Walking around Ditmars the other week, indulging in some retail therapy got me pretty hungry. I do love me a good sandwich, and have been meaning to stop in at The Sandwich Bar for quite a while. Noticing that they had a nice lunch special for just $7.50 got me excited, so I decided to stay and try it out.
Atmosphere:
Casual and rustic, The Sandwich Bar offers up a laid back atmosphere where you can stop in for a quick bite or enjoy a more leisurely meal. When I walked in, I noticed diners of all kinds, including folks who were solo and buried in a good book or small parties of friends or couples.
The space boasts beautiful, full length windows on all sides and therefore provides tons of natural light. Even though the day I went in was quite mild in temperature, I imagine the sunlight being a nice perk on a sub-polar day like today. Plus the light made it easy for me to take my foodie pics, which is always a plus for us bloggers.
Food:
With nearly 30 different sandwich options on the menu, deciding on my front runner sandwich was no easy feat. I liked how they help you narrow it down though, organizing the sandwiches by categories such as "cold," "hot," and "pressed." I went with the latter and wasn't sorry.
Braised Brisket Grilled Cheese Sandwich - After much deliberation, I consulted my waitress for her opinion and she had great things to say about this sandwich. I love me a good brisket (and who doesn't love grilled cheese?!) so this was an easy sell for me.
Surprised by how large it was, it came with two generous sandwich halves as well as a salad. Technically, the lunch deal was supposed to be a half sandwich/salad (or fries) combo, but my portion seemed extremely generous. The bread was a crusty, delicious sourdough, which withstood the the press treatment well and held its own next to the tender brisket meat. Loving the sharp cheddar cheese, which made its way through not only the middle but also the top of the sandwich, it created that savory indulgence that made a lasting impression.
Service and Cost:
Very happy with the level of attention I received from the staff, they are both attentive and unobtrusive. I liked that my waitress had a clear opinion about her favorite sandwich, given the bevy of choices, and her recommendation didn't steer me wrong.
The lunch deal I just described was fabulous, setting me back just $10 for a hefty meal, including tax and tip. Most sandwiches range between $8.50 - $9.
3 Mmmms
The Sandwich Bar - 33-01 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105
718.777.1078
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
thesandwichbarny.com
It's been a while since I've enjoyed yakitori-style dining, so when my We Heart Astoria colleagues, Meg, Mackenzi and I were asked to check out Honoo Grill & Noodle, I jumped at the chance. And while I do love me some sushi, I was excited to try something different as far as Japanese food is concerned - more specifically, something that reminded me of my not so distant trip to Japan.
Atmosphere:
Situated in a great location on Ditmars Blvd and 33rd Street, Honoo is subway friendly and receives great foot traffic, as it's in a bustling, commercial area. Hinomaru Ramen, no doubt a competitor is just a few doors down, and even though it also serves up Japanese cuisine, its feel is totally different.
The dining room at Honoo is long and narrow and the decor is very much focused on two colors - black and red. Together, it creates a soothing, sleek vibe and while it feels ultra modern, it's still comfortable and inviting. We sat at a nice four top with comfy booth seating, which aside from servicing groups of friends, can be a great place to sit when on a double date. I noticed the music that piped in through the speakers during the evening, and it was all modern pop, which I happen to dig. If you're an alternative head, beware - in case you'd find it annoying.
Food:
It was fun to share everything, including the apps and the yakitori. Since we had a veggie in our group, we mixed up our skewers between veggie and meat, which was fun. Even though I'm far from a vegetarian, I often enjoy veggie cuisine even more than meat, at times.
Veggie Spring Rolls - A classic way to start an Asian dinner, we chose these simple spring rolls, which were pretty satisfying. The interior boasted all the usual delicious suspects such as cabbage, carrots, bamboo shoots, etc and a nicely crisp, golden shell. They went down easily and we loved dipping them into the sweet chili sauce, served on the side as a condiment.
Beef Tacos - Mmmm...the minute I heard tacos, I was excited to find out what these would be like. I appreciated the mix of Latin American inspiration with Asian flavors, as the tacos were made of fried wonton shells. The execution was inventive, and I also loved the sweet/tangy flavor of the beef that was further glazed with a semi-sweet sauce and topped with sharp jalapenos and lemony scallions.
Yakitori - This was the most fun part of the meal, as we got to choose what felt like an infinite amount of skewers. We chose two meats, including the spicy cumin lamb and the beef short ribs. Out of those, the former appealed to me more, as it was juicy and flavorful, with the deep flavors of cumin that added a warmth and comfort that felt appropriate on a chilly winter night.
The veggie skewers including the Japanese eggplant and the shiitake mushrooms were really awesome, boasting a lot of flavor that didn't even need to be enhanced with sauce. While I enjoyed these very much, they didn't fill me up and for a complete veggie meal, I'd probably have to order another 1-2 skewer plates to satisfy my hunger.
Service and Cost:
The staff at Honoo treated us really well, where they were generous and accommodating but not pushy. Sometimes I felt that they respected our space a little too much, and I would've been happy with our plates being cleared a bit sooner. While they are still very new and ironing kinks out, I believe this will improve over time.
Costs are extremely wallet-friendly and include:
Small Eats & Apps - $2-$8
Skewers - $1-$7
Noodles - $8-$12
Entrees - $14-$20
Dessert - $6
2.5 Mmmms
Honoo Grill & Noodle - 33-06 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105
718.606.0653
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd
I passed by the good ol' standy Sakura sushi the other day and noticed their enticing lunch special. With Watawa still under expansion, I imagine that Sakura has been capitalizing on that and capturing some new business. Although it's pretty under the radar, the food is always fresh and tasty and the prices are quite competitive. If you haven't yet tried them, their lunch special presents a good opportunity. Let me try to entice you...
Sakura Sushi Lunch Special - Weekdays from 11:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Served with soup and salad
Any 2 rolls...$7
Any 3 rolls...$10
Sushi lunch...$10.50
Sashimi lunch...$12.50
Sizzling Teriyaki...$7.50
Bento box (with shumai, California roll and rice)...$9.50
Sakura Japanese Cuisine - 35-15 Ditmars
Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105
718.777.2188
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last
stop)
