Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden - Still My Favorite of its Kind

Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden - 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102

718.274.4925

N/W Train to Astoria Blvd

www.bohemianhall.com

Despite new competition from the Studio Square Beer Garden, Bohemian is still my favorite, mostly because of its Eastern European heritage and the food they serve. My cousins, brother and I went there recently and despite the rain, we had a blast. I sampled a couple of new things, spotlighting them below:

Halusky (Spaetzle) with Sauerkraut - One of my favorite Slovak dishes, I prefer to eat them with "bryndza" or sheep's milk cheese but they ran out. The sauerkraut version was just as good and the spaetzle were bite sized and quite light. They could sometimes feel too bready and heavy but that wasn't the case. Sprinkling this dish with bacon is traditional and while I liked it, it didn't stand a chance next to the thick-cut bacon at Koliba.

Classic Beef Goulash - This was Matt's choice and I'm so glad that he insisted on it. Served with knedle (bread dumplings), it was incredibly hearty and comforting. I loved how the slow-cooked beef fell apart upon contact--and it was infused with a lovely, pungent beef gravy that seeped into the bread dumplings. Unlike with the halusky, I think that this dish was better done here than in Koliba.

Fried Muenster Cheese - Bringing me back to my childhood when my dad made this for us, I simply devoured it. Sure it looked like an ordinary fried cheese block, but it so wasn't. Gooey on the inside, it had perfect consistency and was really enhanced by the side of tangy tartar sauce. If you aren't entirely brave enough to try Slovak food, get this, as it appeals to an American palate.

Service and Cost:
Notorious for bad service, the Beer Garden has turned things around. We didn't have to beg to be served and our food arrived in about 20 minutes. One thing that's slightly disappointing is that the personnel is no longer all Czech/Slovak. It was nice--and fun--to be able to speak your native tongue there but that's no longer. Oh well.

While costs go up each year, it's still a very affordable establishment, setting us back about $76 total for 5 entrees and some sides.

3 Mmmms

Da Franco - Uncomplicated Italian Food

Da Franco - 23-92 21st Street, Astoria NY 11105
718.267.0010
N/W Train to Astoria Blvd
www.dafrancoitalianrestaurant.com

Da Franco has been in the works since March and opened about a month ago. Meg and I ventured over there last week and were pleasantly surprised by the food. The restaurant itself is generic but I'd turn to it again for good, uncomplicated Italian food.

Atmosphere:
Located in the Pistilli Riverview East building near Astoria Park, Da Franco is convenient for residents and park goers alike. It seems very much like a family environment, and Meg and I saw a handful of families with kids eating dinner. The space itself, although large is simple with a little too much red and gimmicky touches such as tables with maps of Italy on them.

In addition to the dining room, there's a large outdoor patio with about a dozen tables, shielded by umbrellas. I'd like to sit there next time, as it seems conducive to people watching, albeit you yourself might feel a tad exposed, facing the busy 21st street.

Food:
We heard mixed things about the food but weren't disappointed with our options. I think the key is to stick to simple basics such as pizza, salad and sides.

Insalata De' Medici - We were immediately drawn to this salad because it contained beets, our beloved vegetable. Other ingredients included orange zest, pine nuts and crumbled gorgonzola cheese. It all worked well together and stood out as one of the best dishes of the night--the orange zest was especially pleasing, as it added freshness and zing.

Sauteed Mushrooms - Served alongside our salad, the mushrooms were a perfect complement. They were tender, meaty and marinated in pungent garlic that gave them an enticing smell. I loved mixing the salad with the mushrooms and they were also nice when paired with Da Franco's soft pizza bread.

Pizza Alla Modena - Meg and I just had to try Da Franco's brick oven pizza. We gravitated to this option with cherry tomatoes, fresh homemade mozzarella cheese, prosciutto, arugula and parmigiano cheese. The pizza dough was nice and light, with a slightly crispy crust. I liked the sauce and the mozzarella but thought that the prosciutto was a tad fatty and the parmigiano sliced too thick (not shaved as the menu promised). Overall it was a safe choice but I'd skip the parmigiano next time.

Dessert - We ordered two desserts - the pecan pie and homemade coffee gelatto. The pie was disappointing because it was a small piece and the pecan filling was dry. I liked the dough but didn't love the pie enough to get it again. The gelatto was pleasing - not the best that I've had but pretty good. The coffee flavor was gentle, whereas I would've liked it to be stronger and on the whole, it was too sweet. Meg loved it though and I think that it'd appeal to the majority of palates.

Service and Cost:
The service at Da Franco was good - friendly, informative and very attentive. Our water glasses were always full and we never felt like we weren't paid attention to. It was refreshing and welcomed--and characteristic of a new establishment.

Costs are moderate and for the above-mentioned dinner, we paid $28 per person with tax and tip. Just to give you an idea, appetizers range between $9.95 - $15.95, Primi Piatti (homemade pasta) cost between $13.95-$21.95 and traditional main courses will set you back between $15.95-$27.95.

2 Mmmms

Koliba - Something to Warm Your Bones

It's nippy outside and that means that it's more than OK to indulge in warm, comfort food. One of my favorite places to go for inexpensive and outstanding comfort food is Koliba Slovak restaurant. Dan and I go there on occasion and whenever we do, we end up wobbling out because we're so pleasantly full.

A couple of weeks ago, we stopped there for a casual dinner and sat at the bar, which was quite fun. I ordered my usual, halusky or spaetzle ($14.50) with sheep's milk cheese and thick cut bacon. If you decide to get this, there's no need for an appetizer or dessert--it's that filling. The bacon is one of the best that I've ever had--flavorful, smoky and chewy.

The dish that you see above is the beef goulash ($13.75) that Dan ordered. It was, hearty, saucy and the meat was beautifully tender. The best part is the knedlik or bread dumplings that come with it--it's a pleasure to mop up the goulash sauce with them!

Enjoy these savory dishes during the cold weather that we're having--they'll surely warm your bones and won't clean out your wallet.

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105

718.626.0430

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.kolibarestaurant.com

Ta Vlahika - Third Time's a Charm

Another new place has replaced the much-changing space on the corner of 23rd Avenue and 31st Street. The new Greek Taverna, which most recently replaced Athens Tavern is called Psitopolio Ta Vlahika.

It seems refurbished, showcasing some needed change. The new space also appears to be more casual than its predecessors but the cuisine is pretty much the same with maybe friendlier prices.

Here's a sample of their menu - check them out and let me know what you think.

Cheeses:
Kefalograviera...$8.00

Feta...$5.00

Grilled Haloumi...$6.50

Hot Meze:

Eggplant, zucchini and peppers...$8.00

Fried meatballs...$9.00

Village sausage...$9.00

Roasted feta with peppers and tomatoes...$6.50

Cold Meze:

Black-eyed beans...$5.00

Stuffed grape leaves...$8.00

Cold antipasto - eggplant dip, tzatziki, tirokafteri, skordalia and taramosalata...$10.00 (small), $12.00 (large)

Charbroiled Dishes:

Lamb on a spit...$22.00

Stuffed pork...$14.00

Chicken...$12.00

Roasted Dishes: Served with rice or vegetables or French fries or roasted lemon potatoes

Beeftekia (3 chop steaks)...$12.00

Butcher's Platter - donner pork, donner chicken, kontosouvli, kokoretsi, kebob, pites, tzatziki, onions and French fries...$28.00 (medium), $39.00 (large)

Psitopolio Ta Vlahika - 31-01 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105

718.545.4000

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

Bangkok Tasty - Mmmm Tasty Indeed...

Bangkok Tasty - 29-06 23rd Avenue, Astoria NY 11105

718.545.8203

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.bangkoktasty.com

Margot and I were eager to try Bangkok Tasty after its big renovation about a month ago. Not a full-service restaurant in its past life, we were curious to see how Bangkok would measure up in terms atmosphere, staff and if it would preserve its good quality food. Overall, we were pleased across the board and would certainly pay them another visit.

Atmosphere:

The new decor is very modern yet minimalistic, giving off a relaxing and peaceful vibe. There's a concrete water fountain with a mysterious hand sculpture on top. While this sounds strange, it oddly works to create serenity--I caught myself staring at it at various points in the evening.

The rest of the decor is just straight up modern--the tables and chairs are simple and sleek but not the most comfortable I've experienced. The white textured wall on the right is nice to look at, containing a wave design and a long row of potted grass. The left wall however is more severe with a neon red stripe going through it--it's a bit too futuristic and reminded Margot and me of the late 80's early 90's. It just didn't seem to fit with the rest of the calm decor.

Food:

Generally, we were both happy with the food. I've heard rumors about how spicy everything was, but that wasn't the case with my dishes. I ordered and tried the following:

Thai Curry Puff - This was my appetizer and I was naturally expecting something round and covered in pastry dough. However, when my plate arrived, this dish looked like spring rolls. I asked if there was a mistake and the waitress assured me that these were, indeed curry puffs. I found them strange still, until I took a bite. The inside, which was packed with chicken, onion, potato and curry powder tasted just right. The tangy cucumber dip that was served along side of it was refreshing and had small pieces of cucumber and onion floating in it.

Sweet and Sour Shrimp - I've had this dish before and it happens to be one of my Thai food favorites. Bangkok's version was especially pleasing because of how well the shrimp was cooked. It was evident how fresh it was and once I bit into it, I tasted that wonderful flavor of the grill. The other veggies in this dish included cherry tomatoes, that burst in your mouth, onions, pineapple, cucumbers, carrots and sweet peppers.

Thai Salad and Thai Chili Basil Eggplant with Chicken - Margot ordered these dishes and she was pleased with her entree more than her appetizer--reason being that her salad was drenched in peanut sauce. I didn't try it for this reason, as I detest peanut sauce. I did however, try her chili basil eggplant and it was super tasty. The eggplant was my favorite ingredient--it was soft yet hearty and also spicy from the chili paste. Margot liked it as well and ordered this dish extra spicy so she could enjoy it to the max.

Service and Cost:

The waitstaff was pleasant and eager to get everything right. I can't say that I blame them for being over enthusiastic because Bangkok is, in some people's eyes a new establishment. Our dishes came out in good time and they were piping hot. The only strange thing is that they seemed to forget about us during check time--maybe they were just letting us chat. The restaurant was pretty empty so that could've been possible.

As most Thai establishments in the neighborhood, Bangkok is affordable. Our meal, which consisted of 2 appetizers and 2 entrees cost us approximately $32 (without a tip). And I can safely say that most other dishes there are in the same price range.

2 Mmmms

The New and Improved Bangkok Tasty

I noticed what I thought was a new cafe being built on 23rd Avenue and 29th Street. But what I foolishly thought was a new establishment is actually an expansion of the Thai restaurant, Bangkok Tasty--as my fellow Astorians, Meg and Harlan pointed out. According to the message at Bangkok Tasty, the grand re-opening should be today. The new space looks very sleek and modern with interesting light fixtures and textured walls.

I'll follow up with a menu and then with a review. Let me know if anyone has been there yet and what you think.

Bangkok Tasty - 29-06 23rd Avenue, Astoria NY 11105
718.545.8204
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

Lava Cafe - Molten Goodness

Lava Cafe - 27-03 23rd Avenue, Astoria NY 11105

718.777.1379

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

I've been looking forward to trying this newly opened neighborhood joint, which is just shy of a month old. The menu is simple, offering your standard cafe/bar food such as burgers, sandwiches, wraps and pizza. Sounds like a safe bet to me--and that's exactly what Dan and I were in the mood for last night.

Atmosphere:

The vibe is pretty cool and after a long, hard day it felt relaxing. Calming instrumental music, reminiscent of Enya penetrated every nook and cranny of the small dining room. The place is set up with tables on both sides of a rectangular room and with large firehouse-esque doors that open to the street, allowing you to enjoy the warm, spring air. I want to mention that Lava is directly connected to Remote Sports Bar and the two establishments have some sort of a partnership going--Lava uses Remote for their booze and Remote uses Lava for their food. Seems like a fair trade.

Food:

As I mentioned, the food options are pretty basic but we knew that coming in. Our expectations were low, especially at the end of a long day but Lava delivered and definitely gave us a run for our money. Here's what we tried:

Crostini with Pesto: This was our complimentary bread course and we were pleasantly surprised by it. It was excellent and the portion was generous--especially for something free. The bread was grilled perfectly--crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside--and the pesto tasted homemade. The two items were a great combination and we finished them quickly. Overall, this was a nice preview for what was yet to come...

Chicken Caesar Wrap: I ordered something safe and boring because a). it was late in the day and b). I didn't want to risk it in the time of ravenous hunger. My wrap was delicious and again, the portion was more than generous. It was your classic chicken Caesar, except it also had croutons in it. Now, I know that this is no surprise in a salad but I've never seen it incorporated into a wrap. The wrap also came with Terra chips, which were yummy. My only complaint was that the pieces were a bit small and looked like they were scraped from the bottom of the chip bag--but it was after 9p so I guess that sort of thing happens.

Chicken Fajita Wrap: Dan ordered this and it met his expectations. The best thing about it was Lava's zesty salsa that was slathered throughout its interior. I took a couple of bites and liked it even better than my wrap--it was juicier. The side of herbed fries were also delish and I liked that they had bits of crunchy potato skins still on them. Good stuff.

Service and Cost:

The service was absolutely lovely. While our table was one of only two occupied ones, we were still impressed by our waitress. Approachable and caring, she made sure that we had what we needed the entire time. She asked if we were happy and enjoying everything. We were and felt confident in her service.

The prices are inexpensive and especially for beer. Dan had a Bud Light for only $2.50 a glass--how great is that?! Our wraps were between $9-$11 each and our total bill came out to only $24! Not bad for a spontaneous late-nite dinner.

2 Mmmms