Bistro 33 is Taking Time to Beautify

The four year old Bistro 33 is taking some time to beautify its appearance for the summer.  The renovation will be cosmetic and you can expect the same yummy menu when they re-open again next week.  The period of this temporary close is between now and June 5 so pay a visit to their delicious neighbors such as Fatty's Cafe and Crescent and Vine in the interim.  Agnanti is a nice option too and offers great outdoor dining right near the park.

Let us know what you think of the new Bistro when it comes back next week.

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105
718.721.1933
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.bistro33nyc.com

Queens Eats Fundraiser for the 1st Ever Queens Harvest Food Co-Op

Some of you may have heard that Queens is getting its own Food Co-Op next year, which is pretty exciting and a great way to gain access to quality, fresh food at a competitive price.  The organization is a member-owned member-controlled business and they're in the midst of raising funds for the co-op, which will in turn benefit all its members (which can be you!)  Here's where Queens Eats comes in. 

A fund-raiser event showcasing the best of the best of Queens, including tastings from popular restaurants and bakeries, raffles, a silent auction, music performances and more, the evening promises to unite some of the most important influencers in our borough. 

Here are all the important details you'll need to know.  Hope you can attend and make a difference in making this wonderful organization come to life quickly.

Queens Eats - Wednesday, November 17th from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
The Foundry - 42-38 9th Street, Long Island City NY 11101

Tastings from: Agnanti, Astor Bake Shop, BareBurger, Cream Bakery, De Mole, LIC Market, M. Wells, Sage General Store, Testaccio, Vesta and more

Featuring Tamara Reynolds, local food-extraordinaire and author of Forkin' Fantastic

Entertainment by: Mark Katsaounis and Sean Nowell

Bid on silent auction and raffle items donated by: Art of Fitness, Edible Queens, Inside Astoria, Matteo, Recycle-a-Bicycle, Woodside CSA, Yoga Agora and more.

Beer and wine will be supplied by Sixpoint Craft Ales and Off the Vine (cash bar)

Hope you can make it - buy your Queens Eats Tickets here.

Porchetta's Chef Gives Astoria Restaurant Recos

New York’s annual cheap eats list made its way on to newsstands this week, much to the delight of budget-conscious foodies citywide. This year’s trends include fried chicken, meatballs, dan dan noodles, and tortillas.

Astor Bake Shop was the only Astoria spot to made the list for its combo burger shop and bakery set up. Luckily, Sara Jenkins (the chef-owner of Porchetta and consulting chef at Veloce Pizzeria) gave the magazine her money-saving food picks in the neighborhood.

1. Agnanti
19-06 Ditmars Blvd., nr. 19th St. 718.545.4554
My favorite Greek restaurant. The little zucchini fritters ($7) and tomato fritters ($7.50) are amazing.

2. Rosario’s Deli
22-55 31st St., nr. Ditmars Blvd. 718.728.2920
Amazing cheese, sandwiches, pizza, and bread. He has only one kind of slice (Neapolitan), and it’s really good ($2).

3. Mediterranean Foods
23-18 31st St., nr. 23rd Ave. 718.721.0221
This shop has all the great prepared foods like taramosalata, a classic Greek dip with salted cod roe ($3.85/lb).

4. Naseem Meat Market & Grocery
25-65 Steinway St., nr. 28th Ave. 718.777.7032
They make the best merguez ($3.99/lb). Also: really good Moroccan preserved lemons ($3.99/lb).

5. Seva
30-07 34th St., nr. 30th Ave. 718.626.4440
I particularly like the fried-bok-choy appetizer ($3) at this Indian restaurant. Also, the apricot-lamb curry ($12).

6. Petey’s Burger
30-17 30th Ave., nr. 31st St. 718.267.6300
It’s kind of In-N-Out inspired. I do delivery and get the double cheese with sauce and extra-crispy fries ($9.01).

7. Cedars Meat House
41-08 30th Ave., nr. 41st St. 718.606.1244
Their shish tawook sandwich ($3.50) is the closest thing to the grilled-chicken sandwich in Beirut.

8. Laziza
25-78 Steinway St., nr. 28th Ave. 718.777.7676
A pastry shop that makes classic Middle Eastern sweets: phyllo-and-nut pastries, baklava ($1.50, or $12/lb).

So Foodista fans, what do you think of Chef Jenkins’ list? What are your favorite Astoria cheap eats?

Excerpted from New York Magazine.

By Nicole K.

Mother's Day in Astoria

Mother's Day is this Sunday and there's never a lack of activity in Astoria. Below you'll find interesting restaurant specials and suggestions for a Mother's Day lunch, dinner or brunch.

Prix-Fixe Specials:

Seva - Although this isn't a Mother's Day prix-fixe per se, I'd recommend a visit here for either lunch or dinner. They offer a $12 three-course dinner and a $7 two-course brunch. The portions are generous, the food is delicious and it's a BYOB so you could bring your own wine. 30-07 34th street, Astoria, NY 11103. 718.626.4440

Bistro Les Minots - Their $29.95/person all-day Mother's Day special will feature classic French dishes such as escargots, braised short ribs, an apple tart and the like. Brunch will be offered between 11am - 4:30pm, showcasing their regular menu. 47-16 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.606.2535

Ovelia - Promising a modern Greek experience, Ovelia's $28/person three-course prix-fixe is packed with flavorful dishes such as homemade Greek sausage, fresh seafood, a leg of lamb among others. 34-01 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.721.7217

Zenon Taverna - Both a prix-fixe (price is still being decided) and the regular menu will be available. I prefer their keftedes or Cypriot meatballs that are full of flavor and spice. The hospitality is wonderful--it's very much a family oriented place. 34-10 31st Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106. 718.956.0133

Cavo - An upscale Mother's Day at this Greek eatery includes a $54/per person four-course meal, complete with a tuna roll sampling, salad, a variety of entrees and dessert. Click here for the Mother's Day menu. Valet parking is complimentary and seating starts at 1pm. 42-18 31st Ave, Astoria, NY 11103. 718.721.1001

Trattoria L'Incontro - Although this place is all booked up for Mother's Day, if you want it bad enough, you can call to see if they get cancellations between now and Sunday. The offering is a $60 four-course prix-fixe. Another splurge but the food is fantastic! 21-76 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.721.3532

Specials but no Prix-Fixe:

Vesta - A great place to bring Mom, Vesta has a cozy, unpretentious vibe. Brunch will be available from 11am - 4pm and dinner will start at 5pm and go until 10pm. Special dishes added to the menu include charred calamari, orecchiette with asparagus ragu and double lump-blue crab cakes. 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.545.5550

Mundo - They'll have a couple of daily specials, one of which includes grilled shrimp but aside from that, their menu will remain unchanged. Good thing too because they already offer so many goodies such as empanadas, red sonjas and Ottoman dumplings. 31-18 Broadway #E, Astoria. 718.777.2829

718 - Serving dinner dishes all day long, the daily specials encompass a variety of grilled plates such as calamari, a rack of lamb, sea scallops--and the only non-grilled specials offering is the chocolate tartlet. Personally, I love their tarte flambees--try those! 35-01 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.204.5553

Il Bambino - Want to bring Mom to an Astoria gem? Try Il Bambino where they'll have a couple of panini, crostini and salad specials for Mother's Day. Besides that, their fabulous menu of crunchy paninis and small plates remains the same. 34-08 31st Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106. 718.626.0087

Business as Usual but Still Noteworthy:

Akti - The fresh seafood here is always impressive and they have a delectable meze selection. It's been open for about a year and has gotten very popular. They're almost booked up for Mother's Day but have a couple of open reservations (7:30pm, 8:00pm) so call soon if you're interested. 34-19 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103. 718.721.3530

Agnanti - If you're looking for traditional Greek food, this is it. Halloumi, biftekia, keftedes, Agnanti has it all. They might end up with some daily specials but that hasn't been decided yet. Reservations are suggested, as Agnanti gets crowded. 19-06 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.833.7033

Piccola Venezia - An upscale Italian joint, it's on the traditional side and their fresh pasta is supposed to be superb. The signature menu will stay the same for Mother's Day and there will be three main seatings -- 1:00pm, 3:30pm and 6:30pm. 42-01 28th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.721.8470

Happy Mother's Day Astoria!

Agnanti - Astoria's Most Acclaimed Greek Joint?

Agnanti Meze: 19-06 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.833.7033

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.agnantimeze.com

Last Friday, Dan and I ventured to Agnanti, Astoria's most popular Greek restaurant. I can't even recall how many times I've seen this place mentioned on TV and on countless food and non-food related websites. We brought friends, Lauren and Keith in for the ride and while everyone enjoyed themselves, we weren't at all wowed.

Atmosphere:
Agnanti gets super busy at night and especially on the weekends. I made reservations ahead of time and it was a good thing too, the place was jam-packed when we got there. The medium-sized dining room was filled with a diverse group of diners--young Americans, older Greeks, families with kids, the list goes on.

I liked that the restaurant was nice and warm, as it was a particularly chilly evening. In spring and summer months, they offer outdoor seating, which I've taken advantage of. Inside, you'll see lots of nostalgic pictures on the walls and a couple of cool artifacts that showcase Agnanti's history. One thing in particular that I love is the old hearth (which was actually turned on) with nice-looking clay pots, jugs and containers--it's evident that this place brims with personality and history.

Food:
Sampling Agnanti's food once before, I knew that it would be good. While I was impressed the first time, this time I was slightly underwhelmed. My experience was no doubt tainted by the strange service but I think that the food suffered too. We ordered the following:

Melitzanosalata (eggplant spread) - One of Agnanti's signature dishes, I've tasted it before and once again, loved it. While my dining companions thought that it looked unappetizing, (it was grayish in color), I thought that it simply resembled mushed eggplant with garlic. The taste was strong and very garlicky but somehow it agreed with me. It was delicious when smeared on warm pita wedges, which we had to order separately. This seemed strange to me--how could you eat spread without a palette?

Tomatokeftedes (tomato croquettes) - We tried to order more veggie dishes to accommodate our dining companions. I recommended this because I've tasted it once before and remembered it being nice, light and quite different from traditional croquettes with creamy fillings. They were juicy and fragrant from the herbs but also a little oily--and the outside wasn't as crispy as you'd expect. Next time, I'd love to try the cod croquettes or even the zucchini/cheese croquettes.

Fried Calamari - Despite Agnanti offering so many interesting seafood dishes, we went for this simple one because it's Dan's favorite. The large, piping hot plate looked impressive and the calamari tasted good too. It was fresh and the batter in which the calamari were fried was crunchy and yummy. Dan disagreed with me--he thought this dish lacked something, which he couldn't identify and I don't think that he'll get it again.

Soutzoukakia from Smyrna (meat balls) - Three of us ordered the meatballs for our entree, as they sounded simple and good. While the meat itself was tender and flavorful, I think that the sauce took away from it. It was on the bland side and not something representative of a Greek dish, in my opinion. I liked Dan's biftekia much better because it didn't need sauce to compete with its delicious flavors. My dining companions agreed with me--they weren't completely enamored with the meatballs either.

Biftekia - Dan ordered this Greek specialty, which I've tasted before at other restaurants. While simple, it was a home run. The meat was light, seasoned with Greek spices such as oregano and thyme, delivering an earthy flavor. Served with white rice and veggies such as tomatoes and onions, it was refreshing and hearty enough for dinner but didn't leave you feeling overstuffed.

Dessert - Agnanti offers complimentary dessert, consisting of Greek yogurt topped with a sour cherry compote and cinnamon. It's surrounded by semolina cake squares, which aren't flavorful on their own but are quite delicious when paired with yogurt. While this isn't a traditional, rich way to end a meal, I really loved it because it made for a great palate cleanser. Dan didn't agree--I think he was looking for something more traditional like chocolate or ice cream.

Service and Cost:
Similarly to last time, the service was hot and cold. It started out well and our server was attentive. Toward the middle of our meal however, we were asked to switch tables because Agnanti didn't plan accordingly for a big party. We were gracious enough to switch our table, which was both disruptive and annoying. Our new table wasn't as private as the first one and we felt squished. It was nice that Agnanti offered us a free round of drinks for the inconvience but the service continued to plummet. Orders were brought out at the wrong time and we couldn't help but feel forgotten. There is much room for improvement as far as service is concerned.

In terms of cost, it was inexpensive to moderate. Dinner, including one round of drinks set us back about $30 per person with tax and tip. Appetizers range between $ 6 - $12.50, entrees are between $7 - $21.50. Portions are generous and dessert as mentioned, is complimentary.

2 Mmmms

Still Deciding About Valentine's Day?

Guest Foodista Vicky and I send smooches your way

While for some, Valentine's Day is a dreaded Hallmark holiday, it could also be a lot of fun. It's about what you make of it, and since V-Day is on Saturday this year, there are plenty of things going on. From low-key casual dinners to extensive prix-fixe meals, the choice is yours. You could be as casual or fancy as you want to. Here are my recommendations, in no particular order.

Vesta - This neighborhood gem has won over my heart and my stomach. For $39.95 - $49.95, enjoy a three-course prix-fixe during these seating times: 5pm, 7pm and 9:30pm. As a personal recommendation, don't miss out on the Baby Jesus Cake--it's out of this world. Vesta Vino - 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.545.5550

Mundo - A cozy, veggie-friendly eatery, Mundo also boasts a three-course V-day prix-fixe with complimentary spiced wine. There's still room for the 6pm and the 10:15pm seatings but space is going fast. The cost is affordable at $80 per couple. Mundo - 31-18 Broadway, Store #E, Astoria NY 11106. 718.777.2829

Bistro 33 - Looking for an intimate, romantic atmosphere? Bistro 33 is your place--and they have great food to boot! The offering is pricey at $75 per-person but it includes a wine pairing with every course. Bistro 33 - 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.721.1933

Ovelia - Not just for lovers, Ovelia is great to visit with a group of friends. They take a fun, playful spin on V-day with their creative menu of modern Greek dishes such as the Saganaki Stroganoff. Enjoy a three-course prix-fixe for $55. Ovelia - 34-01 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103. 718.721.7217

Agnanti - A traditional Greek staple, Agnanti will feature their regular menu for V-day. But if you'd like to eat here, make a reservation now because seats fill up very fast. I was informed that when dining here on V-Day, you're limited to a two hour stay. Agnanti - 19-06 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.833.7033

Winegasm - What a deal! Winegasm offers a four-course prix-fix with wine for $45 per person. I recommend the bacon wrapped prunes and their cheeses are also great. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about their vinos, as they should be. Winegasm - 31-86 37th Street, Astoria NY 11103. 718.932.3331

Brick Cafe - Brick will be serving their regular menu with a couple of specials for V-day. Reservations are available and they have a great bar section where you could relax with a nice glass of wine before or after your meal. Brick Cafe - 30-95 33rd Street, Astoria, NY 11102. 718.267.2735

Fatty's Cafe - While their Valentine's Day "singles party" didn't quite work out last year, Fatty's is looking to turn things around in 2009. This casual beer, burger and Latin flava joint will offer a special prix-fixe menu. Costs and seatings are TBD so more to come on that. Fatty's - 25-01 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.267.7071

Il Bambino - A beloved neighborhood paninoteca, Bambino will be featuring a $40 V-day prix-fixe. Details are still hazy and I'll follow up with more information. If you're looking to eat from their regular menu, the green bean salad and the antipasto platter are amazing! Il Bambino - 34-08 31st Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106. 718.626.0087

Akti - This delicious Greek eatery on 30th Avenue will be serving dinner as usual on Valentine's Day. There might be a couple of daily specials and opportunities for special requests, so ask for them. Their seafood is especially tasty and very fun to share. Akti - 34-19 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103. 718.721.3530

Happy Valentine's Day Astoria!

Love Always,

The Foodista

Agnanti - Homemade Greek Food Worth Raving About

Agnanti Meze: 19-06 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.833.7033

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.agnantimeze.com

Agnanti, Agnanti, Agnanti is what I’ve been hearing about from loyal Astorians. The fact that this restaurant got so much hype, naturally made me really curious about it. When sitting outside at Agnanti, you feel like you're in your family's back porch--and the food also tells a similar family-oriented story. The roasted baby eggplant and garlic spread is packed with flavor yet isn't too heavy on the stomach. The tomato and herb croquettes are so different from the usual zucchini croquettes that I order at Greek joints. These are light and airy and a true pleasure to bite into. The choices of exotic Greek cheeses impressed me, especially the cheese saragli (warm cheese served in phyllo dough). While this dish is undeniably tasty, it's also quite salty and you'll need to wash it down with a lot of water. Which reminds me, the service here really lacked luster towards the middle to end of my meal. However, I'd return here anytime, especially with close family and friends.