Bugatti - A 31st Avenue-Neighborhood Newbie

While visiting BareBurger, one of my favorite places for getting a bite of organic, meaty goodness, I noticed a new cafe that looks like it'll open soon.  It's called Bugatti and is located on the corner of 34th Street and 31st Avenue.  A new restaurant competitor should be interesting, and once again serves as proof that 31st Avenue is officially hoppin'!  I tried to call them to find out more, but still no response.  Please chime in if you know more about Bugatti, including the type of cuisine they'll serve and when it'll open.  Judging from the exterior, it looks pretty modern and sort of like a 30th Avenue Cafe.  I'm praying for something non-generic.  We'll see.

Bugatti - 31-05 34th Street, Astoria NY 11106
718.626.1115
N/W Train to Broadway

Fresh Smoothie Bar is now eat'z

If you're a New York Sports Clubs member or pass it on a regular basis, you might have noticed that the previous juice bar next to it, Fresh has been replaced by a new healthy eatery called eat'z.  I walked by the other day and checked it out.  It's not too different from Fresh, I don't think, aside from its neutral (and more organic-looking decor)--the food is pretty much in line with your typical health food eatery with smoothies, yogurt, fruit, sandwiches, salads and such.

I grabbed a menu and wanted to give you a little taste of it here:

Breakfast: 7 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Turbo - Four egg whites, grilled chicken, organic spinach and alpine lace cheese...$4.59
Vegetable Harvest - Choose three: red onion, bell pepper, broccoli, organic spinach, mushroom or diced tomato with four egg whites...$4.59
Very Berry Chilled Oatmeal - Chilled oatmeal made with soy milk, blueberries, strawberries, banana and agave nectar...$3.99
Pineapple Strawberry Smoothie - A blend of strawberry, pineapple, banana, coconut, soy protein, non fat vanilla yogurt and soy milk topped with granola...$5.69

Healthy Sandwiches:
Tuna Garden - Organic mesculin, line-caught albacore tuna, carrots, broccoli, red onions and cucumbers...$6.59
Vegan - Organic spinach, carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, sweet corn, grilled portobello mushrooms, chickpeas and cherry tomatoes...$6.59
Southwestern Chicken Cobb - Organic mesculin, cajun chicken, avocado, sweet corn, black beans, turkey bacon, diced tomatoes and shredded cheddar...$6.59

Healthy Chopped Salads:
Monterey - Organic mesculin, cajun chicken, sweet corn, avocado, black beans, diced tomato and cheddar cheese with a low-fat peppercorn ranch...$7.99
Mediterranean - Romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, cucumbers, red onion, tomato, kalamata olives and feta cheese with extra virgin olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar...$7.99
Asian Chop - Grilled organic tofu, organic spinach, romaine, edamame, orange slices, carrots, red onions and Chinese noodles with an Asian sesame ginger dressing...$7.99

Healthy Brown Rice Bowls (all served over brown rice):
Tofu Bowl - Brown rice, grilled organic tofu, avocado, chickpeas, sunflower seeds and diced tomatoes with Asian sesame ginger dressing...$7.99
Grilled Chicken Bowl - Brown rice, grilled chicken, broccoli, carrots and diced tomatoes with balsamic vinaigrette...$7.99
Salmon Bowl - Brown rice, grilled salmon, edamame, diced tomatoes and cucumbers with Asian sesame ginger dressing...$8.99

Fruit Smoothies (16 oz. $4.69)
Mango Tropic - Blend of four varieties of mangoes with pineapple and banana
Lemon-ADE - Refreshing smooth lemon, with a kick
Awesome Acai - A super anti-oxidant blend of acai, blackberry, blueberry and pomegranate
Strawberry Reef - Strawberries and bananas blended with fresh squeezed orange juice

eat'z - 38-01 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.626.3737
N/W Train to 30th Avenue
www.eatz.com

5 Napkin Burger – Liberty, Justice and Burgers for All

After my initial brief visit to the new 5 Napkin Burger during their preview party, I was compelled to come back and have a real taste of the menu. Dan came with me of course, being the burger lover that he is, and together we enjoyed an evening of delicious, hearty burgers and some of our favorite diner-style snacks. Here are the highlights of our meal:

Deep Fried Pickles & Pastrami – This dish was so memorable from the preview party that we just had to get it again. Let me just say that whoever thought of this was a genius because it consists of the most comforting, delicious, and somewhat sinful combination. I’ve never had pastrami fried and wrapped around a pickle no less but the combination worked beautifully. It was a little bit tart, meaty and crunchy from the tempura batter. I also loved that it rested on a bed of sauerkraut and some spicy mustard.

Lobster Roll Sliders and Fries – We ordered this as an appetizer, but it could absolutely be an entrée because it’s quite large. I was pretty happy with it, and even though it was a tad much mayonnaisey, the quality of the lobster was wonderful and it had good spice. The fries were crunchy and addicting but a bit salty for my taste.

Italian Turkey Burger with Onion Rings – This was Dan’s favorite burger from the preview party, so he couldn’t wait to have some more. Wow, it was a beauty, packed with spicy tomato sauce, vinegar peppers and fresh mozzarella. The burger meat was tender, juicy and wonderful—together, the combination worked well to create an exciting and colorful turkey burger.

The onion rings were yummy too, but for some reason Dan remembers them being better at the party. I enjoyed them though and liked the cornmeal crust, which had a slight sweetness. Mmmm….

Lamb Kofta Burger – What can I say… I’m sometimes a creature of habit too, and I reordered this, as it was my favorite the first time I tried it. The lamb itself was fragrant and wonderful and (excuse the redundant adjective) very lamby. Topped with creamy tahini sauce that tasted like tzatziki, I enjoyed it very much and would highly recommend it. My side salad that came along with it was fresh, light and a nice way to couple this hearty burger.

Dessert – We got two desserts, a s’mores shake and an espresso brownie sundae. Both were good and very, very rich. We didn’t mind and basically finished both, including the mounds of thick whipped cream on top of the sundae. I liked the espresso brownie in the sundae and you could definitely taste the coffee flavor that seemed to give us a jolt after a big, filling meal.

The shake was good too, with some amazing, slightly-burnt marshmallows on top. I wish there was more of those in the shake because they were pretty spectacular and Dan and I fought over them viciously.

Apricot Fizz Cocktail – Besides all the food, 5 Napkin has an extensive cocktail menu. I ordered this really yummy, fruity drink because it reminded me of a bellini and I absolutely love those. It was fizzy and refreshing with little bits of apricot floating in it. A perfect way to start this meal for sure, I’d recommend it for all you ladies. Gentleman, be my guest too but just know this drink is a bit on the feminine side.

Service and Cost:
The service at 5 Napkin was on-point and especially given that it’s a new joint, I think they’re being super attentive. We were paid attention to at just at the right moments and all our food came out piping hot and perfect. The manager came over to check on us to make sure all was good. It was a nice gesture and he wasn’t too pushy.

Costs are moderate to a bit expensive for a burger place, but know that you are getting great quality, a fabulous atmosphere and good service. I think it’s money well spent.

Starters: $7.25 -$10.75
Burgers: $11.95 - $22.50 (burger for 2)
Salads: $14.95 - $16.95
Entrees: $13.50 -$19.75
Sushi: $10.95 - $15.95
Sides: $2.75 - $7.25

3 Mmmms

5 Napkin Burger - 35-01 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106
718.433.2727
N/W Train to 36th Avenue or R/V/G Train to Steinway Street
www.5napkinburger.com

Astoria's Finest Bagels Opening Soon

I was delighted when I walked by Ditmars the other day and saw that a new bagel shop called Astoria's Finest Bagels is in the works.  Keeping my eye on this place for quite some time, it looked ready about a month ago and since then not much progress has been made. Bummer.  My guess is that they're waiting on a permit?

Anyway, the place looks promising and is centrally located, on Ditmars in between 32nd and 33rd street.  Could be a good place to stop on your way to work for a cup of coffee and a bagel, of course.  Even though my current favorite in the nabe is Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company (they have the best, fluffiest bagels in all of Queens, in my opinion), a new place could be great to mix it up a bit.

Shoot me a comment if you know more about Astoria's Finest Bagels and when it's finally going to open.

Astoria's Finest Bagels - 33-06 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105
718.606.2600
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd

Cafe to Go Opens in Astoria

While strolling around the nabe, I noticed a tiny, new cafe in between Newtown and 30th Avenue, around the corner from Athens Cafe. The name, Cafe To Go, although not very creative, still made me stop in and take a look inside.

In one word...it's cute.  Sporting a nice, clean-looking interior with a modern coffee bar, it also offers a selection pastries and light sandwiches.  It seems like a good place to get a strong coffee or espresso and a quick, casual bite to eat.  Please note that they don't have much space for sitting down, plus it was a bit warm when I went in there, so I highly suggest that you do what its name suggests, and take your goodies to-go.

Try it and let me know what you think.

Cafe To Go - 28-53 32nd Street, Astoria NY 11102
718.721.2848
N/W Train to 30th Avenue 

Give a Warm Welcome to Astor Bake Shop

Astor Bake Shop - 12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria NY 11102
N/W Train to Astoria Blvd

718.606.8439

www.astor-bakeshop.com

There's been a lot of talk in the nabe about Astor Bake Shop, a new bakery that opened up just last week, on Astoria Blvd, not far from Astoria Park.  Located in a residential neighborhood that lacks a nice bakery, I think it's a great addition to the community and people certainly seem to agree.  I visited the shop on its second day after opening and they not only had a lot of patrons but they already ran out of popular items such as cupcakes and tartes.  Definitely a good sign, I thought.

Atmosphere:
From its brick red exterior to its clean white interior, Astor Bake Shop doesn't lack aesthetic appeal.  It's simple, clean looking and contains a certain sophistication that comes with modern day bake shops - a definite step up from your basic bread and pastry bakery that often has no atmosphere.  

I love that the space is extensive and offers a lot of seating for patrons to enjoy their sweets or just a coffee or tea.  It reminds me of an old school coffee house and because it opens very early (at 6:30 a.m.), I'm sure it will be used for just that, getting a quick cup of coffee before work. 

There's a large display case in front, showcasing elegant yet simple cakes, tartes, cupcakes, eclairs and other goodies.  As I mentioned, the display case was a bit bare when I came in at 2:00 p.m. so I suggest you get there as early as possible to get the best variety.  But...since they do their baking on premises, items are constantly being replenished, which is great.

Sweets, Coffee, Tea, Etc.:
Although I really wanted to try the Valhrona Chocolate Praline Torte, they were out and I went for the coconut cake instead.  I loooove love love coconut anything so the decision was an easy one for me.  As you can see from the above picture, it was a handsome slice with plenty of rich frosting and coconut flakes on the outside.  I thought that the coconut flavor would be interweaved throughout the cake too, but no such luck. It turned out to be a simple white cake with vanilla frosting, embellished with coconut.  Slightly disappointing but still really tasty and moist.  We devoured it but would like to try something else next time - like their cupcakes or the almond cake. Meg tried the almond cake and had a really high opinion of it.  She said that it was flavored with orange zest, which made it zingy, overall elevating its flavor.

We also got iced tea and the dark and sweet iced coffee, which included condensed milk.  Yum! Both drinks received high marks and the quality was excellent - the coffee comes from a fair trade supplier called Stone Street Coffees.

In addition to the sweets, Astor Bake Shop will also serve burgers and sandwiches.  You can check out their full menu here.

Service and Cost:
We received nice, personable service.  Astor's owner and chef, George McKirdy was friendly and welcoming and gave us good insight about the items on the menu and what we can expect in the future.  He mentioned that the bake shop is still in its soft opening and will remain open later once they officially launch.

Costs are moderate and include the following:

Coffee & Tea: $1.40 - $3.75
Baked Goods (muffins, scones, croissants): $2 -$2.75
Burgers & Sandwiches: $5.75 - $7.75
Cakes, Tartes, Cupcakes: $1.75 - $4

2.5 Mmmms

Sandro's - New Latin Food Place Opening Soon

The old Lava Cafe is no longer, I noticed last week and will now be called Sandro's Latin Food.  Meg told me about it last week and I took notice of it too when I was in the neighborhood.  Not sure yet when it's going to open but a Latin food restaurant will be welcome on 23rd Avenue, which is heavily populated with Greek tavernas and Italian restaurants.  I hope it's an authentic Latin food joint, serving some interesting homemade concotions.  I don't know more at this point, but please holler if you do.

I'll report back with more details soon.

Sandros Latin Food - 27-03 23rd Avenue, Astoria NY 11105
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

Crave Astoria is Open Late, Serving a Wide Variety of Grub

Back in February, I told you about a new cafe, Crave Astoria, opening up on 36th street and 30th avenue.  I walked by last weekend and it's officially open and serving hungry Astorians.  The interior space is small but really quaint and nicely done.  They seemed busy for a rainy day, whipping up orders left and right.  I grabbed a menu of course and wanted to give you a taste:

Greek Specialties:
Spanakopita - Spinach and feta cheese baked in phyllo...$4.50
Tiropita - Classic cheese pie...$4.50
Zambonotiropita - Ham and cheese baked in puff pastry...$4.50
Grilled Halloumi - Served with pita...$7.95
Saganaki - Kefalograviera cheese...$7.95

Fish n' Chips: (served with a choice of tartar sauce, lemon or malt vinegar)
Cod or Flounder...$8.95
Shrimp...$11.95

Spreads:
Tzatziki...$.75 - $2.75
Tirokafteri...$1.75 - $5.75
Taramosalata...$1.75 - $5.75
Hummus...$1.50 - $5.25

Crave Bowls: (all served on a bed of chips and with a pita)
Greek Bowl - Your choice of lamb gyro, pork doner or chicken doner, topped with cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese and warm lemon vinaigrette...$8.95
Cravy Bowl - Melted mozzarella and gravy...$6.95
Chili and Cheddar - Chili, scallions and cheddar sauce...$7.95
Last Call Bowl - Chili, bacon, jalapenos, scallions, cheddar sauce and ranch dressing...$8.95

Baby Back Riblets...1/2 rack...$9.95, full rack...$18.95
Chicken Wings...1/2 dozen...$5.95, dozen...$9.95

Burgers:
Crave Burger - Lettuce, tomato, American cheese and house remoulade...$5.95
Greek Burger - Lettuce, tomato, onion, feta cheese...$5.95
Western Burger - Egg over easy, ham, fried onions, jalapenos and cheddar cheese...$7.95
Cali Burger - Lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado and mayonnaise...$7.95

Desserts:
Fried Cheesecake with Strawberry Sauce...$3.95
Crips Banana Rolls - With chocolate sauce and vanilla whipped cream...$4.95
Crave Bites - Greek style dough puffs, cooked to order with warm honey cinnamon sauce...$4.95
Ekmek - Shredded phyllo dough, honey, walnuts and vanilla whipped cream...$3.95

Crave Astoria - 28-55 36th Street, Astoria NY 11105
718.726.4976
N/W Train to 30th Avenue

A Special Sneak Peek of Trattoria El Greco

I've been impatiently walking by the not-yet-open Trattoria El Greco on 30th Avenue and 37th Street.  "When will it open?" I often wonder to myself.  It really does look like it's almost there and the other week, I got a little sneak peek of the interior.  The windows are still blocked out, but there are pictures showing an ultra-modern, sleek interior designed by the well-known firm Consolidated Design Studios.  Click on the picture above to enlarge it and to look at the gorgeous family-style seating, the long mirrors and pretty light fixtures.  It all looks very enticing and welcoming - let's just hope that the food matches its beauteous decor.  In the meantime, I'll continue to keep my eyes and ears open about its upcoming opening.  Let me know if you know more.

Trattoria El Greco - Corner of 30th Avenue and 37th Street, Astoria NY 11103
718.721.7400
N/W Train to 30th Avenue

Trattoria El Greco on 30th is Almost There

Since the summertime, I've been closely watching the progress of a new Trattoria on 30th Avenue.  Its name is rumored to be El Greco Trattoria, owned by a Greek proprietor who aspires to put his own spin on Italian food.  For a long time, the facade has been blocked off by plywood, but not anymore.  The nice wooden and stone exterior is an inviting preview for things to come (eh hem...brick oven pizza)!  Its expected time of opening is at the end of this month, so stay tuned for further details and the menu.

Trattoria El Greco - Corner of 30th Avenue and 37th Street, Astoria NY 11103
718.721.7400
N/W Train to 30th Avenue

Pomme Cafe - New Brasserie on Broadway

I was pleasantly surprised this weekend when walking on Broadway, seeing that a new French restaurant, a brasserie and a patisserie will open soon.  Pomme Cafe, the name of this new brasserie means "apple" in French and there's a cute apple logo displayed on its awning.  Although the space inside was still hidden, I anticipated that it would open in the next couple of weeks - and after calling them directly, the owner confirmed that it will open in two week's time.

Can't wait for this new Frenchie spot to grace our nabe.  If you know more information about it, feel free to chime in.

Pomme Cafe - 37-19 Broadway, Astoria NY 11103

718.545.4301

N/W Train to Broadway