MarcInSunnysideGardens's Profile
Smorgasburg: What a Pretentious Rip Off.....
Smorgasburg has been nothing but a pleasure, IMO.
Some of the food isn't incredible, but plenty of it is excellent.
Red Hook Lobster Pound, the doughnuts from Dough, the Blue Markble coffee, etc. Show up at 1pm and stand in line--it's prime time. Instead, show up at 11:30 and Williamsburg hasn't woken up yet. It's a positive scene, I wish it was cheaper, but something tells me the vendors aren't getting rich out there. The idea that it's somehow a net negative in NYC to have something like this, I think that's offbase. I grew up disliking Taste of Chicago because it was endless lines for only OK food. Smorgasburg's food can be very, very good and as long as you show up reasonably early, it's not that crowded and it's a very pleasant scene. Disappointed to see the grumbling here.
I'm looking for a custom cake baker
Had this great experience last year ordering a birthday cake from Verily Baked Goods, a home-based baker whose cake was about 5x better than what we're used to from Two Little Red Hens. Alas, Anna Beth is taking her Verily act to Portland (no joke), and isn't making cakes in NYC anymore. So... I find myself looking for a good replacement. Someone cooking from home who makes killer, customized birthday cakes. Any recommendations?
I'm looking for a custom cake baker
Had this great experience last year ordering a birthday cake from Verily Baked Goods, a home-based baker whose cake was about 5x better than what we're used to from Two Little Red Hens. Alas, Anna Beth is taking her Verily act to Portland (no joke), and isn't making cakes in NYC anymore. So... I find myself looking for a good replacement. Someone cooking from home who makes killer, customized birthday cakes. Any recommendations?
Sunnyside: The Dog and Duck and Bliss 46 Bistro
It would be pretty interesting to have a restaurant in Sunnyside called Quant. I mean, it would have to be more interesting than Quaint is.
Looking for RAMPS in NYC/LI
Union Square Greenmarket.
But if you chill out, they'll be cheaper in a couple weeks, probably.
Alobar?
I had the Alobar charcuterie plate and thought it was ok, not great. Nice value charcuterie plate at Roberta's in Bushwick. Ya know, I'm inclined to give Alobar a bit of a break--Franny's may be overpriced and cramped (moving can only be an upgrade), but the food is pretty great. Alobar certainly can be worthy without being compared to some of the best around. I hope the community can nurture an Alobar, even if it doesn't leave either of us delirious like M. Wells did.
Alobar?
Went a couple weeks ago (for drinks with co-workers then dinner with wife and daughter) and liked it more than I expected to. I have a perhaps unfair bias against menus like theirs, as they sort of strike me as indicative of the kind of place that would get killed if it tried to open up in various Brooklyn neighborhoods that do this sort of thing frequently and better, but instead we enjoyed ourselves plenty at Alobar. The room is comfortable, and the food was pretty rewarding. Highlights included an over-the-top Mushroom Toast (duck egg did the trick) and silky pumpkin risotto.
I go to a restaurant like Testaccio down the street, and it just makes me want to either go to Manhattan or over to Piccola Venezia in Astoria. But Alobar feels like a really nice addition to the neighborhood. Not a destination joint for those from far away, but a nice choice if you happen to be in the neighborhood. We'll be back.
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Alobar
46-42 Vernon Blvd, Queens, NY 11101
Are there any bbq places in queens that are good?
Just wanted to bump this up and echo jonross. John Brown Smokehouse is legit. Burnt ends were particularly excellent last week; this has to easily be the borough's best BBQ. The location is sort of off the beaten path, but it's super easy to get to if you've got a car and are anywhere near Northern Boulevard on the west side of Queens--I drove there from Sunnyside in about 7 minutes. If you like BBQ and live in Astoria/LIC/Sunnyside/Woodside etc, this place is well-worth your support.
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John Brown Smokehouse
25-08 37th Ave, Queens, NY 11101
El Shater sunnyside - moving to Astoria
Ok, lemme see if I can get this right, as I talked to the Habibi owner about it.
It's two brothers (that's the part I'm unsure of--whether they were brothers or cousins) who used to own El Shater together. They had a rent dispute with the landlord and 1 of the two brothers tried to open in Astoria, the other decided to renovate and stay in the original space (now called Habibi).
The Astoria spot fell through. And so now that bro is back, about a block away from the original, on Queens Boulevard (Souk el Shater).
The original spot, now Habibi: He's spruced it up. There are a few seats in there. He's paying the city for the rights to do outdoor seating, which he is planning on (presumably next Spring). The food: Similar to the old place but... maybe not quite as good? I went once and that was my mild impression.
Souk el Shater: Looks like the same chefs in the back of this much tinier joint. No seating. The food is... as good as the old place. So this is where I keep going back to, for the chicken and spinach pies, the hummus, and especially the lunch specials, usually something braised and melting and perfect.
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Habibi
43-02 43rd Ave, Queens, NY 11104
Musee Rodin Picnic--nearby takeaway
Thanks for the tips--good to know about the Rodin gardens renovation.
Let me press for 2 specifics.
Parigi (or anyone), the food shops on rue de Bourgogne--any in particular stand out?
Same on Rue Dominique--any in particular?
Parnassien, we have 1 night in a hotel and I put us 3 blocks from Marché Raspail so we could shop there on Sunday before checking into the apt.
Musee Rodin Picnic--nearby takeaway
Getting ready for a week's rental of an apt in the 7th, on Rue de Lille.
Excited for a family picnic in Musée Rodin's gardens, but sort of struggling to come up with nearby takeaway options (meaning, within a 5ish minute walk from Musée Rodin) for the picnic. Thanks for any help.
Top 5 Restaurants to try in Queens?
Hate to be less than constructive, but my mind is boggled by the repeated positive mentions of Vesta in this thread and others. I think this is a case of locals lowering their standards for a neighborhood joint that would never be mentioned in many parts of the city. It's not remotely near one of the better Italian restaurants (or greenmarket-inspired restaurants) in NYC. Jeeg, if you're coming from Brooklyn, no, please, not a place as modest as Vesta.
It's interesting think about places that are uniquely great (either in total, or in specific features) in the borough. Manducati's doesn't have amazing food, but the wine list is special. The Thai joints being mentioned should generally wow a Brooklynite. Etc. But Vesta? Bare Burger? Don't rush here for those just fine places.
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Manducatis
13-27 Jackson Ave, Queens, NY 11101
Vesta
21-02 30th Ave, Queens, NY 11102
El Shater sunnyside - moving to Astoria
http://sunnysidepost.com/2011/05/02/el-shater-sunnyside-habibi/
M. Wells Dinner
Back to M Wells for a second dinner last night. Just thought I'd note that the Lemon Cossette dessert was fantastic. Really strange combo of lemon and maple flavors that I plan on copying in an ice cream soon. We tried the Bibim Wells and Lamb Tagine for dinner, the former is interesting but not as disorientingly good as their best stuff, whereas the Tagine was fantastic, with the couscous soaking in a stew, and the lamb pretty close to perfect. Place was packed by 7pm...
M. Wells Dinner
Micheal, there's a big, big difference between a 2-star review in the Times and a couple sentence brief like Salt and Fat got.
Tortas Neza - Great tacos in Woodside
El Shater, yes.
Jump on that 7 train at 33 and you're 3 stops from Neza. And walk it off on the way back!
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El Shater
43-02 43rd Ave, Queens, NY 11104
M. Wells Dinner
here's a review that is out--
http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2011/03/m-wells-diner-long-island-city-magasin-wells-queens-dinner-menu-review-nyc.html
M. Wells Dinner
I'm actually surprised at the universal raves here--I thought the place certainly wasn't for everyone, and I expected more discord. Our waiter was over-the-top helpful explaining all of the food. And if you went a few weeks ago... they've only been open for dinner a few weeks, right? Maybe you caught them on an off night at the beginning of the new dinner service.
But still, I'm not sure everyone's gonna like this place.
Salt and Fat in Sunnyside
Thanks, was gonna ask about the decor, as it looked sort of off in the pic I saw.
M. Wells Dinner
Knocked out by dinner there tonight. Salmon Coulibiac, massive slabs of medium rare salmon encased in puff pastry, with this fairly subtle/delicious smoked cream and fried pickles and...wow. Food had a Willy Wonka vibe, which may sound daunting but it was right. I can see how reading about what's going on there could set up unfair expectations, but it's a little surreal over there for dinner right now. Mark Bittman at the booth next to us. Room never quite filled up. A little tough to navigate the menu but everything we ate was delicious. Perverse that they're open for dinner tues-thurs, given that there's something about the place that feels like it would only make sense on a weekend night..
At a minimum, there is nothing in the borough anything like M Wells.
Tortas Neza - Great tacos in Woodside
Thanks for the write-up, Joe. 52nd st is my subway stop and Neza is actually on the same block as the easternmost exit--quite easy for anyone to hit who is on the 7. To be clear, there is a bit of seating here if you must, but it's pretty much a to-go joint.
I tried a milanesa de pollo torta, with the roasted chiles. Really good texture throughout, clean flavors; I'd get it again. I thought the carnitas in my tacos was a tad dry on first bite, but it got better as it went along. My daughter is enjoying the heck out of her first-ever cemitas, lotsa gooey melted quesillo pleases 5-yr-old junior hounds. They fashioned some egg tacos for my non-meat-eating wife, too.
They were out of tortillas for quesadillas. Next time.
First impression: this is a real go-to for the neighborhood. We needed it and now we have it. I know what you're saying about the neighborhood struggling to support a place like this but I think this might be different.
Salt and Fat in Sunnyside
New restaurant, Queens Blvd, lower 40s, south side of the street. Anyone know anything about it?
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Salt & Fat
41-16 Queens Blvd, Queens, NY 11104
Yum Yum Thai Restaurant in Sunnyside
Believe it's at the corner of Queens Blvd and 43rd St?
Rather tasteful neon sign has gone up in the last week or so: "Yum Yum Restaurant Thai Cooking," or something like that. Absolutely no other details but: Damn, that's a nice sign.
Replaces a dusty-looking Korean BBQ place I never tried.
Anyone know anything about Yum Yum?
New recommendations in Astoria
Another silly person who for some reason doesn't prefer Kyclades...
http://nymag.com/restaurants/cheapeats/2010/67147/index1.html
New recommendations in Astoria
Right, but what I see at Agnanti is a lot of people speaking Greek, and they have a lot of options in the neighborhood. It's easily one of the best of its kind in Astoria, IMO and that of so many others.
"Amazed how poor it was"?
You have so many posts, I don't remember seeing any about an amazingly poor meal there before. What was so amazingly poor about it?
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Agnanti
19-06 Ditmars Blvd, Queens, NY 11105
New recommendations in Astoria
No, I don't think almost everyone agrees that Kyclades is the best Astoria Greek.
Personally, I prefer Agnanti near Astoria Park, and the swarms of customers there would seem to agree. The best skordalia in Astoria is at Agnanti. The tomatokeftedes are miraculous, and perhaps unique in Astoria. Almost everyone would agree with that? Perhaps.
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Agnanti
19-06 Ditmars Blvd, Queens, NY 11105
Good food--bad attitude [Tournesol]
Glendale, there is no "La" in front of the restaurant's name.
I've found the waitstaff to vary between adequate and fantastic. Some of them are quite recent French imports and the lesser ones seem to just be getting their legs under them. There's also a really nice guy who acts as maitre d and occasionally waits tables.
Completely disagree about the food being in decline. On a good night it approaches great and at its worst it's still arguably the best restaurant in LIC. If you like French bistro food.
I've been there approximately 100 times, and about 5 times this year.
first time Queens exploration (with a toddler along)?
Tend to agree on Astoria Greek.
Totally disagree on Agnanti.
Hey, I've only been once in 6 months, so maybe it's fallen off.
But I've been at least 20 times, and it's ranged from good to incredibly good.
Tomatokeftedes and the skordalia (not on menu) might be the two most addictive dishes I've tried at any Astoria Greek.
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Agnanti
19-06 Ditmars Blvd, Queens, NY 11105
