Peter Luger Steakhouse - Over-hyped, Overpriced and Underwelmed

Peter Luger Steakhouse - 225 Northern Blvd, Great Neck NY 11021
516.487.8800
www.peterluger.com

As mentioned, Dan's 30th birthday extravaganza extended through the weekend. And at the conclusion of it, we found ourselves at the legendary Peter Luger Steakhouse in Great Neck, Long Island. Although it wasn't the original location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we thought it would still promise an unprecedented experience.

While the birthday boy couldn't be happier, I wasn't impressed and wouldn't return again. Here's why...

Atmosphere:
Located on the border of Queens and Long Island, Peter Luger is situated in Great Neck, NY a nice town that doesn't exactly feel like suburbia and is easy to get to for both Queens residents and Long Islanders.

From first glance you could tell that Luger's is traditional. The outside is white with wooden moldings and old-school lanterns, while the inside is embellished with more wood accents. The feel is almost gothic with the many lanterns, chandeliers and large oil paintings. The prevailing aura is warm and cozy and I could see Luger's being a nice venue to celebrate the winter holidays.

There are plenty of large tables for big groups, as it seems to be the norm when dining here.

Food:
My expectations were super high in this area and I'm sad to report that I was underwhelmed. While there wasn't anything explicitly wrong with the food, it was just unexciting and plain.

Sliced Tomatoes and Onion - Although the description of this dish was simple, I was expecting something less ordinary than what came out on the plate. We were literally served large beef-steak tomatoes with sliced raw onions. I didn't understand why this even existed on the menu and why they charged $12 for it. What a rip-off! The tomatoes and onions were good but who couldn't just slice this up on a plate at home. One benefit was that when dressed with Peter Luger's own steak sauce, it brought all sorts of delicious flavors out of the tomatoes and onions.

Caesar Salad - Now this was a well done starter. All ingredients were wonderfully fresh, the dressing was creamy and tangy and the parmesan cheese on top was the piece-de-resistance--thick, flavorful and absolutely addicting.

Steak for Eight - We actually ordered steak for seven because there was a lot of meat served with this portion. Half the table got medium and the other half got medium-rare. I preferred the medium--don't care if it's un-foodie like--but I thought that the medium-rare tasted too raw. The flavors settled nicely in the medium cut and I liked the char on the outside. But steak texture is a very personal thing so naturally, some of my dining companions disagreed with me.

The Sides - This is my favorite part of any steak dinner, more so than the actual steak. Our sides included creamed spinach, Luger's special German fried potatoes and onion rings. I liked the potatoes best because they reminded me of what my dad makes at home. They were slightly well done and interlaced with caramelized onions. The creamed spinach was a close second, as it was gentle on the palate and so luxurious too. I didn't care for the onions rings at all and thought they were too greasy. Nothing compares to the gargantuan, cake-like batter onion rings at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and Luger's version didn't stand a chance.

Dessert - Dan and I ordered the "Holy Cow" Hot Fudge Sunday, which was impressive-looking but tasted just OK. The chocolate sauce was flavorless but the homemade whipped cream was good, there was just too much of it. The other side of the table ordered key lime pie--it was very good, and I especially liked the homemade crust. Again, they overdid it on the whipped cream.

Service and Cost:
The service was superior and one of the best I've ever witnessed. The waiters are all older, experienced men who know their steak and who don't mess around. Their attitude is friendly and warm but straightforward - no bull. It was nice that they not only cut our steak for us but also placed it carefully on our plates. The same was done with the sides and although we didn't always see our waiter, he was paying close attention to everything, refilling our glasses when needed or wrapping up a dish to take home. Overall, the service was excellent and felt like family.

The prices at Luger's are exorbitant and not worth spending. Steak for seven cost us a whopping $298, while the sides ranged from $8.95 - $11.95 and dessert was $9 each. Needless to say, the whole dinner cost a small fortune.

2 Mmmms

Veal, Couscous and Gina's Bodacious Bolognese

My friend Gina, who's famous for making amazing Bolognese sauce, gave Dan his own jar of it for his birthday. We were beyond thrilled, as this is the best and the heartiest Bolognese I've ever tasted. I decided to use it with veal and couscous this week, creating an easy, quick dinner for two. The whole thing took me about a half an hour to prepare from start to finish. All I did was heat up the Bolognese, made the couscous according to directions on the box and fried up the veal in the following way:

Veal Preparation for Veal Bolognese (serves 2)
6 small - medium lean veal cutlets
1 cup of all purpose flour (add more if you need to)
1 cup of Italian-style breadcrumbs (add more if you need to)
2 eggs, whisked
Salt and pepper to taste
Generous glug of olive oil

Directions:
Pre-heat a large skillet on medium - high heat. Then add the olive oil.

Season cutlets with salt and pepper. First coat in flour, then eggs (shake off excess) and finally in breadcrumbs. Place in hot skillet and fry for about 2 minutes on each side or until golden.

Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to soak up excess oil.

Assembling the Veal Bolognese
On a medium sized dinner plate, first add a bed of couscous, then top with fried veal and finally the Bolognese. Enjoy with a glass of red wine or a full bodied beer!

If you'd like to access Gina's family recipe for Bolognese, click here.

Bistro Les Minots - New Frenchie Spot

Bistro Les Minots - 47-16 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.606.2535
N/W Train to 30th Avenue or R/V/G Train to 46th Street www.bistrolesminots.com

My colleague Meg from Joey in Astoria mentioned Bistro Les Minots last week and there's been a lot of buzz about it from neighborhood chefs. I decided to check it out and walked by last weekend. It looks nice yet unassuming. The menu seems rich in variety and holds true to its French roots. And the affordable $19.95 dinner prix-fixe has me fully intrigued.

Here's a sampling of the menu. The only draw-back is the location, as it's far from the subway. I intend to try it soon so I'll let you know if it's worth the hike to 47th street. Stay tuned...

Soups
Traditional French onion soup gratinee...$8

Hors D'oeurves
Traditional tart with hand cut Atlantic salmon, mango, cucumber, crispy ginger croutons, cilantro vinaigrette...$9/$15

Traditional tart with hand cut Angus beef with assorted condiments, egg yolk, greens. French fries are served with entree size...$9/$18

Specialties
Warm onion tart with anchovies and black olives...$8
Escargot in puff pastry shell with garlic, parsley, shallots and red wine...$8
Homemade chef's terrine...P/A

Mussels - French fries served with large portion
Steamed mussels with garlic, shallots and parsley in a white wine sauce...$8/$15
Steamed mussels in dijon mustard sauce...$8/$15
Steamed mussels with Provencal herbs and spices in a tomato sauce...$8/$15

Entrees
Roasted monkfish with broccoli rabe, fine herbs, tapenade and a sun-dried tomato pesto sauce...$17
Chicken rolls stuffed with seasonal vegetables and Gruyere in a rosemary jus...$15
Grilled sirloin steak served with French fries and Bernaise or green peppercorn sauce...$22
Pan seared duck breast with roasted pears and apples, braised red cabbage, dried cherry sauce...$17

Desserts
Creme brulee...$6
Thin apple tart with caramel sauce...$6, +$1 for a la mode
Profiteroles with vanilla ice cream topped with hot chocolate sauce...$6

All I can say is...how hungry are you?

Vesta - An Unforgettable Birthday Dinner

Vesta - 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.545.5550
N/W Train to 30th Avenue
www.vestavino.com

As mentioned yesterday, we celebrated Dan's actual birthday at Vesta with an intimate group of friends. In true Vesta fashion, the food was fresh and scrumptious and the service couldn't be more detail oriented. Once again, the guys at Vesta hit it out of the park. Here are some of the new things that we tried:

Pizza - I can't remember the exact name of this pizza but apparently it was new on the menu, combining a mix of different creamy cheeses. It was super thin and crispy and a bit on the well done side, which wasn't a problem--we gobbled it up in minutes. Seasoned with breadcrumbs, it made the most wonderful sound effects in my mouth - definitely a keeper.

Lasagna - Looking forward to trying a pasta entree, I along with three of my dining companions chose the three-meat ragu lasagna. What a beauty! Served in a mini red pot, it was oozing with richness and heavenly aroma. I liked that the edges of the pasta were crispy and that the inside was soft and gooey - and packed with plenty of meat. This was a general crowd pleaser and while I had no problem finishing it, it would be an easy take home dish to save for next day leftovers.

Honey Glazed Duck - This was our friend Andy's entree and he cleaned his plate in less than five minutes, no joke. I was able to get a small sliver just to sample it and it was lovely. I'm not the biggest fan of duck so it tasted a bit gamey to me but the meat itself was cooked perfectly and had nice embellishments of apricots, almonds and farro. I thought that the farro was a good idea and offered something different than potatoes or pasta.

Whole Roasted Branzino - The birthday boy chose this as his main course and while he liked the taste of it, he had a hard time dealing with all the bones. Note that this dish is very rustic and doesn't come de-boned, which is fine if you're willing to play with your food but probably not something you want if you're looking for neat food. Sauteed broccoli rabe was served as a side, making this a light meal.

Sides - We also tried two delicious side plates - roasted Brussels sprouts and creamy polenta. Both were delightful and I especially enjoyed the Brussels sprouts' smoky, well-done taste. It was a nice complement to the fish and to the pasta. The polenta was as silky as can be and provided a touch of luxury, pampering the senses to the fullest.

Chocolate Mousse Cake - This was one of my favorite desserts, right after the Baby Jesus Cake. The best part was the bittersweet chocolate sauce poured on top, and the interior mousse wasn't bad either. I liked that they added a fresh strawberry on the side, complementing the flavor of chocolate so well.

Service and Cost:
The service at Vesta has never let me down. Even though we were a big group, the staff at didn't miss a beat - always refilling our wine glasses, replenishing bread for dipping and just making sure that we were comfortable. There's an element of warmth and hospitality here that's special and can't be found anywhere else - you feel as if you're being served by close friends.

The cost was affordable. The three course dinner and wine set us back about $60 per person including tax and tip.

3 loud Mmmms

Bistro 33 Birthday Brunch

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.721.1933

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.lilbistro33.com

This weekend was my husband, Dan's 30th birthday and we celebrated pretty much the whole time from Friday through Sunday. After an amazing dinner at Vesta, which I'll get to later this week, we chose to indulge in a Saturday brunch at Bistro 33, Dan's other favorite Astorian hangout. While we were tired and undoubtedly hung over, it was an enjoyable experience that we had to get out of our system. Here's what sustained us for much of the day:

Cajun Fritatta - I was dying to try this ever since Margot's boyfriend, Dillon got it last summer. A big fan of andouille sausage, I was looking forward to this aspect in particular. It was a bit on the spicy side but I welcomed the kick that it gave my senses. The crawfish, nestled inside was also nice and I loved the tentacle-iness of it all. If you order this, know that it's super hearty and that Bistro's chefs don't mess around with spices. The only thing I'd change is the limp, tasteless greens that came on the side--I'd substitute them with nice hash-browns instead.

Pancakes with Apple Butter - This was Dan's choice, and because it was on the lighter side, it soothed his "after-party" stomach. The pancakes were soft and fluffy and served in Bistro's customary silver-dollar size. The apple butter topping was rich and flavorful, further topped with soft cubes of baked apple. I thought highly of this dish but it had a completely different feel than mine - desserty rather than robust.

Service and Cost:
The service was fine - attentive enough but not overly personal. We got a different server towards the mid-point of our meal, which was acceptable but inconsistent. Overall, the service is nothing to rave about or to complain about.

We paid $14 per person (without tax and tip) for the dishes I described above including a cup of coffee/tea and a morning cocktail. Not a bad deal but there are better ones out there in Astoria.

2 Mmmms

Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company - 3rd Location Coming Soon

I was delighted to find out that my favorite bagel shop in Astoria, Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company is opening up a third location on 30th Avenue. Passing by the storefront today, the sign says that it'll open in Spring 2009 (as in, now!) I'll make sure to keep my eye on it and will keep you in the loop about an approximate opening date.

For those of you who aren't familiar with this place, they serve the hugest, fluffiest bagels in town. They're not cheap but so worth the price. Their "mini" bagels are the size of regular ones and are a good option if you don't want to overindulge.

The other two locations are found here:

35-05 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106
718.204.0141
N/W Train to Broadway

35-09 Ditmars Blvd Astoria, NY 11105

718.932.8280

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

And the new location will be at:

30th Avenue between 36th and 37th Street, Astoria NY 11103

N/W Train to 30th Avenue