4__XmVN8rPnWDMzhUi64mtkcx4fS7dA8YMMXPNnZ6n8gmzWb1/s1600/EOP1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZlWULUXyfQcuC0mevwO4Pu_g2TWbN5duw2McL6rMGAIXVKW-ZAQ-rJOqbS3-dHfALlcKNw-lZmGRmg4Ku-LWeZPkfOX4__XmVN8rPnWDMzhUi64mtkcx4fS7dA8YMMXPNnZ6n8gmzWb1/s640/EOP1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Custard filled. There's the one with a pink dot and one with a yellow dot. The pink dot was better.</td></tr>
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We ate so much. It just kept coming and we just kept saying "yeah okay, we'll get that too." Pike's girlfriend, who joined us, pointed at one final dish and as soon as it hit the table said, "I don't know why I did that. I'm on autopilot." Still, the whole thing only cost $22 per person with tip. That's less than just about anywhere. </div>
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On the whole, this was awesome. On days when you want a lazy, traditional brunch with bacon, coffee, and a strong bloody mary to kill last night's hangover, this would be a poor choice. But if you want a diversion from the norm, you don't have to get on the subway for it.</div>
Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-36892430830562870522015-09-18T12:04:00.000-04:002015-09-20T22:58:20.979-04:00MATIZ<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>MATIZ</b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
110-72 Queens Boulevard</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(718) 880-1602</div>
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Not too long ago, this quaint little corner on bucolic Queens Boulevard was home to a sushi place. I forget the name, or if it even had one, but we all knew it as the 50% Off Sushi sushi spot. "FIFTY PERCENT OFF???" Samantha asked herself before spending the next six hours on her knees hunched over her toilet. "How can I go wrong?" Yes, it was amazing food, but its time, apparently, had come. Replacing it is Matiz, a Latin restaurant whose direct competitor would be the ever popular, ever crowded Cabana on 70th Road. If you've been craving Latin, trendy, and good, and the wait at Cabana is too long, or the prices too high, you won't be kicking yourself heading a little off the beaten path and coming here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pDNsK6UYzZMZsIt1huEyxmJOD6f6X0uGyj9fyJqp6Q__FnwMBgfD9NQbHa74Q71ng3wImklTsyrc-JAfUz6VbDI-hk2QTkehxKu_WUhAqhYgiqAiYvtYbgE_yCGGIJincGz_gMwXj4co/s1600/matizout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pDNsK6UYzZMZsIt1huEyxmJOD6f6X0uGyj9fyJqp6Q__FnwMBgfD9NQbHa74Q71ng3wImklTsyrc-JAfUz6VbDI-hk2QTkehxKu_WUhAqhYgiqAiYvtYbgE_yCGGIJincGz_gMwXj4co/s640/matizout.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I went here with Pike on a midweek evening and sat at one of the window seats. It gets pretty dark in the back. Not good for photos. Initially, we were the only of a handful of diners, but it started filling up eventually. Service was very polite, if a tad slow. We barely noticed. There is a liquor license, but, at the moment, it's only for beer and wine, so no cutesy parasol-laden cocktails are on the menu just yet. (The bartender at Keuka Kafe says that the sangria is supposed to be very good)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmBMKqfEnfuTOIh1s4MvRVTCSguxWOjQprT1Nlr24K10N3Kjfb4PaBWetH9-A2SSMtGOnYHaiz5GZDzIDn2Mz1R7FMkjb0ZxD_Tlg_X-myX1gF_uj-YmM0_VW7auQ_niG2ZvaXE1JheP9/s1600/matizin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmBMKqfEnfuTOIh1s4MvRVTCSguxWOjQprT1Nlr24K10N3Kjfb4PaBWetH9-A2SSMtGOnYHaiz5GZDzIDn2Mz1R7FMkjb0ZxD_Tlg_X-myX1gF_uj-YmM0_VW7auQ_niG2ZvaXE1JheP9/s640/matizin.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Pike and I, wanting the same appetizers, split them. They arrived on a convenient common plate. The <b>Arepitas</b>, small open faced corn cake sandwiches, came as a trio of flavors: chicken, beef, and pork (although the menu only mentions beef and chicken) all richly spiced and delicious. The only downside was that there weren't more. I'd love for them to start selling these full sized. Likewise, our other appetizer, the Patacones, a tostone dish, came with three options for piling onto your fried plantain slice: chicken, beef, and hogao, a vegetarian salsa-like dish.</div>
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For an entrée, Pike ordered the<b> Paella Matiz</b>. Paella is, for all intents and purposes, a seafood risotto. They're typically rich and creamy and loaded with various sea creatures. If you're lucky, someone puts a lobster on top of it. There was no lobster, but there were mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari, and scallops. "Don't forget to tell people that they put an ice cold salad on this." There was a cold salad, which Matiz calls their "summer vegetable hash" and it was, in our opinions, a big mistake. The hash didn't work. Underneath, however, the paella was delicious. Take our advice and ask for the paella without the hash. I chose the <b>Churrasco</b>, a grilled skirt steak that came with sautéed spinach and a cheese papa rellena (a mashed potato ball with a cheese center). The steak was delicious. This was definitely a win. The papa rellena was fine for being a mashed potato ball, but you couldn't taste the cheese at all. There was also an olive oil and pesto sauce on the side that one could ladle over the meat, but it didn't add anything. Indeed, with the steak already perfectly seasoned, it was actually a detraction from the taste.</div>
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I, for one was pleased overall. The seating is a bit tight, but that's a function more of space than poor design. As an alternative to Cabana, Matiz did pretty well. If you live nearby, or don't mind the walk, or just don't want to wait on a long line, you now don't have to. I actually prefer the more subdued atmosphere of Matiz to the more crazy and loud party atmosphere that Cabana sometimes has.</div>
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The whole meal, two appetizers, two entrees, two sodas, tax, and tip with no dessert and no liquor was about $110. Appetizers average $11 and entrées average $22.</div>
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.Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-46850241240496069762015-08-12T17:19:00.002-04:002015-08-12T17:19:11.022-04:00THE OLD SIAM<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>THE OLD SIAM</b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
69-12 Austin Street</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(718) 544-6444</div>
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When I first moved to Forest Hills, there were precious few decent restaurants, but a Thai restaurant hidden between the shopping district on the one side of Austin Street and the police station on the other was one of them, Bann Thai. I went there quite a bit. They always seemed to have customers, the food was good, and it had class. The restaurant even made it into the Grand Theft Auto IV video game. Then, for some reason Bann Thai became The Old Siam. Nothing seems changed but the awning and the tables. They're not fancy, but they're still upscale. The food's not expensive. But now, when you walk by, they're always empty. In fact, when the rest of Austin Street is teeming with the concert crowds, and other restaurants are filled to capacity, Old Siam is all but abandoned. Why? Did they plummet so much in quality that they can't pay people to eat there? Turns out, no.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrE0P1Uvp5OBvJZshz6rLDz_2FwRGnNjv0AMD5Ldyutn-v_j4dR_mO8SGjnis0SoX_B3wKZboAjIFTAhuZ-766DkooFdig8ICZqNj52M4VPACXAB12Ni8yNkWlnKmpk1zXwKb-rYtN-h5j/s1600/OldSiamOut.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrE0P1Uvp5OBvJZshz6rLDz_2FwRGnNjv0AMD5Ldyutn-v_j4dR_mO8SGjnis0SoX_B3wKZboAjIFTAhuZ-766DkooFdig8ICZqNj52M4VPACXAB12Ni8yNkWlnKmpk1zXwKb-rYtN-h5j/s640/OldSiamOut.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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When I first suggested to Pike that we go here, his response was one of trepidation. A perpetually deserted restaurant on an empty stretch of zeroesville does not much confidence breed. Sure enough, when we showed up, we sat alone but for one other table. When we left, the door closed with the echo of an empty room. I can only guess that it's a combination of location and competition. The dining options for Forest Hills has improved exponentially in the last decade, Thai food's heyday was 2009, there are three other Thai restaurants within walking distance, and they're all good. But Old Siam isn't bad. I think it needs to find a niche. I'll get to that at the end.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsruIFXDvGJUg3dD_gHoG25-Q8rQW04UJoScb6jo5_8nJmf6BveLEy-5w2XL5QW2Omv3jW-iC10CXF8xFqt1PIwHrKigQklrwfE2ZGwa5m9FJmExm_qI5WTtfw3gNDKQXy9ga3XwEbfLl4/s1600/OldSiamIn.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsruIFXDvGJUg3dD_gHoG25-Q8rQW04UJoScb6jo5_8nJmf6BveLEy-5w2XL5QW2Omv3jW-iC10CXF8xFqt1PIwHrKigQklrwfE2ZGwa5m9FJmExm_qI5WTtfw3gNDKQXy9ga3XwEbfLl4/s640/OldSiamIn.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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The Old Siam isn't expensive so we ordered appetizers <i>and</i> soup to start, figuring that this way we could try more of the menu. I started with a <b>Lettuce Wrap</b> because it sounded healthy. Shrimp and Chicken, ground and cooked in a peanut sauce with scallions. I didn't know that you'd wrap the filling yourself, but they don't skimp. Flavor-wise, I was impressed. On the plate, it looked like a low-rent attempt at being fancy, and maybe it was, but it was actually very, very good. Sweet and peanuty, but light and moist. Pike chose the <b>Shrimp Roll</b>, whole dough-wrapped shrimp, deep fried with a sweet dipping sauce. Again, very very good. "The food here isn't bad enough to justify why this place is deserted" he softly said across the table. We followed that up with <b>Tom Yum Soup</b>, a spicy lemongrass heavy soup. He ordered the chicken one, and I ordered the vegetarian one. In this instance, we differed. Pike liked the soup way more than I did. I thought it was not better than fine. He thought that it was far better than fine. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3wIMpsEEJlhrDoRT3kbP7AL18oMy0-8zaWD2vicgLGGvoKakls3NBcob68CpDn8U4e9fHpGLZhKV-Ogfo5WNOcCrOvLhHTzv-fRgTtH_VLOPNNZEoS2rTPjCt72bG0HEwfJWhXzW-34Y/s1600/OldSiamApp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3wIMpsEEJlhrDoRT3kbP7AL18oMy0-8zaWD2vicgLGGvoKakls3NBcob68CpDn8U4e9fHpGLZhKV-Ogfo5WNOcCrOvLhHTzv-fRgTtH_VLOPNNZEoS2rTPjCt72bG0HEwfJWhXzW-34Y/s640/OldSiamApp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KDY4uAXRznQcv6MRXL2Zg-noQF77oSBxUyZB0Ov-aYnahWzo3r8BIKHdvDyClhnT91chU6am2oUG2NEciyL74gInd3QYaRc0Yhxm616x9QYmqcytieS40X2M2GO99HEscUdnZ3sTkpds/s1600/OldSiamSoup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KDY4uAXRznQcv6MRXL2Zg-noQF77oSBxUyZB0Ov-aYnahWzo3r8BIKHdvDyClhnT91chU6am2oUG2NEciyL74gInd3QYaRc0Yhxm616x9QYmqcytieS40X2M2GO99HEscUdnZ3sTkpds/s640/OldSiamSoup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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For entrees, Pike ordered the<b> Garlic Seafood</b>. Shrimps, scallops, mussels, squid, and (imitation) crab - at least they're honest - with steamed mixed vegetables under a garlic black pepper sauce. He liked it, and so did I. The sauce was rich and tangy and the seafood was tender. His one complaint, which he tempered with an "and this seems to always happen" was that they really need more seafood. Not just two mussels, not just a few scallops. Also, lose the imitation crab. It feels cheap. I ordered the <b>Honolulu Stripper</b> because how do you not order something with that name? It's mixed vegetables, chicken, scallops, and pineapple in a chili sauce. This entree was very sweet, the vegetables had a nice crunch, and the chicken was well cooked and not dried to a crisp, but I'd have liked it to be spicier than it was, especially because it had a chili pepper drawn net to it on the menu. Still, taste-wise no complaints. </div>
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The whole thing came to $35 per person plus tip, which these days is pretty cheap. I returned alone later to try the one thing that everyone who eats Thai food in the States has on their short list, the <b>Pad Thai</b>. I got mine with chicken and, like everything else, it wasn't bad. I would have preferred a firmer noodle, but I'd recommend it. Sweet, a little spicy but not by much, and with a squeeze of lime, perfect. For $12 you can stuff yourself.</div>
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The Old Siam needs to differentiate itself from the competition. For starters, it's not cheaper than Thai Pot on Queens Boulevard or Hive on Yellowstone, so it's not going to grab the strictly budget diners. It's not as trendy as Jade, so it's not going to get the people who want a reflecting pool with their meal. It's not as convenient to shopping as Bangkok Cuisine. So it needs to become the kind of place that people will go out of their way to go. It has to be the kind of place that, when you're walking down Austin and reach Eddie Bauer, you don't just turn around.<br />
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There are two ways to become a destination. The first is to have a celebrity chef or celebrity customers. The second is to be <i>better and more interesting than everyone else</i>. No more imitation crab. No more lychee martinis. Don't swamp people with a ten page menu that takes half an hour to wade through. Cut it down to seven appetizers and ten entrees that the other restaurants don't have. Keep the pad Thai, it's a popular dish that everyone wants on a menu and, like roast chicken on an American menu. Cute names are fun, but twelve different sauces with mixed vegetables and your choice of shrimp, tofu, or chicken is the been-there-done-that plan of every other Thai restaurant in the galaxy and a tropical stir fry is a tropical stir fry is a tropical stir fry. Make me want to go eat at The Old Siam because they have a dish that I literally cannot get anywhere else. I'll pay for it if it's good and I'll tell other people to pay for it. Dim the lights. Toss some tea lights on the table. Call a beer distributor and get a variety of Thai beer. Get a cocktail book at Barnes & Noble down the block and shake up some tropical cocktails that aren't just sugar and rum. The interior isn't trendy and modern, so own that old-school vintage vibe. Make me feel like I'm eating in a kind of 1960s Bangkok hot spot.</div>
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Of course, if The Old Siam makes a fortune on take-out, then they can ignore everything I said because it doesn't matter at all. </div>
Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-31615153762810490212015-05-23T11:00:00.001-04:002015-05-26T11:48:45.098-04:00CAFFE BIU BELLA<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>CAFFE BIU BELLA</b></div>
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107-02 Queens Boulevard</div>
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Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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(718) 268-4400 </div>
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I know it's not Halloween, but how about this time we start with curses?<br />
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In 1652, Forest Hills was a relatively small village populated primarily by English settlers branching out across Long Island sound from New England. One evening, the legend goes, the wife of a tavern keeper was unable to sleep and decided to go outside and get some air, hoping that the sounds of the night would relax her enough to help her sleep. As she sat outside of the tavern, a strange glow coming from a field in what is now MacDonald Park caught her attention. Deciding to investigate, the woman worked her way through the tall grass until she heard the sound of voices. Chanting. A ritual. She had, to her horror, discovered a coven of witches, brazenly practicing their dark arts only a stone's throw from her very home. The woman, in true Puritan panic, ran to wake the local constabulary, who, with her help, rounded up the suspect villagers and led them to the gallows. </div>
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As the story goes, not all of the coven were captured, and those that survived conjured a great curse. Because it was the wife of the tavern keeper who led to their destruction, their revenge was such that no tavern, bar, pub, restaurant, or other dining establishment, formal or casual, regardless of positive Zagat or Yelp reviews, and regardless of filing proper outdoor seating permits, shall survive and flourish from then until eternity on the location of that hallowed burial ground. Biu Bello is the latest in a long line of dining establishments built over that grave, daring the curse not to doom it to the same fate as those that came before.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpfohXT2zOI-ujZG7rSHOTE3f1r-3LHE-Ppuc49hUxltpO5K-ahkFx8UyMGvn_xiH_APcXcxaJq3yBbSGnlfAE66AW_WBiVJ6rT2haRtNxHNfq4AYgwGBZQnMjFgFWJKcrTp8NuBFD9cE/s1600/piuout1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpfohXT2zOI-ujZG7rSHOTE3f1r-3LHE-Ppuc49hUxltpO5K-ahkFx8UyMGvn_xiH_APcXcxaJq3yBbSGnlfAE66AW_WBiVJ6rT2haRtNxHNfq4AYgwGBZQnMjFgFWJKcrTp8NuBFD9cE/s640/piuout1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPeZjiqUBeOgtW1jXcV90TxRNRas8JZy-P-B4_OlDIHyuf_8fNPdgBMbmXqhdO9tjVx5Q7pX49b2_qBDmXc-WfySObraBcnR6BUtqfzo6e3wAihpzsBOPnRANOjeM50e3KS6qKse60I6X/s1600/BBout.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPeZjiqUBeOgtW1jXcV90TxRNRas8JZy-P-B4_OlDIHyuf_8fNPdgBMbmXqhdO9tjVx5Q7pX49b2_qBDmXc-WfySObraBcnR6BUtqfzo6e3wAihpzsBOPnRANOjeM50e3KS6qKse60I6X/s640/BBout.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Biu Bella. If you've been here as long
as I have, you might remember Piu Bello, the popular gelato shop on
Austin Street (where Agora Taverna is now) that closed a few years back.
Every summer it was packed with people cooling off with sundaes, cones, or milkshakes. I was
one of them. I don't know if this is a trademark infringement suit
waiting to happen or what, but ultimately, it doesn't matter. This place
is doomed. The curse has taken firm root. <br />
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Walking into Biu Bella this particular evening, it should have been, at the very least, lively. The weather was gorgeous, it was a popular day of the week to dine. Yet it was all but empty and it never got more crowded than the photo you see before you. Visions of Old Vienna Cafe danced in my head.</div>
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The smell of the pizza oven filled the dining room, yet pizza was not the central quisine of the menu. Nothing was. Biu Bella isn't Italian, like I thought it would be, and as all of the previous restaurants in this location have been, and it isn't pizza, like I smelled it would be. It has gelato, but it's in the back and not highlighted. It's kind of a diner. A cutesy diner. Paninis and cheese sticks. Hamburgers and wings. BLTs and chicken fingers. Sandwiches and a kids menu. Soda served with a flexie-straw. The closest approximation of a likeness would be Theater Cafe on Metropolitan, except that Theater Cafe has enough outside seating to be a beer garden. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzlxxb_RsW4_Q7Mfv_SdtKFR2-FSbSefuZ0quPriSqtm06ZJZ67uFCwYgnTnfSIKJV6nfzdVukG2BQ1wzBovQYis3Oyosq_juj0DAFM2ijwm9wXj0wNdhABZvC_pNiCj5vA_qokhZSt0b/s1600/BBin.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzlxxb_RsW4_Q7Mfv_SdtKFR2-FSbSefuZ0quPriSqtm06ZJZ67uFCwYgnTnfSIKJV6nfzdVukG2BQ1wzBovQYis3Oyosq_juj0DAFM2ijwm9wXj0wNdhABZvC_pNiCj5vA_qokhZSt0b/s640/BBin.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Pike ordered something from the fancier looking "Wood Fired" menu, the<b> Little Neck Clams</b>. These, we were told, would take a while. And they did. But rather than the kitchen timing everything to come out in the proper order, everything came out at random. Everything came out in a zig zag. My appetizer, then his entree, then his appetizer then my entree. From the somewhat confused look on the waitresses face when we asked her to make sure that the courses arrived at the table together, we knew it would happen, but Pike was, nonetheless, pissed. The little neck clams, roasted in the oven and served with oregano and pecorino-romano cheese, were actually quite pleasant. This was not something to be complained about. I went decidedly lower-rent and ordered the <b>Curly Fries</b> because Yelpers thought that they were the bee's knees. I had to know. Were they amazing? Were they "addictive"? Well, they were fine. If you like the Ore-Ida ones from the supermarket but are just too lazy to thaw and cook a bag of frozen potato squiggles yourself, or you're looking for some Jericho Turnpike diner nostalgia, now you know where to go. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DCroXG6dSQGuKNU5NBjQclKh21Ww46co1IA0IDcPI2atVsBVXhZHyOieN-agSAq-CGeIlx_5MoBNEL7VKKnF3_DnOEViv5UjaU5xNzkPZ5hpD9beinHQMCIC2YE3V9Si4wHKWLvfCONx/s1600/BBclams.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DCroXG6dSQGuKNU5NBjQclKh21Ww46co1IA0IDcPI2atVsBVXhZHyOieN-agSAq-CGeIlx_5MoBNEL7VKKnF3_DnOEViv5UjaU5xNzkPZ5hpD9beinHQMCIC2YE3V9Si4wHKWLvfCONx/s640/BBclams.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvh8KpviEYm3yTELvf9DR5kCIr08YzhbRCeYrMsXwFlgl04oiLQHJ15rH11TDBJtmFfLwMycO2hjX9q_yjcmDx-QA7x8_Bai1dq-obFM8jFgZHsyZsl_IsBT9ykDIKLGjhZO0nUB-ZwPT/s1600/BBblt.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvh8KpviEYm3yTELvf9DR5kCIr08YzhbRCeYrMsXwFlgl04oiLQHJ15rH11TDBJtmFfLwMycO2hjX9q_yjcmDx-QA7x8_Bai1dq-obFM8jFgZHsyZsl_IsBT9ykDIKLGjhZO0nUB-ZwPT/s640/BBblt.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
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For his entree, Pike got a <b>Turkey Club Sandwich</b> on whole wheat bread. The white bread sandwich he got instead was, in his words, "a turkey club sandwich on WHITE bread". And that's as far as that conversation went. I wanted to see if that wood fire oven that smells so tempting as you walk in could churn out a good pizza, so I ordered the standard <b>Margherita Pizza</b>, tomato sauce, basil, mozzarella, way too much olive oil, and an extremely burned, brittle crust. Nick's is under no threat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEa1k3XAxSfeleGOlDUBCK7Duf4obIZ4xpu46Jma-3NVSNe0f_9dFkm3owI30EeeS-2cng2_ZW_uOPAhT54NFsr8FCvgpgZDQ59PjMTijvTUip3KpMvUx4wnItsbxTP-Q9PGOi03Ab97w/s1600/BBpizza.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEa1k3XAxSfeleGOlDUBCK7Duf4obIZ4xpu46Jma-3NVSNe0f_9dFkm3owI30EeeS-2cng2_ZW_uOPAhT54NFsr8FCvgpgZDQ59PjMTijvTUip3KpMvUx4wnItsbxTP-Q9PGOi03Ab97w/s640/BBpizza.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
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So Biu Bella is a cuter-than-average diner with mediocre food, poor service, and an uninspiringly boring menu. Yes, there is gelato too, but until the weather is hot and the line at Martha's is too long to wait, I don't envision it being the saving grace of the joint. One Yelper touted the fantastic "parkside view" but in real life that "view" is blocked by parked cars and UPS trucks and there isn't any outside seating for hot weather dining to make up for any other shortcomings. They could have had outside seating in the rear, but someone once upon a time, in their wisdom, put up a greenhouse. They probably thought that it would be like eating outdoors in the winter, except 1.) nope, not the same, and 2.) no one ate their in the winter, either.</div>
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Unless Biu Bella loses the name, ups the service, tweaks the menu, and basically becomes something completely different than it is now to drum up business, the witches' curse shall claim another victim.</div>
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Sandwiches are about $10. My pizza was $7.50. Soda refills are an extra $1. The place is cheap, but you get what you pay for.<br />
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<br />Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709919592958418784.post-31077950120774000152015-03-06T13:21:00.000-05:002015-03-06T13:21:13.470-05:00TAZZINA<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://tazzinany.com/"><b>TAZZINA</b></a></div>
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102-15 Metropolitan Avenue</div>
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Forest Hills, NY 11375</div>
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(718) 374-3890</div>
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Yup, Metropolitan has attracted yet another eating establishment helmed by someone with experience at some of Manhattan's primo spots. I went and it's good. How good? Let's put it this way. I don't even care that it's another Italian restaurant. That's how good. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0X3Sovb7vSOnxkWNHljEEapL3yaSYXAij5qwp16KzMJnbzq1YJKNSymebRAqitY5ml94NpiUnJbeT1gg_v5o78m5H1Zzx1wXkl1tZaIw26rYTF9GhOwJOhjLBMuDbFmeCcCmZ9ujA0_6/s1600/TazzinaOut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0X3Sovb7vSOnxkWNHljEEapL3yaSYXAij5qwp16KzMJnbzq1YJKNSymebRAqitY5ml94NpiUnJbeT1gg_v5o78m5H1Zzx1wXkl1tZaIw26rYTF9GhOwJOhjLBMuDbFmeCcCmZ9ujA0_6/s1600/TazzinaOut.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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Between Danny Brown, End of the Century Bar, Eddie's, Dee's, Il Poeta, Alberto's, Katsuno, and now Tazzina, someone might want to invest in building a parking garage. Metropolitan might wind up being a real destination block.</div>
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<a href="http://www.eateryrow.com/2015/03/tazzina.html">READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEoDt_LC6-LnFamoFebdYHMdVUXwsrF5cMDRvI5eWP6SXg-yDpA3H-NXL6Vsi6pUuWtzUyFS1bq7uEwwynpVZKQoLKq-eXb-m-HfKedkcmt2IDBgFkBmiPHwGRyDXaHKNKNWWjWEdJEpC/s1600/TazzinaCard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEoDt_LC6-LnFamoFebdYHMdVUXwsrF5cMDRvI5eWP6SXg-yDpA3H-NXL6Vsi6pUuWtzUyFS1bq7uEwwynpVZKQoLKq-eXb-m-HfKedkcmt2IDBgFkBmiPHwGRyDXaHKNKNWWjWEdJEpC/s1600/TazzinaCard.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Jon Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728136630493588196noreply@blogger.com0