It was so wonderfully exciting to find out last summer that the legendary, West Village Corner Bistro was sharing the wealth of their bodacious burgers with Queens. LIC to be exact, and with its prime location on Vernon Blvd, I knew they wouldn't have a hard time getting noticed.
Last week was the first time that I tried it, and it sure didn't disappoint. Even though it's simple as can be, that's the beauty in it, as they've really perfected their craft, which is the all-American burger.
Atmosphere:
A good old stand-by pub is how I'd describe Corner Bistro. Even though it's still kind of new, it feels lived in and familiar. The staff is friendly and treats you like a regular. I loved that it's perfectly acceptable to come by, take a seat at the bar and just relax with a good book, or watch the latest sports program they have on. No judgments, just good good old fashioned hospitality that never goes out of style. Even though I haven't dined at the original location in the West Village, I did have the opportunity to peek in, and the location in LIC mirrors it pretty closely.
Food:
Having a clear, unflinching mission before I got here - to try their classic Bistro Burger - that's exactly what I got. As it arrived in front of me, in it's full bacon and cheese glory, the bartender gave me a little preamble, letting me know that I would definitely enjoy this. His confidence was deliberate but not without reason, as the burger clearly delivered what it promised. Simple, uncompromising goodness.
Bistro Burger - As you can see from the above, this classic burger came with all the works - melted cheese, curly bacon, pickles, tomatoes and lettuce. The burger patty itself was really tasty and cooked to a perfect medium. I loved that it was juicy and clean tasting, nothing too greasy or over-embellished with spices. The squishy potato bun was simple too but just the right thing to sandwich this baby with, as it hugged its contents dutifully and held up to everything inside. I was asked if I wanted a side of fries with that, and I have to say that I'm glad I declined, as the burger did a great job of satiating me.
Service and Cost:
As I already described, the service was refreshingly familiar and friendly. I loved that the bartender made conversation with me, and offered me a newspaper to read. After he saw I occupied myself with some reading, he made sure to stay attentive but also gave me time to myself.
Costs are pretty affordable, setting me back only $14 for a pint and a burger, including tax and tip.
3 Mmmms
Corner Bistro - 47-18 Vernon Blvd, LIC NY 11101
718.606.6500
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue
In a neighborhood where things change more often than not, I really like to pay homage to establishments that have "made it." Tournesol, the quaint French bistro, located in the heart of LIC's own Restaurant Row (aka Vernon Blvd) has certainly reached one of those milestones. They're turning ten this month, and I couldn't be happier. As many of you can attest, this restaurant has been consistently producing some pretty solid French bistro fare, and is the go-to place for something comforting, sophisticated yet unpretentious when it comes to French food.
Celebrating their 10th in style, they're featuring a special menu to ring in just that from March 26 - 29 from 5:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Tournesol 10 Year Anniversary Menu - $20.02/person
Choice of
Lobster bisque
Pan seared foie gras
Endive salad with blue cheese and walnuts
Sea food gratin
And choice of
Lamb shank with confit veggies
White bean ragout of hake
Coq au vin de gaillac
Pan seared skate with fingerling potatoes
And choice of
Tart of the day
Chocolate mousse
Crème brulee
Tournesol - 50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101
718.472.4355
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave
www.tournesolnyc.com
Tournesol, we were glad to see, hasn't lost its touch. On the contrary, it seemed to be as on-point as ever, proven by an almost full restaurant on a random Wednesday night. Here's what we ordered:
Soup of the Day (Carrot soup with leeks) - I'm a sucker for carrot soup because to me, it just says comfort. Our waiter described this one as also containing leeks, which completely excited both Meg and me. As you can see from the above shot, the soup had a gorgeous pale orange color and its taste was lovely and mild. The leeks were a nice addition, adding more texture and a gentle onion flavor. They made the soup heartier and unexpected - it could've been a meal in itself.
Mussels with Frites - Loving the simple basics when it comes to French food, I eyed the mussels marinieres, which are just traditional mussels cooked in white wine, garlic and fresh parsley. They were served with frites of course, which were just perfect for dipping into this timeless sauce. The mussels themselves were plentiful and of good quality - I only had one unopened one, which I of course left alone, but all the others were big and meaty.
Braised Lamb Shank - Meg ordered this decadent entree, which was quite impressive in presentation. The meat rested on a bed of cous-cous and was further dressed with roasted veggies as well as crunchy veggie chips on top. I had a bite of the meat and it was really tasty - tender, succulent and absolutely falling off of the bone, as it should.
Dessert - We each got a dessert, which came with our prix-fixe deal. I got the tarte tatin (an upside down apple tart) and Meg chose the Marquise au Chocolate, which consisted of dark and white chocolate mousse. Both were excellent options and I enjoyed the light, homemade flavor of the buttery tarte tatin crust. The plump apple on top of the crust was a pleasure to bite into, gentle in taste but just sweet enough to satisfy a dessert craving.
Meg's dessert was more decadent, and really amazing. My favorite aspect about it was the fresh raspberry sauce that the mousse floated on. Pairing the creamy, rich chocolate with this slightly tangy sauce made my tastebuds do the happy dance.
Service and Cost:
We were impressed with the professional service, and as I mentioned in an earlier review, the waitstaff is actually French. They had the pacing part of service down pat and we liked that they let us chat as long as we felt like at the end of our meal. Not unlike in a bistro in France, it felt relaxed, casual and delivered on quality.
Prices were moderate and for a 3-course prix-fixe we paid $25 - together with wine, tax and tip, our total was about $43 each. Not cheap but so worth the amazingness I just described.
3 Mmmms
Tournesol - 50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101
718.472.4355
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave
www.tournesolnyc.com
