BYOB Sake Bar - Yamashiro

Back in July, I mentioned the opening of Yamashiro Sake Bar on Steinway Street near 30th Avenue. I walked by the other day and saw that it's a BYOB, which I found to be a big draw. The menu is eclectic and certainly inviting - it could be a fun place to start your Friday or Saturday night.

See what you think about this sampling of the menu. If you'd like to see it in its entirety, send me an email and I'll pass one on to you: critic@foodistanyc.com:

Appetizers (sushi and other)
Treasure Island - Tuna, salmon & yellowtail bed on avocado bowl...$8
Tartar - Choose your favorite fish, salmon, yellowtail or red & white tuna...$9
Wasabi Shumai - Steamed wasabi pork dumpling...$5
Age-Dashi Tofu - Fried tofu with tempura sauce...$4.50
Garlic Soft Shell Crab...$8.50

Noodles (Choice of Udon or Soba)
Chicken Noodle Soup...$8.75
Seafood Noodle Soup...$12.75
Yaki Soba - Choice of chicken, beef or vegetable...$8.75

Teriyaki and Tempura (Served with rice & soup or salad)
Chicken Teriyaki...$12
Scallop Teriyaki...$17.50
Yashai Teriyaki - Mixed vegetable...$10
Seafood Tempura - Shrimp, fish, scallop and crabmeat...$13.50
Chicken Tempura...$12

Hibachi
Chicken or Beef...$14
Shrimp...$16
Scallop...$17
Lobster...$18
Vegetable...$11

Specialty Sushi Rolls
Mango Tango Roll - Eeel & cucumber topped with avocado & mango...$9
Yamashiro Wasabi Roll - Rolled tuna, salmon & avocado topped with wasabi caviar...$9
Green River Roll - Eeel, cucumber, avocado topped with seaweed powder and caviar...$8
Fuji Roll - Tempura shrimp, eel, cucumber topped with masago...$11

Bento Box Special - Includes a miso soup or salad, gyoza, California roll, rice and a choice of two of the following: teriyaki, katsu, beef negimaki, tempura, vegetable tempura, tofu teriyaki, sushi, sashimi...$16

Yamashiro Sake Bar - 30-27 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11103
718.932.1338
N/W Train to 30th Avenue

Yamashiro Sake Bar - Will Open Soon

On our way back from Punta Dura, Meg and I noticed a new Sake Bar/Japanese restaurant that will soon open on Steinway Street, between 30th and 31st Avenue. We stopped in our tracks, as we were fascinated by this new addition, promising to bring something new and fresh to the nabe. Its success is yet to be seen, as Steinway doesn't have the best track record in terms of Japanese restaurants--Ginza Japanese restaurant closed about a year and half ago, which served Hibachi-style cuisine.

I'll keep you posted about its official opening, but on Thursday night, it looked like it was almost there. Holler if you know more...

Yamashiro Sake Bar - 30-27 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11103
718.932.1338
N/W Train to 30th Avenue or R/V/G Train to Steinway Street

Queens...A Taste of the World - Steinway Takes it Again

Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure to attend--and judge--Queens...A Taste of the World at the new Citi Field. The evening brought together a mix of local restaurateurs, foodies and enthusiastic members of the Queens community. Mayor Bloomberg spoke at the event, commending Queens on its multicultural richness and its abundance of ethnic cuisine. It was a lovely celebration where much deliciousness was consumed and I could safely say that no one walked away with an empty stomach.

In addition to the evening being a showcase for Queens' culinary bests, it was also a competition, in which we judges--along with the public--decided on the "best of" in categories such as appetizer, entree, dessert, drink and an overall Taste Master's Award.

The Winners:
The results of the competition weren't surprising and Steinway restaurant of Elmhurst stole the show again, winning for Best Entree, Best Drink and the Taste Master's Award. I was happy to see that the Bantry Bay Pub of LIC won for Best Appetizer with their sensational bacon covered dates with a crunchy pecan middle. Dessert was a tight battle but once again, Cascon Bakery of Whitestone took the title of Best Dessert, with a rich offering of cheesecakes, cannolis, homemade truffles and so much more to please any sweet tooth.

Other Favorites:
With over 40 restaurants and food suppliers, there was so much excellence and deliciousness in the air, that I have to note a couple of personal favorites:

Fretzels by Jill - Gourmet chocolate covered pretzels with whimsical toppings such as mini M&Ms, Recee's Pieces, non-pareils and even toffee easily won me over. The pretzels were the perfect size and the ratio of topping to pretzel was just right. I tasted an M&Ms fretzel and loved the chocolatey crunch in every bite. Jill herself is a young entrepreneur and happens to be from the same town as my parents--small world. You can order her confections online and even customize them for special occasions.

La Fusta - This Argentinian restaurant from Elmhurst made a good impression on me with its "street meat" topped with chimichurri sauce and the veal stuffed with egg, spinach and red peppers. The veal reminded me of my mom's meatloaf, as she also uses an egg in the middle. For me, the combination of hearty meat with the creamy egg yolk and the earthy veggies was wonderful--it felt like a complete meal rather than one course.

Armando's - What stood out here were the desserts, including the ricotta cheesecake with amaretto and the tiramisu. The tiramisu was especially memorable, as it was super light, had a nice coffee flavor but didn't skimp on decadence. My fellow judges agreed that these desserts ruled supreme.

Ovelia - I'm a bit partial to my own neighborhood but there was a reason why Ovelia's booth had a constant line of people. In my opinion, it was their spicy feta spread and the homemade sausage, providing a perfect mix of modern and traditional Greek food. Chris and Pete, the charming brothers who run Ovelia also kept the crowd plentiful.

Zenon Taverna - Another Astoria favorite, I couldn't get enough of their Cypriot meatballs with fresh spices and a hint of lemon. Their stuffed grape leaves were a nice veggie option. I liked that they were light on the stomach and felt refreshing, especially after the sauce-heavy dishes that were showcased at other booths.

Overall, the event was a success--both for the restaurants and for the public. I had a great time tasting everything and meeting nice people. My fellow judges included a trio from the Young Chefs Academy of Forest Hills, a wonderful organization that teaches kids new cooking skills and educates them about nutrition.

To see more pictures from Queens...A Taste of the World, see my homepage slideshow.

Luna de Juarez - Quality Mexican at Great Value

Luna de Juarez - 25-98 Steinway St, Astoria, NY 11103
718.274.4350
N/W Train to 30th Avenue

Dan and I paid an impromptu visit to Luna de Juarez last night, after my intense craving for Mexican food. We were famished after a hectic day of shopping and needed something filling to tide us over. The food not only satiated us, it was absolutely delicious and came at a great value. Here are some of the dishes that we tried:

Mole Chicken Enchiladas - This is my favorite type of enchilada because it uses dark chocolate in the mole sauce. The last time I had it was in Austin and it was pretty phenomenal. Luna's version proved to be a fierce competitor with a smoky flavor and significant kick. The delicious white chicken meat that was nestled inside the tortillas was perfectly shredded and seasoned. I was also able to choose two sides with my enchiladas and so I picked tostones and refried beans--both solid. If you like fried plantains, you'll love tostones.

Soft Chicken Tacos - Dan ordered this and it was also excellent. The portion was gargantuan and reminded me of a fajita platter. I liked it slightly better than my mole enchiladas because it was milder. The chicken was tender and seasoned nicely, and the yummy fixins such as fresh guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream and grilled onions further dressed this plate. Dan prepared each taco with care and he was able to get about 8-10 small servings out of the entire portion. If this isn't a great deal, I don't know what is.

Margarita - One of his beloved drinks of all time, Dan ordered a frozen lime margarita. He said that similarly to the food, it was of great quality and significant size.

Service and Cost:

The service was outstanding. As soon as we walked in, we were welcomed by a personable host who seated us and even held my coat while I got situated. Throughout our meal, the excellence and attentiveness continued--when I accidentally dropped my knife, it was replenished within seconds, without me having to ask.

Besides the lovely waitstaff, there was a boisterous mariachi band that played for about a half hour. They livened up the atmosphere and made our experience even more fun.

Luna de Juarez offers competitive prices. For the dinner that I just described, we payed about $36 without tip. The enchiladas were $15, the chicken tacos cost $13 and the margarita was $6. Not too shabby considering the generous portions that were enjoyed.

3 Mmmms

Al Dar Cafe - More Middle Eastern Hookah

On our way to Laziza bakery last week, Meg and I spotted Al Dar, a Middle Eastern cafe/hookah place on Steinway that I've never noticed before. Its facade immediately caught my eye, as the sign was big but not tacky like some of its neighboring Little Arabia establishments. I peeked inside and liked what I saw--a casual atmosphere, a mix of traditional and cushiony seating as well as signs of live entertainment on the weekends. The sign out front announced a male entertainer by the name of Tarik Sultan who performs late on Saturday nights. I thought this was kind of cool and different from the usual curvaceous female belly dancers that you'll find in all the other Middle Eastern eateries/hookah bars.

In terms of the food, I have to find out more but it looks like your standard Middle Eastern fare--kebobs, tajines, and of course hookah. I'll follow-up with a menu shortly but in the meantime, I wanted to put this place on your radar. It certainly looks worthy of trying.

Al Dar Cafe and Restaurant - 25-94 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11103

718.726.0604

N/W Train to 30th Avenue

Laziza - Lebanese Delicacies

Laziza - 25-78 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11103

718.777.7676

N/W Train to 30th Avenue

On our way back from Rego Park last week, Meg and I stopped at Laziza, a Lebanese bakery that's well known in Astoria--and one of Meg's favorites. Located on Steinway Street in the Little Arabia section of town, Laziza exemplifies Middle Eastern culture to the max. Its facade is colorful and welcoming, showcasing its name in both English and Arabic. And once you step inside, it's a Middle Eastern haven, with all the pistachio, walnut and date treats that your heart desires. But if you're a chocolate lover, this might not be the place for you.

I followed Meg's lead when picking out my pastries. She recommended the coconut-almond cake, baklava, pistachio cookies and a variety of date treats. I bought a small sampler tray of all these things and even added an apricot cookie to boot. They were all delicious but I liked the date pastries the best. They were sweet, cinnamony and great substitutes for chocolate. One thing that I did not buy but got to try on-site was Lebanese fried dough or Balah El Sham. The Lebanese version of doughnuts, they were slightly crunchy on the outside and juicy and sweet on the inside--enhanced by syrup. Yum! Meg loved them too and they're sold in small trays of about 12.

Below are some of the other delicacies that you could find at Laziza:

Mixed Baklava...$12/lb
Baklava with Cream...$2 each
Kanafa with Nuts...$2 each
Balah El Sham...$7.50/lb
Basboosa...$1.50 each

Another great thing about Laziza is the staff. The nice man who was helping us was extra friendly and informative--he even went as far as to explain what everything was and how it was made. You could tell that he was very proud of the many amazing pastries on display. He made us feel really welcome, which is not always the case in Little Arabia--I sometimes feel like an outsider there.

I strongly suggest that you pop in and check Laziza out, you'll be hooked in no time. I'm already looking forward to my next visit.