Igloo Cafe - From Ice-Cream and Beyond

Igloo Cafe - 22-26 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11105

718.726.7700

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.igloocafe.com

I've heard good things about Igloo a while back and finally made it over there this week. It's a casual place that's known for ice-cream and frozen yogurt as well as sandwiches and all-day breakfast dishes. They also boast an intimate outdoor garden, which Dan and I were eager to check out.

Atmosphere:

The vibe is informal and relaxed. The front of the house looks like a typical cafe--colorful and cheery with exposed brick walls and a whimsical igloo motif. There's also a robust counter in front, displaying various ice-cream and sandwich and salad fixins.

The back of this cafe is charming and special, with an intimate outdoor garden. While seating is limited--for about 15-20 people--it's a quiet area, which is covered by oversized umbrellas and greenery. You almost can't believe that you're just feet away from one of Astoria's busiest streets.

Food:

Dan and I weren't particularly ravenous so we decided to go for a light sandwich. We both ordered Gyro wraps, which we liked a lot.

Beef Gyro Wrap - This was my order and it certainly satisfied my craving. The best part was the toasted tortilla--it was crunchy and had a bit of a char taste from the grill. The gyro meat was juicy and not too greasy--you can tell that this place uses healthful ingredients. While it did come with a side of waffle fries (not healthy!) there weren't too many of them, which was a blessing in disguise. The portion of this sandwich was perfect, especially considering its inexpensive price.

Chicken Gyro Wrap - Dan opted for the chicken variation of the gyro and was also happy with it. It looked like a replica of mine, except for the meat. Dan's only complaint was that it didn't taste too much like a gyro but more like a grilled chicken sandwich. Oh well!

Igloo is also known for its ice-cream variety and Tasti D-Lite frozen yogurt.

Service and Cost:

All was good in this department--our waiter was unobtrusive yet efficient. The place wasn't too busy on a Wednesday night so he had plenty of time to devote to us. I would definitely recommend sitting outdoors if the weather is cooperating--it feels a lot more special.

For the quality of food that you get here, Igloo is inexpensive. Our gyro wraps were less than $7 each and omelets also range in this neighborhood. If you're looking for something casual, comfortable and good, I'd suggest it. But don't expect anything fancy.

2 Mmmms

Romano's Revamped

Romano's Famous Pizza & Gyro - 32-21 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106
718.626.5292
N/W Train to Broadway

Romano's pizza and gyro spot on Broadway and 32nd Street has a new look. I could hardly recognize it with its clean white stucco-esque exterior and its loungy outdoor seating area, complete with oversized umbrellas. It looks and feels so much more than a pizza place!

An Astorian staple for more than 25 years, Romano's is well-recognized by locals. In fact, Dan was reminiscing about it the other day, saying it was one of the pizza places that he used to frequent when he first moved to Astoria almost seven years ago.

Offering a mix of Italian and Greek food, Romano's could be a quick dinner or lunch stop and even a sit-down option where you can currently catch live Euro Cup coverage.

A sampling of their menu includes:

Appetizers:

Spinach Pie...$3.65
Buffalo Wings (10)...$6.60
Souvlaki Stick...$2.40

Pita Sandwiches and Platters:

Platters are served with Greek salad and a choice of French fries, roasted potatoes or rice.

Gyro...$4.95 (sandwich)...$8.75 (platter)
Chicken Souvlaki...$5.40 (sandwich)...$9.15 (platter)
Sausage...$4.95 (sandwich)...$8.75 (platter)

Pasta:

Spaghetti Pomodoro - with garlic, onions, tomato and basil...$7.50
Spaghetti Putanesca - with garlic, tomatoes, capers, olives in a tomato sauce...$8.50
Chicken Parmigiano Greek Style - over pasta...$9.95

Rotisserie Chicken:

BBQ 1/2 chicken with salad and a choice of fries, roasted potatoes or rice...$8.15
BBQ full chicken (no sides)...$7.35

Pizza:

Cheese...$5.50 (small)...$11.50 (large)

You can also choose a variety of toppings such as extra cheese, pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon, mushrooms, broccoli, onions, peppers, olives, fresh tomatoes, pineapple and anchovies.

Go ahead and check it out. It's especially inviting on a warm summer night.

Pita Pan - Mini Gyros at Mini Prices

Pita Pan - 37-15 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103

718.204.1633

N/W Train to 30th Avenue

www.pitapanny.com

I've been a fan of Pita Pan for a while and continue to support them after their move just two doors down on the same block. Make no mistake about it, this move isn't recent, as Pita Pan has been in this spot for almost a year now. The space is welcoming and upbeat with an orange and green color scheme, techno music pumping and mini palm trees blowing in the wind--it's all very Miami-esque.

But what I really like about Pita Pan are its gyros. Since its mini move, the menu has also been revamped, offering smaller portions and healthier alternatives. For example, their gyro is about half of its original size and price. Served on your choice of white or whole wheat pita bread, the gyros come with meat such as lamb, beef and even chicken--stuffed with tomatoes, onions, tzatziki sauce and the piece-de-resistance, french fries. I absolutely love this combination in a gyro, which makes it heartier and authentic--Dan told me that's the way they do it in Greece, incorporating the fries.

On nice days, Pita Pan opens up its front window like most 30th Avenue eateries, offering casual outdoor seating on high tables and stools. Check it out for some trusty Greek fast food--it's the White Castle of Greek food if you will. Below is a sampling of their menu, which you can also access online. The cool thing about their website is that you can view pictures of the food before you order. And...you can even place your order online--now that's good service.

Pita Sandwiches: Served in pita (regular or whole wheat) with tomatoes, red onion, fries and your choice of tzatziki sauce, yogurt, mustard/mayo or Pita Pan sauce.

Pita Pan Gyro - $2.90 (1) sandwich, $5.55 (2) sandwiches

Loukaniko Sausage - $2.90 (1) sandwich, $5.55 (2) sandwiches

Falafel - $2.25 (1) sandwich, $4.25 (2) sandwiches

Zucchini Fritters - $2.50 (1) sandwich, $4.75 (2) sandwiches

Souvlaki Sticks - Your choice of pork or chicken...$3.00 for (3) or $1.50 each

Burgers:

Greek Burger - Feta & kasseri cheeses and tomato with tzatziki sauce in a pita...$5.35

BBQ Burger - Melted Swiss and cheddar cheeses and bacon with BBQ sauce...$6.25

Pita Pan Burger - Avocado, bacon, mushrooms, fried onions and melted cheddar cheese...$6.95

Pizza: Your choice of regular or whole wheat dough

Hawaiian - Pineapple, ham and shredded cheeses...$7.25

Greek - Olives, fresh spinach, feta cheese, fresh tomatoes and shredded cheeses...$7.75

Gyro Lovers - Beef gyro, Pita Pan gyro, chicken gyro and shredded cheeses...$8.25

Mucho Meat - All 3 gyros, bacon, pepperoni, ham, loukaniko and shredded cheeses...$9.25

Panini Wraps: Your choice of regular or whole wheat or panini bread

Breakfast Wrap - Bacon, egg, tomato, choice of cheese and choice of sauce...$4.95

Pita Pan Wrap - Pita Pan gyro, feta, tomato & yogurt...$5.95

Veggie Wrap - Grilled mushrooms, roasted peppers, grilled onions, tomatoes and hummus...$5.95

Croque Monsieur - Ham, your choice of cheese, tomato and light mayo...$4.95

Fresh Fruit Smoothies: $4.95

Energy Elixir - Mixed anti-oxidant berries, blood oranges, bananas and cherries

Tropical Tango - Mango, banana, pineapple juice and fresh low fat yogurt

Honey Berry - Strawberries, bananas, honey and fresh low fat yogurt

Pinocchio is Back

A couple of weeks back, I noted the close for renovation of 30th Avenue gyro and pizza king, Pinocchio Palace. Well it's back in action and as busy as ever, judging from what I saw this past Sunday. I peeked inside to see the new digs and liked what I saw--an airy, clean space with a modern flat screen TV, which was tuned to a soccer match. The interior redesign seems contemporary but not so much so that you wouldn't recognize this place. The exterior is still the same, with the exception of a new maroon awning--I don't think it matches with the blue Pinocchio sign but oh well.

I asked about the menu and it hasn't changed much since the renovation. There are a couple of low-sellers that were dropped such as the Doners and the sandwiches but the pizza and gyros continue to be their show stoppers. When asked about the pizza specifically, a Pinocchio waitress replied "Of course we'd never change that!"

Go on and check out the new space and let me know how it suits ya.

Pinocchio Palace - 32-02 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11102

718.721.9636

N/W Train to 30th Avenue