Spud first reviewed Il Bambino in 2008, and in the past few years our love for this local favorite has only grown. Their soup is our favorite in the entire city! The bold flavors and quality ingredients make for extremely satisfying lunch of soup and crostini. They are known for their panninis, with ingredients like speck, fontina and savory jams. These are real Italian panninis, not the dry, limp Midtown version. We recently tried the peanut butter hot chocolate, which was, of course. amazing. Besides the food, it is really the vibe that draws us in here. The music they play is great and the service is some of the friendliest we have encountered in NYC. The staff believes in the restaurant and it really shows. They are open until midnight on the weekends, to satisfy those late ante dessert cravings.

Check out Spud’s 2008 review – it’s still true!

Il Bambino
34-08 31st Avenue (34/35), Astoria

Go to Il Bambino if you live in Astoria. Even if you don’t live in Astoria, you should go to Il Bambino. Why? Because it’s exactly what a local eatery should be. The menu is small…..only a few crostini, salads and paninis. The establishment is small, it only seats 24. The man who runs it is behind the counter and there is a large pig painted on the wall to illustrate where every cut of delicious pig meat is from. Really, it’s quite educational. As you dive into your crusty panini with a small layer of salty prosciutto, arugula and lemon oil you can stare at the pig and learn that that cured delicacy you are eating is found in the flank of the beast. The vibe here is cool, as are the wait staff who are attentive, yet laid-back. We dined on a salad of chickpeas and spicy arugula with croutons and shared the egg salad crostini sprinkled with white truffle oil and crunched into a perfect panini. It reminded us exactly of how wonderfully simplistic and fresh real Italian cuisine is. In fact, I believe that Il Bambino is as close as you will get to the real thing……those of you that have been to Italy understand the simplicity and beauty of the food, and Il Bambino respects that.
Best and certainly not least, you must have one, (or more) or the delicious cupcakes that Il Bambino makes. We eat a lot of cupcakes, but Il Bambino’s are some of the best we’ve had! We have tried all different kinds (thanks to Litza for bringing so many to our SuperBowl gathering)…..there are cherry cheesecake, PB&J, Brownie, lemon, strawberry, chocolate, snowball…..ect. So tasty and super-worth it! The coffee is rich and lovely as well.
Go there and live la dolce vita!!!

While I was tempted to repeat the delicious delicacies from Round 1, there are just too many options here. Spud and I had big discussions about this foodie food court and settled on a great porchetta sandwich ($9) from Piccolo’s Cafe with a nice hunk of pork, arugula, mozzarella, carmelized onions and a sweet and spicy aioli. Next was a heaping, messy, bold and tangy pork bun (2 for $6) from Fatty Snack. The final savories were from Asiadog: Sidney ($5)- Thai style
relish with mango, cucumber, red onion, crushed peanuts and Mel & Steve ($4.50)- Asian slaw with sesame seeds. Both were good, but not as bold in flavors as the earlier dishes. I will try Asiadog again, because it is supposed to be amazing. On to dessert, with 6 tiny, delicious donuts ($2!) from Cuzin’s Duzin and an excellent Wancko’s cookie ($3) of peanut butter, chocolate chips and pretzel chunks from Sigmund’s. This was another successful adventure at Mad Sq Eats.

The cheap eats gods have aligned and provided us with a place to taste many eats from top food truck vendors and have included hot sunny weather! On the west side of Madison Square Park, until October 21st, you will find a gathering of amazing food vendors like Wafels & Dinges and Momofuku Milk Bar, plus great beers. With nearly everything priced at under $10, I will have to break down my posts by rounds:

Round 1: For our first visit, we tried Manushe ($6) a rolled flatbread with yogurt, mint, cucumber and spices from upscale Lebanese eatery ilili. Next, we had a Cheddar Truffle Pretzel ($3) from pretzel guru Sigmund’s. Both snacks were tasty, but neither compared to the Tomato Chile Dumplings ($6) at Mehtaphor/Graffiti. These dumplings are made on the spot, with crispy edges and bold flavors, and are ridiculously good. I think Chef Mehta might be a genius. The cannolis from Artisan Stuffed Cannolis provided a sweet dessert (3 for $5). Go with the peanut butter cup in a chocolate shell, it’s always a winner. Skip the Shake Shack line, and check out these awesome vendors. (Thanks for the tip Litza!) Stay tuned for Round 2!

This is a tough review for me to write, because without wanting to sound too dramatic, this experience and overall concept has really improved my views on fresh ingredients and simple preparations. First of all, this dinner was my birthday present from my incredible wife, who knows that I have been wanting to dine at Blue Hill at Stone Barns for several years now. The fact that it was a surprise, and that we took the train from Grand Central to Tarrytown, made it all the more special.

Dan Barber is seemingly doing more for the farm-to-table movement, at least on the East Coast, than any other chef at the moment. He has a family farm in the Bershires, the magnificent Stone Barns, and a top Greenwich Village restaurant. He is really a leader in the movement and appreciates food to a degree far superior than most. His knowledge and reverence for quality ingredients and simple preparations has really changed the way that I approach food, at least in theory, if not in everyday practice. We greatly enjoyed the 8 course meal, which is really 12 or 13 courses counting all the extras. From carrots and radishes with stems to lamb’s neck with asparagus, this meal is foodie heaven. If I had the means, and it was more accessible, this is the way that I would want to eat daily. Even in a jacket and tie, I felt more connected to this meal from the surrounding farm than I have to anywhere else.

I could go on and on about each course, and the education we received on the individual ingredients, which were all the freshest I have ever had, but this very recent article from Serious Eats: Blue Hill at Stone Barns, The Most Important Restaurant in America reflects my sentiments, plus it has photos, which we were not allowed to take inside the dining room. I have listed the basic courses (without flowery descriptions) and photos from a tour of the farm. Check out the article, and if you appreciate food and are able to splurge, visit Stone Barns, it is an extremely important restaurant that reconnects us with the past, hopefully impacting our future.

Amuse Bouche
Herb shooter
Potato and kale chip
Zucchini wrapped with panchetta and sesame seeds
Fresh farm vegetables
Bologna slices

8+ Courses
Deconstructed farm salad
Bread with fresh ricotta and pea jam
Egg and copa with asparagus
Bread with fresh butter and carrot & kale salts
Polenta-crusted Halibut with mussels
Smoked turkey and beans
Lamb and morels
Raspberries and mint sorbet
Berry tart and almond ice crema
Strawberry shake and chocolate chip cookies

When I read about the predominant pairing for this new Astoria joint, I was definitely skeptical. Grilled cheese goes with, I don’t know, a milkshake, root beer, maybe iced tea, but coffee, really?? Well, it does, at least at The Queens Kickshaw, because both classic comforts are done exceptionally well.

The husband and wife team, who have worked in top Manhattan restaurants, opened their labor of in March 2011. It’s a little sliver of a storefront right off of Steinway that is really easy to miss. But the narrow and deep space is inviting with a sparse homey rustic feel that complements the extensive menu of beers, wine and coffee. It makes for an excellent coffee or wine bar with some communal tables, but do not overlook the creative grilled cheese, because they are worth a visit alone. We made to make some tough decisions and settled on the savory manchago & ricotta with eggplant and capers with a salad of sweet pickled raisins ($9). It had a classic appearance on thin multi-grain bread. The gouda was sweeter with black bean hummus, guava jam and pickled jalapenos on a thick brioche ($10) accompanied by a spicy salad. Both were fun, delicious, and a step up from a lot of the newer places in Astoria. The not-so-secret ingredient has to be butter. It’s really the way to make excellent grilled cheese. We got the miso-mustard pickled vegetables which were really good, especially for $5. And guess what? The ice coffee was really smooth and did not even require sugar. It was the perfect pairing to cut some of the buttery, cheesy richness of the grilled cheeses. I’m not sure why it’s called Kickshaw, but do know that this winning combo is going into heavy rotation for us.

The way I feel about Bubby’s is akin to a grandmother’s love for her grandchild. Bubby’s can do no wrong and I really love everything about it. It is now over 20 years old and has done an excellent job of adapting to the vast changes in Tribeca and has only improved as it has grown. What started out as a pioneering pie shop is now a neighborhood legend and brunch destination. I love the hominess and subtle kitch of the big cow outside, the wooden decor and even the classic working photobooth by the restrooms. What a great idea in these uber techy times! I also love the versatility of the menus that offer exceptional pie, quality pit barbecue AND dynamite local vegetables. It is quality comfort food that you don’t feel guilty about. Bubby’s is the full package!

And since everyone knows it, the brunch lines are ludicrous, so we usually come for dinner. We’ve had two dinners here recently and all the dishes have been excellent. We had the deviled eggs and pimento cheese sandwich, the crispy artichokes, the roasted chicken, mac ‘n cheese, collards, and the giant vegetable plate, which was above and beyond any I have ever had. And let us not forget the fantastic smooth and silky peanut butter pie. It really is true love here and I can’t wait to visit my Bubby real soon…

It is not often that a new restaurant opens and has 90 years of history to live up to. The Astor Room was originally built in 1920 as a commissary for the Kaufman Astoria studios, and is now back as a classic supper club-themed eatery. This studio that started in the silent era is still cranking out movies and tv series today. I respect that the owners have thought to keep the rich history of this Astoria landmark alive and have done a nice job of converting a difficult lower level space into a transporting setting, complete with 1920′s photos and music, and Chaplin movies on the television over the beautiful bar. The drop ceiling gets complaints, but remember, this is Astoria, and not Park Avenue South, and the menu is very reasonably priced.

All the menus contain a combination of true American classics (Beef Wellington, Oysters Rockefeller, Eggs Benedict) and more modern fare. We tried the brunch and were very happy. We had the not-so-classic combination of a fried oyster & egg sandwich and spaghetti carbonara. The sandwich was rich and flavorful with a nice balance of the crispy oyster and eggs. Carbonara can be an overwhelming dish, but this one was lighter than expected, yet just as bold and creamy. To top if off, the brunch which I think was $12, comes with a mimosa or bloody mary and bonus chocolate truffles at the end! Spud was in heaven and wanted to return the following day.

I hope the Astor Room is catching on, because the owners and staff have but a lot of work into this place and are very attentive. I very much want to go back and try their dinner menu. Perhaps me and my gal will dine on Beef Wellington and a martini? (I have heard the drinks are something special.)

The Modern has the The Modern, The Guggenheim has The Wright, and now The Whitney has Untitled. While the first two seem to be formal and staid (although I haven’t been), Danny Meyer’s new place, elevates the museum cafe to his impeccable standards, but still remains a cafe. You can sit at the counter and order a doughnut and coffee or an egg sandwich. Now this review is a few weeks old, and I visited during the soft opening, with only a partial menu, and a host that clearly had no clue. But only the food mattered, of course, and what I had was so simple, yet so delicious.

Since the Whitney celebrates American art, I chose to celebrate a day off with two American classics: a BLT and cherry pie. They were both extremely satisfying. I usually dismiss the limp bacon, lettuce and tomato, but this one had perfectly crispy bacon, not overly smoked, and the bread was soft white, with perfect proportions. But it took me a few bites to decipher why this simple BLT tasted incredible, it was the tomatoes! They were perfectly ripe and sweet and possibly marinated, but they were just beyond a tomato.

And the pie was from a local source, as is nearly everything at Untitled. Four & Twenty Blackbirds, from Brooklyn, is known for their amazing pies, and this one was just that. The crust was rich and flaky, the cherries sweet and plump. It was damn good. Good enough that I’m going to trek out to the Brooklyn shop real soon.

Like everything Danny Meyer touches, Untitled is exceptional. Now that dinner is being served, I will have to return. This will definitely be a destination on the Upper East Side, with the museum almost an afterthought – and it’s a really good museum.

A few months ago I wrote up 4Food as the future of fast food, and while it had its perks, FoodParc is the winner of this Post-Modern duel. It is natural to compare this east side/west side pair. While they are not related in any way, they did open up around the same time, both offer sleek decor with lots of glass, Formica, and screens, so many screens, and both offer cutting-edge ways to order, with faster food and quality ingredients. But FoodParc just offers more, in almost every way.

The place – not sure I can call it a restaurant – is 4 separate food counters with not only different items but different cuisines. There is Press with coffee and pastries, 3B’s: Burger, BBQ and Beer, Fornetti (Italian), and RedFarm Stand (Asian). You order with touch screens, swipe your credit card, look for your order on screens, go pick it up – and that’s up to 4 different stops, and then sit and eat. I’ve never said this about anywhere, but the seating is my favorite aspect of the whole place. FoodParc is part of the Eleni Hotel and there is a HUGE outdoor patio the whole length of the block. It is between two buildings, open on each end and offers a giant screen showing movies? Images?, not quite sure. Plus, they have a ton of indoor seating, and it’s tiered, so it’s pretty private. In fact, I’m writing this review from my table at FoodParc (with their excellent free wifi)!! That’s a first for WeCouldEat.

So yeah, yeah, yeah, how’s the food?? It was kind of hit and miss. From RedFarm we had pan fried vegetable dumplings ($4.25/4) which had a nice sear and sauce, and were tasty. Also, the Duck Bun ($5.95) was excellent. It’s large slider/smaller burger size with a great squishy bun, a quality piece of duck, not too fatty, and great acid on the shredded cucumber. On the downside, the tomato and basil pasta served on pita ($9.95) from Fornetti was a bummer. It was partially our fault for going whole wheat on both, but there aren’t too many healthier items here. Any of the other options, like a la vodka, carbonara, or bolognese, would have no doubt been more exciting, but I’m not sure any pasta on flatbread is a winner. It leads to incomplete versions of pasta and pizza. When I come back, I will probably stick with just FarmStand, although it would be fair to try 3B’s.

The other negatives were that while I was here at an off-time, it must be a nightmare to navigate during lunch rush, especially since the wait for food isn’t quick – although they will text you when your order is ready. The location is pretty obscure, no man’s land between Herald Square and Chelsea, but I like that, because if this was Union Square, it would be mad packed.  The future may be healthier fast food, in a post-modern stadium seat, but we will see if FoodParc takes off with its huge overhead – literary – there’s a giant hotel on top of it.

If you are a loyal WeCouldEat reader, you know Spud and I are in love with Astoria eats. There is so much diversity, quality, and the prices are grub-tastic. Here are some off the beaten path places we have discovered:
   
Arepas Cafe – Venezualan (33-07 36 Ave): Quality arepas, corn pockets filled with everything from spicy pork to shark to peanut butter + bananas. They are cheap, filling, and a departure from the ordinary. Favorite: Arepas   Bonus: C,reamy, cinnamony, Chicha shake

Cafetal – Mexican  (30-19 Astoria Blvd): A real hole in the wall under the N/W subway where you might have to break out your Spanglish, but the food is no frills and delicious. Favorite: Huge torta filled with meat, beans and the works  Bonus: Mexican Breakfast of sloppy eggs and chorizo, a neighborhood fave. (Now on Seamlessweb!)

Gianpiero Bakery – Italian Bakery (44-17 30th Ave): Even in a mini-Italian neighborhood this old time bakery is a standout. It is all about tradition here. Favorite: The incredible cream that fills cannolis and lobster claws, hell I could eat it with a spoon! Bonus: The old men sitting outside with espresso arguing in Italian.

La Papa – Baked Potato (30th and Crescent): From the Mundo owners, this place is obviously Spud’s dream come true. It’s a shrine to the tuber with amazing baked potatoes and unlimited toppings. Favorite: All American with cheddar, bacon, broccoli and pickles. Bonus: Red lentil soup 

New York Pao de Queijo – Brazilian (31-90 30th Ave): This joint has the craziest combos on their burgers and is a real South American experience, but is tiny so get it delivered. Favorite: X Egg, we love it so much, we’ve dubbed the whole joint “X Egg”. It is a burger topped with egg, bacon, mozzarella, corn, potato sticks, mayo… Bonus: Chocolate shake 

Lorusso’s – Pizza (18-01 26th Road): It’s a nondescript pizza place hidden on a side street, but the focaccia is delicious. $6  gets you a personal size focaccia with an array of toppings. Favorite: Potato. Hands-down this is delicious foccacia with creamy whipped potato topping. The owner keeps the recipe top secret. Bonus: The spinach-ricotta (when the potato sells out).

Zorba’s Souvlaki – Greek (29-05 23rd Ave): You can’t have an Astoria list that doesn’t include Greek. This place is not at all hidden, but can be overlooked on a block packed with eateries. Sit outside and get simply prepared dishes. Favorite: Grilled chicken souvlaki with rice  Bonus: Greek Pizza is huge and tasty.

Istria Sports Club – Istrian (28-09 Astoria Blvd): Intimidating on the outside, friendly on the inside. Feel like a tourist tasting traditional Istrian dishes. Favorite:  Fuzi (Istrian Noodles) Bonus: No sports watching required