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

5 Napkin Burger Daily Drinks Specials

I was intrigued to see the latest and greatest at 5 Napkin Burger in terms of their drinks offering, as they rolled out their daily drinks specials this week.  It's nice to see that the offering is pretty varied and includes everything from craft beer, wine and cocktails.  Check out these fun specials and let me know which ones you like best.

Sunday - Craft Beer Night
Select bottled craft beers $5 each or 5 for $20

Monday - Martini Madness
$6 specialty martinis (i.e. Great Escape Martini, Cucumber Gin Martini, Luau Martini)

Tuesday - Flight Night
$12 flights of any 4 draft beers

Wednesday - Wine & Well Night
$5 glasses of wine, $20 bottles of wine, $5 well drinks
Includes Pinot Grigio, Mandra Rossa, Sicily, Italy 2010 $5 / $20
Riesling, Relax, Mosel, Germany 2011 $5 / $20
Sauvignon Blanc, The Infamous Goose, Marlborough, New Zealand 2011 $5 / $20
Chardonnay, Penfolds, Rawson’s Retreat, South Australia 2010 $5 / $20
Super Tuscan, Frescobaldi Remole, Toscana, Italy 2010 $5/ $20
Shiraz, Bergkelder Fleur du Cap, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2010 $5/ $20
Malbec, Don Miquel Gascon, Mendoza, Argentina 2010 $5/ $20
Pinot Noir, Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo, California 2010 $5/ $20
Well gin, vodka, tequila, rum

Thursday - Pint night

5 Napkin Burger - 35-01 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11106
 718.433.2727
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue
5napkinburger.com

Cinco de Mayo at Studio Square

With Cinco de Mayo fast approaching, and this year it being on a Saturday, everyone is surely looking for ways to celebrate.  There's going to be a lot of awesomeness in the nabe focused around this joyous holiday, and I was happy to see that Studio Square is going to be hosting a big shin-dig, in their customary fashion.  Here are the deets, and I hope you make it out that day!

Studio Square Cinco de Mayo Celebration - starts at noon

Featuring:
A bonnet/sombrero contest (get creative Astorians!)
Mint julep and margarita specials all day
Door prizes & giveaways
A live DJ all day and night

Let's hope the weather cooperates, as this could be a great venue to spend the entire day at.  Just bring a bunch of friends, some portable drinking games and let the fiesta begin.

Studio Square - 35-33 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106
718.383.1001
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue or R/M Train to Steinway Street
studiosquarenyc.com

5 Napkin's Hornitos Bowl Starts Wednesday

I was excited to learn that 5 Napkin Burger is stepping it up for this year's Superbowl and doing something totally different by creating their very own Hornitos Bowl.  Happening at all their locations, not just in Astoria, the Hornitos Bowl  is a fun way to participate in healthy team rivalry by placing some fancy cocktails into the mix.  Here's how it works:

5 Napkin will be rolling out two themed cocktails, the Deja Blue in honor the G-Men and The Redemption for the Patriots.  Each drink will be served starting from tomorrow all the way through Superbowl Sunday.  Based on which cocktail gets ordered most (eh hem...G-Men?!), a winner will be announced on Monday in its full glory.  Will the Hornitos bowl reflect the outcome of the big game? Let's all hope so.

Here's the scoop about these drinks:

Deja Blue (New York Giants) - $10

2 oz  Hornitos Plata
1/4 oz Blue Curaçao
1 oz  fresh lime
1 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz fresh lemon
1/2 oz fresh OJ
4 ea cucumber wheel
3 ea jalapeño wheel

The Redemption (New England Patriots) - $10 
2 1/2 oz Hornitos Plata
3/4 oz triple sec
1 oz strawberry purée
1 oz lime juice
1/2 oz lemon juice
1/2 simple syrup

5 Napkin Burger - 35-01 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11106
718.433.2727
N/Q Train to Steinway Street, R/V/G Train to Steinway Street www.5napkinburger.com

Bistro 33's Winter Beach Party

Here's something fun and a little kooky to look forward to next week from the folks at Bistro 33.  I like that they often think of fun food events to shake things up, and I was surprised and also a little intrigued to find out about a winter beach party and clambake they're hosting next week.  Sounds like they want to shake things up and add a little whimsy to brighten up the winter blues.  Here's the special you can expect:

Wednesday, January 25th, starting at 5 p.m.

Lobster & Clambake
$5 Margaritas and other drinks special

They encourage people to dress up in the spirit of the clambake and they'll even provide beach balls, shades and hats.  It's going to be a sight to see...that much I can guarantee.

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105
718.721.1933
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.bistro33nyc.com 

January Specials at Studio Square

As I was telling you last week, there's lots of fun specials happening this month at not only our local restaurants but some of Astoria's best watering holes.  I was totally psyched to see that Studio Square is hosting something fun and affordable each night of the week.  Here goes...

Football Sunday + Monday - In game specials include 25 cent wings, $15 beer pitchers, $5 mixed drinks and $3 shot specials

Tuesday - Rock 'n Roll and Beer night from 7 p.m. - Midnight

Wednesday - Open Mic Night with 2-for-1 drinks from 7 - 9 p.m.

Thursday - Ladies Night, $1 mixed drinks for ladies all night

Bring your friends along, and enjoy!

Studio Square - 35-33 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106
718.383.1001
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue or R/M Train to Steinway Street
studiosquarenyc.com

Bear - Starting the New Year with Yummy Specials

As we fall into the New Year, restaurants are starting to roll out brand new specials to get us excited about trying new things, and to motivate us to get out of the house.  Bear is a good example of this, as they've introduced lots of enticing daily specials that have certainly piqued my interest.  I wanted to share them with you here, and I hope you get out to enjoy some of them.

Tuesday - $5 specials at the bar
$5 wine, $5 mussels & fries, $5 cocktails

Wednesday - Whiskey and vodka flight from 6 p.m. - Midnight
5 shots of vodka or whiskey with a complimentary snack platter

Thursday - Wine flight from 6 p.m. - Midnight
Choose any 5 glasses of wine, with a complimentary snack platter (vegan option available)

Friday - Cocktails Happy Hour from 6 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Specials on classic and signature Bear cocktails

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

DiWine Halloween Debauchery

Image by DiWine

You may have noticed I’ve been MIA last week, and that’s because Dan and I took a much needed vacation break in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. I’ll have plenty of delicious things to report on that, but before we get to exotic eats, I want to highlight a fun happ in our neck of the woods.

With Halloween right around the corner, Astoria and LIC haunts will no-doubt bring the fun and debauchery to the next level. I’ll be doing my usual round-up of various local events, but wanted to give you a heads-up of one particular offering I was just informed about.

The event comes from friends at DiWine, as they will be throwing a Disco party on Saturday the 29th, no doubt the night to celebrate this spooky holiday. Here are the deets:

DiWine’s Disco Isn’t Dead Halloween Shin-Dig
Saturday, October 29th from 10 p.m. – end of the night

Luckily, there is no cover and you’ll also be able to enjoy drinks discounts. There may be more fun stuff coming down the pike, and I’ll keep you posted as DiWine updates their Twitter feed.

$6 Halloween drinks specials
$5 Six Point Pints

And don’t forget to come in your best costume!

DiWine – 41-15 31st Avenue, Astoria NY
718.777.1355
R/V/G Train to Steinway Street
www.diwineonline.com

Astoria Cinco de Mayo Mini Round-Up

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone.  What a fun excuse to go out and enjoy festive drinks, food and time with friends.  Astoria and LIC promises to be bumpin' tomorrow, and here's my mini round-up of cool happs you can partake in.

MexiQ - Festivities will start as soon as they open their doors at 5 p.m. with dedicated food specials (i.e. seafood and short rib empanadas), $5 Mexican beer on tap and a live Mariachi band that will make an appearance later in the night.  37-11 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.626.0333

Mojave - This Southwestern eatery always has something fun and boisterous going on for Cinco.  This year, it'll be a special drinks promotion from Herradura and  Tiki tequila.  Shots incorporating both tequila brands will be complimentary, and there will also be a live band later on in the night to enjoy.  22-36 31st Street Astoria NY 11105.  718.545.4100

El Ay Si - Kicking it off at 8 p.m., El Ay Si's Cinco party will include enticing drinks specials, new menu items as well as lively entertainment.  Featuring guest DJ Monk One, you'll be able to groove to some hip Latin beats from Cuban Sol to Cali Salsa, Nuyorican Boogaloo and more.  The party will last all night, so you don't have to worry about showing up early.  47-38 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City NY 11101.  718.389.8781

Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden - Even though it's far from a Latin establishment, the Beer Garden will be celebrating full-force with a special Mexican menu.  Instead of the typical dumplings, potato pancakes and pierogies, you can get $5 burritos, $2 tacos and $20 buckets of Corona and Corona Light.  29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102.  718.274.4925

Pachanga Patterson - The newest Mexican eatery in town will be doing something really special tomorrow. Get this...from 7 - 8 p.m. they'll have free drinks. Yep...FREE (I was astounded too).  You can also order 2 new tacos that they're adding to the menu especially for tomorrow.  Ole!  33-17 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 718.554.0525