Sunday Night Deal at Rest-Au-Rant

Dan and I popped in to Rest-au-Rant tonight for some quiet time, a little vino and nice conversation.  It was incredibly relaxing and the music was awesome, that we hung around for a while, just getting lost in our thoughts, and chatting away.

Even though we just went in for drinks, the friendly bartender told us about a fabulous little special that we'll certainly be back for, especially when I'm back to eating gluten.  Here it is for you ladies and gents who want to enjoy Astoria's best kept secret:

- Draft and BBQ entree for $10.  Tonight's featured item was their burger.
- 2 tapas and a bottle of wine for $40
- 4 tapas and a bottle of wine for $55

Their wine and cocktail menu  is also wonderful, and not overpriced.  Take a look right here.

Rest-Au-Rant - 30-01 35th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.729.9009
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue
www.rarbarlic.com 

Wine and Sangria Nights at El Boqueron

It's been a while since I've been to El Boqueron tapas on the corner of 34th Avenue and 31st Street, but taking a stroll around the nabe last week, it caught my eye again.  I always think of this place fondly, serving deliciously authentic tapas and some stiff sangria too.  It looks like they're promoting the latter, hosting both a wine and sangria themed night, where they offer discounts on both.  Here are the deets - hope you have the chance to stop by during normal hours, or even for Happy Hour from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. each day.

Wine Nights:
Tuesdays + Thursdays
15% off any bottle of wine

Sangria Nights:
Wednesdays
15% off any pitcher

You also may or may not have known that El Boqueron carries Ginger Sangria.  Sounds innovative!

El Boqueron - 31-01 34th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106

718.956.0107

N/Q Train to Broadway

www.elboquerontapas.com

DiWine is Turning 3

Image by DiWine

In the spirit of celebration, I wanted to let you know about a great event that's going on this Thursday at DiWine Wine Bar.  It happens to be their 3 Year Anniversary celebration, and the deals they're extending in its honor are truly awesome and something not to be missed.

A cool and somewhat under-the-radar hangout in the Western part of 31st Avenue neighborhood, DiWine is a great place to chill out after work or on a weekend night.  Their wine and cocktails are craftily constructed and they also focus on entertainment and special events that bring you something a little extra.

Here's an example of what you can expect this Thursday, December 8th for their big 3 year anniversary:

3 cocktails for $6
3 beers for $5
3 types of free hors d'oeuvres

You can drop by all day and enjoy the fun.  Congrats DiWine on your big 3!

DiWine – 41-15 31st Avenue, Astoria NY
718.777.1355
R/V/G Train to Steinway Street
www.diwineonline.com 

L'Ecole's Delicious Bar Bites

It's been exactly a month since the French Culinary Institute's L'Ecole rolled out their bar menu. I'm always in the mood to dine at this modern (but not stuffy) French restaurant, run by the Institute's students and supervised by their instructors. The couple of times I've been so far has always proven to be a professional and gastronomically fulfilling experience, and this time was no different. My co-worker and friend, Leann accompanied me to sample this menu, which surpassed our expectations.

After a long work day, we sat down in the airy, open bar area to the right of the restaurant's entrance. Starting with a beer and then working our way through the menu, we tried the following items:

Escargot - A classically prepared version of this dish was a most welcome way to start things off. Resting in shallot, parsley-butter sauce, the escargot was an incredibly decadent prelude to our meal. The escargot was tender and not chewy or fishy tasting, which can sometimes plague this specialty. After we gobbled up the main parts of this dish, we continued to dip the freshly made French baguettes into the sauce. Pure yumminess!

Goat Cheese Croquette and Salad - Our second appetizer was a must, as we both have a love affair with goat cheese. The croquette was warm and crispy on the outside, yet perfectly soft and melty on the inside. Its tanginess was offset by slightly bitter leafy greens, roasted Bermuda onions and sweet beets. I love beets in anything and a combination with the goat cheese was a match made in heaven.

Moules Frites - What better way to enjoy timeless French cuisine than with an order of mussels and frites? I liked that L'Ecole's version was uncomplicated and familiar, the mussels floating in a traditional garlic, white wine, shallots and parsley sauce. The mussels themselves were meaty and flavored by this fragrant sauce. It goes without saying that we lunged for the frites and kept dipping them in the concoction even after the mussels were demolished.

Gruyere Bacon Burger - Appreciating a nice, hearty burger, this one came on a beautifully grilled brioche bun. The meat was cooked to a perfect medium texture, leaving you with one juicy bite after another. Further dressed with thick-cut bacon that had a nice smoky essence and some tangy gruyere cheese, it was yet another item that hit the spot. Since the burger was substantial in size, Leann and I split it, creating the perfect portion.

Dessert - Even though we were running out of room, we just couldn't ignore dessert and ordered the two things on the menu - a creme brulee and chocolate bread pudding. Both were delicious and very rich - the creme brulee was actually on the lighter side with a nicely solidified sugar crust that was fun to break. The interior custard was light and clean on the palate with a distinct vanilla aftertaste.

The chocolate bread pudding was a heavier dish, but given that Leann and I are both chocoholics, we didn't have a problem with it. Topped with a crunchy almond cookie and a scoop of simple, vanilla ice cream that added a nice juxtaposition in texture, this dessert presented a dramatic finish to the meal.

Drinks - As I mentioned, Leann and I paired our food with beer. I chose the Rogue Mocha Porter that had a lot of body and a bittersweet malty flavor - it was a great winter beer - while Leann went with the Fire Island Frozen Tail that was also on the darker, richer side.

Service and Cost:
Dutifully served by our bartender, we didn't feel neglected at all and our food was brought out in good time. We liked the casual feel of the bar, and loved observing the goings-on of the restaurant in between.

Bar menu prices are very affordable and include the following:

Starters - $8 - $11
Entrees - $12 - $15
Sides - $5
Desserts - $8

Also, remember that you have another week to take advantage of a free cocktail deal, when you mention "The Foodista" at the bar with any order. This offer expires on March 15th.

3 Mmmms

L'Ecole - 462 Broadway, New York NY 10013
212.219.3300
6 Train to Spring Street
www.frenchculinary.com/lecole

Mojave - Channel Your Inner Cowboy or Cowgirl

Mojave, the delicious South Western restaurant with Mexican flare is running a really fun drinks special on Thursday nights.  The promotion involves channeling your inner cowboy or cowgirl, which I think is really fun and a great way to start your weekend.  So...here goes, Mojave's Cowboy Night.

Starting this Thursday 4/29 and every Thursday moving forward, wear a cowboy hat and receive happy hour specials all night long. So remember, if you keep that hat on, you'll enjoy delicious margaritas for a fraction of the price.

Mojave - 22-36 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11105
718.545.4100
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.mojaveny.com