megc's Profile
Moegyo Burmese Food Fair 2012
Thanks for the info, Dave. I was researching the mention of a 2012 festival just last weekend and didn't find anything on the blog/site. Glad they posted something and that the festival will happen again this year! And in LIC, too! Awesome.
Indonesian bazaars, Masjid al-Hikmah, 2012
At CalArts I studied Balinese gamelan music and dance (with I Nyoman Wenten for gamelan, Nanik Wenten for dance) and was surrounded by Javanese gamelan music (the gamelan was led by KRT Wasitodininigrat) as well. I loved the sounds so much and the music always brings back happy, amazing memories. I would love to come hear you perform or even listen to a rehearsal. Indonesian food is so delicious, we are lucky to have this expertly made food in the summers in Astoria.
Italian pastry
Particularly good at Manetta's are these sort of soft biscotti with bits of chocolate in them, covered in a thin, sweet glaze. Definitely my favorite.
Coming Soon: Famous Hamburger on Steinway
Justpaula, I was thinking along those same lines, too.
Coming Soon: Famous Hamburger on Steinway
I love hamburgers but we have too many burger joints in Astoria now. That being said, sounds like this place - if it is part of the same chain as in Dearborn - is halal, and hookah friendly, which would fit in there on Steinway.
Best of woodside
Recently I've enjoyed food at Thailand's Center Point and Sripraphai (Thai), the sweets at Engeline's (Filipino), Sapori D'Ischia (Iscian/Italian), Woodside Cafe (Nepalese), Tito Rad's (Filipino), and Fresca La Crepe (French style crepes).
thailand's center point - delicious
I was in a couple weeks ago. I love, love, love the pork larb! It's so flavorful and has all the elements I love in larb, amplified. I also really enjoyed the tamarind fried rice with the sweet pork and salty egg. Sour curry with duck was super delicious. The appetizers seem fairly pedestrian to me, though.
Astoria Recs 2012
Gah, I realize I mistakenly wrote "Queens" instead of "Astoria" in my last post. Of COURSE there is quality Chinese food in Queens! But not Astoria. D'oh. I really can't understand why no one has opened up a high quality authentic Chinese spot in Astoria. It would make money hand over fist.
Astoria Recs 2012
Not far from there is Sorriso's, which is a real deal, incredible Italian deli, with great products and friendly staff. Too bad the old Mix space won't be something more interesting (I have a continual dream of an Ethiopian restaurant coming to Queens, or even quality Chinese). We'll see, though.
Sunnyside: The Dog and Duck and Bliss 46 Bistro
Hahahahaha!! That's really funny. Thanks for that, MarcInSunnysideGardens.
Almond croissant at Cannelle is.............
Last time I was at Canelle, the almond croissants were flying off the shelf (or out of the basket)! By the time I got to the register to order, there was just one left. Thankfully, they arrived just in time to refill the display. I liked the almond croissant very much.
Sunnyside: The Dog and Duck and Bliss 46 Bistro
Yes, Quant does have specials. The last one I had was a penne pasta with tomato, arugula, pancetta, parmesan, in a lemon butter sauce. Delicious. Their desserts change from time to time, too.
Astoria Recs 2012
I've probably been there a dozen times - at all hours of the day - and my experiences couldn't be more different. When I've been there, service has always been fine to good, and I've never encountered any kind of smarmy attitudes. The owners are down to earth folks, and I think they'd be surprised to hear about your experience; in fact, they'd probably want to know, so they could fix whatever might be the problem.
I won't argue that places like that may be a result of gentrification but I believe "gentrification" isn't really be a truly appropriate word for a place like Astoria. For a long time, it's been a kind of middle class immigrant neighborhood (many years ago it was a center for the wealthy in their vacation homes - see the remaining large homes in Old Astoria Village), so it's hasn't needed to really get a leg up like other, more run down and lower income neighborhoods were. I'm not really sure what the appropriate word is, but that's fodder for another (interesting) discussion.
I will, however, express my disdain for Queens Comfort. I have been there a couple of times - first time was great (we were a private party, though), but the second time it was meh, enough to dissuade me from returning. I am completely uninterested in the gimmicky elements of their menu in their dabbling in the inclusion of sugary cereals as coatings, and over the top desserts using cake instead of bread for bread pudding (I'm more of a purist here, I'll admit), and I've just heard so many bad things about people's experiences there, especially from the attitude of the staff. I love comfort food but not their take on it. It's just not sympathetic to my sensibilities.
Cooking with Jazz closing April 22nd
Oh thank you so much! Bummer that they are closing - I had plans to go later in April. Sorry to learn that business wasn't doing so well.
Cooking with Jazz closing April 22nd
Wow, seriously? Is there a source for this info you can point us to?
Food stalls on the corner of Maple and Main street Flushing?
I recently had the dumplings at that stall and loved them, though we ate meat filled dumplings - boiled pork and cabbage, and we got the lamb dumplings fried. Both were amazing. I look forward to going back to Savor Fusion and trying more food there!
Astoria Recs 2012
There is a wonderful new ice cream shop in LIC on Jackson Ave called Malu (the name is a portmanteau of their kids' names) that serves delicious ice cream. Flavors change daily, too, but everything is so good you'll no doubt find something you love. The texture of the ice cream is so creamy - fantastic mouth feel and wonderful flavor. My latest favorite is an orange chocolate hazelnut.
Astoria Recs 2012
Queens Kickshaw makes excellent coffee - don't be frightened off by the threat of hipsters (which I disagree have reached critical mass in Astoria), and give them a try. The tomato soup there is also very good!
Sugar Freak Astoria
I really want to love Sugarfreak but 2 out of 3 meals have been unappealing. There is a muddy taste that I've picked up in both the catfish po' boy and the jambalaya that I did NOT like. The thing I did enjoy was the bowl of red beans and rice, which are amazing. Plus the desserts I've had are very good. And William Hallet completely underwhelmed me, enough so that I doubt I'll be back for quite a while.
fresh mozzarella in QUEENS?
I love the fresh mozz at Rosario's - the fresh ricotta is great, too. Just a terrific place in the neighborhood. The staff is awesome, too.
Top 5 Restaurants to try in Queens?
Looks like we have a compatible deal - you take my seat at Hellgate On the Park and I'll take yours at Vesta. :)
Top 5 Restaurants to try in Queens?
Interesting - I had a terrible experience at Hellgate on the Park, and doubt I'll go back. We didn't even get a chance to taste the food (though I've had it before, and to my tastes it's fine, not phenomenal), as the atmosphere and staff were uncomfortable and unpleasant, it was essential that we got out of there as fast as possible. It was one of the worst times at a restaurant in Astoria that I've experienced.
I've had nothing but delicious food at Vesta. I've had some off-nights food-wise at Bareburger, but recently have enjoyed my times and food there. Watawa is fine, but I recently had sushi at JJ's and that blew away anything I'd ever had at Watawa. If Il Forno is what I'm thinking of (the place across from the mini mall on Ditmars), I had a nice meal there. The pizza dough was a bit dry and needed some salt, but I had a good time there.
I'll speak blasphemy, too - L'Incontro did not impress me like I wanted it to, or expected it to. It certainly was not worth the $$$ we paid. But I fully acknowledge that I'm in the minority here and am ok with that.
Anyway, I'm content to agree to disagree with SpiceJunkies and MarcISSG on the Vesta front. :)
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Watawa
3310 Ditmars Blvd, Queens, NY 11105
Hellgate on the Park
19-19 Ditmars Blvd, Queens, NY 11105
El Shater sunnyside - moving to Astoria
Maybe 28th Ave is correct and the Astoria Blvd part is wrong. Very curious to know where El Shater is going to open.
El Shater sunnyside - moving to Astoria
Does anyone have an updated location in Astoria for El Shater? 28th Ave and Astoria Blvd are parallel to each other. Maybe 28th Street instead?
Top 5 Restaurants to try in Queens?
I've heard so many conflicting thing about Eco-Table. I'm going to wait for a while before I have a meal there.
Top 5 Restaurants to try in Queens?
I agree that your comments are less than constructive, MarcInSunnysideGardens. But this whole thread is about opinions as to the best, so you are entitled to your opinion, as are we all. I do take issue with your comment about "locals lowering their standards." There's no need to make such a condescending generalization.
I've had some excellent dining experiences at Vesta. I like a lot of the things about it - food, service, atmosphere. Did you have a bad experience there?
Specialty Food Stores in Queens??
I've gotten some great ricotta at Rosario's on 31st Street right near the eastern stairs of the Ditmars Stop. They also sell fresh mozzarella that I love. Sorriso's also has great fresh mozz - I didn't realize they made their own sopressata either. I'll definitely have to try it. Thanks for the tip, abee!
Best Soup in Astoria
"It's important enough for me to need their phone # to see if they even have the item."
Well, then I'm happy I could help by providing the phone number.
Please also note that my original statement was simply my opinion, in reference to my own concerns. You are totally entitled to your opinion, and I would not deny that of you. And it doesn't really bother me if we don't hold the same opinion.
Hope you find some soup that pleases you throughout the 4 seasons.
Best Soup in Astoria
SpiceJunkies, I'm going to help you out here - here's Bambino's phone number:
(718) 626-0087
Give them a call next time you are heading over and I'm sure they will let you know if soup is on the menu, and if so which one. That way you won't be disappointed when you arrive expecting soup and it's not there. Used to be on the Astorians.com board there was an Il Bambino Soup of the Day thread, which was very cool and entertaining. Someone would call each morning, get the info and post. It was quite helpful during those cold months!
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Il Bambino
34-08 31st Ave, Queens, NY 11106
Best Soup in Astoria
Il Bambino has the best soup in Astoria, hands down. It's not important that they don't serve soup in the warm months, as far as I'm concerned. I have found every soup they've produced to be absolutely delicious. The tomato bisque is my favorite, yum. Make a point of stopping by once the temperatures cool down - you won't regret it.
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Il Bambino
34-08 31st Ave, Queens, NY 11106
