Beer Garden - Gorge Fest Galore!

Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden - 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102

718.274.4925

N/W Train to Astoria Blvd

www.bohemianhall.com

The Beer Garden is one of my favorite places to visit in the summer. I know that I'm not alone here, as thousands of people both from Queens and Manhattan hit this place up on weekends--seems like everyone has caught the Beer Garden fever. I learned my lesson from previous frustrating weekend visits and I now only come here on Sundays, when I could actually score a seat. This past Sunday was fun because I was accompanied by my family, good friends Kimberly, Kim & Ken, Ivona & Joe--and of course Dan. We nearly wore out our welcome, staying for nearly five hours, during which much great food and drink were consumed. Below is a summary of our Sunday night gorge fest.

Klobasa (Grilled Kielbasa) - We ordered this as a starter from the grill and although they're large, we got two servings just to be on the safe side. This proved to be a wise decision because we devoured them within minutes, as each piece was juicy and tangy from the grain mustard that we used as dipping sauce. The sausage skin was firm and crunchy--a nice contract with the tender, succulent interior. YUM! Our dining companions agreed that this was a stand-out.

Vepro Knedlo Zelo (Pork with Sauerkraut and Dumplings) - This is my dad's favorite dish and he always orders it when we come here (or any Slovak restaurant for that matter). He really wanted to show our friends how it's done in Slovakia so we ordered three huge portions which seemed absolutely bottomless. I had my fair share and loved it--as always. While it sounds ironic, the sauerkraut was actually sweet and the pork was beautifully tender and moistened by a rich pork gravy. The gravy really made this dish and added flavor to the already moist "knedle" or dumplings. Not only was this tasty but the portions were so large that you got amazing value for your buck.

Segedinsky Gulas (Szegediner goulash and dumplings) - This was even better than the Vepro pork, probably because it was prepared in a cream sauce--why does all the bad stuff taste like heaven? The meat was so wonderfully tender that it fell apart upon contact with the fork. This dish too was served with sauerkraut that was sweet and seasoned with paprika--one of my favorite spices. I'd recommend this for first timers.

Pirohi (Potato Pirogies with Red Cabbage and Sour Cream) - This is a good alternative for vegetarians. My reason for wanting it was for the red cabbage, which is even sweeter that the sauerkraut. Honestly speaking, the dumplings were a little weak--really nothing special and probably just frozen ones that were boiled. While they tasted fine, I wasn't crazy about them but I did adore the sweet--almost candy-like--cabbage. Next time, I'll skip the pirogies and just order a side of red cabbage.

Bramborove Placky (Potato Pancakes with Sour Cream and Apple Sauce) - I've had this dish many times and while it's usually crispy and delicious, it was on the soggy-hard side. How disappointing and anti-climactic! It might've been my fault for reaching for them late in the meal but they just didn't taste right.

Palacinky (Thin Pancakes with Strawberry Jam and Whipped Cream) - These are very different than some of the crepes you'll find in Astoria--the dough is airy and a lot thinner. While I liked them, I thought they were drenched too heavily in whipped cream and chocolate sauce which melted messily, thus creating a sloppy mess. Not pretty to look at and just mediocre to eat. Meh all around.

Service and Cost:

The service as always is a joke. You have to chase down a waitress and practically beg her to serve you, which I did. And quite nicely might I add--I approached her in Slovak and said all my pleases and thank yous. It worked and the food came quickly too.

For the obscene amount of food that I mentioned above, the check was just a little over $110. This fed a total of 7 people, which is really quite the bargain. The beer was another story at $14 a pitcher but they have to make their money somehow. Overall, a fun time was had by all and our bellies protruded nicely towards the end of the night (at least mine did). Mmmm it was so worth it!

Koliba - Slovak Comfort Food

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105

718.626.0430

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.kolibarestaurant.com

Any excuse that I can make for eating Slovak comfort food at Koliba, I make. Yesterday's excuse was getting together with friends, Ivona and Edita and showing them a piece of Slovakia in Queens. It was only a short month ago that I went out with this fun duo and the three of us devoured huge plates of dumplings in Brooklyn's Slovak restaurant, Milan's.

My friends were happy with Koliba's food and I was glad. We were a lot fuller this time because we got more food--and it was a bit heavier than at Milan's. It's true that our tummies suffered the next day but in the end it was so worth it. Good Slovak food and company can't be beat.

Here are some of the dishes that we enjoyed:

Fried Dumplings with Eggs (Vyprazany Knedlik s Vajickom): This dish was completely new to me and we got it as a starter. It looked like scrambled eggs with bacon except that the "bacon" was really fried dumplings. It was awesome and also really filling. The fried dumplings had a sweet aftertaste and reminded me of the Italian pastry, zeppole. What made the dish hearty were the eggs and the cold salty toppings of pickles and roasted red peppers. Although I loved it, I don't think I'd get it next time because of the large portions of their main courses.

Beef with Cream Sauce (Svieckova): This was my dish and while I've had it elsewhere, I haven't yet experienced it at Koliba. It consisted of tender beef in a meaty cream sauce, topped with fresh cranberries. Although the cranberries were an American aberration, they provided a nice sweet finish to the meat. The beef also came with a side of bread dumplings or knedlik, which I adore--its spongy consistency is a delight and when dipped into the cream sauce, the deliciousness is indescribable.

Fried Cauliflower (Vyprazany Karfiol): I was having a hard time deciding between the beef and the cauliflower--so when Ivona decided to get the latter, I was glad because I could try both. My mom makes a mean fried cauliflower and my standards for it are high. Koliba's version didn't disappoint and the cauliflower was fresh on the inside and super crispy on the outside. Once dipped into the tangy tartar sauce, the flavor of this fried treat was at its best. The portion was humongous and I got to sample 2 very large pieces from Ivona's plate.

Fried Cheese Stuffed with Ham (Vyprazany Syr so Sunkou): Another Slovak classic, this is so much more than your typical fried mozzarella. Edita had her eye on it and devoured it with gusto. I got to sample it and it was divine--the cheese was super stringy and the fried crust was thick and again, really crispy. I didn't taste the ham in the cheese but assumed it was there. Edita didn't have any complaints except later on that night--fried food tends to be heavy so eat this large portion of fried goodness with caution.

The service was good, as usual. But like I mentioned, I think that you have a serious advantage if you speak Slovak. Our waitress was friendly and we talked to her about our home country. She revealed that she was from a small rural village, which all three of us have never heard of. For a large country like the U.S. this might not seem weird, but given that Slovakia is so teensy, we were surprised to learn about a new place.

The prices here are very reasonable. Our dinner which included an appetizer, three entrees and three generous glasses of Czech beer cost us $66 (excluding tax and tip).

3 Mmmms

Milan's - My Roots Called So I Answered

Milan's Restaurant - 710 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

718.788.7384

D Train to 25th Street

www.milanrestaurantny.com

I was talking with my family friend Ivona about the Slovak-Czech Varieties Store in Long Island City. She mentioned how much she loves it and that she sends goodies from there to her sister Denisa in Texas. Our nostalgic talk sparked up a good idea and the next thing I knew, I was in Brooklyn at Milan's Restaurant with Ivona and another friend Edita, eating our beloved Slovak delicacy, Bryndzove Halusky.

Atmosphere:

Although the name could be deceiving in the states, Milan's has nothing to do with Italy and everything to do with Slovakia and the Czech Republic. And if you're curious, Milan happens to be a popular male name in Slovakia and is of course the name of this restaurant's proud owner. We had the pleasure of meeting Milan himself and shooting the s*%#t with him--he's quite the character but more on that later.

Visually, Milan's is the epitome of a typical Slovak restaurant--so much so that you can't help but think to yourself "Toto, we're not in Brooklyn anymore." The restaurant is divided into two sections--the everyday dining room and the special occasions private room. I prefer the private room and wish that it was open for regular dining. While this area boasts charming wooden tables and chairs, Slovak crafts and even a stuffed deer's head on the wall, the main room is as simple as can be. In it, you'll find hard tables and chairs with an 80's look and small vases with faux flowers that serve as centerpieces. Although I didn't hear any background music this time, my friends told me that on occasion you'll hear Slovak folk and modern pop tunes coming from the speakers.

Food:

It's evident that we didn't come to Milan's for the atmosphere--our visit was strictly for our beloved Slovak food, Bryndzove Halusky. But before I go into a Halusky hallucination, let me tell you more about our starters and drinks.

Treska and Chlieb:

Treska is a type of fish salad that you'll mostly find in Slovakia--and of course at Milan's. It's a type of cold, sour white fish salad that's much better than a typical white fish found at your local deli. For starters, it's made from a fillet of sole and is enhanced by onions, carrots, mustard and lots of yummy mayonnaise. It tastes best when spread on fresh country bread (or chlieb).

Milan's Treska was amazing--very fresh and very spreadable. The tanginess of the mayo was the best part and I had a hard time not slathering my bread with it for a third time. Ivona and Edita were strategic about their treska consumption--they didn't let any go to waste an in fact bought tubs of it to bring home. Milan's sells these individually and they look like little cream cheese tubs. I managed to snag one as well and am reaping the benefits as we speak.

The Beer:

Ivona and Edita were looking forward to this like no other. And they were right--the beer here is more like a work of art rather than an alcoholic beverage meant for consumption. It comes in a large pint glass with lots of fluffy foam on top--enough to make a Slovak drool. My dining companions went for the Staropramen (Czech beer) while I ordered the Zlaty Bazant (Slovak beer). Both were incredible and enhanced the flavor of our food.

Bryndzove Halusky:

Why is this the best and most coveted Slovak food? It's all in the cheese (or bryndza) that (again) can't be found in most places in the states. It's a sheep's cottage cheese that's ultra creamy and obscenely hearty. Pair this with the gnocchi-like, potato dumplings (halusky) and you got a winning combination. In American terms: think of the best macaroni and cheese you've ever had and multiply that by 100--that's Bryndzove Halusky.

We got a triple order of these sinful dumplings--Edita and I went for the bacon topping while Ivona opted for the cooked onion. They were pure heaven both literally and figuratively. Why? Well, they looked like little soft clouds that you just wanted to bounce on. The bryndza was warm, melted and so thick that we couldn't finish our generous portion. Despite taking more than half of my portion home, I managed to pick out all the thick cut bacon and eat it on the spot. I secretly wished that there was more but it was probably better that there wasn't. My dining companions agreed--they devoured their dishes and took most of their portions home.

Besides the dishes I just mentioned, Milan's serves a variety of Eastern European specialties such as Hungarian Goulash, fried cheese with tartar sauce, homemade Kielbasa, stuffed cabbage and much more.

Service and Cost:

There's much to say about the service because upon stepping into Milan's, you're treated like a friend and a part of the family. We of course spoke to our waiter, Milan himself, in our mother tongue and he was loving it. He got so chummy with us at the end of the meal that he shared some of his neighborhood secrets with us and even gave us chocolates and a treska on the house--what a guy! He's a genuinely nice, hard-working man with a lot of character and Slovak pride.

You can't go wrong with Milan's when it comes to cost. Everything is super reasonable and as I noted, the portions are so large that you're getting incredible value. Our Halusky was $7.50 per plate and that's a dinner portion! Treska was on the house but we bought so many extra tubs to take home that Milan was happy to accommodate us. The beers are cheap too--$4 for a pint of authentic Czech beer. Where else can you get such a deal?

3 Times 10 Mmmms