Not long ago, I had the pleasure of joining a fabulous group of foodie-inclined women (hi Meg, hi Sue!), for a very delicious culinary adventure in Woodside. We tried an under-the-radar ethnic gem called Woodside Cafe, suggested by my friend Anne from City Spoonful blog. I trust her entirely as far as food is concerned, and ethnic food especially, as she has a great knowledge of South Asian cuisine.
With a generic name like Woodside Cafe, you must be wondering where its ethnic roots lie. I did too - but rest assured this is no generic eatery, as it boasts a fusion of Nepalese and Italian food. How's that for originality?!
Atmosphere:
Although the food is anything but boring, the atmosphere leaves something left to be desired. The interior feels a bit barren and not efficiently spaced out - there's large gaps between tables, which are awkwardly assembled. Also what was once a functioning bar is just another place to sit, and instead patrons can bring their own spiked beverage of choice, as Woodside Cafe is BYOB - a big plus in my book!
Food:
Now this is where things got really interesting, as we took a look at the exotic menu, filled with Nepali specialties, which catered to both vegetarians and carnivores. I loved the freedom of choice here, and as we ordered a bunch of things to share - we omnivores getting to experience two sides to the same dish.
There were so many things we opted to try, that the appetizers alone could've done the job of filling me up. Collectively, we ordered samay baji (an arrangement of items such as a fried pancake with beaten rice and meat; veggies such as black soybeans; diced ginger; greens and more), chatamari (a Nepali-style pizza or dosa), momos (or dumplings), curried soybeans, and achar (potatoes with a spicy pickled relish). Even though everything was visually and tastefully stimulating, I had a couple of favorites I wanted to call out:
Chatamari - Hands down my favorite dish of the night, it resembled a pizza but tasted nothing like it. The dough consists of rice flour flat bread, which makes it almost pancake like, instead of having a pizza texture, which is a lot thicker and breadier. The toppings of ground chicken, veggies and a fried egg on top made it extremely hearty and wonderful, filling me up pretty quickly (almost without me noticing). Even though my tummy was quite full after a few bites, I had to continue eating it, as it was delectable and something I'd recommend to everyone. A veggie option is also available, and is as equally delicious.
Samay Baji - I really enjoyed trying this typical Nepali appetizer, which was like a true guest offering - it had a little bit of everything. The main event was the fried pancake of beaten rice, which reminded me a lot of a latke (similar texture and taste). But the pancake was just a canvas for all the interesting things that surrounded it such as black soybeans, black eyed peas, braised greens and pickled ginger. It was nice to pair these sides with the pancake and watch its more neutral taste transform into something lively and sensational.
Curried Soybeans - Even though this was a simple little app, it went a long way. It again did the trick of filling you up quite quickly, but because the soybeans are so tiny and poppable, they're pretty addicting. I really couldn't stop eating them, as the spice from the curried seasoning completely tantalized my senses. My dining companions agreed that this was a standout.
Service and Cost:
Because this place is pretty small and under the radar, the wait staff is limited and not overly interested in being attentive. They're perfectly nice and are happy to welcome outsiders, but just know that you'll most likely have to approach them for a recommendation, a refill on your water, an extra plate for sharing or what have you.
Costs are incredibly affordable and the value you get for the amount of delicious food can't be beat. For about 4 sharing plates each, we paid roughly $13/person including tax and tip. Oooops, looks like the cat's out of the bag!
3 Mmmms
Woodside Cafe - 64-23 Broadway, Woodside NY 11377
M/R Trains to 65th Street
347.642.3445
Ever since I saw that enticing picture of the brioche French Toast on their site, I've been thinking about hitting up Queens Comfort's brunch. Lucky for me, Kimberly was totally game for it this weekend, and together we indulged in a super rich meal that started off our weekend on a sweet note.
I've visited Queens Comfort on one other occasion, and really enjoyed the rich treats they put out. Recognizing that their entire menu is super rich, and therefore can only be consumed in moderation, I was ready for something like that, considering how health conscious I was this entire week. The yummies we feasted on included:
Brioche French Toast - Completely floored by its larger than life appearance, the brioche French Toast consisted of two huge pieces of bread, coated in a custardy egg batter and then topped with two generous mini scoops of maple butter, with a side of maple syrup too. While I appreciated the richness, I think they overdid it on the butter, and I had to take a lot of it off, otherwise it would've been like eating straight out of a Paula Deen cookbook.
I loved the toast's texture, as it was soft, silky and edges were a little crispy too, which was ultra delicious. Something I didn't care for was the half done middle, where the egg part was still runny. Although I didn't let that ruin my experience and I put those pieces aside, it put a damper on what could've been a perfect French toast.
Queens Comfort's Version of an Egg McMuffin - Kimberly's dish was something truly special - a unique twist on the Egg McMuffin if you will. Besides being absolutely gargantuan, it was packed with comforting goodness from top to bottom. Taking a generous bite of this delectable entree, it included a soft yet crispy-on-the-edges English muffin, tangy gruyere cheese, which was then topped with a heaping portion of scrambled eggs, chives and bits of chewy bacon. Each bite was truly exceptional, as I loved how the smokiness of the bacon married with the well done, stringy cheese, the fluffy eggs and the soft bread. It's obvious that the dish isn't for the faint of hearts and if you'd like to have a try instead of completely diving in, I'd suggest you split it with your dining companion.
Service and Cost:
This is where I think Queens Comfort missed the mark a bit, as the service left something to be desired. I'll give them that the restaurant was super busy, and that we came in during peak brunch hour, but we still felt that our servers weren't as attentive as we would've liked. Another slight annoyance was that for such huge dishes as we ordered, the plates were way too small and we had to be super careful about not spilling any of its contents over the side. Although sharing plates seemed like an obvious necessity, we had to ask for them twice.
Costs are affordable and include about $11 - $14 per brunch entree. Coffee, tea, OJ or the beverage of your choice is separate, however note that this joint is still BYOB and you can bring your own champagne or prosecco to make mimosas.
Seva is one of my favorite restaurants in Astoria for many reasons--the food is delicious, the service is hospitable, the atmosphere is chill, it's super affordable and it's BYOB. I could go on all day. Instead, I'll tell you about some of the new dishes I tried to further entice you:
Butternut Squash Soup - A great way to start any meal, the butternut squash soup provided a hearty, comforting touch to our dinner. It was a seasonal soup for the fall, and I loved that it was spiced with nutmeg and plenty of cracked black pepper. Another plus is that it's vegan, making it a good option for those with special dietary needs.
Bok Choy Crispy Curls - I've never had bok choy fried before, but I could tell you that I'll have it again. Frying the bok choy in gram flour and mango powder made it crunchy and slightly sweet. Coupled with a cooling lemon, mint raita, it was a tasty and indulgent appetizer. I think it would be a great dish to get if you're new to Indian food, as it's mild and appeals to American tastes.
Apricot Lamb Curry - Yum! This was my entree and I highly recommend it. A touch on the spicy side with a sweet finish, it was flavored with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and dried apricots. I loved how the meat fell apart and the thick curry sauce on top made it feel like stew. Mopping up this meaty sauce with the fruit and nut naan was absolutely delightful.
Chicken Korma - Edgar ordered this and it was sweet and interesting, made with almond and cashew nut sauce, yogurt and coconut. It was the mildest of the dishes, dressed with slivered almonds--and it used one of my favorite culinary techniques, mixing sweet with savory.
Suji Halwa - Another vegan-friendly option, it was a dessert consisting of semolina, toasted almonds, and raisins. What I loved about it is that it was light on the stomach after a hearty meal, and the toasted almonds provided flavor continuity, tying it together with the rest of the dishes.
Service and Cost:
The service at Seva never disappoints. From the first warm greeting to the friendly conversation during the meal, it continues to be a place that I look forward to visiting. Dishes are brought out in good time and you never feel rushed with the check.
Costs remain incredibly low and we love taking advantage of the 3-course $12 dinner prix-fixe. Still a BYOB establishment, you could bring your own bottle or two and have a pleasant, inexpensive evening.
Seva - 30-07 34th street, Astoria, NY 11103
718.626.4440
N/W Train to 30th Avenue
www.sevaindianrestaurant.com
Back in July, I mentioned the opening of Yamashiro Sake Bar on Steinway Street near 30th Avenue. I walked by the other day and saw that it's a BYOB, which I found to be a big draw. The menu is eclectic and certainly inviting - it could be a fun place to start your Friday or Saturday night.
See what you think about this sampling of the menu. If you'd like to see it in its entirety, send me an email and I'll pass one on to you: critic@foodistanyc.com:
Appetizers (sushi and other)
Treasure Island - Tuna, salmon & yellowtail bed on avocado bowl...$8
Tartar - Choose your favorite fish, salmon, yellowtail or red & white tuna...$9
Wasabi Shumai - Steamed wasabi pork dumpling...$5
Age-Dashi Tofu - Fried tofu with tempura sauce...$4.50
Garlic Soft Shell Crab...$8.50
Noodles (Choice of Udon or Soba)
Chicken Noodle Soup...$8.75
Seafood Noodle Soup...$12.75
Yaki Soba - Choice of chicken, beef or vegetable...$8.75
Teriyaki and Tempura (Served with rice & soup or salad)
Chicken Teriyaki...$12
Scallop Teriyaki...$17.50
Yashai Teriyaki - Mixed vegetable...$10
Seafood Tempura - Shrimp, fish, scallop and crabmeat...$13.50
Chicken Tempura...$12
Hibachi
Chicken or Beef...$14Shrimp...$16Scallop...$17Lobster...$18Vegetable...$11
Specialty Sushi Rolls
Mango Tango Roll - Eeel & cucumber topped with avocado & mango...$9
Yamashiro Wasabi Roll - Rolled tuna, salmon & avocado topped with wasabi caviar...$9
Green River Roll - Eeel, cucumber, avocado topped with seaweed powder and caviar...$8
Fuji Roll - Tempura shrimp, eel, cucumber topped with masago...$11
Bento Box Special - Includes a miso soup or salad, gyoza, California roll, rice and a choice of two of the following: teriyaki, katsu, beef negimaki, tempura, vegetable tempura, tofu teriyaki, sushi, sashimi...$16
Yamashiro Sake Bar - 30-27 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11103
718.932.1338
N/W Train to 30th Avenue
