Nebuta - A Quick Take-Out Alternative

Nebuta - 29-18 Hoyt Avenue, Astoria, NY 11102

718.204.6778

N/W Train to Astoria Blvd

Convenience is key when it comes to Nebuta Japanese Take-Out. It's located just steps away from the Astoria Blvd subway station, next to Dunkin' Donuts and the Second Best Thrift Shop. While it's nothing fancy, it gets the job done when you're in the mood for quick and inexpensive Japanese grub. A cool thing about it is that they have a grocery section with some specialty Japanese items, such as my favorite snack, Pocky.

Check out these selections from their menu and think of them next time you get off the subway and are too tired to cook.

Chicken Teriyaki Platter - Served with rice and veggies...$5.50

Beef Bowl - Served with rice and veggies...$6.49...$8.49 (extra beef)

Shrimp Tempura Udon...$5.99

Fried Chicken Udon...$5.99

Dinner Bento Boxes - Include choices of salmon teriyaki, chicken teriyaki, Japanese fried chicken, beef bbq and eel. Each Bento Box includes 1 sushi roll, tempura and a simple salad as well as miso soup...$10.00-$12.50

Sushi:

Dragon Roll...$6.25

Shrimp Tempura...$3.50

Eel and Avocado...$3.75

Salmon and Avocado...$3.50

Spicy California...$3.25

Igloo Cafe - From Ice-Cream and Beyond

Igloo Cafe - 22-26 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11105

718.726.7700

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.igloocafe.com

I've heard good things about Igloo a while back and finally made it over there this week. It's a casual place that's known for ice-cream and frozen yogurt as well as sandwiches and all-day breakfast dishes. They also boast an intimate outdoor garden, which Dan and I were eager to check out.

Atmosphere:

The vibe is informal and relaxed. The front of the house looks like a typical cafe--colorful and cheery with exposed brick walls and a whimsical igloo motif. There's also a robust counter in front, displaying various ice-cream and sandwich and salad fixins.

The back of this cafe is charming and special, with an intimate outdoor garden. While seating is limited--for about 15-20 people--it's a quiet area, which is covered by oversized umbrellas and greenery. You almost can't believe that you're just feet away from one of Astoria's busiest streets.

Food:

Dan and I weren't particularly ravenous so we decided to go for a light sandwich. We both ordered Gyro wraps, which we liked a lot.

Beef Gyro Wrap - This was my order and it certainly satisfied my craving. The best part was the toasted tortilla--it was crunchy and had a bit of a char taste from the grill. The gyro meat was juicy and not too greasy--you can tell that this place uses healthful ingredients. While it did come with a side of waffle fries (not healthy!) there weren't too many of them, which was a blessing in disguise. The portion of this sandwich was perfect, especially considering its inexpensive price.

Chicken Gyro Wrap - Dan opted for the chicken variation of the gyro and was also happy with it. It looked like a replica of mine, except for the meat. Dan's only complaint was that it didn't taste too much like a gyro but more like a grilled chicken sandwich. Oh well!

Igloo is also known for its ice-cream variety and Tasti D-Lite frozen yogurt.

Service and Cost:

All was good in this department--our waiter was unobtrusive yet efficient. The place wasn't too busy on a Wednesday night so he had plenty of time to devote to us. I would definitely recommend sitting outdoors if the weather is cooperating--it feels a lot more special.

For the quality of food that you get here, Igloo is inexpensive. Our gyro wraps were less than $7 each and omelets also range in this neighborhood. If you're looking for something casual, comfortable and good, I'd suggest it. But don't expect anything fancy.

2 Mmmms

Bany - Asian Fusion in LIC

Bany - 10-57 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101

718.383.2388

7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue

On my way to the Slovak-Czech Variety Store last week, I discovered a new Asian fusion restaurant right next door called Bany.

With the many luxury high-rise buildings that are sprouting like weeds, this side of town is also flourishing with new restaurants. Bany looks like a good one to try--the interior is modern and the menu boasts a variety of Asian specialties such as seafood, duck, sushi and sashimi. The prices are inexpensive to moderate and are comparable to its LIC restaurant neighbors. A sampling of Bany's menu is below:

Appetizers:

Indian Pancake - Malaysia Indian pancake, served with chicken curry sauce...$3.50

Bany Summer Roll - Fresh mixed greens in a crispy roll with plum sauce on the side...$5

Rock Shrimp - Served with spicy mayo sauce...$8

Specialty Rolls:

Caterpillar - Crunchy spicy tuna inside, topped with avocado and spicy mayo...$8

Spicy Bad Girl - Spicy salmon, spicy tuna, spicy yellowtail, basil, topped with shrimp, avocado and jalapeno...$12

Fancy Dragon - Shrimp tempura, cucumber, caviar and eel topped with avocado and mango...$11

Entrees:

Mango Chicken or Jumbo Shrimp - Tropical mango, bell pepper, onion, jicama with mango chili sauce...$15-$17

Atlantic Ocean - Jumbo shrimp, scallops, fish, bell pepper, sweet beans, asparagus and onions in a butter cream sauce...$19

Duck Curry - 1/2 boneless duck, eggplant, potato, bell pepper and basil leaf...$17

Lunch specials are also available and include Bento boxes, stir-fry and sushi bar options.

Bistro 33 - An Unbeatable Brunch

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105
718.721.1933
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.lilbistro33.com

You must be thinking, another update about Bistro 33? I admit, I've become a little obsessed with this neighborhood eatery but for a good reason--the food is incredible, the service is attentive and simply put, I just adore it.

And because I haven't made it there for brunch yet, I suggested it for a Saturday morning chat and chew session with Margot and her man, Dillon. As usual, Bistro didn't disappoint and I'm still thinking about the amazing mound of blueberry pancakes, which I consumed in one short sitting. Here's a bit more about our lovely brunch:

Blueberry Pancakes - Even though the omelets sounded amazing, I was in the mood for something sweet and ordered the blueberry pancakes--which also come in a banana variation. I was impressed! Instead of humongous spheres of dough, these were smaller, silver dollar pancakes that were stacked high and topped with small, wild blueberries. I think that there were about four pancakes that formed my mini mountain and once I bit into them, their interior burst with flavor from the large, plump blueberries that were nestled inside--overall, a superb dish and a great value.

Soft Shell Crab Sandwich - This was Margot's dish and as you can see from the picture, it was gargantuan and impressive-looking. But looks can be deceiving. Margot said that although she wasn't completely unpleased, she wouldn't get this dish again because the mayo was excessive and she felt that it took away from the flavor of the crab. The sandwich was too large, making it hard to pick up and put in your mouth--it was beautiful yet unwieldy.

Cajun Fritatta - Dillon ordered this and said that it was fantastic. I didn't have the pleasure to try it but I have had Bistro's andouille before and know how great it is. The dish was large, colorful and paired with a simple salad. Dillon finished it to the last bite and I'd say that this was a good guy meal--hearty, spicy and significant.

The Accouterments - Along with our brunch, we also received coffee and a choice of a morning cocktail. This is usually the norm in Astoria but the drinks at Bistro were above average. Both Margot and I got the cranberry mimosa, which was gentle, fruity and overall, a pleasing morning pick-me-up. The portion was large and came in a normal sized wine glass, as opposed to the skinny champagne flute.

Dillon ordered the Tokyo Sunrise, consisting of sake, OJ and grenadine. Again, it came in a generous sized glass and when I tasted it, I liked it even better than my cocktail--it was sweet and brought a taste of the tropics to Astoria.

Service and Cost:

I never have complaints when it comes to service. Our food came quickly and our waitress was happy to accommodate Margot and me with iced coffee instead of the hot.

An entree, coffee and a morning cocktail came out to $14 a pop. Although it's a couple of bucks more than brunch at other Astorian cafes, I think that the quality and the inventiveness of the food is on a higher level.

3 Mmmms

Fruit Cobbler - Summery and Refreshing

I made this yummy fruit dessert last week to welcome my brother home from his Euro trip. I wanted to bake something summery and use all of the amazing fruit that my parents had in the house. The recipe that you'll find here--courtesy of Jamie Oliver-- uses apricots, pears, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and rhubarb but you can substitute with any fruit that you like. I used plums, peaches, cherries, blueberries, raspberries and even small wild strawberries.

The result was fabulous and there weren't any leftovers by the end of the night. The recipe suggests eating this with vanilla ice cream and that's precisely what we did. It's a great complement that's refreshing, clean and simple.

This dish takes about a half hour to prepare and an hour to cook. The recipe calls for 35 minutes of cooking time but I didn't find this sufficient.

Try it here and enjoy!

Dorian Cafe - Superb Simple Food

Dorian Cafe - 10-01 50th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101

718.937.1120

7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave

Dorian Cafe is easy to find, as it's probably the first thing you'll see when stepping out of the 7 train at Vernon/Jackson. While it may seem like an uneventful diner, I've been told that it's anything but ordinary. My cousin Vicky raved about it on our way back from Blend and I thought that I'd mention it here. In her words "Dorian's may seem like a diner that's nothing fancy but the food is amazing. They turn every simple dish into something extraordinary."

She especially complimented their brunch and I've also heard great things about their salads, burgers and fries. I'm going to have to get myself over there pronto. I'll follow up with a menu and a review but in the meantime, I wanted to put this place on your radar.

Benjamas Taste of Thai - Heavenly Spring Rolls and More!

Benjamas Taste of Thai – 34-16 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106
718.932.8826
N/W Train to Broadway
www.thaibenjamas.com

Thai places are everywhere in Astoria and there’s some great ones out there. Although I’m partial to Wave Thai and Leng Thai, I’m excited that new Thai eateries are springing up in all parts of our neighborhood.

I recently had the chance to sample the cuisine of Benjamas Taste of Thai at the Cuisine of Queens and Beyond event at the Astoria World Manor. Great stuff--and I’ll surely be coming back for a proper meal. One taste of their crunchy veggie spring rolls got me hooked and made me grab a menu.

There’s a lot of good buzz around Benjamas—they must be doing something right because people are talking about ‘em a lot. Recently when getting a manicure, I overheard a woman next to me raving about them and calling their food “EXCELLENT.”

Check it out for yourself and take a look at their abbreviated menu below:

Appetizers:

Spring Roll – Vegetarian spring roll stuffed with cabbage, carrot, glass noodles, served with plum sauce…$4.50

Shrimp in a Blanket – Marinated shrimp wrapped in egg roll skin…$7.95

Thai Dumplings – Steamed ground chicken, shrimp and mushrooms served with garlic balsamic, black soy and chili sauce…$5.95

Noodles and Fried Rice:

Spicy Basil Fried Rice – Thai style fried rice with basil, chili and onions…$10 (chicken), $11 (beef), $12 (shrimp)

Lard Nah – Stir-fried flat rice noodles with garlic, Chinese broccoli served in a thick gravy…$9 (chicken), $10 (beef), $11 (shrimp)

Crabmeat and Shrimp Fried Rice – Thai style fried rice with tomato, egg, onions, scallions, shrimp and lump crab meat…$12

Entrees:

Seafood Kra Prao – Sauteed seafood with onions, chili and holy basil…$15

Taste of Thai Cashew Nut – Sauteed mushrooms, cashew nuts, carrots, sweet onions, garlic and chili…$10 (chicken), $11 (beef), $12 (shrimp)

Pad Sweet Sour – Stir-fried mixed vegetables with sweet and sour sauce…$10 (chicken), $11 (beef), $12 (shrimp)

Lunch specials include a sampling of noodle, curry and rice dishes for about $7.