Astor Bake Shop

An oasis in the middle of the desert, this expansive corner spot with high ceilings showcases the baked goods of it's expert owner/baker. Having been a pastry chef at some of Manhattan's top restaurants- he opened his own joint in the lovely Astoria 'hood. Delectable baked goods, and smells abound here. I found Astor while chowing down at the Foundry event for Queens Harvest(the first Queens food co-op). Pumpkin eclairs, apples covered in chocolate and pecans, coconut cake, the lovely rustic apple pie(pictured) I particularly enjoyed the red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting to which the baker adds granualated sugar on top for some flavor and "textural contrast". Their are some savories on the menu including a burger and chicken sandwich. The space and relaxed vibe lends itself to some major sweet tooth satisfisfaction. If I lived nearby, I would live in here. 12-23 Astoria Blvd.
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Queens Eats

Queens Eats was a benefit at "The Foundry" in Long Island City to benefit the first Queens food Co-op named the Queens Harvest Food Co-op. A brilliant industrial space featuring some top Queens restaurants including M Wells, De Mole, Testaccio, Vesta, Market and Bareburger. Bakeries such as Cream and the fabulous Astor bakeshop sweetened the pot. Standout savories included the frank with beens and homemade slaw from my beloved M Wells and brisket and slaw sliders on brioche roll from Market. The Astor baker rocked out with red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing with some granulated sugar on top.

Food Parc

A food bazaar with a high tech twist. Order from computer stations around this multi-culti food spot. Italian pizzas and paninis, burgers and grilled cheese, Asian flair at Redfarm stand and desserts at the dessert station. Luxe, loungey seating inside are great. Food is hit or miss as the burgers rock out with Pat La Frieda meats. The Redfarm stands offer some innovative choices like smoked bacon egg rolls and water chestnut and arugula salad with passion fruit dressing- both yum and under $10 plus made to order. The 3B Burger Station offers made to order burgers with meats from Pat La Frieda. A cheeseburger, fries and a small drink run under $10. Patty is cooked on the flattop and steamed with American cheese, a special sauce and lettuce and tomato. Fries are cooked and salted to perfection. You can eat well and cheaply here if you choose wisely. Sixth Ave. and 29th St.
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Hallo Berlin Express

German soul food at a narrow spot with a food cart inside. This express cart is sort of like eating at an indoor food cart and the food is quite good. The single soul food special at lunch($7.50) is quite the deal. Choose your wurst, and that is chopped and mixed with fried(pan) with red cabbage and a nice spicy mustard. Sort of a hearty, porky mix. I choose the bratwurst twice which is panfried and the combination of flavors- spicy, sour, hearty is a satisfying combination of tastes served with a fresh roll. Double soul mix with a second wurst is a little pricier. This is a lunch deal.
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Blackburn Burger

A ninth Ave. burger spot is enticing especially when the lunch special here is $7.95 for a main and side or salad. I went with the Blackburn burger- a 100% lean beef burger on a seeded bun with romaine lettuce, tomato, pickles and cheddar. A pretty stellar burger albeith cooked medium well and not the medium requested. A side of grilled fingerling potatoes with a dab of pesto was yummy. On my second visit, I had the spicy corn and shrimp soup served with freshly baked bread. Repeat on the potatoes for a nice light lunch. Service is charming and friendly.
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Qathra

Qathra is a new coffee house/cafe on the ever burgeoning Cortelyou Road scene. It orders it's bread from Balthazar and serves it's food with a Middleeastern twist. On a pretty fall day- it is crowded and the lovely garden beckons. I had a creative lunch sandwich of hummus, avocado and sprouts on an everything focaccia(pictured). The sandwich was under $10 and enjoyed the outdoor garden. The service is decidedly more friendly than the other folks on the road. Brownies which are baked in house(also pictured) looked delish. Other baked goods come from Balthazar and the busy cafe is definitely embraced by the hood. Cortelyou Road area.
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Ta Cocina

$6.95 lunch special make this one of the best deals on the Avenue. Fresh chips and salsa are plentiful. Not too crowded and a comfortable spot for lunchtime grub. Lots of the usual suspects for lunch like the steak burrito pictured with fresh meat, choice of beans, rice, and pungent pico de gallo. Also tried the veggie chimichanga which was lightly fried and served with a side of black beans and cheese.
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http://www.tacocina.com

Peter Luger's Steakhouse

The grand dame of steakhouses in New York is in Williamsburg Brooklyn where it has been for over 100 years. Cash, debit or Peter Luger's cards only here. You must be a carnivore here as the meat is the star of the show. My friend and I ordered jumbo shrimp, and a thick slab of bacon to start. The shrimp were jumbo and juicy served with homememade cocktail sauce which tasted like Luger sauce with horseradish. The rolls here are super fresh and tasty. Now for the main event- we ordered the Porterhouse medium rare and it was a beautiful sight. Perfectly cooked, super tender, a great American steak. American steaks are a little underseasoned to my palate sometimes and this steak features the flavor of the meat, without alot of salt or seasoning like some South American style steaks. The onion rings to accompany were delish. For dessert we went with the hot fudge sundaes. When I asked the waiter(friendly by Luger standards) where the ice-cream was made he said Haagen Daz. Luger's has a formula and doesn't deviate which is suprising with all the great homemade ice-cream around. Still quite satisfying even with Haagen Daz.
If you are craving some great American beef and have the bucks to shell out, this is the place.
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Artichoke Basil/Westiside

Artichoke moves west to the Meatpacking District with a restaurant and slice shop. The slice shop features the usual suspects of square, magherita and the artichoke signature slice. Pizza is a little pricier than the east side with two pieces topping out at $9. On the plus side the small shop is not as crowded and pies are fresher and not as charred. Head over to the Highline while weather permits to chow down on some great pizza.
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Hill Country Chicken

The new outpost of chicken opened by the very successful Hill Country Barbecue people is a mixed bag of chicken. Kitschy, cute retro decor and value priced, alacarte eating make it a fun destination. The food is another story. Having eaten there twice- 2nd time on a gift certificate, I am not a fan of the skin on chicken. Looking dark and tasty- it is seasonless and crunchless. It tastes almost baked. The skinless chicken has somewhat more crunch. The sides are another matter- cheesy mashed is spyicy, cheesey comfort food deliciousness. The blistered corn is decent. The pies are small and delish- tried the banana cream and double cherry.
You could eat a meal plus dessert for under $20, which isn't over the hill.
SLOW GO! Broadway at 25th. Street

The Double Windsor

The former Royal Video store on this key corner has morphed into a lovely local bar with thoughtful ingredients and a wide variety of drafts. If I still lived in this pretty hamlet this would be my neighborhood go-to spot. There is a weird system of ordering food in a little window near the kitchen and then ordering your drinks at the bar. Nevertheless, the grub and drink are worth it. $11 bought a slow roasted Heritage pork sandwich with a side salad or fries. The spicy, sweet, tangy pork pieces were delish as were the crispy fries. The Troegs Dreamweaver wheat was a perfect compliment. Happy hour takes $2 off the brew making this draft $4. On the nice day we were there with breezes from the park, I grew nostalgic for Brooklyn living. Corner of 16th St, and Prospect Park West.
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Westside Steakhouse

Westside gets a new great value priced steakhouse. Where steakhouses are normally the realm of just big lifetime celebrations, this restaurant brings high end steak to the people of the Westside and beyond. Menu items reflect traditional steakhouse fare, at a fraction of the cost. Warmed olive bread with butter arrived pronto at the table. For lunch, I ordered sliced beefsteak tomatoes with sweet Georgia onions a steakhouse classic for $6.50 with steak sauce. The sweetness of the tomatoes and the crunch of the onions makes for a great start. Next up, I ordered a center-cut porkchop which arrived glistening with steakhouse fries for $13. Perfectly cooked and oh so satisfying with the tasty large fries, I can't wait to return for dinner and order the porterhouse or ribeye. The dining room is pretty and faces the burgeoning scene on 10th Ave. Traditional sides like creamed spinach and baked potato are also available. Liquor license is in the works. Personalized service makes for a unique steakhouse experience.
MUST GO!