It's no secret that donuts are one of my favorite foods, which is why it's sad that there's a shortage of places to find them in Queens. That's why you can probably imagine my excitement when I spotted Alpha Donuts the other night, while at the Taste of Sunnyside.
Atmosphere:
Described as a "hole in the wall" on Yelp, I'd totally agree with this assessment, but I also think it's charming, and nostalgic. Completely old fashioned and simple, what you see is what you get at Alpha, including a classic donut offering in front of the house and a little diner-type restaurant in the back. My friend Emily and I noticed a few people sitting in the back, relaxing and enjoying some greasy spoon style of food.
An older gentleman serves up the donuts and he seemed to be the proprietor of the place. Overall, the vibe was totally no frills yet still comforting and dependable - a total blast from the past.
Donuts:
Emily and I both got a donut and went with pretty traditional choices. I went for the dark toasted coconut, while Emily chose a classic chocolate glazed donut. While the latter wasn't overly impressive and was on the dry side, my donut was fluffy, light and boasted a generous amount of sugar frosting with toasted coconut stuck along the sides. It was anything but fancy, but executed well, especially when it came to texture. I can see myself having one of these at breakfast and not feeling weighed down. Yum!
Service and Cost:
As I already mentioned, Alpha seems to be a one man show and that man knows what he's doing. While he won't wear a smile while he's doing it, you can tell he has years of experience and deep donut knowledge that trumps us all.
Costs are super cheap and in the crazy Cronut world we live in a $1 for a donut is a complete steal. Score!
2 Mmmms
Alpha Donuts - 45-16 Queens Blvd, Sunnyside NY 11104
7 Train to 46th Street
Ever since I've found out about Venturo, the newest outpost from the guys that run Vesta and Pachanga Patterson, I knew I wanted to check it out. Promising a cozy, comfort food experience in an intimate setting in Sunnyside, I didn't need to hear more to know I wanted to experience it. My brother Peter and I headed there on Saturday and totally dug it - from the friendly vibe to the down-home delectable food.
Atmosphere:
Located in a prime location on Queens Blvd, near 44th Street, Venturo is easy to find and it's also subway accessible. Surrounded by a few disparate establishments such as a pet store, an Irish pub, not far from the old Meat Boutique (now closed), Venturo really stands on its own, as it's the only one of its kind in the neighborhood.
Once you walk in, you feel not unlike you do at Vesta or Pachanga Patterson. The space is small and intimate, but it has a certain buzz and charm. On a Saturday evening, it was packed to the gills, and I was glad I had the foresight to make a reservation. There's a small bar in the center of the dining room, which is similar to the setup at Vesta. I appreciate the varied clientele, from young professionals, families, singles ready to mingle and the like.
Food:
Given that the menu is quite simple and short, it's not difficult to make a decision. Since I was limited by my gluten free diet this week, I couldn't try the pastas, but will definitely come back for them next time around.
Cauliflower and Raisins - We ordered this dish as a starter, even though it's technically a side. Loving the sweetness that came from the golden raisins, we devoured the cauliflower, which was beautifully separated into bite sized florets. Enjoying the lovely texture, which was quite tender, it's certainly a unique take on a sometimes underrated vegetable.
Stuffed Trout - Since I was limited in my food options, I chose the stuffed trout, which sounded and looked delicious. I'm not sure what I imagined when reading its description, but I was in awe at how gorgeous and rustic it looked. The taste was excellent, as the fish was flaky and buttery, while the skin remained crispy and nicely seasoned with fresh herbs. My favorite aspect was the pesto, which the fish rested on, and I scooped it up with my fork and smeared it onto the already flavorful skin. Adoring how garlicky it all was, it packed a lot of flavor and personality.
Eggplant Lasagna - Peter couldn't resist a pasta dish, but at the same time was curious to try something new, so he went with this "pasta free" concoction. Made of layers of breaded eggplant, cheese, tomato sauce and a creamy bechamel sauce, it was the epitome of a fall comfort dish. I had a little bite sans the breadcrumbs of course, and was totally obsessed.
Service and Cost:
Just like at Vesta or Pachanga Patterson, the service at Venturo was unassuming yet efficient and in general took care of business. Even though the place was packed on a Saturday night and people were hustling, we always felt well taken care of.
Costs are moderate to inexpensive for the high quality of food and the nice atmosphere. Like I said, the only one of its kind right now.
Appetizers - $8 - $18
Pizza & Pasta - $12 - $15
Entrees - $17 - $22
3 Mmmms
Venturo - 44-07 Queens Blvd, Sunnyside NY 11375
718.406.9363
7 Train to 46th Street
www.venturovino.com
Last week I had the great fun to go out with the Queens Supper Club ladies, and each time there’s something really neat to discover. Anne picked Tangra, a Chinese-Indian fusion restaurant that was totally new to all of us, and which was pretty accessible, given its Sunnyside location.
Atmosphere:
Even before stepping inside, I totally judged a book by its handsome cover, being excited to uncover what lay beyond Tangra’s giant double doors. Inside, I found a large dining room that looked very much like a banquet hall, and judging by its random hanging disco ball and stage, I think it serves that purpose quite often.
There’s a large array of various sized tables and because we were a huge group of 15+, we were seated at a really long communal table towards the back of the restaurant. I loved this because it made me feel as if I truly was at a dinner party or some sort of celebratory event.
After we sat down, I got to observe my impeccable surroundings, which consisted of really intricate light fixtures with beautifully painted flowers, ornate banquettes that were located in an elevated area all the way at the back of the restaurant, the Indo-Chinese classical artwork and so much more. It felt like we were dining inside of a museum!
Food:
Because of the extent of their diverse menu, everyone had the opportunity to try something unique, and the vegetarians in the group were also quite happy with the options. Here’s what we devoured:
Appetizers - It was great that we got to share everything and try a whole bunch of apps including their well-known fried chicken drumsticks, the veggie pakora, and the paneer wontons. Out of those, I absolutely loved the chicken drumsticks, which were amazingly crispy on the outside, but the batter also being a bit pancakey when you bit into it. It was just such a surprisingly delightful snack that I can’t wait to get it again.
The pakora (or veggie croquettes) were fabulous too and really hearty, containing a medley of veg such as potato, onion, eggplant, tomato and the crust was just so crunchy. I loved the size, as you can get a lot of bang from eating just one – but word to the wise, if you get a whole portion, make sure you have some friends to share them with.
Entrees - Emily, a new supper club friend and I decided to share some dishes for our entrees including the sizzling tiger prawns in the manchurian sauce, which contained black beans and cilantro, as well as a milder chicken dish dressed with a garlic sauce.
While I enjoyed both, the shrimp was my clear favorite, as the flavors really stood out and gave you a little punch with each bite – it was spicy in a good way, and once coupled with some rice, it was an absolute winner. Even though the shrimp was quite large, it went fast, and I wished there were a few more on the plate. As for the chicken, which was gentler in flavor but still really great (especially for folks who don’t like spicy foods), its portion was large and totally conducive to splitting between two people.
While I didn’t try the noodle dishes some people ordered, they looked fabulous, and were served in these beautiful copper bowls that I’ve seen at traditional Indian restaurants (like Seva in Astoria!)
Service and Cost:
Despite us being a really large group, the service was really great and organized. I was surprised to see that we didn’t have to wait too long for anything and that the waitstaff anticipated our needs even before we asked for anything. It showed that they have a clear command and experience when dealing with large groups.
Costs are moderate to inexpensive and include:
Appetizers - $3.50 - $6.95
Entrees - $7.95 - $13.95
Tangra Masala – 3923 Queens Blvd, Sunnyside NY 11104
718.786.8008
7 Train to 40th St/Lowery Street
www.tangrafusionnyc.com
3 Mmmms
