Last Chance to Win a Punta Dura Gift Certificate

Last week I announced a raffle for a $20 gift certificate to Punta Dura. Tuesday, August 4th is the last day to submit your favorite Northern Italian recipe to me for a chance to win. If my review from last week hasn't convinced you that Punta Dura is a place you must check out, maybe this gift certificate will. My favorite thing was the grilled branzino (pictured above), which was cooked beautifully and deboned at the table. It's an authentic, homemade experience that you won't forget.

Respond to this post with your favorite Northern Italian recipe for a chance to win.

Punta Dura - 41-15 34th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.721.2137
R/V/G Train to Steinway Street
www.puntadura.com

Punta Dura - Northern Italian Food with Star Quality

Punta Dura - 41-15 34th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.721.2137
R/V/G Train to Steinway Street
www.puntadura.com

Meg and I tried Punta Dura, Northern Italian restaurant last week. We didn't really know what to expect but were pleasantly showered with excellent service and scrumptiously, fresh food.

Atmosphere:
As most traditional Italian restaurants, Punta Dura doesn't differ dramatically in the decor department. The place is spacious with nice wooden tables and chairs, white tablecloths and large artwork, depicting the Italian countryside. While not overly inventive, the surroundings are comforting, nice and as mentioned earlier, familiar. There's a large bar in the front of the house, which is welcoming and conducive to hanging out if you're not looking for a formal meal.

Food:
The quality and freshness of the food impressed me. I especially loved the fish and would urge anyone and everyone to order it as an entree.

Mixed Salad with Chickpeas - Included in the day's specials, it sounded great to us. What sold us on it were the chickpeas and the balsamic glaze dressing. Overall, it was lovely--the veggies were fresh and the glaze was somewhat on the sweet side, yet still savory.

Baked Clams Oreganata - A traditional seafood appetizer, it was new to Meg but not to me. I happen to love it so I had no complaints, and this version was exceptionally amazing. The best part was the crunchy, well-done topping of breadcrumbs, garlic, butter and parsley. The breadcrumbs were as crispy as can be and the clams were fresh and juicy--tasting like good clams should, having an "of-the-sea" essence without being fishy.

Grilled Branzino - Our waiter recommended the fish of the day, which we gladly chose. The fish of choice was grilled branzino, filleted and served with vegetables and potatoes. It was impressive to watch it being deboned tableside, which took a couple of minutes but it was worth the wait.

The texture of the fish was exquisite--soft, gentle and flaky, with a nice off-the-grill flavor. The seasoning was simple but perfect and the veggies and potatoes were a nice complement. I especially loved the potatoes, as they had a crispy crust and a soft, delectable interior.

Penne Piccate - Unlike its name suggests, this dish wasn't spicy--at least in my opinion. It consisted of al-dente penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and a sauce with dried red pepper flakes. I was very happy with it, as it was flavorful and uncomplicated--and I'd suggest it to safe, non-experimental eaters. A nice sprinkling of fresh parmigiano cheese topped off the yuminess, giving this dish more personality.

Dessert - We ordered two desserts--I got the Torta Frutti di Bosco specialty while Meg went for her favorite, Tiramisu. Both were delicious but I preferred the Torta Frutti di Bosco, as it offered something new and exciting. I adore ricotta cheese, which was the filling in this, topped with fresh blueberries and plenty of powdered sugar. I thought that they went a bit heavy on the latter but I wouldn't say that I minded.

Meg's Tiramisu was decadent and creamy but not too heavy. I only had a couple of spoonsfuls so it's hard to judge, but she finished her portion, making me believe that it was awesome.

Wine - Meg and I enjoyed a lovely white Croatian wine, which was a welcomed difference from the standard pinot grigio. It was dry with fruity undertones, offering the perfect way to enjoy this fabulous meal. I'd highly recommend asking about their imported wines.

Service and Cost:
The service was truly excellent. Our waiter, Jordan took his job seriously--he was thorough in explaining the specials to us, as well as any dishes we asked about. He was meticulous when serving our meal, arranging everything beautifully in front of us, making sure that we were 100% happy and comfortable. Because we asked, he provided a little history lesson about the wine and other dishes on the menu, which are a mix of Italian and Istrian cuisine.

Costs are moderate and worth the investment, given the good quality. Appetizers range between $8.75-$12.75, pasta dishes are between $12.75-$21.75, meat and fish entrees run between $14.75-$29.75. And as I mentioned last week, I have $20 gift certificates available. If you'd like to get your hands on one, email me your favorite Northern Italian recipe (critic@foodistanyc.com).

3 Mmmms

$20 Closer to Yumminess

Last night, Meg and I ventured over to Punta Dura Northern Italian restaurant on 34th Avenue and 41st Street. I've passed this place many times when I used to live in the neighborhood without going in--and did I miss out.

The cuisine was not only fresh, it was interesting and homemade, with very careful and excellent service. I'll go into more details next week, revealing all that I ate but in the meantime, I wanted to whet your appetite...

Send me your favorite Northern Italian recipe and tell me what makes it special (i.e. your grandma makes it, you're famous for it, etc.)

10 lucky winners will be chosen at random to receive (1) $20 gift certificate to Punta Dura.

Send me your recipes by the end of next week, and I'll draw and announce the winners by August 4th - simply write your recipe into the comments section of this post.

Good luck, have fun, and in case you're wondering what that gorgeous berry treat is, it's Punta Dura's Torta Frutti di Bosco. Mmmmm...

Punta Dura - 41-15 34th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.721.2137
R/V/G Train to Steinway Street
www.puntadura.com

S'Agapo - Love at First Bite

S'Agapo - 34-21 34th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.626.0303
N/W Train to Broadway

Kimberly was in town last weekend and because she missed Greek food so much, we decided to check out S'Agapo. A traditional Greek joint, it's been in the neighborhood for 40 years, known for traditional, homestyle Greek cuisine. The reviews that we read were good, but the actual experience was stupendous and we'd go back in a heartbeat.

Atmosphere:
There's nothing fancy about S'Agapo and that's OK--it doesn't try hard to impress but succeeds to make you feel comfortable with its cozy, personal vibe. The inside dining room is simple with wooden chairs and tables and a glass display, showcasing the catch of the day.

What I found really nice on a warm night like last weekend was their outdoor patio. Again, nothing too elaborate, it consists of plastic chairs and simple tables, which curve around the restaurant. I liked the fairy lights on top of the striped awning that added a festive touch, as well as the tall bushes that gave the patio some privacy.

S'Agapo appeals to native Greeks and you'll hear the beautiful language spoken around you. However, if you're American, you won't feel like an outsider and will be treated with importance and respect.

Food:
Not sure about what to expect, we were astounded at how much we liked everything. From the beautiful, rustic presentation to the flavorful taste, we fell in love with S'Agapo's food.

Traditional Greek Salad - We wanted to start out with something light and fresh, thus ordering this salad, consisting of tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, endives and feta cheese. It was very simple, flavored with a lemon/olive oil vinaigrette--and the veggies were incredibly fresh. The tomatoes were juicy and the feta was milky white, with a nice tang. We loved piling this on top of our toasted pita or stuffing the endive leaves with the other contents of the salad.

Dip Assortment - While most Greek restaurants in the neighborhood offer an assortment of 3 to even 5 dips, S'Agapo stepped it up with 8 amazing dips on one plate. The selection was almost overwhelming but so much fun to try, as I think the dips catered to all tastes. The roe and grape leave spreads offered a salty bite whereas the roasted red pepper and the beet spreads were on the sweeter side. There was also a non-traditional parsley dip that reminded us of pesto, except that it was more earthy and lemony. One of my favorites was the tzatziki, refreshingly cool and slightly garlicky. An innovative aspect about this dish were the veggie separators, which included cucumber slices and a hybrid vegetable, which was a cross between an avocado and a cucumber. Yowza!

Zucchini Croquettes - Instead of taking the long shape of the zucchini, these were round and almost pancake-like. I liked them a lot but didn't understand why they were paired with a dollop of hummus. I preferred them with the cooling tzatziki instead and dipped them into this part of our dip sampler.

Cheese Dumplings with Honey - This was a show-stopper for me, more so than for Kimberly. It consisted of crispy pastry dough dumplings filled with sweet dessert cheese. A side of honey was the perfect pairing, as it gave the dumplings a floral essence and a touch of indulgence. I loved how light the cheese was and the crispiness of the crust was lovely.

Greek Meatballs - We both stopped and exclaimed after our first bite because we couldn't believe how light these were. Despite an airy quality, they had intense flavor, enhanced by fresh herbs like parsley and mint. Acompanied by a generous glug of tzatziki, I couldn't get enough, making this dish a must.

Service and Cost:
Our waiter was polite and took the time to explain and recommend the food and wine to us. The server, who we thought was also the owner was especially cordial, explaining the contents of everything, even all of the dips. There was a strange occurrence with our pita (we thought that it was partially nibbled) but the situation was handled with humor that kept us in stitches for the rest of the night.

S'Agapo is incredibly affordable, especially for the great quality that you get. Our meal, which consisted of 5 dishes that we shared as well as a carafe of house wine set us back $43 per person. It was a lot of food that made us comfortably full and that could've easily fed 1-2 more people.

3 Loud Mmmms

Cafe Bar - A Perfect Coffee/Dessert Pit-Stop

Cafe Bar - 32-90 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11103

718.204.5273

R/V/G Train to Steinway Street

www.cafebarastoria.com

Meg and I were craving something sweet after our Studio Square meat and beer fest. So where did we, two faithful chocaholics go to satisfy that hunger?

Cafe Bar answered our call with their chocolatey rich desserts and flavorful coffee drinks. I usually don't get my own dessert, preferring to split it but why go dutch when we were already indulging?

Mississippi Mud Pie - You can't go more chocolatey than this--a thick, cheesecake-like middle of semi-sweet chocolate, topped with dark chocolate ganache. The base had a crumbly, oreo cookie-like consistency, which just put it over the top on the indulgence scale. While it was unbelievably rich, it went down way too easily, especially when coupled with a good decaf cappuccino. I'd recommend sharing this dessert but know that you can finish it on your own if you're so inclined.

Tiramisu - Meg chose a classic tiramisu cup, that was presented with gorgeous little layers of cocoa-dusted mascarpone cheese. Despite its richness, I just loved how wonderfully light it was both in your mouth and in your stomach--it resembled and tasted like a fluffy cloud. I liked that there wasn't much alcohol (if any) in it--I detest when restaurants drench tiramisu with liquor, it's uncalled for.

Overall, I'd strongly suggest checking out Cafe Bar for a light snack, dessert, tasty coffee drinks or even cocktails. It's an all around goody--and the funky art-deco furnishings work to create an atmosphere of comfort and harmony.

3 Mmmms

Philoxenia - Good Food but Hospitality Forgotten

Philoxenia - 32-07 34th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.626.2000
N/W Train to Broadway
www.philoxeniarestaurant.com

Last night I finally visited a restaurant that's been on my to-try list for a while, Philoxenia. I've heard many great things about it, especially about how warm and authentic it is. While I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere very much, the service needed improvement.

Atmosphere:
What a lovely place! Even though my dining companion and I sat in the semi-outdoor area in the front, we were curious and explored the back of the restaurant after our meal. We were so impressed that we agreed to sit here during our next visit.

The walls are rustic with exposed brick and Greek folky knick-knacks such as clay pots, plates and vases. There's a huge fireplace in the back of the room that's a focal point and gives Philoxenia a cozy feel. Another aspect that drew us to the main dining area was the live Rebetika, Smyrneika & Entehna music, featured every Tuesday night at 9pm. It was beautiful, relaxing and set the mood further for an authentic evening of Greek eats.

Food:
There was a nice selection of meze as well as traditional Greek seafood. My dining companion and I chose the sharing route, as we split four distinctive meze and a dessert. It was just enough for us and we walked out full but not overstuffed.

Pikilia (Sampling of Spreads) - I like this sort of meze because it offers a variety of tastes on one plate. The four spreads included tzatziki, eggplant, spicy feta and fish roe. My clear favorite was the tzatziki because it was the most refreshing, with a distinctive cucumber flavor. A close second was the spicy feta. While my dining companion thought that it was too spicy, I could've handled a bit more heat--I like how it woke up the senses with its sharpness. The fish roe and the eggplant were also good but I've had better at other Greek neighborhood joints such as Akti and Agnanti.

Grilled Haloumi - A big fan of this grilled goat's cheese, I was curious to try Philoxenia's. I thought that it was satisfactory but unremarkable because it was a bit dry. Again, I preferred Akti's version, which is served on pita with tomatoes and lemon.

Keftedes Tiganitoi (Meatballs) - This dish hit it out of the park for me. The meatballs were lightly fried with a crunchy exterior and the softest, most fragrant interior. There were plenty of fresh spices intertwined in the meat and I could've eaten the whole plate myself. These were far superior to other Greek meatballs that I've tried in the neighborhood and I recommend them wholeheartedly.

Octapodi Psito (Grilled Octopus) - A highly recommended dish by the New York Times, we just had to try it. Its texture was nice and the flavor was fresh (not fishy) and lemony. Seasoned simply but well with salt, pepper and oregano, it was flavorful and refreshing. The portion was generous and definitely enough for two people.

Karidopita (Walnut Cake) - I just loved this spicy, walnut-cinnamon cake. It wasn't heavy and was dressed with a dollop of simple Greek yogurt. Although cakes like this have the propensity to be dry, this one wasn't and it actually didn't even need the yogurt. We both liked it and cleaned the plate--again, the portion was big, especially given the low cost.

Service and Cost:
The service started out amazingly, as our cheery waitress came over every few minutes to check on us, take our order and answer various questions. However, we felt disappointed when we asked her for suggestions and she was unable to give us a clear cut recommendation, instead providing us with sugary generalizations, saying that "everything is good."

Towards the middle of dinner, we got another waitress and at the end, yet another. We had a hard time getting hold of anyone when we needed the check and felt forgotten. Philoxenia shares this unfortunate service trait with Agnanti - they start out stellar but neglect patrons at the end of the meal.

Costs are moderate but more expensive in comparison to its Greek counterparts. We paid $40 per person for a meal consisting of 4 meze, 1 dessert and 2 glasses of wine. Meze range between $5.50 - $18.50, fish dishes run between $13.50 - $24 and desserts are in the $5.50 neighborhood.

2 Mmmms

Locale - Dessert Stole the Show

Locale - 33-02 34th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106

718.729.9080

N/W Train to Broadway

www.localeastoria.com

This was my second time at Locale and I enjoyed myself even more than the last time when I came for brunch. The food was better and the company was equally great--our friends Lauren and Keith came out to see us from Long Island. We wanted to bring them out to a cool, funky place that was nice enough for a Friday night treat but laid-back enough where we could casually enjoy each other's company. Locale delivered on all accounts.

Atmosphere:

Even though I've described Locale's atmosphere in my last review, I have to point out that I much rather preferred its setting for dinner than for brunch. The lighting is dim and creates an intimate mood, accentuating the shabby-chic decor of Matisse-like paintings and exposed brick walls. It was a perfect way to spend a Friday night dinner with friends but I'd also recommend it for a quiet romantic dinner.

Food:

Locale offers a mix of Mediterranean fare, from pasta and paninis to chicken, meat and fish. Everything was prepared well and tasted fresh. Although not everything stood out, for the most part, the dishes met and even in some cases exceeded expectations.

Gnocchi Sorrentina: I chose this dish because I wasn't in the mood for anything meaty and because I have a soft spot (no pun intended) for gnocchi. Locale's version definitely delivered. First of all, they were enormous and so soft that they melted on my tongue. The tomato sauce, which they were dressed in was fresh and had a nice crisp flavor. There were medium sized chunks of fresh mozzarella resting on top--they melted slightly from the hot gnocchi and sauce, making it even more delicious. I'd strongly recommend this dish for dinner.

Rigatoni Bolognese: This was Dan's dish and he had a hard time deciding between that and the Frutta di Mare pasta special. After opting for the Bolognese, he was more than satisfied with his choice. I had the pleasure of tasting this and it was all that a Bolognese should be--chunky, meaty, hearty and the pasta was cooked al-dente. I especially liked that the pasta was a small version of rigatoni--it made the meat easier to scoop up.

Other Entrees: Keith ordered the Tuna special, which was mixed in with penne, garlic, radicchio and black olives. While this sounded amazing it was a bit on the salty side and Keith wasn't overly impressed. It's unfortunate and true that specials could be a hit or miss situation. I read somewhere that too many specials could mean that chefs are trying to get rid of old ingredients--except in a place like Trattoria L'Incontro, where specials are what you come for.

Lauren got the lemon chicken and I think she liked it. She wasn't too vocal about it, which made me think it was just OK. It looked light and nothing too out of the ordinary--I certainly wouldn't call it a stand-out.

Dessert: This is where Locale turned up the heat and even before I start describing our desserts, I'll say that I very much recommend coming here for this course alone.

The first dessert, The Decadent Bomba (don't quote me on the "decadent" part) was a 3:1 consensus--I was the difficult one because of my slight aversion to peanut butter. But when this dish arrived at our table, it was so beautiful that I couldn't resist a taste. It reminded me of tartufo and this one was made up of peanut butter gelato with a chocolate center, embellished with caramel sauce and more hot fudge. Lauren, Keith and Dan absolutely loved it and Dan couldn't stop talking about it the whole weekend.

The second dessert was a great standby, which we got mainly for my sake--the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake. Again, it was out of this world and the chocolate was a perfect mix of heaven and luxurious decadence. The fresh vanilla bean gelato that accompanied it was also excellent, providing a refreshing contrast to the warm chocolate--a pure and simple must in my book.

Service and Cost:

Our waiter was really nice and very enthusiastic about the menu. When asking him for recommendations, he replied with effusive but believable raves such as "I LOOOOVE the Frutta di Mare" or "The Bolognese is also GREAT." Nice guy and a good server. The only thing that irked me a little is that he seemed impatient with us at the end of the meal and told us that people were waiting for our table (hint, hint). He was just being fair I guess, and if I was on the other end of that I'm sure I would've appreciated his tenacity.

Cost-wise, Locale is pretty moderate and won't hurt your wallet. Pasta ranges between $11.95-$15.95, chicken dishes range between $12.95-$19.50 and dessert ranges between $3.50-$7. Dinner cost us about $36 per person including tax and tip--not bad.

2 Mmmms

Cafe Bar - A Laid Back Art Deco Scene

Cafe Bar - 32-90 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11103

718.204.5273

R/V/G Train to Steinway Street

www.cafebarastoria.com

I sometimes wonder why I get caught up in new restaurant hype, on occasion passing up some eateries that have been in Astoria for ages. One such "oldie" but a goody is Cafe Bar on 34th Avenue. This quirky art-deco lounge is known for its relaxed scene, where you can read a book for hours without being bothered or munch on some amazing brunch everyday of the week.

Atmosphere:

Anything and everything goes at Cafe Bar. Walking in, you might be a tad overwhelmed by its art "decoey-ness." The funky plastic chairs, the wild plants that look like they'll overtake you if you don't behave, the wall display of geishas and fish tanks--this place literally has it all! But you can't help and smile at this sight--it's all very colorful, fun and uplifting.

The crowd is young and somewhat artsy--you're likely to find a mysterious, handsome guy with long hair reading a book or a group of boisterous women enjoying coffee and eggs, chatting freely. Even the waitstaff sports a relaxed look--it almost seems like everyone is at home, hanging out in their living room.

Food:

I scanned the brunch menu, my eyes resting on the Huevos Rancheros. I ordered them and was overjoyed with the end result--a gorgeous plate of corn tortillas stacked with a fried egg, refried beans and colorful chile. It looked like a beautiful Mexican Napoleon if you will--and the taste was even better. The chile topping was really fresh and I could feel the juicy crunch of onion and fragrant cilantro. The inside was oozing with silky egg yolk and creamy refried beans. I'm not lying when I say I could've eaten another order of this dish, it was that good. Oh and let me not forget to mention the side of herbed hash--it was light and flavorful, complementing the huevos so nicely.

Kimberly ordered a sandwich version of the ham, brie and apple omelette. She made me try a bite and I become a full convert. The honey mustard dressing made this dish but what also gave it uniqueness was the refreshing crunch from apples and the savory chewiness of ham. Kimberly added the apple as a substitute and the waitstaff was very accommodating.

Service and Cost:

The service here is good and very relaxed, matching the atmosphere. The waiters make you feel comfortable and they're as unobtrusive as they come.

Cost-wise, this place wins again. A brunch entree will cost you between $9-$10 and dinner won't be more than $30 including a drink.