The Strand – Still Smoky and Delightful

A few weeks back, Dan and I attended a fun shin-dig at The Strand in honor of their big one year anniversary.  It’s hard to believe this place has only been open for a year, as it seems to already be such a staple in the community.  Its popularity doesn’t come without a price, as The Strand is known to be controversial in the nabe for its “merrymaking,” shall was say.  All’s well that ends well, I think, as The Strand seems to enjoy a loyal following, serving some yummy eats at their party.  Here were some of our foodie faves:    

Pulled Pork – Saucy and delicious, the pulled pork totally delivered with some chunks of nicely marbled meat.  I loved how juicy it was, and you didn’t even need a side or a piece of bread with it.  Since I haven’t been here in quite a while, it was nice to observe the improvements they’ve made with their sauces.

Brisket – Dan and I enjoyed this generously marbled meat, which had a lovely char on the outside, but was also very moist on the inside.  The meat fell apart easily and just like the pork, didn’t need much sauce as an accompaniment – we had the smoky baked beans for that.

Baked Beans – Really a meal on its own, the baked beans came in a bowl of hearty goodness.  Marbled with a few chunky pieces of beef, this tasty concoction reminded me a lot of a wintery stew.  On a rainy, cold night such as the one we experienced, it was the perfect thing.

Chicharron (aka fried pork belly) – Saving the best for last, Dan and I marveled at the genius of these little porky bites.  The texture was impeccable, as it was a little crunchy on the outside but chewy on the inside.  The flavor combined everything delectable including sweet, salty, smoky, and a little spicy too.  Umami was definitely reached here – oh, most definitely.

Service:
Since this was one big party, everyone was cheerful and hospitable, and we enjoyed good service at the counter as well as when seated.  Even though it was super crowded, we scored good seats, as everyone was happy to share a common space, and rejoice together for this festive occasion.

Happy Birthday Strand – here’s to many more!

The Strand Smokehouse - 25-27 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106
718.440.3231
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.thestrandsmokehouse.com

The Strand Smokehouse Throws it Down

On our way back from a friend's visit last night, Dan and I were still a bit hungry and decided to check out the new The Strand Smokehouse.  There's been a lot of local chatter about this place, with some mixed reviews, so I naturally wanted to experience it for myself.

I'm happy to report that from the minute we walked in to after we polished off our grub and drinks, it was nothing but down home goodness.

Atmosphere:
Described in their own words as "urban honkey tonk," the decor is an appropriate cross between modern and country, with lots of wooden picnic tables, high industrial ceilings, and country and bluegrass music piping through the speakers.

There's a large bar to your immediate left, which houses whiskey in barrels, and 16 locally brewed beers, which are said to change seasonally.  If you keep walking towards the back of the space, you'll find their food counter, which is just so approachable and easy.  All you gotta do is choose your meats and sides from the daily chalkboard menu and voila...you get your hot grub within a matter of seconds.  I just loved this approach, as you don't have to wait around as in a traditional restaurant, achieving instant gratification.

Due to all the picnic tables, the Strand feels very much like a beer garden, which is just a great indoor refuge during cold winter months.  The communal atmosphere is very conducive to being social, and I encourage you to bring a group of friends with you.

Food:
Dan and I hit the food counter and placed our order soon after, choosing a healthy mix of meats and sides.  As we got to The Strand on the later side, some of their daily options were already sold out, but despite that we still felt we got a good representation of their offering.

Meats - We couldn't not get the baby back ribs, so we went for a half rack and also a half pound of roast beef.  I enjoyed the latter a lot more than the ribs, which looked great, but were a tad dry and really needed a helping of Strand's signature Carolina-style BBQ sauce to spruce it up.  The roast beef however, was tender and juicy, and while it still benefited from the bbq sauce and the variety of dry rubs available, it didn't need much to stand out.

Sides - Choosing two really earthy sides of beets and baked beans, we were extremely happy with our decision.  The beets especially were perfectly executed with a slightly sweet-tangy finish that cut the richness in the meats.  Even though it didn't need much, I had fun putting the dry rubs on top, adding even more complexity and sophistication.

The beans, served at a perfect temperature really shined with their garlicky, starchy broth that made you think of home.  It was great to see a mix of white and red beans, which made this sometimes very simple dish a lot more interesting.

Service and Cost:
As I already mentioned, our food was ordered ahead of time, cafeteria style, which we loved. Not having to wait at all, as with traditional table service, it allowed for a quick casual meal, which is nicely enjoyed with just one person but even better I presume with a group. 

Costs are moderate but definitely don't break the bank.  Our meal and drinks set us back about $40 total.

3 Mmmms

The Strand Smokehouse - 25-27 Broadway, Astoria 11106
N/Q Train to Broadway