Ovelia Brunch Never Goes Out of Style

Staying local for the long weekend, I was glad to take advantage of some of my neighborhood favorites, especially for brunch. Having the chance to hit Ovelia this weekend with friends, Jessica and Ari, we got to show them Astoria our way and the deliciousness it’s known for.

Here are a few highlights of my meal last weekend that really impressed me.

Bloody Mary – Loving a stiff Bloody Mary, this one delivered on potency and spice. Laced with plenty of horseradish and peppery goodness, each sip gave your senses a little jolt – and lucky for us, we all loved the spice. Something unique I noticed were the thin shavings of celery on top in lieu of a big celery stick that can sometimes get stuck in your teeth.

Ovelia Omelette – Excited by the concept of an open faced omelette, this one featured all sorts of earthy veggies including eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms and even walnuts. As you can see, the whole plate was a thing of beauty, arranged with a bevy of colorful foods including a side of Ovelia’s signature fruit fries and their Cypriot sausage. I’m happy to say that the omelette was perfectly cooked and the veggies on top tasted like a very refined caponata (aka totally awesome).

Service and Cost:
As usual, we experienced really pleasant service and appreciated the way that Ovelia accommodates virtually any kind of diner (including our cute four legged friend Karma). Not only were they OK with our friend’s dog joining us, they even provided her with a bowl full of fresh water.

Upon first glance, costs can seem high for brunch, but note they also include coffee and an alcoholic morning cocktail, which actually makes this a good deal at roughly $15-$17 per person. I’m already thinking of what I’ll devour here next…

3 Mmmms 

Ovelia Psistaria - 34-01 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103
718.721.7217
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.ovelia-ny.com

Telly's Taverna Masters Greek Food

A few weeks ago, Meg and I spent some time at Telly's Taverna - a Greek Astorian institution in its own right.  It's bizarre to me I've often overlooked Telly's, especially when I lived in this neighborhood, but after our delicious experience, I can confidently say that won't happen again.

Atmosphere:
Pretty traditional as far as Greek restaurants go, Telly's is set up not unlike a lot of its neighboring comrades.  The kitchen (including grill) is situated up front, accompanied by a more casual dining area, while the whole left side of the restaurant serves as the formal dining room, and it's where all the action takes place, so to speak.

Loving the spacious room that accommodates both large and intimate parties, Meg and I sat at a four top table towards the back.  Even though the front of the room was more appealing, and buzzing with energy, it was quite chilly due to the open windows.  The open air atmosphere is great during warm summer months though, and gives diners a good opportunity to observe the goings on on 23rd Ave.  It's not unlikely to see a lot of large parties dining at Telly's during the weekend or a weeknight, celebrating a holiday or a special family occasion.

Food:
Although we came hungry, we were so not prepared for this giant feast.  Needless to say, we walked out happy and had plenty of leftovers for the upcoming week.

Mezze - Interested in trying a variety of mezze, we went for veggie centric dishes as well as seafood.  The veggies were fantastic, and stood out to me both during this course as well as when paired with entrees.  The green salad and the tomato cucumber salad were fresh and zesty, and topped with plenty of milky feta.  Dressed simply with good quality olive oil, vinegar and lemon juice, it was the perfect way to whet our appetite.

The other big app standouts were the grilled octopus and the gigantes beans in tomato sauce.  I loved the slightly crunchy exterior of the octopus and the melt-in-your-mouth middle, which was cooked just right.  Surprised by the burst of flavor in the gigantes beans, this was a real comforting dish, as it was stewed in a homemade tomato, garlic/onion sauce that conjured up memories of grandma's kitchen.

Main Dishes - Pleasantly overwhelmed by the rich spread of meat and seafood in front of us, we tried a little bit of everything and had a hard time deciding what we liked best.  If I'd have to choose, I'd give the standing ovation to the grilled biftekia and the juicy lamb chops.  Both were simple, but beautifully executed dishes that were flavored with fresh herbs and lemon.  Paired with classic side dishes such as thin Greek chips with oregano and perfect lemon potatoes, they'll satisfy even the most discerning customer.

Although we couldn't finish everything at that moment, we took a lot home, which made for great leftovers - especially the biftekia, which I later tore into salad.

Dessert - I love me some loukomades (Greek donuts with honey) and these looked and tasted impeccable.  Boasting a beautifully golden brown exterior and a soft and airy interior, they were pure heaven with a little bit of cinnamon and honey on top.

Service and Cost:
The staff at Telly's is made up of experienced and friendly waiters who are knowledgeable about the food and pay a lot of attention to diners' needs.  We always felt well taken care of, our glasses of water refilled frequently and our sharing plates refreshed periodically.  It was nice to know that we could hang as long as we wanted to without being bothered.

Costs are really fair given the high quality of food, and Telly's is a restaurant I'd happily return to in the near future:

Mezze - $4 - $16
Meat - $12 - $24
Seafood - $12 - $24
Dessert - $6

3 Mmmms

Telly's Taverna - 28-13 23rd Avenue, Astoria NY 11105
718.728.9056
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.tellystaverna.com

Ovelia's Raw Bar Happy Hour

As summer is almost officially here, I love all the delicious seafood that comes with.  It makes me feel good to know that when I have this fresh, yummy seafood, it's at its best.  That's why I was excited to see that Ovelia is extending it's Raw Bar happy hour to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays between 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Here's what you can enjoy at a really competitive price:

Blue Point oysters - $1
Little Neck Clams - $.50
Baked Stuffed Clams - little neck clams stuffed with jumbo lump crab stuffing...$13
Lobster (1.5 lb) served with corn on the cob...$21
Buttermilk Fried Oysters - with Metaxa cocktail sauce...$12
Baked Oysters - baked oysters with yellow squash and seasoned bread crumbs $14

Let me know which one's your favorite! 

Ovelia Psistaria - 34-01 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103
718.721.7217
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.ovelia-ny.com

Cavo's Oyster Tuesdays

Tis the season for oysters, and I do love me some fresh bivalves.  Excited to see that Cavo's Tuesday night ladies offering has now been replaced with an oyster special, I wanted to call it out here.  If you're free tonight and want to check it out, it looks really inviting.  Here's the deal:

Cavo's Tuesday Oyster Special (every Tuesday)
East Coast Oysters - $1 all evening
All oyster platters are served with champagne mignonette sauce, lemon and lime segments and cocktail sauce. Cheers!

Cavo - 42-18 31st Ave, Astoria, NY 11103
718.721.1001

R Train to Steinway or 46th Street

www.cavoastoria.com

Ovelia Turns it up for Queens Bloggers

Last week, Meg, Mackenzi and I hosted our bi-monthly Queens Blogger Social, and this one was in one of my favorite Modern Greek eateries, Ovelia.  I haven't been to Ovelia in a while, and therefore I was totally craving their food, including lamb, veggies and their sweets too.  

Putting on quite the feast for us, Ovelia provided a fabulous menu, tailored just to us, including shared appetizers, a personalized entree and once again, family-style dessert.  Here are some newbies I tried:

Salads - We started with two types of salads, including the village salad, which was Ovelia's take on the Greek salad, as well as the Prasini, with lettuce, dill, scallions, simply dressed with oil and vinegar.  I liked both, but preferred the latter, as it was super refreshing, and the dill added an earthy, clean - almost surprising - flavor.  It was extra delicious when paired with the triangular pieces of warmed, spiced pita, set at the table.

Grilled Kalamari - Even though this is a staple at Greek restaurants, I've never yet had it here, and it definitely delivered.  The squid was cooked perfectly and boasted a slightly charred exterior, which I loved.  I liked to see that the pieces were significantly sized, and once again, it was nice to couple this dish with the warm pita.  It even made for good leftovers the next day, which is a sign of good quality seafood.

Kontosouvli - This in my opinion was the piece-de-resistance - a slow roasted rotisserie pork, which looked and tasted as if it came right off the spit.  It was great to see that its texture was tender on the inside with a really juicy bite, while the outside was a tad crunchy and just like the kalamari, also slightly charred.  You can eat as much or as little as you wanted, since the meat was sliced into small cubes, which was good enough for a tasting or indulging in several bites.

Loukomades - A sweetly scrumptious finish to this meal came in the form of mini honeyed doughnuts with a fabulously light middle.  Besides being glazed with honey, the loukomades were topped with gooey nutella as well as vanilla ice cream.  Creating our own Greek Sunday if you will, you could also layer the chopped almonds on top, which were respectfully served on the side in the event of someone having a nut allergy.

Beer - In addition to all the food, we also indulged in a special tasting of Singlecut Beer from the new brewery, opening up next month.  Our friend and fellow We Heart Astoria contributor, Andrew brought in a few samples of it for everyone to try, which we thoroughly enjoyed.  I got to taste a bit of their lager as well as a darker beer that was almost like a stout.  I enjoyed the latter more, as it had a hearty (almost coffee) flavor that totally agrees with fall.  Looking forward to the day the brewery opens, I'm sure there will be lots more delicious brewskis to sample.

Service and Cost:
Not only was our server totally on point and really lovely, everyone else treated us with tons of hospitality and attention.  I really felt that we were taken care of very well, all our dishes coming out in good time and our every wish and need fulfilled - and then some.

Costs are moderate to inexpensive and the entire dinner I just mentioned set us back about $40 per person, including tax and tip.

Ovelia Psistaria - 34-01 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103
718.721.7217
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.ovelia-ny.com

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

Fun Dinner Special Tonight at Thymari

Image by Thymari

For those of you who stayed home this weekend, there's plenty to do.  Beside the U.S. Open, and the eats around it, which I'm totally addicted to, there's other things to munch on right in our neck of the woods.  I was excited to see this awesome special on dinner at modern Greek restaurant, Thymari.

Enjoy 20% off on all dinner entrees today all night long.  

This includes their lobster as well, which looks fabulous.  Other things I really enjoy here are their soutzoukakia (Greek meatballs), kolokythokeftedes (crispy zucchini fritters) and their variety of Greek spreads (aka Pikilia).

If you go, do let me know what you think of the lobster.

Thymari - 32-07 34th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.204.2880
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.thymari.com

Cavo's Fall Festivities

As fall rolls in, restaurants are changing things around, including adding new menus, changing their specials and offering new discounts.  This happens to be the case at Cavo, one of Astoria's high-end Greek restaurants, which I really like.  Although it's a little fancy schmancy, I think the quality of the food and the overall experience always delivers.  

Here's what you can expect this fall...

For starters, they've revamped their lounge and rumor has it that it's pretty snazzy.  I haven't taken a peek yet, but plan to soon.  Now for the actual deals, they include:

Tuesdays: 1/2 priced entrees, excluding specials.  This is a great deal, as the restaurant is moderate - expensively priced.

Wednesdays: You receive a free bottle of wine with the order of 2 entrees (one per table)

Thursdays: From 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. ladies enjoy $4 martinis, sangrias, and mojitos (honored both at the bar and at tables)

Sundays: 60 oz. pitcher of sangria for $20

Enjoy these specials and if you end up there over the weekend, stay awhile and dance the night away.  I've done it before, and it's always good fun. 

Cavo - 42-18 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.721.1001
R/M Train to Steinway Street
www.cavoastoria.com

Exciting Summer Specials at Cavo

It's been a while since I've visited the fancy schmancy Cavo, which I happen to like but I know some Astorians are bothered by.  All the pageantry aside, I truly enjoy the open space of this beautifully designed interior and the piece-de-resistance open garden, which is what Cavo is known for. 

Recently becoming aware of some fun summer specials they're featuring, I'm getting my hiney back in there, and pronto.

Here's what you can expect each week:

Tuesdays - 1/2 price on all entrees, excluding specials
Wednesdays - 50% of the manager's wine list
Thursdays - Ladies night with $4 martinis and sangrias
Sundays - Sangria Sundays with $20 pitchers

I especially like the Tuesday offering and plan to indulge soon.  Will you?

Cavo - 42-18 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.721.1001
R/M Train to Steinway Street
www.cavoastoria.com

Zenon Taverna - Brings Back and Creates New Wonderful Memories

It's been a while since Dan and I have eaten at one of our Astoria Greek food favorites, Zenon Taverna.  We finally went back last week after a successful afternoon at the first Queens Swap, and as ever, our experience at Zenon sealed the deal on what was a very enjoyable day.

Although we've tried a lot of items on their extensive menu, we went pretty standard and light that afternoon.  However, as simple and classic our selections were, they also tasted wonderful.  Here's what we enjoyed:

Chicken Souvlaki Platter - Given that Dan is still on his strict exercise and diet regime, he wanted to order something light and healthy and went with this grilled chicken kebob option.  Although a simple dish, it was really excellent, boasting juicy chicken cubes that were perfectly charred on the outside.  For me, dipping the chicken into the creamy, zesty tzatziki was the best part, and I was a little addicted to it after Dan gave me an initial taste.  The lemon potatoes that came as a side were also flavorful and light, stepping up the hearty aspect in this dish.

Zenon Pita - When I first read the description of this pita, I right away noticed that halloumi cheese was included - and based on that, I was immediately sold.  Adoring this firm, salty cheese that's great for grilling, I was excited to also see that it was paired with grilled pork loin, which I've already had (and loved) at Zenon.  The two were a nice combination indeed, stuffed in an oversized thin pita, which loosely hugged its contents.  Once again, the homemade tzatziki enhanced all the flavors on the inside of the pita and helped bring in a welcome element of freshness.

Dessert - As a surprise from our friend Constantina whose family owns Zenon, we received a generous piece of semolina cake, which was flavored with sweet syrup and rosewater.  Moist and decadent, the cake was a splurge, our favorite part being the sweet, floral aftertaste you got at the end of each bite.  We ended up taking most of it home, and I'd recommend eating it with a refreshing piece of melon or strawberries.

Service and Cost:
Even considering how busy and bustling the restaurant was on a Sunday, the service didn't suffer at all.  Our water glasses were always full, fresh pita and olive bread were at the table in minutes and our dishes arrived within good reason.  There's something to be said for the warm, family atmosphere, and regardless of your heritage, Zenon makes you feel at home.

Costs are affordable, especially given the generous portions.  The above meal, which I described set us back $38 including tax and tip.

3 Familiar Mmmms

Zenon Taverna - 34-10 31st Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106
718.956.0133
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.zenontaverna.com

Long Overdue Brunch at Ovelia

It's been quite a while since I've visited Ovelia, but I had the chance to finally go back last weekend.  What a pleasure - not being there for a bit made me realize why I love it so, and we of course went during their signature meal, brunch.

While I've had nearly everything on their brunch menu and was planning to get a staple dish, I spotted something new that piqued my curiosity.  Dan also got an omelette combo that was new to me.  Here's what we enjoyed:

Beet Omelette - Being the beet enthusiast that I am, I quickly zeroed-in on this item, as it not only boasted beets but also goat cheese. I was totally sold and ordered it on the spot. 

The result was something gorgeous for the eyes and the palate.  Visually, as you can see, the omelette had a pretty flush color from the beets and a wonderfully white creamy inside from the goat cheese filling.  Taste-wise, it almost had a souffle-like consistency and a very delicious, tangy inside from all that goat cheese.  I enjoyed the fresh dill and scallions on top, which added a hint of rustic earthiness. 

As a side, it also came with sweet "fruit fries" which consisted of sauteed apples, pears and bananas - such a better and healthier alternative to traditional home fries. I especially loved the soft bananas that were nicely caramelized on the outside.  And don't even get me started on the Ovelia homemade sausage - it was as decadent and smokey as I remember and the fact that I haven't had it in a long time really made me pine for it. I'm actually pining for it right now.

Ovelia Omelette - Dan ordered this healthier omelette option with egg whites.  He really enjoyed the veggie toppings of roasted eggplant, zucchini, green and red peppers, onions and...get this, walnuts.  The latter ingredient provided an element of surprise and a delightful crunch at the end of each bite.  I didn't taste it, but in Dan's words "the toppings had a nice glaze and overall, the omelette tasted nutritious and satisfying."

Service and Cost:
Our service started out slow, given that we were a bigger group, but then turned around (for the better) at the middle to end of our experience.  We received our food, coffee and morning cocktails in good time and we didn't at all feel rushed to leave.  Our waiter was friendly and conversational and it seemed like he genuinely wanted us to have a good experience.

Costs are very fair for the amount of food you get, as your brunch entree comes with bottomless coffee and your choice of a morning cocktail.  Dan and I paid about $40 with tax and tip included.

3 Nostalgic Mmmms

Ovelia Psistaria - 34-01 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103
718.721.7217
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.ovelia-ny.com

Aegean Cove - For Serious Greek Food Connoisseurs Only

Aegean Cove - 20-01 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11105
718.274.9800
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.aegeancove.com

Dan and I have been hearing nothing but great things about Aegean Cove for quite a while, but we never actually had the opportunity to trek over there and try it.  Our good friend Moses, who truly knows Greek food (he grew up in Greece after all) could not stop talking it up - until we actually mustered up willingness to go.  Wow - I am so, so glad that we did!

Atmosphere:
From first glance, you can clearly see that Aegean Cove is a fine dining establishment.  Its facade looks like a classic bistro and as soon as you walk in, you're welcomed by rich wooden furnishings, warm lighting, inviting tables for all sized parties and an extensive mahogany bar.

There are two dining rooms and an outdoor space, which make Aegean a diverse place to dine.  We ate in the cozy front-of-the-house room, which closely resembled a quaint brasserie with oversized mirrors, classic white lace curtains, sconce lighting and other charming touches.  Moses informed us that in the summer, they open up their amazing rooftop garden that's just wonderful for dining al fresco.

Food:
Consisting of classic Greek fare, which focuses on hot and cold meze, we ordered everything to share including the main dishes.  We tried to keep our choices somewhat light, as this was still just lunch.

Meze - We chose a good variety of meze including grilled halloumi cheese, seafood croquettes, fried calamari and grilled octopus.  Out of those, the octopus and the croquettes hands-down won me over.  The octopus looked gorgeous, dressed with capers, red peppers and onions.  Covered in a tangy red wine vinaigrette, it tasted fresh and zingy - a perfect pairing with the soft-as-butter octopus chunks.

The seafood croquettes were also excellent and more resembled Asian-style tempura battered fritters than Greek croquettes.  The flavors in this dish were amazing, consisting of a fresh cod and shrimp combo, battered in a light, fluffy coating.  A much coveted side of skordalia (cold mashed potatoes with garlic) provided a delicious dip, raising the flavor profile of the croquettes to the next level.

Entrees - Since Moses was set on trying the mousaka, we got an order of that and the soutzoukakia (Greek meatballs).  Both were excellent options and ones I'd get again in a heartbeat.  The mousaka was rich and comforting, layered with potatoes, eggplant and hearty ground beef, topped with a decadent bechamel sauce - sort of like a Greek lasagna if you will.  I've had this dish on other occasions at Ovelia and Zenon Taverna, and I can confidently say that Aegean's version was certainly up there in terms of flavor and quality.

I couldn't wait to try the soutzoukakia, especially since I most recently had Moses' mom's homemade version.  Even though the two were different, Aegean's packed a mean punch, with fragrant spices such as mint and oregano.  The meat itself was tender and juicy, transferring some of its sauce to the bed of creamy risotto. 

Service and Cost:
Since we were the only patrons in this restaurant on Sunday during lunchtime, service couldn't be better.  We had our server's undivided attention and Moses even buttered him up a bit by speaking Greek.  All dishes were brought out in good time and I liked the thoughtful respite before the entrees were brought out.

Costs are moderate but fair for the excellent quality:

Meze - $4 - $16
Salads - $7 - $9
Seafood - $16 - M/P
Meat & Poultry - $12 - $22
Greek Specialties - $10 - $18

3 Mmmms

Psitopolio Ta Vlahika - Another Taverna Another Good-Bye

Psitopolio Ta Vlahika also known as Athens Tavern and Anna's Corner way back in the day is on the outs.  I noticed this weekend that this not yet two year old Greek establishment has closed its doors. I'll continue to keep an eye on it and let you know what comes in its place and whether new management will take over.  Judging from its unstable history, this spot needs some good karma to get it out of its current rut.  Maybe a different cuisine other than Greek might help?

Let me know what you thought about this place and also what you'd like to see replace it.

Psitopolio Ta Vlahika - 31-01 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105 - CLOSED
718.545.4000
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)