Borough Vegetarian

MP Taverna - Upscale Greek Fare in Astoria

Astoria is a tough place for a Greek restaurant to stand out.  There are a seemingly endless number of Greek restaurants in Astoria, many of which boast specific regional, seafood, meet, and/or technique specialities.  And with almost all of the restaurants featuring a range of vegetarian options, we are constantly on the hunt for Astoria's "best."  

Our latest trip was to MP Taverna, part of a mini-empire of Greek restaurants in the New York area, including locations in Long Island, Westchester, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.  MP Taverna's Astoria restaurant is extremely popular, even though it is by several great Greek restaurants within walking distance.  

We made reservations well in advance for a Saturday night dinner, and had a pretty solid meal.  Unlike many Astoria Greek restaurants,  MP Taverna has a relatively constrained menu, so instead of sharing several small menu options, we stuck to two appetizers, a main course each, and dessert.  

I sampled basically the entirety of the vegetarian offerings on the menu, which accounted for approx. one of each of the course options (except for the three vegetarian salads).  Our main appetizer was the special pan-fried cheese, which had a lighter and fresher flavor than most fried saganaki dishes:

We also had the gigantes with feta and tomatoes side as an appetizer with pita bread - it was more tart and acidic than most gigantes dishes, but still pretty good.

Given the lack of vegetarian main course options, I then doubled down on the tomato/feta flavors for the fusilli with roasted tomato, garlic, feta, and spicy croutons.  This dish was far more memorable than the gigantes in that the tomato sauce was surprisingly spicy and the feta added a clear sharpness to the pasta.

To conclude our meal, we had the traditional Galaktobourek, which was served cold at MP Taverna.  This simple Greek custard with phyllo was pretty good, though we generally prefer it when it is warmer.

So while our meal at MP Taverna was good-to-great, in Astoria, where great Greek food is not hard to come by, I am not sure how often we will be returning.  Generally though, if you are looking for a fun night out or a new place for a date, would check out MP Taverna.

MP Taverna

31-29 Ditmars Blvd.

Astoria, Queens

A few short blocks from the N/Q train at Ditmars Blvd.

Tazzina - Solid Italian / Italian American Fare in Forest Hills

While the Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills dining scene has suffered a major blow with Michelin-starred Danny Brown's closing last year, this strip continues to boast among the better restaurants in Queens.  Our latest favorite on this street, which includes fantastic Katsuno and delicious Wafa's, is Tazzina, a casual, friendly Italian / Italian-American restaurant.  

We've visited Tazzina twice over the past few months, including a family birthday celebration.  The draws of Tazzina include its simple, yet accommodating menu and its warm and casual dining room.  It's a great standby for a meal with friends or family, or for an impromptu date night.

On our first visit to Tazzina, we sampled some of their house cocktails, including the bitter but refreshing Sicilian Sunrise.  While Tazzina may have better wine than cocktails, their drinks are not a bad way to start your meal.

Diners are also given toasted pita-style bread and olive tapenade to start.

Post-bread and cocktails is where the restaurant starts to distinguish itself.  My favorite starter so far is the Beet Salad which includes grapefruit, a balsamic dressing, and goat cheese fritters which all add nice complements to the sweetness of the beets and the spiciness of the arugula.  A great salad, which can also be a main course if you aren't too hungry.

My favorite entree so far between the risotto and the pasta I have tried is the Ravioli Ricotta Cacio e Pepe.  While not necessarily a traditional cacio e pepe sauce (far too rich and thick to be so), it is a nice pepper-infused dish with deep, homey flavors from ricotta and the thick sauce.

Another draw of Tazzina is that they will adapt more of their menu offerings to be vegetarian without an issue.  If you find yourself in Forest Hills in need of a filling, simple meal, definitely head to Tazzina!

Tazzina

102-15 Metropolitan Avenue

Forest Hills, Queens

Approx. 1 mile walk from the E/F/M/R trains at 71st-Avenue / Forest Hills

A Bit of New Orleans in Queens - Sugar Freak in Astoria

I am a vegetarian who loves New Orleans and its amazing food.  Think that sounds crazy?  Well, it is - a bit - given that New Orleans is mostly acclaimed for its meat and seafood-based dishes.  But one can still find amazing vegetarian options in New Orleans, and I finally tried of the NOLA-inspired restaurants in NYC, Sugar Freak in Astoria, Queens.

I didn't really try some of the more common NOLA / Creole / Cajun dishes at Sugar Freak, though they do have some vegetarian variations of classic NOLA fare, including a vegetarian étouffée and fried tofu po'boy.  Instead, I ordered the delicious vegetarian mac and cheese with a side of hand-cut french fries.  

The mac and cheese was incredibly well-spiced and had a flavor that was very unique (and delicious).  I had a similarly-flavored mac and cheese at a Jamaican restaurant once, and I must figure out what the spices are - very memorable, as you can tell.

Our visit to Sugar Freak was lively, with great service, and with my toe-in-the-water ordering turning out well, I think I will definitely go for one of their most NOLA-inspired dishes on my next visit.  

If you are missing NOLA and are ever in NYC, definitely check out Sugar Freak!

Sugar Freak

36-18 30th Avenue

Astoria, Queens

Approx. 6 blocks from the N/Q at 30th Avenue

Chela & Garnacha - Great, Casual Mexican Fare in Astoria

Chela & Garnacha has a tiny storefront in the southern part of Astoria, Queens, and with lots of scaffolding and other restaurants on the block, I have to admit that I had walked by it several times without even realizing a restaurant was in the space.  

What led me to Chela & Garnacha instead was glowing Yelp reviews which have elevated Chela & Garnacha to one of the highest-rated restaurants in Astoria.  To note that it serves Mexican fare instead of the other more familiar options in Astoria also made Chela & Garnacha a must-visit.

My eventual visit to Chela & Garnacha didn't disappoint - in fact, I returned the following weekend for brunch.  Both visits featured immediate seating, friendly service, and a no-frills atmosphere.  During my dinner visit, I ordered the quesadillas fritas flor de calabaza (squash blossoms) and the nopales taco, the latter of which I confirmed was fresh and not canned/slimy (nothing worse in my mind than slimy cactus slices).  

My friend also ordered a side of the grilled jalapeños, which were served in some sort of soy-like sauce - very tasty.  Overall, simple flavors and clean presentation.  The only slight downside was that I felt that I had to add a fair amount of salsa/jalapeños to get more spice into the both the quesadillas and taco.

For my brunch visit, I ordered the chilaquiles, one of my favorite Mexican breakfast favorites.  The chilaquiles were served in a tart tomatillo salsa and with an insane amount of avocado and vegetarian black beans.  I was able to cut the tartness of the salsa with some additional red salsas, which made for two strong meals (huge, huge portion of food!).  

I will actually be going to Chela & Garnacha next week for another dinner, so this casual spot is definitely part of my regular Queens rotation!

Chela & Garnacha

33-09 36th Avenue

Astoria, Queens

A few short blocks from the N/Q train at 36th Avenue, and maybe a 5-minute walk from the M/R trains at 36th Street.

Tacuba - Surprising Mexican Find in Astoria, Queens

From the outside, Tacuba, the cavernous restaurant around the corner from the Kaufman Astoria movie theater, seems like a substandard Tex-Mex chain.  While its continual crowds should speak to the quality of its food, for some reason, we had associated the crowds with margarita pitchers, drink specials, and cheap but unsatisfying food.

Thankfully, our preconceptions were put to rest when we were looking for a northwest Queens restaurant that could accommodate a relatively large group at somewhat short notice.  Tacuba not only had very good reviews, but also seemed to be from the same owners as Toloache, a Mexican restaurant in midtown Manhattan that is also surprisingly good given its otherwise tourist-y location and the unfortunate fact that many NYC Mexican restaurants are just not that great.

Despite the aforementioned research, we still went to Tacuba with a bit of apprehension.  Thankfully, our food was very good and the service was also quite accommodating despite a packed house.

I started my Tacuba experience with a pineapple juice cocktail, the "skinny" Pina Para La Nina, which was light, tasty and not overly sweet.

We then started our meal with a number of appetizers, including the guacamole, elote (grilled corn), and chips with actually spicy pureed salsa.

While none of these appetizers was necessarily outstanding, our main courses were really, really well done.  I ordered the Calabazita con Jamaica tacos - one of a few vegetarian options - and was surprised at how well the squash, jalapenos and "crispy" hibiscus flowers worked together.  Sweet and spicy, and the salsa accompaniments also added distinctive flavors as well.

Cocktail two, a cucumber-based "Pepinada" was also really well done and refreshing with fresh juice.

And while we weren't hungry at the end of our meal, we still ordered dessert.  My favorite were the churros, which while seemingly easy, can still be hard to execute really well.  Thankfully, Tacuba's were the right size to get the texture consistent and the dipping sauces were equally well done.  

Moral of the story - don't judge a book by its cover.  And visit Tacuba whenever you are in northwest Queens!

Tacuba

35-01 36th Avenue (near Steinway)

Astoria, Queens

A 5-minute walk from the M/R trains at Steinway Street or a 7-10 minute walk from the N/Q trains at 36th Avenue

Casa del Chef - A Gem in Woodside, Queens

Casa del Chef has made a splash on the Queens dining scene - and for good reason.  The restaurant is a great combination between a high-end, Manhattan-esque seasonal restaurant and the homey, immigrant chef-owned restaurants that otherwise populate the borough.  

And what makes Casa del Chef that much better is that the chef and his family are more than accommodating of food restrictions, including allergies and vegetarianism.  My group of friends opted for the 4-course tasting menu (includes dessert) and despite being the only vegetarian, I didn't feel like I was an oversight.  Each of my dishes was wonderfully crafted and perfectly in season with the early June crop.

Our courses started with a complementary shot of a sugar cane liquor, which wasn't overly sweet despite it's origins and instead was fairly refreshing.

My first course was a rich mushroom construction in a mushroom broth.  Despite my general aversion to mushrooms, I really enjoyed this dish because the mushroom flavor was very deep without the mushrooms themselves being too heavy (my chief complaint with mushroom dishes).

My second course was probably the most reminiscent of dining in a high-end, seasonal restaurant - an asparagus risotto which was light, completely fresh, and flavorful.

My main course was a seared tofu on top of fresh spring peas / beans.  I don't fully remember what the contrasting flavor was on top of the tofu, but my memory is definitely wanting to lick the plate - great dish, albeit maybe slightly big (is that even a proper critique?).

To close our meal, we all got the same dessert - a strawberry sorbet dish which was really fantastic, and again, perfect for the time of year.

We'll definitely be returning and our only fear is that when we arrived for our 8:30pm reservation on a Thursday night, we were the only diners in the restaurant.  Queens - don't let this gem close down!  

Casa del Chef

39-06 64th Street

Woodside, Queens

Approx. 3 - 4 blocks from the 7 train at 61st Street

Soleluna - Casual Italian, Neighborhood Restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

Another vegetarian-friendly, casual Italian restaurant has joined Venturo Osteria in Sunnyside, Queens - Soleluna.  Opened by longtime Sunnyside residents, the casual eatery, which serves breakfast through dinner, offers both a continental and somewhat rustic vibe.

(Mostly took a picture of this complementary bread to show the rustic wood tables)

When we visited Soleluna for the first time a few months back, we sampled several of their vegetarian offerings.  We started with the minestrone soup, which was interestingly chock full of celery and very thick.

While I am not sure if we will order the soup again because of its overwhelming celery flavor, we will certainly get the arancini again, though the portion size seems enough for 3 - 4 people to share instead of 2 (never a bad thing!).

For my main course, I tried the Fagottini alla Valeri0, a fresh pasta stuffed with pear and a light cheese, served in a light butter and rosemary sauce.

The pasta was really light and tasty, though I think I would enjoy it more in cold weather because the pear and rosemary remind me more of fall/winter than spring or summer.  That being said, all of our dishes were simple and fresh, and I can definitely see us returning in the future.

Soleluna

40-01 Queens Blvd.

Sunnyside, Queens

Across the street from the 40th Street stop of the 7 train

 

La Cheesecake - A College Point, Queens Institution

Several weeks back, I paid my first visit to La Cheesecake, the College Point, Queens bakery that has been churning out highly regarded cheesecakes and desserts for decades.  

While my husband has been well acquainted with La Cheesecake creations since his childhood, I don't know if I can remember a La Cheesecake tasting in my past.  

I certainly won't be making that statement again, based on the wonderful desserts we picked up from their wholesale location.  Although the two desserts we selected were quite different from each other - a rainbow bar (like a massive rainbow cookie) and a mini oreo cheesecake - La Cheesecake nailed both.  

The rainbow cookie bar was perfectly moist, and the fruit filling was really fragrant.  The chocolate coating also imparted a great contrasting flavor and textural complement as well.

The mini oreo cheesecake was also great - sweet, light for a non-ricotta cheesecake, and nice flavor from the fruit preserves as well.

Although I had these desserts several weeks ago, I can actually taste both in my mouth as I am writing this post - so I'll definitely be back (as much as my weight goals allow!).

La Cheesecake

126-06 14th Avenue

College Point, Queens

Closest transit option is the Q20B, which connects to the 7 train at Flushing-Main Street

Aliada - Strong Cypriot/Greek Restaurant in Astoria

In our digital age, my version of "stumbling" into restaurants means doing 3 - 4 minutes of smartphone research instead of pouring over reviews days in advance.  Such "stumbling" is what led us to Aliada after a movie at the nearby Kaufman Astoria theater.  

The key factor in picking Aliada was that the restaurant has outdoor seating - important on a perfect summer night.  Thankfully, Aliada also had decent reviews on Yelp and was slightly different than the standard range of Greek restaurants in Astoria in that the reviews highlighted their Cypriot dishes as well.  

While I still don't fully understand the unique features of Cypriot cuisine, we enjoyed the range of dishes we ordered that night and I could definitely see us returning to Aliada in the future.  And vegetarians rejoice - Aliada has a vegetarian entree section on their menu!

We started with a few appetizers, including the scordalia (garlic potato puree):

the grilled halloumi cheese (salty, and firm - yum!):

and finally some complimentary hummus (?) served with the pita bread that came to our table.

My main course was the Spinach Kanellonia, thin crepes filled with spinach and a light cheese and topped with a somewhat nondescript tomato sauce.  While I may not order this main course again because it wasn't as flavorful as I would have liked (mostly due to the sauce), it was definitely a healthy portion and accompanied by great lemon potatoes and rice pilaf.

I have to admit, writing this post makes me want to return to Aliada NOW!

Aliada

29-19 Broadway

Astoria, Queens

2 short blocks from the Broadway N/Q train station

 

Avli - Versatile Greek Option in Bayside, Queens

When we, and many others in NYC, think of Greek food, our natural destination is the northwestern Queens neighborhood of Astoria. Astoria really has everything one would want in terms of Greek and Mediterranean food - upscale, casual, meat, seafood, and vegetarian-friendly places among the perhaps dozens of independently-owned Greek restaurants.  As I type this post, I actually want to walk up to Astoria now to eat some delicious Greek food!

Despite our love of Greek restaurants in Astoria, we have to admit we have a new Greek favorite over the past few years on the other side of the borough - Avli, in the northeastern Queens neighborhood of Bayside.

We first went to Avli a few years back when in northeast Queens and looking for an outdoor dinner location.  We came across Avli and it's beautiful outdoor patio via Yelp, and were at first a bit skeptical of how good the reviews were - maybe folks in northeast Queens were so Greek-starved that a potentially mediocre option had a stream of 4 and 5-star reviews?  But when we arrived to Avli at 9pm on a Friday or Saturday night, and were encountered by a 30-40 minute wait, we knew we were on to something good.

Our subsequent visits have been as good as our original dinner visit to their great outdoor patio.  We recently went for a more casual lunch, and sample a number of vegetarian offerings to complement the meat options that the other diners opted for.

We stared with the saganaki (pictured above) and the gigantes (pictured below), two of my favorite Greek appetizers.  The saganaki, or fried cheese, was salty, liquidity and firm from the heat, and a great way to get my appetite going.

The gigantes or large white beans were also quite flavorful with lots of carrot, onion, tomato and herb flavor.  Too often, gigantes can be a bit too plain (including the version I've made at home), but this version could carry it's own flavors as a potential main course as well.

For my main course, I decided to opt for the simple Greek salad wrap, which had lots of feta, red onion, and vinaigrette.  Although simple, and perhaps a bit overdressed, it was really nicely paired by the grilled wrap and french fries for a complete meal.

Would definitely recommend getting out of the Astoria Greek scene one day to check out Avli!

Avli

38-31 Bell Blvd.

Bayside, Queens

A two-block walk from the Bayside LIRR station