Cafe Henri - Part Deux, Tres Magnifique

Cafe Henri - 10-10 50th Avenue, LIC, NY 11109

718.383.9315
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave

Yesterday was my second time at Cafe Henri, and just like in my last visit, I was very satisfied. It was easy to make a decision because I was in the mood for something traditional and classic--the Croque Monsieur sandwich. I also started with the day's special, a thick pea soup with a crunchy crouton on top.

Pureed Pea Soup - I'm a sucker for good soups, especially pea soup because it reminds me of my childhood. Cafe Henri's version was the perfect way to start a meal because it was comforting, with a nice smooth texture. There were some chunks of peas in it too that were welcome--they were a hidden surprise at the bottom of the bowl. The crouton that was floating on top was delicious and it was fun to break it up and watch it soften up in the bright green broth.

Croque Monsieur - First-off I loved the crusty peasant bread that the sandwich was presented on. While crispy, it wasn't too hard, making it easy to bite into. I loved that there were plenty of rosemary flakes on top of the bread and also a fresh sprig for garnish. The ham was lovely, decadent and slightly sweet while the gruyere cheese that stretched beyond its bread borders was light, salty and a bit tangy.

Le Merguez Sandwich - My dining companion ordered this and while I didn't taste it, it looked impressive, packed with spicy lamb sausage, roasted red peppers and dijon mustard. Again, the bread looked like it was of good quality and my dining companion finished it to the last bite. I'm quite curious to try it next time.

Service and Cost:
Our waitress was friendly and very attentive. We felt well taken care of and there was always someone coming by to check if we were doing OK and if we needed anything else. They weren't annoying but definitely caring and polite. They were quick with the check yet didn't make us feel rushed.

The costs here are gentle on the wallet. Our dinner including two drinks cost about $40 before tip. Tre bien!

3 Mmmms

Market Table - Sophisticated Comfort Food

Market Table - 54 Carmine Street, New York NY 10014

212.255.2100 1
Train to Houston Street, A/B/C/D/E/F/V Train to West 4th
www.markettablenyc.com

Market Table has been on my list of places to try ever since I ventured to their sister restaurant, The Little Owl. And since Owl had been such a hit, I expected the food at Market Table to also be exceptional. My co-workers and friends, Leann, Jackie and I ventured there during lunch and had the most pleasant experience.

Atmosphere:
Similarly to The Little Owl, Market Table is simple, rustic yet elegant. I like that it's unassuming from the outside but very cool and unpretentious on the inside. The space is divided into two rooms--the front-of-the-house shop and the back dining room. That's where we sat and it was spacious, modern and well-lit, surrounded by huge windows on all sides. I like that all tables have rustic wooden chopping-block tops. You feel like any minute someone will come by and put a huge piece of bread on it for you to cut and enjoy.

Since we went for lunch, it wasn't too busy but I heard that getting a dinner reservation is nearly impossible. That's why I'd suggest doing what we did--and the same goes for The Little Owl.

Food:
The menu is small and we were happy about that, as it made our choices easy. Our selections ran the gamut, as I had soup, Leann got a sandwich and Jackie went for scallops. Overall, we were super pleased and would gladly go back.

Crispy Calamari - While I wouldn't usually order this for lunch, it caught Jackie's eye and in the end I was glad. It had the most exquisite crunchy crust that I think was made with cornmeal. There was guacamole on it too, which is so different from the norm. It worked beautifully, as the creamy guac soothed the spicy flavor of the chili crema, which was interlaced into the calamari crevices.

Vegetable Chili - I was in the mood for a warm hearty soup and that's pretty much what I got minus the broth. Loving the chunkiness of the soup, I devoured the pieces of tomato, onions and chick peas. The ultimate piece-de-resistance was the corn bread, which made up for the lack of broth in my bowl. Fluffy, sweet and at the same time savory, it provided a tasty mop for what juices there were and I loved putting the veggies on top of it. So yummy and filling too!

Crispy Chicken Cutlet Sandwich - Leann ordered this and it was mighty impressive, not only because of its massive size but also due to its combination of clean flavors. The chicken was cooked perfectly and it remained nice and juicy, while the arugula added a spicy pepperiness and the provologne mellowed things out. It was so large that Leann had trouble finishing it, especially because of the sea of dark, crispy kettle chips that surrounded her plate.

Seared Diver Scallops - Jackie chose the scallops, which wasn't surprising, as she's a known crustacean lover. Having high hopes, Jackie's expectations were met, as she enjoyed these gorgeously golden nuggets of goodness, dressed with peas, creme fraiche and chili oil. I tasted a scallop and liked it but I wouldn't call it spectacular. Toward the end of her meal, Jackie discovered that one of her scallops was not all the way cooked through, which was sort of disturbing, preventing her from finishing it. I'd recommend skipping this option and going for something more simple and traditional.

Hush Puppies - Who doesn't love fried corn bread? We certainly do and were super psyched to have it as our side dish with clover honey butter as an embellishment. How delicious! Each piece was crispy on the outside and so sweet and buttery on the inside. Once dipped into the honey butter, it was even richer and each mouthful provided a sweet-savory decadence.

Service and Cost:
Our waitress was friendly and laid-back. We didn't feel pressured to leave and because the restaurant wasn't crowded, we took our time with the check and chatted a bit. Everything was brought out in good time and we didn't have any complaints whatsoever.

Market Table is a definite splurge and that's another reason why we went there for lunch rather than dinner. Appetizers during lunch range between $9-14, entrees are $14-$19 and sides run between $7-$11. The entire lunch cost us $24 per person with tax and tip.

3 Mmmms

New Beer Garden in Astoria/LIC

Exciting news! The Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden is gaining a competitor, Studio Square Beer Garden Event Space, which is scheduled to open at the end of May. The space boasts an impressive 18,000 square feet and all the beer-gardeny culinary delights that the heart desires such as bratwurst sandwiches, black Angus burgers, beef and chicken kebobs and pulled pork sandwiches.

In addition to the impressive-sounding food--it is a beer garden after all--it features over 15 imported (Spaten and Franziskaner), domestic and draft beers. In addition to bruskis, they'll also have various spirits and even sangria. I was surprised about this and kind of excited too.

In terms of the neighborhood, Studio Square is located near Kaufman Astoria Studios and the Museum of Moving Image, hence its name. The atmosphere will be modern-rustic, with exposed brick walls, industrial fixtures, handcrafted communal picnic tables and fire iron pits.

Entertainment promises movie nights and live music throughout the year.

I welcome this new addition to the 'hood yet it has a lot to live up to with our beloved Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden. An obvious pro will be a less crowded Bohemian Hall but the results have yet to be seen, as Astoria's current beer garden has a lot of sentimental value and history. We shall see...

Studio Square - 35-33 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106
718.383.1001
N/W Train to 36th Street or R/V/G Train to Steinway Street
www.studiosquarenyc.com

Greek Easter at Ovelia

Ovelia Psistaria - 34-01 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103
718.721.7217

N/W Train to 30th Avenue

www.ovelia-ny.com

With Greek Easter this Sunday, Ovelia will be celebrating with a themed prix-fixe consisting of the following scrumptious-sounding dishes:

Magiritsa, traditional Greek soup with eggs, lemon, greens, sweetbreads and liver.

Greek salad and a choice of Rotisserie Lamb or Oven Roasted Leg of Lamb with a choice of a side such as lemon potatoes, broccoli rabe or rice.

For dessert, enjoy Ovelia's sweet loukomades (aka Greek doughnuts).

All this food for $28 per person. Yum!

Sparrow - The Burger Still Got It

Since the departure of Chef Reyes back in May, I've been skeptical about Sparrow and have only been there a handful of times. However, more and more I've been hearing great feedback about its continued excellence, with respect to burgers especially.

Dan and I went there on Saturday night to test how everything--the burgers in particular--measured up. Overall, we were pleased but were just slightly miffed at the slow service and the steep prices.

The Burger - Both Dan and I ordered a medium burger. I got mine with gruyere cheese and salad, while Dan chose the bacon and herbed fries. Enjoying mine very much, it took me back to the days of Reyes, which made sense, as his successor is a close childhood friend and apprentice.

The burger was tender, juicy and flavored with quality herbs. I liked that it was the perfect thickness, substantial enough to fill you up but not so thick that you couldn't take a bite. The bun was a good gripping tool--fluffy, buttery and delicious but not overpowering, thus letting the meat take center stage.

Dan's only complaint was about the bacon--it wasn't crispy enough and just didn't do much for him. The fries however, were zesty, crunchy and plentiful--two thumbs up!

Service and Cost:
Our slow service was the result of one waitress tending to the entire place. She was friendly and nice but unfortunately had a hard time keeping up with the increasing crowd--and who could blame her. She was sweet and apologetic for the delay and even treated us to drinks, which was generous.

While the prices are not outwardly expensive, they add up quick. Our burgers were $9.50 each without the toppings and with everything added together, we paid about $32 for two burgers, which was a bit much. I'm of the $10 or less burger school.

Despite minor drawbacks, I'd give Sparrow's burger 3 Mmmms

Sparrow - 24-01 29th St. Astoria, 11102
718-606-2260
N/W Train to Astoria Blvd

Zodiac - Closed for Good?

About nine months ago, I mentioned the temporary closing of Zodiac Cafe due to renovation. I've been keeping a close eye on it and I haven't seen any sort of progress, making me wonder if this long-time Astoria staple is closed for good. Investigating further, I called their number and it has been disconnected, raising more red flags. If anyone knows the scoop about this place, please drop me a line. And unless I hear otherwise, I'm going to assume that this place is finito.

Zodiac - 30-15 Newtown Avenue, Astoria, NY 11102
718.726.3995
N/W Train to 30th Avenue