Sparrow Brunch - Different and Delightful

Sparrow - 24-01 29th Street, Astoria New York 11102
718.606.2260
N/W Train to Astoria Blvd

Sparrow continues to be one of my favorite local hangouts and last week was the first time that I tried their brunch. I just loved it and couldn't believe how many options there were. Their chef, Pablo is proving to live up to Reyes' standards, which is just wonderful.

Here's what I tried last week - I'd strongly suggest it:

Leeks and Eggs - What an inventive combo! I adore leeks and eggs respectively and was immediately drawn to this option. My dining companion, Rachel ordered it too and seemed to love it. The eggs were poached nicely for the most part and still had that runny consistency. I loved biting into small pieces of tender leeks--they gave the dish an earthy taste and a hint of freshness. The sweet potato-onion hash was fantastic and again, another interesting spin on ordinary morning hash. The sweetness and caramelization of the onions was welcome, providing my favorite combination of sweet and savory. I will definitely be ordering it again.

Besides this dish, my dining companion, Harlan ordered the breakfast burger with an egg on top, served on an English muffin. He seemed to like it along with the onion fries that came with it.

Sparrow's coffee is also delicious. I got a cappuccino and was impressed by its yummy taste. I think that they use Danesi coffee, which is from Italy.

Service and Cost:
The service was decent and unobtrusive. I didn't notice our waitress much but that's not to say that she ignored us. We were well taken care of without being fussed-over, if that makes sense. I experienced that service is a lot better during the day than at night, when it gets really crowded.

Costs are mild with most brunch dishes in the $10-$12 range. There isn't a coffee/entree combo unfortunately but that was OK by me. The entire meal set up back about $17/person, which isn't too bad.

3 Mmmms

Mother's Day in Astoria

Mother's Day is this Sunday and there's never a lack of activity in Astoria. Below you'll find interesting restaurant specials and suggestions for a Mother's Day lunch, dinner or brunch.

Prix-Fixe Specials:

Seva - Although this isn't a Mother's Day prix-fixe per se, I'd recommend a visit here for either lunch or dinner. They offer a $12 three-course dinner and a $7 two-course brunch. The portions are generous, the food is delicious and it's a BYOB so you could bring your own wine. 30-07 34th street, Astoria, NY 11103. 718.626.4440

Bistro Les Minots - Their $29.95/person all-day Mother's Day special will feature classic French dishes such as escargots, braised short ribs, an apple tart and the like. Brunch will be offered between 11am - 4:30pm, showcasing their regular menu. 47-16 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.606.2535

Ovelia - Promising a modern Greek experience, Ovelia's $28/person three-course prix-fixe is packed with flavorful dishes such as homemade Greek sausage, fresh seafood, a leg of lamb among others. 34-01 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.721.7217

Zenon Taverna - Both a prix-fixe (price is still being decided) and the regular menu will be available. I prefer their keftedes or Cypriot meatballs that are full of flavor and spice. The hospitality is wonderful--it's very much a family oriented place. 34-10 31st Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106. 718.956.0133

Cavo - An upscale Mother's Day at this Greek eatery includes a $54/per person four-course meal, complete with a tuna roll sampling, salad, a variety of entrees and dessert. Click here for the Mother's Day menu. Valet parking is complimentary and seating starts at 1pm. 42-18 31st Ave, Astoria, NY 11103. 718.721.1001

Trattoria L'Incontro - Although this place is all booked up for Mother's Day, if you want it bad enough, you can call to see if they get cancellations between now and Sunday. The offering is a $60 four-course prix-fixe. Another splurge but the food is fantastic! 21-76 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.721.3532

Specials but no Prix-Fixe:

Vesta - A great place to bring Mom, Vesta has a cozy, unpretentious vibe. Brunch will be available from 11am - 4pm and dinner will start at 5pm and go until 10pm. Special dishes added to the menu include charred calamari, orecchiette with asparagus ragu and double lump-blue crab cakes. 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.545.5550

Mundo - They'll have a couple of daily specials, one of which includes grilled shrimp but aside from that, their menu will remain unchanged. Good thing too because they already offer so many goodies such as empanadas, red sonjas and Ottoman dumplings. 31-18 Broadway #E, Astoria. 718.777.2829

718 - Serving dinner dishes all day long, the daily specials encompass a variety of grilled plates such as calamari, a rack of lamb, sea scallops--and the only non-grilled specials offering is the chocolate tartlet. Personally, I love their tarte flambees--try those! 35-01 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.204.5553

Il Bambino - Want to bring Mom to an Astoria gem? Try Il Bambino where they'll have a couple of panini, crostini and salad specials for Mother's Day. Besides that, their fabulous menu of crunchy paninis and small plates remains the same. 34-08 31st Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106. 718.626.0087

Business as Usual but Still Noteworthy:

Akti - The fresh seafood here is always impressive and they have a delectable meze selection. It's been open for about a year and has gotten very popular. They're almost booked up for Mother's Day but have a couple of open reservations (7:30pm, 8:00pm) so call soon if you're interested. 34-19 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103. 718.721.3530

Agnanti - If you're looking for traditional Greek food, this is it. Halloumi, biftekia, keftedes, Agnanti has it all. They might end up with some daily specials but that hasn't been decided yet. Reservations are suggested, as Agnanti gets crowded. 19-06 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.833.7033

Piccola Venezia - An upscale Italian joint, it's on the traditional side and their fresh pasta is supposed to be superb. The signature menu will stay the same for Mother's Day and there will be three main seatings -- 1:00pm, 3:30pm and 6:30pm. 42-01 28th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.721.8470

Happy Mother's Day Astoria!

Seva - New Menu Items, So Delish

Seva - 30-07 34th street, Astoria, NY 11103
718.626.4440
N/W Train to 30th Avenue
www.sevaindianrestaurant.com

One of my favorite restaurants in Astoria is Seva, not only because the food is made with love but also because of how affordable it is. If you haven't yet tried their $12 three-course dinner prix-fixe, I urge you to do so. No gimmicks, no tricks, just good food--and an added bonus is that it's still BYOB so you could bring your own bottle of vino.

I had the pleasure of dining there last week and tried some new--as well as staple--menu items:

Eggplant Chat - Immediately liking this appetizer, it was fried with a light, fluffy batter, dressed with refreshing mint and tamarind chutneys. I think that this dish appeals to an American palate, as the texture very much resembles fried foods that are so deeply loved by our culture. The sauces are what made this dish stand out for me because they refreshed the senses and cleaned the palate after each bite. Just wonderful!

Lamb Biryani - Although this item isn't new to Seva, it was new to me. I adore slow-cooked dishes and knew that my tastebuds would agree with the tender lamb and deeply flavored rice that made up this entree. Liking how hearty it was, the portion was especially generous and I shared it with my dining companion, with plenty to spare for the next day. I'd recommend getting it cooked medium spicy, as you definitely taste the flavorful spice mix without overwhelming your palate. Once again, a cooling sauce called raita was served alongside it, restoring your mouth to serenity.

Fruit and Nut Nan - You really can't go wrong with Seva's nans, which are baked in-house in their Tandoor oven. I've tried the rosemary, garlic and onion nan before but never the fruit and nut, so it was time. I just loved it--mixing sweet and savory is always up my alley and I enjoyed biting into the sweet bread after having a hearty forkful of lamb.

Mango Lassi - Although a typical Indian drink, it was new and unfamiliar to me. There was nothing not to like, as it's basically a yogurt smoothie flavored with mango. While it's thick and filling, it's not quite as heavy as some mainstream fruit smoothies. The simplicity and clean flavors don't go unnoticed and I'd recommend getting it as a light dessert.

Service and Cost:
Our servers were cordial, warm and attentive. That's just another thing that makes Seva special--their hospitality and nurturing atmosphere. There's never a time that I don't get asked how I liked everything and if there's anything else they could do for me. I always feel well taken care of and comfortable.

The prices are as gentle as can be and make Seva an excellent dine-in or take-out option. Appetizers range between $3-$6, main courses are $8-$11, and as mentioned above, their three-course dinner prix-fixe is only $12.

3 Mmmms

Food 2 Launches - I Meet Top Chef Former Astorian

Last week I had the great fun of attending a party at the Food Network kitchens, which celebrated the launch of their new blog, Food 2. Already on my go-to blog list, Food 2 caters to a young, professional crowd with a passion for food. Most recipes on the site require only a few minutes to prepare and there's even a post about cubicle cooking. Weird? I call it innovative and whimsical.

At the party, we got to see the Food Network test kitchen, which is huge and very state of the art. We even sampled goodies prepared by their friendly staff, which included mutton burgers, veggie arepa minis, grilled cheese sandwiches, blue fish pickled onion sandwiches as well as country smoked ham on buttery biscuits. Some of the nibbles were better than others and I preferred the interesting mutton burger, which was tender and flavorful, albeit a bit undercooked. I also liked the mini arepas with their sweet, savory flavor and a nice crunch around the edges, packed with corn, cilantro, tomatoes and onions. Yum!

Another highlight of the party was meeting Spike Mendelsohn, Top Chef contestant and star of Food 2's video series Kelsey and Spike Cook. I like this show because it portrays two culinary perspectives, one (Kelsey's) is more traditional yet still modern and the other (Spike's) is unconventional and provocative. I tend to like the latter but you can see for yourself. In their latest episode, they show how to grill steak two ways.

Spike was real cool and friendly, revealing that he too lived in Astoria at one point and relished in all of the amazing food choices that our neighborhood offers. He's Greek so naturally, he felt right at home.

Enjoy Food 2 and check out Spike's show to get some good food ideas.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Astoria and LIC

Cinco de Mayo is here (tomorrow) and although the weather might not cooperate, the neighborhood restaurants and bars are breaking out all sorts of good specials that are worth checking out.

Specials

Mojave - Live music will get things started along with a complimentary first round of margaritas or sangritas with dinner. 22-36 31st Street, Astoria NY 11105. 718.545.4100

Margaritaville - The casual Mexican eatery will feature $4 shots of tequila, $20 buckets of beer (any beer) but the food offering won't vary from the everyday menu. 38-01 Broadway, Astoria NY 11103. 718.777.1707

Luna de Juarez - This boisterous Mexican cafe will host a party with live music, giveaways and 2-for-1 drinks for happy hour from 5pm - 8pm. 25-98 Steinway St, Astoria NY 11103. 718.274.4350

La Vuelta - LIC's Latin bistro will turn it up for tomorrow's holiday with $5 margaritas, $3 tequila shots and their scrumptious-sounding and gently priced grub. 10-43 44th Drive, Long Island City, NY 11101. 718.361.1858

Blackbird's - It's all about the drinks with tequila shots, margaritas and mojitos on special for $6. The food is just OK but the atmosphere is friendly and comfortable, a good place to grab a drink. 41-19 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.943.6899

Ovelia - Although far from Latin, they'll have Mexican menu items tomorrow and will offer $4 Negra Modelo and Corona beer, $5 sangria, margaritas and tequila shots. 34-01 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.721.7217

Gleason's - The newly opened bar on Broadway boasts a $3 tequila and Corona special. It's a good opportunity to check out their new diggs. 33-08 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106. 718.626.5393

Business as Usual but Still Noteworthy

El Boqueron - Although the menu and the drinks will be the same as usual, they make a mean sangria (pictured above). If you're looking for a quieter, tamer Cinco de Mayo, you'll find it here. 31-01 34th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106. 718.956.0107

Los Amigos - One of the more authentic Mexican restaurants in Astoria, it's good but not fancy. The food and drinks are already cheap, so there's no break in price. I do think that it's worth a visit. 22-73 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.726.8708

Mundo - This cozy fusion restaurant will feature a shrimp casserole tomorrow and serve their yummy sangria, priced as usual. 31-18 Broadway #E, Astoria. 718.777.2829

Enjoy celebrating!

Gleason's - The Beer is Flowing

Gleason's on Broadway has been open for about two and a half weeks now, and it's buzzing. The cheery vibe and sports-oriented atmosphere makes it a social place to visit, and it's lovely how they open up the front on warm days. While I haven't been yet, I'm planning to check it out on Tuesday for Cinco de Mayo. They'll be having some specials and I'll get back to you about the details, as they're still being finalized. In the meantime, below is more information about their daily happy hour.

Happy Hour Special - 4pm - 7pm
Draft pints - $4
Mixed drinks - $4
Top shelf - $5
Bottles - $3
Imports - $4

Gleason's Fine Food and Spirits - 33-08 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106
718.626.5393
N/W Train to Broadway