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

Just Burgers is Coming to Ditmars...When?

There's been a lot of buzz in the nabe about Just Burgers, which looks just about well done and probably in a couple of weeks, ready to open.  Occupying the space at the base of The Acropolis building on the corner of 34th Street and Ditmars, the location couldn't be better for residents and visitors alike.

Although I'm not really sure when this place will debut its burger offering (and maybe unlike its name suggests, some other goodies too), I wanted to take your pulse on this matter and see if you know any details.  Chime in with your knowledge...people want to know.

In the meantime, if you're looking for a solid burger experience in the nabe, here are a couple of great options you can hit:

Fatty's Cafe - I love their turkey burger with jalapeno mayo, peppers and onions.  25-01 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105.  718.267.7017

Sparrow - Not only do they use grass fed beef, the thick-cut bacon and herbed fries, which you can add on are an extra bonus.  24-01 29th Street, Astoria NY 11102.  718.606.2260

BareBurger - You can't go wrong with any burger here, but my personal favorites include the Big Blue Bacon Mushroom Onion Burger and the Lamb BareBurger.  33-21 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 11106.  718.777.7011

5 Napkin Burger - Even though there's about 10 burger options to choose from, I highly recommend going with the classic, The Original 5 Napkin Burger with caramelized onions, gruyere cheese, and 5 Napkin's special rosemary aioli.  35-01 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106.  718.433.2727

Happy Father's Day Astoria

Picture of my dad - we call him "Oci" (Slovak word for dad).

Father's Day is just around the corner, this Sunday, June 20th.  If you're still wondering what to do for it, here are 10 helpful suggestions that should certainly whet Dad's appetite.  While most restaurants aren't having any specials or prix-fixes, I think that's a good thing.

5 Napkin Burger - What better place to take Dad than for a hearty, juicy burger at this newly opened joint.  I highly recommend their signature "5 Napkin" burger with caramelized onions and melted Gruyere cheese.  They open at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.  35-01 36th Street, Astoria. 718.433.2727

Ornella - If Dad is a pasta man, you have to take him to this intimate Italian eatery, boasting traditional and innovative pasta.  My favorite is the imbustata, which is a pasta "envelope" stuffed with roasted veal, chicken and wild mushrooms.  The homemade ricotta cheesecake is an absolute must.  29-17 23rd Avenue, Astoria.  718.777.9477

Zenon Taverna - Zenon provides the ultimate family atmosphere with homemade Cypriot dishes such as pasticchio, keftedes (meatballs), loukaniko (sausage), grilled halloumi cheese and so much more.  For $18.95 - $22.95 per person, you can get a whole 12-16 course mezedes tasting. No...I'm not kidding! 34-10 31st Avenue, Astoria.  718.956.0133

Christos Steakhouse - Want to treat Dad to a nice steak dinner with an unpretentious vibe? Christos has that and much more. The steak speaks for itself and the appetizers and sides have a Greek twist, such as the Greek spreads, saganaki cheese, loukaniko (Greek sausage) and more. 41-08 23rd Avenue, Astoria. 718.777.8400

BareBurger - Another delicious burger place, this one is all organic and serves amazing organic beer at affordable prices.  Try the Big Blue Bacon Mushroom Onion Burger and the crispiest onion rings in all of Astoria.  33-21 31st Avenue, Astoria.  718.777.7011

Taverna Kyclades - If you're a family that loves Greek food, you can't miss this place.  Even though they don't take reservations, I'd suggest getting there at an off-peak time (around 4 or 4:30 p.m.) to get a prime table.  Enjoy any of the grilled seafood such as the calamari or shrimp, and don't forget to get a slew of apps too.  33-07 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria.  718.545.8666

Akti - Akti is never a miss and it's a close second for me (right after Kyclades) for Greek food.  Dads will love the plethora of grilled Greek meat and seafood as well as a selection of fresh salads and really amazing Greek cheese. Prices are affordable.  34-19 30th Avenue, Astoria.  718.721.3530

Lucas Steakhouse - While a definite splurge, modern Dads will love this chic steakhouse with stylish furnishings and all your favorite steakhouse classics.  They boast a 28 days dry-aged steak, which comes served with their house steak sauce.  34-55 32nd Street, Astoria. 718.786.5200

Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden - Beer-enthusiast Dads will love the laid-back atmosphere of this outdoor space.  It's probably going to be a lot more crowded than usual because of the World Cup, but if you get there early enough, you'll get a good spot.  Besides the beer, enjoy authentic Slovak and Czech cuisine.  29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria.  718.274.4925

Trattoria L'Incontro - I couldn't believe it, but for once on a special occasion, L'Incontro is not having a prix-fixe.  Dads will love their extensive daily specials including homemade pasta, a variety of antipasti, brick oven pizza, fresh seafood and more. 21-76 31st Street, Astoria.  718.721.3532

Fatty's - If you're looking to have a very low key Father's Day, Fatty's is a nice choice.  You can munch on a casual meal with Dad in their outdoor garden over beers, burgers, burritos and empanadas.  25-01 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria.  718.267.7071

Vesta - Take Dad to this delicious, intimate eatery serving the freshest ingredients sourced from a nearby rooftop farm.  I recommend any of their salads - they're absolutely wonderful and so vibrant.  The pizza and the fresh pasta is excellent too. 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria.  718.545.5550

Fatty's Delectable Polenta Corn Cakes and Other Brunch Goodies

It's been quite a while since I've been to Fatty's for a meal, and I've been missing it.  I love a good brunch and decided to remedy my Fatty's longing with a brunch date with Dan, Moses and Sonya.  It was a lot of fun and super low key - you won't get big crowds like in a lot of 30th Ave joints.  I was fortunate to finally try their legendary polenta corn cakes, and let me tell you...they were good.  Here's a recap of our brunch:

Polenta Corn Cakes - Yay! At last, I got to try these and I must say I'll be getting them again.  Technically named the Eggless Sunny Side Up, the dish consisted of three large polenta pancakes stacked on top of each other, sadwiching pieces of provolone cheese.  The warmth from the pancakes melted the cheese and between the sweetness from the pancakes and the tanginess of the cheese, my tastebuds went to town.  It was like eating really delicious corn bread only fluffier.  It came with a side of lean, crispy bacon that I sandwiched in between the corn cakes too.  Yum on earth!  The side salad with creamy ranch was good too.

Other Dishes - Moses ordered the frittata with potatoes, cheese and bacon.  It looked gorgeous, all thick and cake-like, sort of like a Spanish style tortilla.  While it was good and very hearty, it needed a little extra kick, which could've been fixed by seasoning. 

Sonya ordered "The Fatty" - a sweet sausage patty with egg and cheese on an English muffin.  I didn't try it but Sonya commented that it was just OK - a bit on the salty side, especially the sausage.  I have to be honest, the dish didn't look that appetizing to me and the egg looked kind of limp.

Service and Cost:
Our server was really nice and very casual, fitting in perfectly with the laid back vibe.  Everything was brought out in good time and we didn't go hungry for too long.  Overall, we had no complaints in this department.

Costs are reasonable and for $12.99, you get an entree and a morning cocktail such as a choice of three different kinds of mimosas, a bloody mary or a screwdriver.

2.5 Mmmms

Fatty's Cafe - 25-01 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105
718.267.7071
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.fattyscafenyc.com