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

Bar 36 - $16 Brunch with Unlimited Cocktails

Bar 36 - 36-05 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103

718.715.4420

N/W Train to 30th Avenue

www.bar36.com

There are many weekend brunch specials on 30th Avenue but only one offers unlimited morning cocktails--Bar 36. This modern and not yet a year old bar and eatery offers a spectacular setting both indoors and outside. The inside is incredibly sleek with a simple black, white and gray motif and smooth wooden, asymmetrical paneling on the walls. You'll also find funky plant arrangements and a bathroom so stylish that it's worth a trip to the loo. The back of Bar 36 leads to an archway and when passing through it, you'll find yourself in a private outdoor garden, which is both intimate and charming.

I've tried their food before and while I wasn't overly impressed, I want to give Bar 36 another chance, as I sampled their cuisine just a couple of weeks after opening. Mistakes have a way of correcting themselves after some time and I've heard good things from other Astorians, which makes me hopeful.

So...when I saw that Bar 36 is offering a $16 brunch with unlimited cocktails, I was sold. I'll be checking it out soon and reporting back about the quality of food. I peeked over at a two-some enjoying their brunch and it looked pretty damn good.

Below is a sampling of their brunch menu:

Brunch: Saturday - Sunday from 11a-4p

Includes all you can drink mimosas and bloody marys and all you can eat continental buffet.

Classic Eggs Benedict - Poached eggs, Canadian bacon, English muffin, hollandaise with fresh fruit

Build Your Own Omelette - 3 eggs filled with your choice of mushroom, tomato, spinach, feta, cheddar, bacon, sausage, smoked salmon, green pepper or onion

Pancake Factory - Plain or add your choice of chocolate chips, banana, strawberry, blueberry, cinnamon apple, and mango

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad - Romaine, croutons, parmesan cheese

Three Eggs Any Style - Prepared your way, hash browns, choice of bacon or sausage

Chicken Pallard - Grilled chicken breast, spinach salad, goat cheese, warm bacon vinaigrette

36 Mega Burger - 12 ounce sirloin, fries

Lounge 47 - A Groovy Brunch in LIC

Lounge 47 - 47-10 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

718.937.2044

7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave

Brunch is one of my favorite meals and I was excited to check out this casual spot in LIC--an untapped neighborhood for me. I learned about Lounge 47 from a fellow blogger Jon from EateryRow and what sold me was their endearing outdoor garden. It was unfortunate that the weather was too chilly for me to experience it, but I'll be sure to come back and enjoy some sun and more grub soon.

Atmosphere:

Lounge 47 is a funky, 70's era kind of place. The lamps are a bright orange color and the walls are pretty bold too, with brown and orange geometric wallpaper. The space is set up like a lounge in the front, with a comfy chaise, low tables and a nice bar; and like a restaurant in the back, with simple wooden tables and chairs. The back of the house leads to a quaint outdoor garden, which is rustic and colorful--it actually has trees and bushes, which a lot of so-called outdoor gardens in the area don't.

The clientele at Lounge is young and trendy. You'll notice hipsters wearing ultra cool clothes, chatting away happily over eggs and French Toast. I even saw some families with kids and they were cool too--the middle aged mom sitting just one table away had a hipper haircut than me! Overall, Lounge offers a chill vibe and is a pleasant hideaway on weekend mornings.

Food:

While the food satisfied me, it didn't wow me by any means. I'd call it solid and satisfactory but wouldn't rant and rave about it. Here's what we tried:

Mini-Muffins - These were my favorite part of the meal and they came out as a complimentary starter, in place of bread. It was obvious that the muffins were freshly baked--they were sweet, moist and a little crunchy on the outside--just the way I like 'em. Two varieties were served--corn and banana. And while the corn looked better, the banana muffin simply hit it out of the ballpark in terms of taste--it wasn't overly sweet and tasted so natural. You could sense that real fruit was used to create this lovely snack.

Huevos Rancheros - Wow! This sounded absolutely amazing on the menu--eggs, tortilla chips, pico de gallo, jalapenos and avocado. What more could a girl ask for? I have to be honest though and say that I was a bit disappointed. The most surprising ingredient in this dish was the curry. I didn't dislike it and actually started enjoying it until it became overpowering and I didn't care for it anymore. There was also a problem with the avocado that was sliced on top of the eggs--it could've been cut thicker. The thin slices weren't hearty enough and seemed to melt into the eggs. Meh...

Spinach Egg white Omelet - This was my cousin Vicky's dish. She enjoyed it and let me taste it. Again, good but not excellent. I thought that the eggs could've used more seasoning but she cleaned her plate and seemed satisfied.

A side note about the portions--they are generous and you get great value.

Dining Tip #1: Go for the burgers--they're pretty gnarly and even won a TimeOut New York award.

Dining Tip #2: Don't forget to try Lounge's signature Wasabi Deviled Eggs--talk about hot!

Service and Cost:

No complaints about the service, it was quite good. Our waitress was nice and unobtrusive. She gave us good recommendations and tips about each dish. For example she told me to get jalapenos on the side with my huevos--a smart choice considering that I probably would've passed out from all that heat.

Lounge offers great value for brunch. $13 will get you an entree, those delish mini-muffins, coffee and a morning cocktail. And if you do go for the burger and the Wasabi Delived Eggs, they'll cost you around $8.50-$11 and $3 respectively.

2 Mmmms

Kafene - All Day Breakfast and Burger Joint

Kafene - 23-08 Hoyt Avenue South, Astoria, NY 11102

718.274.6525

N/W Train to Astoria Blvd

Another fun spotting by Miss Margot, who jogs around the hood, doing double duty--staying in ship-shape and scoping out Astoria's new fooderies. Kafene happens to be somewhat near my place so I decided to take a detour there this morning before going to work. 2 words--so cute! Margot and I will be checking it out properly and treating ourselves to some of their grub, which smelled mighty fine.

Kafene is small and used to be a hangout for the old--literally older men--called Jerry's Place. It remains rustic and homey looking but has definitely been spruced up. There's one guy behind the counter by the name of Constantine. I'm not sure if he cooks and serves but it sure looked like it this morning. He was sweet and so welcoming when I came in--a toothy smile on his face, ready to make me the breakfast of my dreams. Maybe soon. Real soon.

The menu is displayed outside and is a fusion of American and Greek eats. Here's a glimpse of it. The prices look phenomenally cheap! Check it out on a lovely day--they have outdoor seating and they're open late, until 11p.

From the Grill: (served with hand-cut fries, lettuce, tomato and onions)

Greek Burger...$5.75

Italian Burger...$5.75

Western Burger...$5.75

Healthy Euro Toast...$4.25...Make your own option, add bacon...+$.75, add grilled chicken...+$1.50, add hummus...+$1.00

From the Sea:

Crabcakes (3)...$5.75

Shrimp (6)...$6.75

Salmon Burger...$7.75

All Day Breakfast:

2 eggs with bacon on a roll with coffee...$3.00

Greek Omelette...$4.50

Western Omelette...$4.00

Another positive is that Astoria Park is directly across the street--you can head on down after your meal.

Want to work at Kafene? See here!

All Day Brunch--Euro Style!

Euro Delights - 32-02 Broadway Astoria, NY 11106

718.777.2270

N/W Train to Broadway

I used to frequent Euro Delights a lot when I lived in that part of the 'hood. For those of you who haven't tried it yet, their crepes are superb. Walking by the other day, I saw that they serve brunch food all day long! How great is that? Pop in for a delicious and inexpensive crepe (both sweet and savory--your choice), an omelette, french toast or pancakes. Their sandwiches and wraps are yummy too!

Here's a sampling of their menu--and some great prices that won't hurt your wallet.

Omelettes: $6.25 (include various toppings)

Wraps: $5.95 - $6.95 (the higher priced wraps include shrimp) All wraps are served with a side salad or fries.

Pancakes or French Toast: Start at $3.25 and you get three pieces per serving.

Crepes: $3.95 - $9.95. These include both sweet and savory. My favorite is the Marie Antoinette with Nutella, bananas, strawberries and a sweet liquor. I've only tried their dessert crepes but that's just my thing--put anything in front of me with Nutella and I'm happy.

Enjoy it and I'd love to hear your thoughts.