If you're at home today and looking to get some leisurely brunch, fear not for Astoria has some fab options ready for you. Here are just three yummy places serving your favorite brunch and lunch dishes, but I bet you can find plenty more as soon as you're out and about. Let me know where you end up and what you enjoyed!
Sugarfreak - I'm displaying their Jambalaya and Eggs dish here, which was so hearty and a little bit on the spicy side, which I love. They're serving a traditional Southern brunch today starting from 11:00 a.m. so come on down and treat yourself to some wholesome, homemade food. 36-18 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.726.5850
LIC Market - Featuring a "bonus" brunch today in honor of MLK Day, it'll be available until about 3:30 p.m. Expect hearty dishes such as their famed "Bulls-eye Eggs," slow roasted duck hash, a "dirty rice" frittata, buttermilk pancakes with housemade berry jam and more. 21-52 44th Drive, LIC. 718.361.0013
Sweet Afton - Nothing like some good ol' fashioned bar food to start off the week - except this isn't any run-of-the-mill grub. Everything is prepared carefully and deliciously with top quality ingredients, like their classic Pat La Frieda, Sweet Afton burger, a melty skillet mac 'n cheese, and of course their hand-cut fried McLure's pickles. They open at 1 p.m. today. 30-09 34th Street, Astoria. 718.777.2570
My We Heart Astoria colleagues, Meg, Mackenzi and I recently met for brunch at Sugarfreak to discuss some We Heart Astoria business. The meeting was not only incredibly productive, we really enjoyed munching on some hearty, comforting grub. It's been a while since any of us have been there, and as it happens, brunch here was new to us all. Here's what we tried:
Hush Puppies - I was so glad when Mackenzi suggested we get this, as I can't exactly turn down fried corn bread. Surprised by how giant Sugarfreak's version was, I enjoyed them nonetheless. The outside was crispy as can be, albeit a little oily, while the inside was tender, moist and bready. Dipping these babies into the spicy remoulade sauce totally hit the spot and made this very New Orleans.
Charbroiled Oysters - Even though I just had oysters the day before at the North Fork Wineries, I was happy to try this version, which was totally different. Boasting some really generous pieces, their Blue Point oysters on the halfshell had a nice golden color and a really meaty interior. It felt great to scoop up the meat of the oyster and eat it alongside little pieces of crispy, buttery bread.
Jambalaya and Eggs - Since I loove me some jambalaya, this had my name all over it. There were two fried eggs on top of the actual jambalaya, and I'm happy to report that they had perfectly runny yolks that you can spread over the spicy rice interior. Although I had the jambalaya here before, I totally forgot how awesome it was, peppered with chunky pieces of andouille sausage and even some seafood action. The whole thing was incredibly hearty and something that can tide you over for well half the day - hands down.
Dessert - Although we were so incredibly full, we couldn't refuse a generous offer of a dessert trio, including a butterscotch rice pudding topped with popcorn, a classic order of begneits, and also their bourbon bread pudding. Out of those, the rice pudding was my absolute favorite. Loving the juxtaposition in texture between the crunchy popcorn and the soft, silky pudding, the flavors were also totally in sync. The homemade whipped cream was the cherry on this proverbial cake, and I just couldn't get enough of the whole combination.
Service and Cost:
We received great service here, as everyone was super attentive, even during the peak of brunch. Our waters were refilled without even one look at our waiter, and dirty plates cleaned before we could lick our chops.
Costs are reasonable and include:
Brunch entrees - $13 - $14.50
Starters - $7-12
Sides - $4-$7.50
3 Mmmms
Sugarfreak - 36-18 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.726.5850
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.sugarfreak.com
Thought this would be a fun way to start the weekend... Sugarfreak is offering a mighty sweet brunch special on both Saturday and Sunday, and here's the scoop:
Add $10 to any brunch entree and receive unlimited Mimosas or Bloody Marys
Brunch starts from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and includes homestyle Cajun dishes such as:
Yaka Mein - Creole beef noodle soup with scallions and a boiled egg
Shrimp and Grits - with Creole sauce served over hot buttery grits
Bananas Foster French Toast - Topped with bananas, served with bacon or sausage
Cajun Eggs Benedict - with buttermilk biscuits topped with tasso ham, poached eggs and Cajun Hollandaise, served with Sugarfreak home fries
Pork Debris and Eggs - Hearty pork and andouille sausage gravy served over your choice of 2 fried or poached eggs with buttermilk biscuits
Louisiana Breakfast - Two eggs any style served with your choice of bacon or sausage, grits or home fries and a biscuit
Sugarfreak Breakfast Po-Boy - Louisiana French bread with Jimmy Dean sausage patties, fried eggs, American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and tabasco mayo
Sugarfreak - 36-18 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.726.5850
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.sugarfreak.com
718.726.5850
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.sugarfreak.com
After about a month of being open and after all the hoopla, I absolutely wanted to experience the wonders of Sugarfreak. Welcoming a new cuisine to Astoria with its NOLA Cajun style menu, Sugarfreak absolutely offers something different and unexpected in a neighborhood where great Greek and Italian food speak loud and clear.
I embarked on this food adventure with fellow comrades, Kimberly and Jonathan, who were more than looking forward to exploring this new-found gem. Having some experience with cajun cuisine (especially Kimberly), I knew that they'd only accept the best. The stakes were high...
Atmosphere:
I was a little surprised to find the restaurant completely packed on a Saturday night, with a 40 minute wait. True that this shouldn't be a complete shocker, but given that it's a new place with not much of a reputation, I wasn't expecting it. It was all good though, as the wait gave me some time to absorb the colorful surroundings and to enjoy the nice bar area.
The first thing that came to mind when I took in my scenery is how vibrant and fun everything was. From the mismatched wallpaper and exposed brick walls, the milk bottle light fixtures, to the antique hutch and the comfy seating with movable pillow cushions, my senses were on overdrive. Overdrive in a good way though, as all the little details made me smile and appreciate the effort that was put into this place. I was happy to see the space really transformed into something homey with the most endearing country flair.
Food:
We were all in the mood for something comforting and couldn't wait to try and share a lot of different items. After some deliberation, we chose the following and proceeded to stuff ourselves silly:
Boudin Balls - How could we come to a cajun restaurant and not have these? We simply couldn't. Even though there was a crawfish version, we went straight for the pork and consumed it like candy. The balls were crunchy on the outside and soft and meaty on the inside (hey...don't get any ideas!). I appreciated the moist quality of the meat but would've liked the flavors to be a little more aggressive in terms of spice.
Muffaletta - Another typical dish, associated with New Orleans cuisine, Kimberly especially wanted to try it. If you're familiar with a muffaletta sandwich, you'll know it's served on a large, round roll covered with sesame seeds and stuffed with plenty of cold cuts, cheeses and olive tapenade. Enjoying Sugarfreak's version, we loved biting into the still warm, crusty bread and the thoughtfully arranged meats, cheeses and the slightly bitter green olive tapenade that sandwiched the guts of the sandwich from both ends. Overall, a great sandwich and if we wouldn't have split it, I simply wouldn't have room for anything else.
Jambalaya - A great dish for sharing, Kimberly and I both nibbled on the jambalaya and loved its deeply set flavors. The New Orleans version of risotto so to speak, this jambalaya (like any typical version) included short grain rice, the holy trinity as the locals call it (onions, celery and bell peppers), andouille sausage, fresh herbs and lots of spices. The overall flavors in the dish tasted like home and were deeply comforting, which I think is just what they were going for.
Broiled Shrimp and Mac n' Cheese - As if we didn't already order enough, we also tried their broiled jumbo shrimp entree with creamy Velveeta mac n' cheese. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and contained great flavors from Cajun spices, but what I should really be highlighting here is the mac. I loved it when the Sugarfreak staff came by and boasted about the use of this cheese. Naturally a taboo in food circles, I loved how Sugarfreak embraced the beauty of this pedestrian ingredient and called a spade a spade. The result was a soft, velvety and delectable version that brought you back to your childhood, when you ate your mac n' cheese from a bowl, accompanied by a tall glass of milk.
Chicken Po' Boy - Jonathan ordered this grilled chicken sandwich, which he seemed to enjoy. Paired with nice looking French fries and served on a fresh baguette, he had no complaints and polished off nearly the whole thing. I didn't try it, but took his clean plate as proof that it was good.
Chocolate Caramel Pie - As if we didn't eat enough, we were offered a complimentary pie, with a deep, dark chocolate filling, peanuts and caramel, topped with crunchy pie crust. The presentation was just gorgeous, served in a cute little mason jar. Even though I was full, I took several hefty spoonfulls and enjoyed pairing the buttery crust with the gooey chocolate middle. If this is what NOLA tastes like, please take me there.
Watermelon Punch - Prior to our meal, as mentioned, we hung out at the bar, ate some complimentary peanuts and indulged in cocktails. I loved sipping on my watermelon punch, which included a mixture of fresh watermelon juice, gin and some citrus. It was wonderfully refreshing and not too strong, as I like my drinks.
Service and Cost:
While the service was friendly and accommodating, I couldn't help but notice the lag time in between courses. My friends noticed too, (no doubt amplified by our hunger), but overall the wait wasn't a deal breaker, just something to take note of. All the staff were gracious and hospitable, and we appreciated their two cents about each dish and the unique ingredients found in each item. It seemed that the staff were invested in this place and it showed.
Costs are very wallet friendly, especially given the generous portions. For the incredible amount of food I just described, we each paid $22 including tax and tip. What a steal!
3 Mmmms
