Back in Old Astoria with Stamatis' Greek Gems

Back in NY last week, I finally finally had the chance to visit my beloved Astoria, even if very briefly.  Truth is that I haven't had much time for anything lately, as PDX Food Baby has been keeping me quite busy.  No matter, there's always time for yummy food adventures and I promise to make more time for the documentation of it in the future.

As Dan and I had a lovely evening in Astoria last weekend, we remarked at how interesting it was that in all our years of living there, we've never eaten at Stamatis Restaurant.  Both in the mood to experience traditional Greek food, we ventured over and met longtime Astoria cronies Meg & Tom across the street for a quick drink, as well.  An awesome evening ensued, and it all felt comfortably nostalgic.  Next time, we'll bring the baby to soak up Astoria's positive vibes too - but now, more about Stamatis:

Atmosphere:
Exemplifying "old Astoria" at its best, Stamatis is everything that the original Astoria stood for - family connections, multi-cultruralism and excellent food.  I couldn't help but get enveloped by its warm welcoming atmosphere and the endearing demeanor of everyone that worked there.  Sure it was our first time visiting and even after months of setting foot in Astoria, we couldn't help but feel comfortable and truly at home.  

Since it was the day before Easter and folks were in a festive mood, Stamatis was absolutely bustling and filled with great energy.  It on the late side for us Portlanders (after 8:30 p.m.) so we were pleasantly surprised by how many people filled Stamatis' large dining room.  Folks of all ages chowed down happily and enjoyed great conversation (in all languages), indulging in all the beautiful dishes that flew from the busy kitchen on to their tables.  It was a truly a fun sight to see and added to the whole experiences.  We reveled in just observing it all - and the delicious food was an extra bonus.

Food:
The best part about eating in a traditional Greek restaurant is all the fabulous meze (or small plates).  So naturally that's exactly what Dan and I chose in order to get a little sampling of everything we so dearly miss about Astoria and Greek culture.

Saganaki Cheese - We love love love this fried kefalograviera cheese that's the ultimate Greek food indulgence.  It's a fun appetizer to share and tides you over quite well until the next meze arrives.  This one had a crunchy crust and a melty middle that was all sorts of salty, gooey and of course delicious.

Zucchini Croquettes - Oh my, how I've missed these!  Stamatis' version was fantastic, we both agreed, and contained many fresh herbs such as oregano and mint, which made it even a little palate cleansing.  Big chunks of yummy feta cheese were interspersed into these oblong gems and they melted beautifully, producing the perfect earthy/salty bite.

Grilled Seafood Platter - Seafood is the specialty here and we couldn't refuse a medley of all sorts of grilled goodness such as lobster claws, stuffed shrimp, stuffed clams, swordfish and squid.  I loved the beautiful charred crust on everything and as people say, "buttah and olive oil make it bettah," which was very much the case here.  Cutting all this richness with peppery dandelion greens was the way to go.

Galaktoboureko - How could we refuse a tantalizing portion of homemade Greek cheese pie (aka Galaktoboureko)?! This usually comes complimentary at the end of each traditional Greek dinner, and Stamatis certainly didn't disappoint.  Their version was truly excellent - silky, custardy with a hint of cinnamon.  Again, comfy nostalgic vibes all around - producing very happy tastebuds.

Service and Cost:
As I've already mentioned, the service at Stamatis is on point.  From the friendly host, quickly remembering my name, to our humble and somewhat sweetly shy waitress, we felt really happy to be there.  All these good things created a fantastic dining experience and even though we were in and out of there in about an hour - hour and a half, it felt long and memorable.

Costs are pretty reasonable, especially if you go the sharing route and for a very hefty meal (including ample wine), you can get out of there for about $30/person.  I highly recommend sharing a carafe of wine (only $10) between two people, which gives you about 1 1/2 glasses each. 

3 Mmmms

Stamatis - 29-09 23rd Avenue, Astoria NY 11105
718.932.8596
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

Chomping on Fresh Seafood at Bill's Tavern

It's been unseasonably warm in Portland lately, with 60 degree sunny days without end that Dan and I have found ways to take advantage.  The great thing about working from home is that you can easily shift your work schedule to the night time so you don't waste any of that beautiful sunshine.  So...off we went to explore the Oregon coast to the beautiful town of Cannon Beach.

Once we got there, we were welcomed with a charming little thoroughfare area on Hemlock Street where one can walk around, pop into quaint little souvenir shops and find some delicious food to eat.  Something we were particularly craving was fresh seafood, which we missed from living in NY, so we stopped at Bill's Tavern, a local brew house with plenty of seafood options.

Atmosphere:
Situated right in the heart of town, Bill's offers a great stop for lunch.  The first thing you notice is their front porch seating, which looks inviting but isn't that plentiful.  On a lovely day like today an outdoor table was tricky to snag so we sat inside and found a private booth.  In addition to booth-style seating, Bill's also has traditional tables and overall, I think they're pretty good at turning them around quickly.  The service is super casual so when you walk in, you can immediately seat yourself and wait to be served in just a few short minutes.  Arriving during prime-time lunch service, we found the dining room to be buzzing and full of hungry visitors devouring heaping plates of seafood.

Food:
As I already mentioned, we came for the seafood and this is exactly what we concentrated on during our meal - hitting all the major seafood groups.

Fried Clam Strips - Dan had a hankering for these so we ordered them immediately and were thrilled with the results.  Not only were they fried to perfection, sporting a beautifully golden crust, the clam strips were really meaty and fresh, boasting a good batter to clam strip ratio.

Clam Chowder - We hadn't had a solid clam chowder in months now, so this was definitely in order and again, we were wowed.  Satisfied with the consistency of the soup, it was nice and chunky, studded with tons of clammy bits as well as veggies such as potatoes, celery, and even smoky bits of bacon. The broth wasn't too rich and helped us work our way to the main course.

Oyster Burger - This dish was totally new to me, and it sounded pretty innovative.  What arrived was nothing short of spectacular, as we welcomed three crispy oyster cakes, topped with homemade tartar sauce and all the traditional burger fixins.  While Dan wasn't in love with the soft bun, I thought it was lovely and did a great job of letting the flavor of the seafood shine.

Service and Cost:

Due to its no frills atmosphere, the service was also simple, honest and efficient.  We noticed just one server but he did his job well and there was another person who bussed the dishes.  Overall, we were in and out of there in about 45 minutes, which was perfect because it allowed us to maximize the glorious weather outside.

Costs are competitive, especially given that this is a touristy area and in the heart of Downtown Cannon Beach. We walked out of there paying around $30 including tip.

3 Mmmms

Bill's Tavern Brew House - 188 N Hemlock Street, Cannon Beach OR 97110
503.436.2202
billstavernandbrewhouse.com

Mar’s Oyster Bar - A Magnificent Po Boy It Was!

After a somewhat long hiatus, my We Heart Astoria colleagues and I met at Mar’s Oyster Bar for a team meeting and dinner. We always look for an excuse to visit Mar’s, as it never fails to disappoint and I was personally looking forward to trying something new that I haven’t had before. That little something ended up being the fried oyster po boy and it was fabulous. Let me tell you more…

Fried Oyster Po Boy – Served on a shiny, soft, sourdough bun, this sandwich was a thing of beauty, as it was both bountiful and colorful. It was evident that great produce was used, especially the tomatoes which were juicy and crimson red.

The stars of the show however were the oysters of course, as they were meaty, delicious and fried to perfection. Accentuated by a lemony mayo, the flavors in this sandwich were just right, reminding me of something I’d have on vacation. Even my dining companions remarked at how much I seemed to enjoy the sandwich, as I nearly licked the plate clean. You can see that the sandwich also comes with a little piece of grilled corn on the cob and Mar’s’ super crispy herb fries, which always induce major yum action.

Rocky Point Oysters – Not to be forgotten, Meg and I also shared a half dozen of these meaty Rocky Point Oysters. They were absolutely delicious and as fresh as can be. While they didn’t need much in terms of accouterments, a modest spritz of lemon rounded out the flavors even more. At happy hour prices of $1/oyster, these were a great deal and I highly recommend them.

Chocolate Torte – Although we were pretty full, Mackenzi advised that we shouldn’t ignore dessert, especially the dark chocolate ganache torte. While it was small in size, the flavor went a long way. I like that it was served chilled and that the dark chocolate was interspersed with bits of white and a little sprig of fried thyme on top. Leave it to Mar’s to give you something unexpected and interesting.

Service and Cost:
The overall service and attention we received on that evening was great, as the staff was most attentive but at the same time chill. They’ve really perfected this at Mar’s and I like to see that after about a year, they’re holding their own.

Costs are pretty high for a neighborhood joint, but you know you’re getting great quality and a fabulous atmosphere that’s hard to beat. For the three of us, including a separate entrée for everyone, apps, a few drinks and dessert, we paid about $65/person including tax and tip.

3 Mmmms

Mar's Oyster Bar - 34-21 34th Street, Astoria NY 11106
718.685.2480
N/Q Train to Broadway or R Train to Steinway St
lifeatmars.com

Seafood Lunch Specials at Psari

Although the summer is sadly winding down to an end, it's still a great time to enjoy some fresh seasonal seafood, and there's plenty of it to be found in the neighborhood.  Recently spotting some a great lunch seafood special at Psari on virtually everything, I wanted to share the news.  Make sure you come with a big appetite, as all seafood options come with Greek salad, garlic bread and your choice of a baked potato, French Fries or rice.  

Seafood Lunch Special at Psari: $13
Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Tuna
Salmon steak (grilled or broiled)
Swordfish steak (grilled or broiled)
Fried calamari
Porgy (grilled or broiled)
Flounder filet (broiled or fried)
Tilapia (grilled, broiled or fried)
Fried whiting
Stuffed filet with crab eat
Stuffed shrimp with crab meat
Maryland crab cakes
Shrimp & scallops with veggies
One dozen large fried shrimp in a basket
Whole fish of the day

Psari - 32-10 36th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.786.6015
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue
www.psari-restaurant.com

The Craft Beer Clambake at Snowdonia

Image by Snowdonia

In the true spirit of summer, I was interested to see that Snowdonia will be hosting a Monday eve Craft Beer Clambake during the entire month of June.  The menu intrigued me, as I'm a big beer and seafood fan - plus knowing that the beer comes from local Coney Island Brewing Co was a plus.  Check out the menu and pop in on a warm Monday eve to start your week:

The Craft Beer Clambake Menu:

Mains:
Broiled stuffed half lobster...$14
Clams & mussels in spicy beer broth...$12
Grilled hot sausage and peppers...$10
Monkfish corndogs...$10

Sides:
Roasted redskin potatoes...$4
Corn on the cob with miso butter..$5

Snowdonia - 34-55 35th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
347.730.5783
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue
snowdoniapub.com

Welcome New S Prime Happy Hour

Everyone loves a good happy hour, and I couldn't help take notice and get excited about the recently revamped offering at S. Prime.  They've had their oyster happy hour going for quite a while, but now I see they've added a few other things to their bar menu.  Take a look and visit them on Tuesdays - Fridays between 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

S. Prime New Bar Bites Menu:

Raw Bar:
Shrimp cocktail
Little Neck Clams
Blue Point Oysters

Sliders:
Short Rib Sliders - with cheddar cheese, cherry tomato, cornichons
Bratwurst Sliders - with mustard and poppy seed sauerkraut
Lobster Sliders - with celery salt and mayo

Other Plates:
Mini Fish Tacos
Grilled Cheese - fontina cheese, green apples, bacon
Crispy Tempura Calamari - pepperdews, roast garlic, aioli
Buffalo Chicken Lollipops - with blue cheese
Deviled Eggs

S Prime Steakhouse - 35-15 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106
718.707.0660
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue or R/M Train to Steinway Street
www.sprimenyc.com

FTW - Homemade Crab Cakes

In the mood for some crab cakes, I decided to make my own the other night, which turned out to be a real treat.  Making my own crab cakes once before for Dan's and my anniversary, I remembered how tasty they came out and wanted to recreate them.

Buying a generous amount of lump crab from Whole Foods, I mixed it in with ingredients such as red bell peppers, scallions, lemon mayo and an egg.  It was relatively easy to do and the result was a creamy delicious cake on the inside with a slightly crispy exterior.  Even though I didn't technically bread these, I dredged them in a bit of flour to create that nice outside texture.

The last step was to lay these on top of a simple arugula salad, which I then topped with a few slices of creamy avocados.  I made a total of 6 crab cakes, which were all gone by the end of the evening.  Mission accomplished.

Crab cake recipe, courtesy of Paula Deen

BEET American Bistro & Bar Does Oysters

I'm delighted to bring you another delicious piece by my colleague, John Figlesthaler, who's recently tried BEET - an UES casual eatery devoted to oysters and you guessed it, beets and veggies.  Take it away John...

BEET is a newer restaurant in an UES neighborhood where I rarely find myself, but the allure of an offer to do a review is hard to pass up. My better half and I took the annoying post work cab ride up to 84th and 2nd and were met by the welcoming owner Daryl, GM Olivier and live jazz.

Atmosphere:
The atmosphere of BEET is casual, but still refined – a low lit and romantic vibe that makes the space inviting and comfortable. The live jazz on Wednesdays and Sundays definitely knocks it up a peg in my book, something that definitely beats even the best playlists. 

Food:

Oyster Sampler - Part of the draw to BEET on this Wednesday was their oyster and jazz night. The band was already fired up so we needed oysters, and the sampler seemed like the way to go. Well Fleets and Montauk Pearls (they were out of Blue Points) appeared on their usual bed of ice, the bivalves fresh and steeped in brine. Unfortunately we weren’t given any sort of direction as to which oysters were which, and the mignonette, cocktail and tartar sauces were lackluster, but luckily they did the trick naked on the half shell.

Grilled Octopus and Baby Beet Salad - For round two we went with the grilled octopus and baby beet salad, it being the namesake vegetable, which apparently stems from the fact that in Daryl’s native Australia they slap the purple roots on everything. The tentacles came with a perfect light char resting on a bed of hummus, lemon confit for bite and olives for salt. A small salad of grilled celery and cilantro balanced out the plate making for a solid appetizer. The beet salad, a staple on almost every New American menu in town was good and light, mixed with apple matchsticks and a nutty pistachio vinaigrette.

Main Courses - On to the main courses, which were the seared yellowfin tuna n’ lobster and braised beef short ribs. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the whole lobster claws on the first plate that stood out, but the yellowfin seared with a peppery bark on the outside and a properly rare center. Unfortunately the lobster was on the rubbery side and the cartilage was still inside. The tuna and claws laid on a mound of nicoise’d fingerlings, green beans and cilantro that made this entrée salad a lot to tackle. With so much going on, scaling the dish back down to a simpler rendition would have done it justice.

The short ribs, on the other hand, were an extremely righteous dish. Braised to melting meat perfection, the off the bone beef had enough fat and flavor alone, but the port wine demi took it to a special place. Resting on a pillow of truffled mashed potatoes, complete with shaved black truffle instead of just cheap fake oil that everyone else uses, this is what high-class meat and potatoes should be like. There were also some nice crisp green and wax beans to bring cohesion, but really, it was the truffle and beef that did it for me.

Dessert - To round it all out, we closed with a pretty traditional crème brulee – a thick sugar crust that hid a nice buttery custard underneath. 

Drinks - Since the journey left us parched, drinks were in order right away. Gaby went with sparkling cocktail with muddled raspberry and mint called Bohemian Spirit and I went with the king of Belgian beers, Delirium Tremens.

Service and Cost:
Throughout dinner it was clear that the Daryl, along with Olivier and Chef Hassan Belamine really actually cared about both the hospitality and edible sides of BEET. This translated to attentive and welcoming service that made for a relaxing dinner.Costs are on the moderate to high side and include:

Appetizers - $10 - $18
Entrees - $16 - $33
Sides - $6 
Drinks - $8 - $12

2 Mmmms

BEET - 1619 2nd Avenue, New York NY 10028
212.517.3600
6 Train to 86th Street
www.beetrestaurant.com

Bistro 33 Unveils the Lobster Roll and New Cocktail Options

It’s been a while since I’ve heard from Bistro 33, so I was eager to see that they had some new food and cocktail news.  They do seafood particularly well, so I was happy to see they’re offering a lobster roll option, along with some yummy sounding cocktails.  It’s meant to be a pairing, and the options sound lovely – just perfect for spring and summer.

Spicy Lemonade – Corp organic meyer lemon vodka, fresh lemon juice, hellfire bitters and siracha salt

Ginger Bash – Muddled ginger root, fresh pineapple, Flor de Cana Rum, cherry rum, apple liqueur and lime juice

Monkey Iced Tea – Monkey Shoulder Scotch, fresh mint and lemon juice

33’s Old Fashioned – Chopin Rye Vodka, orange peel, cherry liqueur, peychauds bitters

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.721.1933

N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.bistro33nyc.com

The Inkan Peruvian & Latin Cuisine Looks Awesome

Image by Diliana R

I found myself in LIC last Saturday, enjoying the funny and provocative antics of Honey Badger Burlesque.  It was quite a show, but more on that soon!  During my evening, I ran into a yummy looking Peruvian restaurant called The Inkan, which really intrigued me.  I noticed it, as I was on my way to the Chain Theater, and then lo and behold, there was a flyer for it at the theater as well.  I perused the menu and really liked what I saw.  Here's a sampling, in case you get an inkling for reasonable Latin food.  I'd love to try it soon, and if I was in the nabe during lunch time, I'd totally hit them up.  It looks so reasonable!

Appetizers:
Salchipapas - French fries with frankfurters...$5.99
Papa rellena - Stuffed potato...$6.99
Empanadas Ecuatorianas de Viento - empanadas stuffed with cheese...$1.50

Rotisserie Chicken & Ribs:
Whole chicken...$10.99
Spare ribs...$4.99

Seafood:
Camaron al Ajillo - Sauteed shrimp with garlic sauce served with white rice...$14.99
Ceviche Mixto - Mixed seafood including mussels, clams, shrimp, squid & fresh fish marinated in lemon juice; served with sweet potato and corn...$15.99
Parihuela - Rich mixed seafood soup with mussels, clams, shrimp, squid, fish and Spanish spices...$13.99
Jalea - Fried mixed seafood with onions, tomatoes, cilantro & lemon sauce...$14.99 (personal), $28.99 (family)

Meat:
Bistek Encebollado - Sirloin steak sauteed with onions & tomatoes, served with white rice & French fries...$13.99
Chuletas de Cerdo con Arroz y Habichuelas - Pork chop with rice and beans...$12.99
Mini Bandeja - Sirloin steak with white rice, beans, fried egg, sweet plantains & pork rind...$9.99
Entrana a la Parilla con Arroz Amarillo y Maduros - Grilled skirt steak with yellow rice and sweet plantains...$17.99

Sides:
Sweet plantains...$3.99
Fried yucca...$3.99
Red beans...$3.99
Green plantains...$3.99

The Inkan - 45-02 23rd Street, LIC NY 11101
718.433.4171
7 Train to Court Square
www.theinkancuisine.com

Thalassa Brings a New Meaning to Greek Food

A few weeks ago, I was lucky to attend a fabulous tasting at Thalassa Restaurant in Tribeca.  Being invited by the restaurant to taste its delicious food was a total treat and I knew I'd run into foodies I knew, so that was yet another plus.  Low and behold, Lindsay from The Lunch Belle was a fellow dining companion and I was so excited to catch up and break bread (I mean pita) with her and my other lovely companions.

Atmosphere:
Set in an old historic building on Franklin Street in Tribeca that originally served as a warehouse, Thalassa is colossal.  I love that it exemplifies a cross between old world industrial style and something completely modern.  The bar is beautiful and sleek, made of custom-made white marble, and is a nice gathering spot when waiting for your party to arrive.

As we made our way into the main dining room, we couldn't help but notice the impressive display of fresh seafood that would later become dinner.  The giant scallops were especially amazing and we couldn't help but snap a few photos, our excitement for our upcoming dinner growing by the minute.

Once we sat down, the atmosphere continued to be sleek and luxurious, studded with simple embellishments such as sheer flowing curtains, Greek urns and soft lighting, which made you feel as if you were very far away from Manhattan.  This was very welcome after a long day at work, as we exhaled the stress and inhaled the serenity of Thalassa.

Food:
As Astoria has spoiled me with some pretty fine Greek food, I do tend to judge a little harshly.  Thalassa certainly held its own, and then some, as I was impressed not only by the food's exquisite taste, but also by its beautiful presentation.

Meze - This is the best part of a Greek meal for me and was my favorite course at Thalassa.  There were quite a few things we tasted, including the zucchini/eggplant chips you see above, the grilled octopus, Maine diver sea scallops, a series of dips with pita, and bakalao.  

My standouts were by far the seafood dishes including the octopus and the scallops.  Both really distinguished themselves from traditional meze - the octopus boasting a beautiful melt-in-your-mouth texture that can only be achieved by massaging the octopus during preparation, and the scallops enveloped in crispy kataifi phyllo dough that's typically used in dessert.  The latter was especially unique, showcasing a sophisticated juxtaposition between the crispy exterior shell and the tender scallop nestled inside.  Resting in a kalamata balsamic reduction, the whole thing was perfection on a plate.

Mains - I like that we went simple with our main course, which was a plate of grilled red snapper, prepared with olive oil, lemon, capers and a little bit of dandelion greens.  The whole thing was clean and uncomplicated and reminded me of something I'd eat on vacation in the Greek isles.  I'd recommend sharing something like this with another dining companion, especially if you've already tried a few meze.

Dessert - Ending things grandly, we enjoyed four shared desserts, including their house baklava, Ekmek, walnut chocolate Karydopita, and the Mastiha panna cotta.  Each were delicious in their own right, but my favorite was the Ekmek, which looked pretty non-traditional, wrapped in a dark, rich Valrhona chocolate dome.  Inside was a creamy, custardy middle with pistachios, and more pistachio ice cream on the side too.  While it was a little tough to break its beautiful shell, it was completely worth it.  The panna cotta was a close second favorite with caramelized pears and fresh berries on top, leaving the creamy middle simple and pure. 

Service and Cost:
The best part of the service for me was the extensive knowledge that Thalassa's staff had about the food.  Reciting the contents of each dish as naturally as stating the weather per se, you can clearly tell that you were at a fine dining establishment.  We also had the pleasure to meet Thalassa's Chef, Raphael Abrahante who was happy to chat with us and even revealed some of his tricks behind making those impeccable scallops and octopus.  It's clear that he has a passion for this stuff and it all showed through this spectacular dinner.

Costs are on the higher side, as this is fine dining at its best.  However, they also have some reasonable happy hour specials Monday - Friday from 5:30 - 7 p.m. when they serve meze,  1/2 priced specialty cocktails and select Greek wines by the glass.

Meze - $14 - $22
Mains - $29 - $48
Desserts - $12

3 Mmmms

Thalassa - 179 Franklin Street, New York NY 10013
212.941.7661
1 Train to Franklin Street
www.thalassanyc.com

A Very Lobsterific Valentine's Day

This past Valentine's Day was a lot of fun and pretty low-key too, as Dan and I stayed in and made surf and turf for dinner.  Part of that was boiling a giant live lobster, which was an experience we'll never forget.  We got a pretty big guy that you see above--a 2 pounder--and split it equally.  Even though it was our first time, I'd say we did pretty well and really enjoyed the sweet, succulent meat from the claws.  The tail was tasty too, but a little overdone - however, it was still such a nice treat, especially when dipped into the hot buttah.

The simplest way to cook a lobster at home is to boil it.  Here's what you do:

1.  You pick up the poor thing in your hands and drop it into a big pot of boiling water.  Make sure the water is seasoned with plenty of salt water (and by plenty, I mean 3-4 large handfuls of it)
2.  Depending on the weight of your lobster, boil it about 10 minutes per pound - so we boiled it for roughly 20 minutes
3.  Take out of the water and let rest for about 5 minutes
4.  Serve with warm clarified butter

We enjoyed this dish with a heaping spoonful of garlic mashed potatoes and lemon-misted asparagus.  Mmmm...it was a luxuriously decadent meal.  I hope you try it too sometimes.

Another Yummy Time at Psari

Last week, Meg, Mackenzi and I visited one of the best underrated Greek food restaurant in Astoria, Psari. Previously known as the Greek Captain, Psari specializes in seafood and they've recently announced a Seafood Feast Special on Groupon, which I think I saw a few folks taking advantage of.

While we ordered a nice selection of their dips that were also veggie friendly, we each got our own entree and mine was the fish.  After all, when in a seafood restaurant...

Broiled Porgy - A good alternative to grouper or red snapper, I chose a broiled porgy as my choice for dinner.  I've had this fish before at local Greek joints, and enjoy its flaky texture and buttery taste.  For those of you who like a milder fish, this may not be for you, as the sea flavor is pretty distinct, but I think in a good way.  I absolutely loved its crispy, slightly burnt skin, which I devoured and dotted with some of the leftover spreads like the the tzatziki, which we still had on the table.  My side that I chose along with it were the lemon baked potatoes that did a good job of rounding out the dish and making the meal more filling.

Galaktoboureko - A complimentary dessert, I enjoyed this little sweet bite, which was soaked in a sweet, syrupy liquid.  The portion was just right and allowed for about 3 solid bites.  The inside, consisting of a creamy, lemony custard was soft and luxurious, while the outside was a little flaky from the phyllo that crumbled at the contact of your fork.

Service and Cost:
Just like last time, the service was quite good and so attentive.  Once again, I was impressed by how quickly our glasses of water were filled and our empty plates were cleared.  I never felt as if we were forgotten about, and our dishes came out fast, which was great.

Costs are really fair - the porgy and the potato entree costing only $19, while the plate of dips was about $15.  As I already noted, the dessert was complimentary.

3 Mmmms

Psari - 32-10 36th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.786.6015
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue
www.psari-restaurant.com

Bear's Perfectly Seared Scallop

You may recall my recent behind the scenes interview with Chef Natasha Pogrebinsky at Bear Restaurant.  I had quite a good time getting to know the folks behind this awesome operation and especially loved being in the kitchen and observing where the magic happens so to speak.

While in their very orderly cooking quarters, Chef Natasha illustrated the process used to make one of her signature dishes, a seared diver scallop with corn risotto.  You can watch the video here to see how it's done, and possibly even recreate it at home, but I'd like to tell you more about its taste.

Seared Diver Scallops with Corn Risotto - If you'd like to get just a little taste of this instead of ordering a whole entree, you can do so, as it comes in an appetizer version too.   The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity, as there's only about 3-4 ingredients in it, and they all shine.  The scallop is large and milky white on the inside but beautifully seared on the outside, boasting a caramelized crust.  Chef sure made it look simple, but getting a perfect sear on the outside of a scallop without overcooking it isn't easy.

Overall, I like that the dish was seasoned simply with salt and pepper, as well as a "secret" little spritz of something at the end (I'll give you a hint...it's very fragrant).  The corn risotto isn't actually risotto at all, but a refreshing corn salad that has only been put on the stovetop for a few seconds.  The whole thing tastes like summer and is further decorated with fresh herbs from the greenmarket.  It's really spectacular and I'd recommend starting your meal with it, or better yet, making it the main event.

Bear - 12-14 31st Avenue, Long Island City NY 11106
917.396.4939
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.bearnyc.com

Visiting Montauk and Their Famous Clam Bar

I'm happy to report that most of this week was spent chillin' and relaxing out East in Montauk, in celebration of my birthday.  Like a little kid, I tend to make my birthday celebration last a whole week and this year totally followed suit, as Dan and I headed out for a little mini vaca.  

Part of why I love the East end, including Montauk is for its fresh seafood, and we of course had nothing but this out there.  Loving the fact that you can get a lobster roll at the drop of a hat, we of course had to take advantage of this at Montauk's famous Clam Bar.

Atmosphere:
Located right off of the main road that leads into "Downtown Montauk" or 27 as the locals call it, the famous Clam Bar is a drive by kind of place.  The atmosphere is super lax, with white plastic backyard furniture set up as its outdoor dining room.  Each table is covered by a large umbrella, which helps shield the hot rays, especially during the summer months.

And although sitting down and enjoying the local atmosphere is quite lovely, you can also go up to the counter, order and take away.  Dan and I chose the former, wanting to relax and enjoy the summer vibe, including their classic rock music mix, and catching some rays in the process too.

Food:
I love that the menu includes all your seafood favorites such as clams, steamed lobster, lobster rolls (yay!), clam chowder, steamed mussels, fish and chips and more.  Aside from these mainstays, there are also a wide array of daily specials, which showcase just how fresh everything is.  In fact, we found out that The Clam Bar has their own fishing boat, which they take out each morning and catch the freshest stuff, for each day's service.

Lobster Salad Roll - I was a bit confused about why they were calling this a lobster "salad", as I always think of the chunky lobster meat rolls when ordering this dish.  The staff at the Clam Bar however assured me that this was no "fake lobster salad" but indeed the real thing, with chunky bits of lobster meat, a minimal amount of mayonnaise and some crunchy pieces of celery.  Even though I was still a little skeptical, what arrived in front of me was just awesome.  

The lobster roll was indeed what I was expecting - a beautiful, soft buttery bun, filled to the brim with chunky fresh lobster meat.  Amazingly flavorful, the combination worked beautifully and far surpassed my expectations, for there were tons of meaty pieces of lobster and the crunch from the celery added a nice, clean freshness.  The roll was so huge and so filling, that I gave away a few generous bites to Dan.  Even though I haven't tried the place across the street called Lunch, also known for their lobster rolls, everyone swears that Clam Bar's are better.  I trust this is true!

Fried Clam Strips and Sweet Potato Fries - Dan was dreaming about his beloved fried clam strips and this too delivered.  The clams were fresh as ever, and coupled with a tangy, homemade tartar sauce that we even used on their crunchy sweet potato fries.  The whole combination was just a mountain of fried goodness that I'd recommend in small doses, but still, a totally worthy summer indulgence.

Service and Cost:
Even though I wanted the service to be awesome, it just wasn't.  We found our waitress to be surly and rude, and like a lot of the restaurant service we encountered in Montauk, it was made up of 20 somethings who seemed to be too cool for school.  Even so, the food arrived really quickly and piping hot.

Costs aren't cheap, but given the quality of the seafood, they are fair.  The lobster roll set us back $19.50, which is pretty standard (even cheap for a good lobster roll), while the fried clam strips and the fries were $13 in total.  

3 Mmmms

Clam Bar at Napeague - 2025 Montauk Highway, Amagansett NY 11930
631.267.6348
www.clambaronline.com

Simply Summer Grilled Swordfish Steaks

Since summer is officially upon us, I've been trying to cook light, healthy foods that fill me up but don't leave me feeling weighed down.  Fish is great for this, as it's easy to digest and when prepared on a grill it's super fresh and has that lovely charred flavor.  The dish you see here took me about a half hour to prepare and cook, which is really convenient, especially on a weeknight.  Here's what I did:

Grilled Swordfish Steaks (serves 2)

Ingredients:
2 medium sized fresh swordfish steaks (or frozen)
1 green zucchini, sliced into circles 
1 yellow zucchini, sliced into circles
1/2 red onion sliced the same width as the zucchini
Olive oil
Coarse salt and pepper
Lemon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees for the zucchini and also preheat the grill or grillpan for the fish.  Make sure to oil the grill or grillpan lightly with olive oil.

Toss the zucchini and onions in olive oil (2 generous glugs) and season with salt and pepper.  Place on a lined baking sheet and cook for about 25 minutes, or until the zucchini gets nice and brown.  Turn them over halfway into the cooking process, so both sides get well done.

Season fish with salt and pepper.  Place swordfish steaks on the grill/grillpan and cook for about 5 minutes on each side.  Rotate 45 degrees halfway into the cooking process to get nice crosshatch grill marks.  Remove from grill, and spritz with lemon.  Serve with the warm zucchini, and enjoy with a cold glass of chardonnay.

eXo's Live Jazz Night

One of my favorite non-Astoria eats, eXo always has something interesting up their sleeve.  The Chef, Costa happens to be a fellow Astorian and some of the other staff as well, so you can see where their loyalties lie - with us!

Something new and interesting they're rolling out this fall is Jazz Night, which starts on Saturday, November 19th from 8 - 10 p.m. Featuring unlimited and very delicious house wine and meze, the evening will be held in their new heated patio, which is pretty extensive.  The whole evening for just $40 - sounds good to me.

If you haven't yet tried this place, I think this is your chance, since the event is on a Friday, which gives you some extra time to get to Whitestone.  The food is fresh and creative, and if you do make it out there, I can't wait to hear what you think.  Shoot me a line with your feedback.

Exo - 15-16 149th Street, Whitestone NY 11357
718.767.4396
www.exorestaurant.com

Guest Foodista Ana Reviews Veslo

Today's post will shine a light on an enthusiastic Astorian who's a Foodista and We Heart Astoria reader.  Ana lives and breathes Astoria, often chiming in about neighborhood happs, and she's involved with her community.  Being of Croatian descent, Ana was especially excited when Veslo, a new Croatian restaurant moved into the neighborhood.  Here Ana gives you her personal take on dining in this new, up-and-coming eatery.

Drop Your Anchor At Veslo by Ana Peraica-Stanton

I have the honor of reviewing a great new restaurant called Veslo that is close to home, being that I am Croatian. I decided to go here for my birthday and had the pleasure of dining with my husband Robert, my cousin Joann & her husband Paul and it was great. If you have been to or are from Croatia, it makes you feel like you are transported back there from the décor to the food and overall atmosphere. Definitely check it out if you want a small taste of Croatia without the travel. The service was great and the food was even better…I could not have asked for a more lovely evening.

Atmosphere:
There is a lounge, bar area when you first walk in. The restaurant is located in the back. It has a very inviting, comfortable, home like feeling. Overall, I would say it is casual but elegant at the same time. There are oars hanging from the ceiling and authentic Croatian antiques on the shelves along the wall, which gives you an indication of the Dalmatian inspired cuisine to come.

Food:
Here is a sampling of what we had to eat, which was all together wonderfully delicious!

Appetizers:

Grilled Octopus - The octopus was soft and tender and tasted wonderful.

Stuffed Mushrooms - Stuffed with meat and vegetables, these mushrooms were some of the best I’ve had.  They had meat mixed into the stuffing that made it extra tasty and flavorful.

Chef Boris Special - Hot seafood platter with clams oreganata, steamed mussels in a white wine sauce, grilled calamari, sautéed shrimp and eggplant rollatini. Everything tasted divine. Everything was cooked well in its own way, but the eggplant rollatini was my favorite. It wasn’t at all oily; there was a perfect amount of cheese and sauce.

Entrees:

Homemade Gnocchi in Veal Sauce - I’ve had gnocchi plenty of times, but these were awesome. They were light and soft, not leaving heaviness in your stomach, and the veal sauce had plenty of meat and flavor to add.

Lobster Ravioli - Homemade lobster ravioli prepared in a light white wine saffron sauce. There was plenty of lobster in the filling, and the ravioli itself was cooked nicely…not mushy at all. The sauce complimented it very well.

Grilled Sea Bass - Grilled Sea Bass served in a light lemon sauce. This was what I ordered and my favorite dish of the night. The Sea Bass was cooked perfectly…moist, tender and flaky with a crisp skin topped with a little olive oil, garlic and lemon. You don’t need anything else except a fork to eat it with. The Swiss chard and potatoes were a perfect accompaniment.

Mixed Seafood Platter - A mixed platter of grilled lobster tail, filet of sole, shrimp and calamari along with steamed clams and mussels in a white wine sauce. This was a fantastic fish dish to order if you wanted a little taste of everything, and it was all good.

Dessert:

Palačinke - Dalmatian style crepes served with chocolate, cheese or mixed marmalade filling. We had the palačinke filled with Nutella, topped with a little powdered sugar. They were warm with the Nutella melted a little in the middle. What a lovely dessert to end the evening with!

Tiramisu - I am not a fan of tiramisu, but decided to try it and it was really good…very creamy and tasty.

Chocolate Cake - I love chocolate cake, but did not enjoy this one that much. It was a little heavy on the rum.

Service and Cost:
We were seated right away and offered coat check. The waiter greeted us, introduced himself and was polite and fun throughout the evening. He brought over bread with an olive spread and extra virgin olive oil for dipping. Menus were given and drinks were ordered…a bottle of red and a bottle of white. We did not wait long for the food to arrive. And the best part was when the dessert came and everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to me! The owner came over at the end of the evening, asked how everything was and thanked us for coming which was very nice.

Overall costs are moderate to high and worth every penny. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended during evening hours especially on weekends.

I will definitely be returning again soon, and bringing with me some of my non-Croatian friends so they can also experience a little bit of Dalmatian culture. I also look forward to when the small backyard they have will be open in warmer weather where I heard they will be offering whole roasted baby lamb, goat and/or pig on a spit fire roast grill.

Dobar Tek! (good appetite)

3 Mmmms

Veslo - 32-11 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106
718.728.0549
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.veslonyc.com

Waterfront Crab House - Back in Action

Waterfront Crab House - 2-03 Borden Avenue, Long Island City NY 11101
718.729.4862
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue
http://wfcrabhouse.com/index.html

My friend Gina has been wanting to check out the Waterfront Crab House for some time, and after spotting it when I was at the Water Taxi Beach, I was curious too. We had the guys join us for a nice evening of conversation and lots of seafood.

Atmosphere:
It's wonderful how homey and lived-in this place feels, even after the recent fire they experienced. They reopened just a month ago now, and everything looks as it should--after all, it holds a lot of history, as it's been around for more than 30 years.

Indoor as well as partial outdoor seating is offered but the indoor is a lot cozier and authentic, as the outdoor consists of hard picnic tables. We sat inside, in the back room which was a lot quieter than the front-of-the-house. Crescent-shaped booths are common, providing a nice way to accommodate larger groups. There's also plenty of nostalgic memorabilia on the walls such as old murals, random merry-go-round horses and various little knick-knacks that have been collected over the years. Although it could seem a bit strange, it works to create a comfortable and welcoming environment.

Food:
I've heard great things about the seafood here and my experience didn't leave me disappointed. They key, I came to discover was to order "lighter" food, as most dishes use a lot of oil and butter--so the plainer the better.

Baked Clams Oreganato - This was a winner for all of us, as the clams were fresh and topped with a crunchy breadcrumb mixture that was both aromatic and flavorful. It was nice that the portion was generous and we each downed about 3 medium sized clams. Like with most dishes here, lots of butter was used but not so much that it was overpowering.

Escargot Dumplings - We were all captivated by the sound of this dish because it was so different from traditional escargot, which usually comes in the original snail shell. The dumpling was crispy and so delicious, reminding both Gina and I of Crab Rangoon. The escargot filling was lovely and again very fresh, with no fishy aftertaste. I'd recommend this to adventurous and safe eaters alike, as there is enough familiarity in the dish to not scare away conservative eaters.

Scallops (2 ways) - Both Gina and Dan went for scallop dishes with different preparation methods--Dan ordered them broiled while Gina got them fried. I preferred the fried ones because they had more flavor, but there were too many on the plate to finish. Also, ordering fried onion rings made the dish hard to get through--not that it wasn't good, Dan said that the onion rings were crunchy and awesome but that the quantity was overwhelming. Next time, both Gina and Dan said that they'd order something different, as the bay scallops were too tiny to get any significant substance out of.

Stuffed Filet of Sole - I decided to play it safe by ordering this light fish with a unique twist--it was filled with crabcake stuffing. Wow! I absolutely loved it! The fish itself was gentle, with a creamy, luxurious crab middle that made it a lot more exciting to eat--also reminding me of the filling that they put in lobster. I ordered a side of rustic mashed potatoes, with the skin still on. Yum! They were awesome, creamy and just the right amount of buttery.

Maryland-Style Crabs - Joe went for the main attraction of this place--the crabs. Being from the D.C./Maryland area, he wanted to experience The Crab House's version of this dish. Overall, I'd say that he was satisfied, as he finished a gargantuan tray of about 20+ crabs. I don't know how he did it but he nearly licked his plate (I mean, tray) clean, so the crab meat must've been more than acceptable.

Service and Cost:
Our server was nice although not very responsive. It would've been great if he anticipated our needs instead of reacting to them--for example when he cleared Joe's full crab carcass tray only after we asked him to. However, he was kind and although we got impatient with him, he never showed his frustration.

Costs are moderate and worth it for the quality of seafood that you get. Appetizers range $6.50-$12.95, entrees are in the $16.95 - $28.95 ballpark and some items are market price. Our dinner set us back about $40 per person including tax and tip.

2 Mmmms