Queens Comfort (Pt 2)

Peanut Butter & Jelly - Skippy Peanut Butter, Grape Jelly, Smoked Bacon

 

 

Mac & Cheese

 Chicken & Waffle – Tabasco Glaze, Maple Syrup, Powdered Sugar

Free-form Tamale with Smoked Pork

The Billionares Salad with Brown Sugar Bacon, Mesclun, Blue Cheese, Poached Egg, Maple Vin

Ring of Fire - Batter Fried Jalapeno & Bell Peppers, Cheddar, Sriracha Aioli (Left)

 Meatloaf Sandwich – Cheddar, Onion Rings, Bacon Ketchup (Right)

House-made Jalapeno Poppers

The Wall of Queens Comfort

In the year or so since I've first reviewed Queens Comfort, I've eaten here nearly 20 times.  It has become my go to place for brunch; when guests are in town and want something funky and fun; weekly dinners with my father who is notoriously picky but loves this place; even for Friday date night with my wife (which is appropriate because our pictures are on the wall). No matter the occasion (aside from perhaps a formal celebratory dinner), this is my place for local delicious food.  The servers seem like old friends, the chef/owner is thankful and passionate about what he serves, and they have an awesome collection of cook books for viewing.  This is a true neighborhood spot where you see the owners of other local restaurants splitting the mac and cheese and nearly every table has friends sharing a bottle of wine or a 6-pack, taking advantage of the BYOB policy, enjoying a few hours while B-movies and classic wrestling moments play on the projector screen.

They have listened to their customers feedback and incorporated change when needed.  Instead of the frozen lego, they now serve a thick fluffy homemade waffle with a tabasco glaze and the most amazing boneless fried chicken breast.  They still serve alot of the delirious southern inspired comfort food with a twist, but now they serve more Mexican food.  The owner Donnie cooks wonderful Mexican food, my favorite dish being his free-form tamale and smoked pork.  The homemade Jalapeno Poppers are the best I've ever had.  Huge, plump jalapenos with the seeds included, fried to a perfect crisp, yet not greasy at all. 

I've had most of the menu and there is not much that is not memorable and delicious.  The Disco Tots with Tater Tots, Sawmill Gravy, Cheddar are a perfect fried snack to share, rich and cream, and begging for the vinegary hot sauce.  The Billionares Salad with Brown Sugar Bacon, Mesclun, Blue Cheese, Poached Egg, Maple Vin is a fantastic spin on a cob.  The flavor is massive, its a perfect start to the meal.

The Peanut Butter, Jelly & Bacon burger is amazing!  It is not as funky as it sounds, its actually a good balance of sweet, salty and umami.  The melting Peanut Butter looks like sharp cheddar cheese but the sweetness reminds me of ketchup.  That may be my favorite burger at QC, but all of them are fantastic.  Served with a huge pile of crispy house-made shoestring french fries.  Absolutely delicious.

The other sandwiches are also worth ordering.  The house-made fresh bologna with a fried egg is excellent and has a very meaty rich flavor.  The Meatloaf Sandwich with Cheddar, Onion Rings, Bacon Ketchup is a huge mess of delicious tender meatloaf paired perfectly with the crunch of a thick Onion Ring.  Even my non onion eating father loved the crunch and taste of the ring.

I love the music they play, the prices are very affordable, the service is attentive friendly and casual, and the vibe is perfect.  This place is a real neighborhood gem, and I look forward to many more meals here.

HinoMaru

Tonkotsu Shoyu (Kagoshima Style) 

Creamy Pork Broth w/ Chashu, Kikurage, Scallion, Menma, Nori, Naruto

Pork Bun

Salmon Salad with Grapefruit

Pork Gyoza

Salt & Pepper Pork

Pork Sausage

Uni & Parmesan Ramen

Fried Squid Legs

Miso (Sapporo Style) 

 Chicken, Pork & Fish Broth w/ Minced Pork, Cabbage, Corn, Scallion, Menma, Bean Sprouts

Perhaps my new favorite restaurant in Astoria.  Fast, inexpensive, creative and most importantly delicious food!  The servers are also quite friendly and knowledgeable about the menu.  I'm not yet a true ramen connoisseur, so I can't really compare this Ramen to many other places.  However I can tell you most of what I've had here is excellent.  They excel in the soup, broth and noodles, with the Japanese style 'Tapas' being good to ok.

My favorite dish they serve is the Uni and Parmesan Ramen.  Really different and unexpected to have fish paired with a cheese based broth, but it works perfectly together.  The Uni is small and mild, but is well accented by the broth.  The noodles are al-dente and delicious!  The broth is rich and filling, yet not to thick.  The bits of tomato provide a nice acid component that helps cut into the richness of the broth.

The Tonkotsu (Hakata style) Ramen is really good.  Rich, silky broth, not to salty; perfect texture of the noodles; great soft braised pork belly and very affordable at around $10.  Highly recommended.

The Pork Sausage appetizer is ok, its more like small hotdogs, complete with the oily texture and taste.  Paired well, just as the Gyoza is, with I believe a puree of sweet squash and a few crunchy bits.  It adds a bit of complexity to an otherwise standard and somewhat oily dish.  The Gyoza also benefits from the accoutrement.  The Takoyaki is dressed well with the usual dancing bonito flakes, but upon first order they are undercooked, and the squid was quite chewy.

The salmon ceviche is nice but served unexpectedly as a salad and is slightly overpowered by the grapefruit.  The Pork buns are the best appetizer I've had here, very soft, flavorful pork belly, although I'm not a fan of the lettuce in the bun, brings down the overall taste.  The salt and pepper pork was unexpectedly served on a skewer and reminded me a lot of something I'd get on the street corner here in Astoria.  Very fatty, and since it was quickly grilled it did not have the time or the temperature to render off, leaving chewy fatty pieces in between decently flavored pork.  Not my favorite dish here.

Highly recommended for the Ramen, its excellent, fast and cheap!  Try and appetizers, some are better than others, and there are still a bunch I have yet to try.

Il Bambino

Chickpea Panzanella Salad

Marinated Sardine, Smoked Tomato and Roasted Garlic Butter, Chili Vincotto

Take out or sit down, this place is a gem for sure.  The food is simple, fresh, high quality and packed with flavor.  Its small, warm, place with attentive service and staff that always has a great attitude.  Best Panini and Crostini in Astoria for sure, maybe the best I've ever had outside of Italy.  The prices are good, the portions are big, this place is just excellent!

One of my favorite offerings is the prosciutto, fig spread and Gorgonzola Panino.  Large crunchy bread, perfectly toasted, great ratio of meat to cheese, perfect match of sweet, salty, and umami.  The Iced Latte was very good, but I would have liked it a bit stronger, perhaps another shot of espresso.  The peanut butter hot chocolate is divine!  Very peanut buttery, sweet, delicious.

On a recent visit I was impressed by the Chickpea Panzanella Salad.  Its not often I order salad, but this was an absolute winner.  Perfect balance of acid and salt, great textural contrast from the soft chickpeas to the crispy chunks of bread.  Huge portion, memorable and worth a visit.  The special of the day a Crab Crostini with crispy shallots and creamy avocado was absolutely perfect.  Loved every bite of this, amazingly flavorful yet simple Crostini.  

The food is simple but goes way beyond expectations.  This is a must try for lunch or for dinner.  Love this place!

My favorite foods in Astoria (Part 2)

Part 2!

 Cobb Salad @ William Hallet
The pork belly and crispy soft boiled egg really make the dish, which could easily be an entree on its own, perhaps paired with one of their delicious beers.

   "Buco"lloni @ Piccola Venezia

Tortelloni filled with Veal Shank (Osso Buco) meat, served in osso buco sauce
Very rich delicious Tortelloni, order a 1/2 portion for an appetizer and go for the Fish for your entree.  This is one of the best pasta dishes they serve.
 



Lambs Cheeks @ Mombar 
They stir it around while its still warm and it gently cooks the egg.  A very rich dish, yet the cheek meat is tender and lean, great for scooping up with a piece of toasted pita.  Fantastic flavor.

Chickpea Panzenella @ Il Bambino
Perfect crisp salad.  The bitter arugula is balanced well by the tomatoes and the citrus/acid vinaigrette.  The salty, soft feta matched with the crunchy oily croutons.  Those fatty little chickpeas add flavor and body to this already delicious salad.  Love it.

Trenza @ La Casa Del Pan
Often sold out, my favorite item from this little 24 hours bread/dessert/chicharon store.... As the name would suggest, the bread is stuffed with three items, cheese, pineapple and guava.  Great for breakfast or dessert.  Everyone loves this one.

 Garlic Soup @ Koliba
If you love garlic and eggs, this dish is for you.  The soup arrives with the egg yolk gently placed on the bottom of the bowl seconds before, inviting you to enjoy the yolk before it fully cooks. Light very garlicky broth is excellent.

Vanilla Loaf @ Martha's Bakery
Typically vanilla is used moderately in desserts, however this extra buttery vanilla pound cake is deep with flavor.  Crisp outside, soft inside.  My favorite thing from Martha's.   

Baby Octopus @ El Boqueron
These little creatures are slightly tough in a pleasant way, in a thick garlicky sauce.  Love the tentacles the most but the heads are also good.

My favorite foods in Astoria (Part 1)

This area is a wealth of authentic, delicious foods.  This is a list of the things I love most.  This is not a list of all things good in Astoria, just my personal favorites.  This is part 1, there is a 2nd part that will be up soon with more goodies!

Grilled Octopus @ Zenon Taverna

The best I’ve had in Astoria (although Sabry’s version is also excellent), this is very tender on the inside, yet the outside is often charred almost to a burnt crisp, which I love!  Excellent flavor and texture, this is my absolute favorite thing to eat in all of Astoria.  The meat is delicate yet rich, with that extra tang from the vinegar and lemon.  The Meze Meal is a close 2^nd for my favorite thing in Astoria, its an insane amount of items for a bout $20 each person (meat, fish or veg), I cannot recommend this enough.

 

 Fried Artechokes @ Sac's Place

Amazingly delicious, memorable little bites, not greasy, not deep fried, perfect appetizer.  Ravioli here is also excellent.

Tiropita Toast with Cream Cheese, Apples & Bacon @ Ovalia

The best breakfast sandwich I think ive ever had.  It’s a perfect mix of salty, savory, sweet bites that are soft from the bread and cheese and crunchy from the bacon and apples, perfect balance.  Order the lamb sausage on the side, excellent herbs and spices inside.

Imbustata @ Ornella

Packed with flavor, so many things inside this envelope of pasta that it all becomes one cohesive flavor.  Great dish!  Also recommended: Chestnut Pasta, Gnocchi and the Sanguinaccio (Pork Blood Chocolate Pudding).

Chef Ali @ Kebab Cafe

He is a legend.  The man who introduced me to the pleasures of eating offal.  Greets you like you are family, wonderful experience.  The lamb cheeks and the sweetbreads are my favorites but lamb brains are quite good as well.

 

Burnt Ends @ John Brown Smokehouse

The best BBQ I’ve ever had in NYC.  Nothing has come close.  This is BBQ perfection to me.

 Anything @ William Hallet
(Pictued below: Perogies with Foie & Bone Marrow)

Amazing flavor and diversity, this food is fun and exciting!  I recommend just about anything.

 Burek @ Djerdan

Light and crispy for something filled with cheese/meat/and or spinach.  Great crunchy outside, soft fresh baked inside, perfect bite of food.

Casu Marzu cheese @ Ornella

Bizarre and delicious, this is not on the menu, but it is around.  Tasty cheese (and worms)!

Baklava Cheesecake @ Amonia 

Never seen this anywhere else, but it’s a perfect mix of salty/sweet, crunchy and soft.  Creative dish that really reflects the area well.

Suckling Pig @ La Rioja

Huge portion of perfectly cooked, tender as anything, pig.  They even give you the option of what cut you would like (rib or leg).  Highly recommended, only served on the weekends.

 

Sushi B @ JJ's

This is the best Sushi I’ve had in Astoria.  It’s a wonderful mix of whatever is freshest, although its not quite omakase, it is somewhat standard.  In the past this included White Tuna and fatty Salmon belly which were amazingly delicious.  Sadly they don’t offer those portions anymore, but the mackerel and the rest of the box (sans the fake crab) are delicious.  Also the miso is above average.

Shrimp & Grits @ Queens Comfort

Had this once, was so memorable it makes the list.  It was packed with bacon, rich, deep flavor, perfectly cooked shrimp that still had a bite to them.  Huge fan of this place.

Pork schnitzel in potato pancake batter-topped with cheese @ Koliba

Pure indulgence, this is a crazy rich heavy dish that I just love.  Nice tender pork in a very crunchy flavorful crust with mild cheese on top.  Heavy yes, but perfection for what it is.  The garlic soup with egg yolk and cheese is also excellent.

Stamatis

Standard but good Greek food in Astoria, decent service, decent prices, nothing outstanding, but nothing at all bad, recommended for sure.  It is quite big and bright, and I believe they pool their tips, because they service is spotty.

The meal starts with nice toasted bread with a few herbs and olive oil.  There is also a huge jar of opened olive oil and one of vinegar on the table, to use as your liking.  They also drop off a small plate of lemons, you can douse just about anything they serve with lemon, and you should.  For appetizers we had the Avgolemono which was thicker then usual, very good version after I squeezed a few more lemon wedges into it.  Great soup.  We also had the fried eggplant with Skorthalia, which I usually find too bitter from way to much raw garlic, thankfully this one was seasoned just right.  Well fried, lightly battered eggplant, nice portion and well matched with the just garlicky enough Skorthalia.  Another good dish.

For entrees we ordered the Seabass and the Sole.  Both were good, although the seabass was overcooked and the Sole took an extra 5 minutes to arrive, albeit with multiple apologies from the server.  My seabass was grilled as I asked for, but it was overcooked to the point that the entire head was burnt, hard to pick at the crevices for tender pieces.  I like the skin crispy so I still enjoyed this dish, especially served with the oil and garlic sauce, but it was a bit dry.  The Sole was fine, standard, a bit boring, but that is on the fish, not the restaurant.  The lemon potatoes were not so good, not enough lemon and since they cook everything (aside from the fish/meat) in advance it sat around and started to break up, not very appetizing.  The rice and peas were passable.

The cherry on top is the free dessert that is so common in Astoria Greek restaurants, (which of course is a Greek tradition).  The name eludes me, but it was phyllo stuffed with a type of custard, topped with honey and cinnamon, wonderful flavor although a bit sweet for one of the dinner guests.  It was surprisingly light, and I personally loved it.  The house wine by carafe was decent, nothing memorable, standard house red.  Overall good meal, large portions, you will not leave hungry.  Decent service, not overly friendly, but attentive to your needs.  The octopus appetizer is $23 which is ridiculous considering how relatively inexpensive octopus is, I know the same dish served better is $12 a few avenues away, however the prices overall were moderate.  Recommended for fish.

Koliba

 
This is a review specifically of their yearly Venison Feast, a very exciting event! This was my first visit and I will absolutely return, I loved this place!  The inside looks like a hunters lodge with wood everything and a few stuffed animal heads on the walls.  It was quite busy when we arrived, the noise level a bit high, and we almost did not get a seat since we did not have a reservation.  Thankfully they seated us, and since 99% of the food appears to be cooked in advance (appropriate since its generally low and slow type food) it was a short meal and they got to turn the table over for the next guests in no time.  Our waitress was very friendly and helpful with the menu and beer choices.  Excellent, attentive service.

For our appetizers we had the combination plate of Goose Pate and Venison Meatloaf.  The pate was amazing, one of the creamiest, richest, full flavored pate i've ever had, we loved this!  The meatloaf did not stand up to the qualify of the pate, it was not bad, but a bit dry and not nearly as flavorful as expected.  Still a nice sized portion for a great price.

We loved both entrees.  Large portions of well cooked, very flavorful, lean, tender deer.  Excellent food!  The Deer Goulash was great, strong, deep flavor, rich but not too thick, well cooked moderately tender deer.  The addition of bacon in this dish was awesome.  I'd order this again for sure, however the venison in cream sauce was better and more tender.  Fuller flavor, deep brown thick cream sauce which was unexpected and delicious.  The sweet cranberries were an excellent foil to the thick velvety sauce, they helped to cut the richness of the dish.  We cleaned the plate of meat, soaked up the remaining sauce with bread and loved every bite.  I enjoyed the German Spaetzle, but preferred the dumplings which were lite and fluffy and reminded me of steamed white bread in Chinatown.  Great sponge for the thick sauce.

Overall excellent, flavorful food, cooked well.  Exciting dishes even when they are not serving the venison feast.  I do look forward to returning to try basically the entire menu.  They have a decent variety of draft beers that are quite inexpensive.  Highly recommended!

Aroma31

 

 

This place is perfect for me, its casual, service is warm, it feels local, and most importantly they serve excellent Mediterranean food.  Everything looked so good we ended up with a 5 course meal on a recent visit!  To start the brought us pita slices with hummus, always a great start, I appreciate the complementary hummus alongside the usual free bread most places in Astoria serve.

For appetizers we had the Mac & Cheese, a simple dish served everywhere but not usual with this much class.  Excellent, huge portion of rich aldente pasta, cooked to order which is always a plus for mac and cheese.  It was so big we had trouble eating the rest of the meal.  The octopus was very good, not the best I've had, nor the softest, was a bit chewy, but a nice portion and well paired with capers and tomatoes, a change on the usual Astoria octopus.  For entrees we had the burger (one of the few items available with the voucher we had, although those conditions were certainly not printed on the voucher.....).  Really amazing thick beef patty with huge flavor.  A better burger than one from the place across the street.  Slightly undercooked, but served with a pile of fries, that were well seasoned, excellent stuff!  The dessert was one of my favorites of all time, Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts.  This item is always something I cant stop thinking about, so simple, great contrast of the tart yogurt with the sweet honey, and the crunch of the walnuts are a perfect foil to the texture of the yogurt.  So simple, so perfect!

The sangria was the only miss of the evening, just terrible, do not order it.  Very watered down, not really Sangria as much as watery cold red wine.  However it was amazingly inexpensive.  Overall excellent food, a chef that knows what he is doing, attention to detail and quality cooking overall.  Good prices too, I look forward to trying this place for brunch, highly recommended!