Leng

Hidden behind the scaffolding that seems to permanently occupy Broadway and 34th Street sits Leng. From the outside, Leng looks like any typical restaurant, with a front waiting section, bar, and seating area. However once inside, you discover this is not the case. The waiting area consists of a bench and a side table piled with the latest magazines, and a full bar lined with stools. As you walk further into the restaurant, tables line one of the walls, facing a semi open kitchen. My friend and I were ready to sit down on one of these tables until we realized there was a back room full of more tables. Walking deeper inside, we came to this beautifully decorated back room, which had an entire glass wall facing a large courtyard and impressively tall bamboo garden, which is open and alive during the warmer months.

Courtyard + bamboo garden

The story of Leng started when the owner’s father, named Leng, opened his own restaurant in Bangkok in 1942. Years and miles have bought the recipes from Thailand to the heart of Astoria, as the Siricharoen family operates this Thai and Asian restaurant.

Leng’s décor has a trendy, modern look with a folksy, Asian twist. Dark wood panels of various widths diffuse purple, blue, and red lights that filter through the rooms, while diverse tiffin carriers and Asian beer and sake bottles sit on shelves in the back room.  Paintings of flowers line the kitchen area, while ornamented wood panels decorate the rustic washed walls of the back room, next to a picture depicting Thai monks. The lighting is dim, and aided by candlelight, each table displaying a different color and style candle holder.

Seating alongside the open kitchen

Interior of Leng

Interior back room

For our visit, my friend and I started with the Chicken Thai Satay, and moved on to the Gai Pad Med Mamuang and Bul Go Gui, with the Fried Banana for dessert. Shortly after ordering, a complimentary dish of sweet fried noodles arrived on our table in a bamboo steamer. The dish was tasty, sweet, and sticky with a subtle spicy kick. It reminded my friend of kettle corn, and reminded me of a Rice Krispies treat; regardless of the comparisons, it was a fun and light way to start our meals.

Sweet fried noodles

 The Chicken Satay was served with peanut sauce and pickled vegetables, both of which were excellent paired with the marinated and grilled chicken. The peanut sauce was so full of deep flavor, and the vegetables were crunchy and tangy.

Chicken Satay + sweet fried noodles + Thai ice tea

Service is speedy at Leng – we were still finishing up our Satay when our entrees came out. The menu said the Gai Pad Med consists of chicken sautéed with cashews, onions, scallions, and dried chili, however upon receiving my dish, I found it overflowing with many more vegetables, including mushrooms, green peppers, and celery. The portions are quite generous, and each entrée comes with a side of Jasmine rice. The Gai Pad Med was full of favor, the meat was tender, and the vegetables all very fresh and abundant.

Gai Pad Med

The Bul Go Gui is Korean-style beef with sesame, soy, ginger, carrots, scallions, and kimchi. The flavors of the sesame, soy, and ginger all gave the beef a rich taste, with the spicy kimchi adding texture. In addition to the Thai dishes, Leng pulls in influences in its menu from Korea and other Southeast countries like Vietnam and Indonesia.  

Bul Go Gui

Many items on Leng’s dessert menu appealed to me, such as the Coconut Cakes, Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango, and Taro Custard. I don’t like chocolate, so it is nice to go to a restaurant and discover a dessert menu that is not chocolate heavy but instead features some of my favorite tropical fruits, like mango, coconut, and banana. We ended up going with the Fried Banana with Ice Cream, choosing Green Tea as our ice cream of choice.  The Fried Banana came out perfectly fried and warm, with a crisp, sweet coating drizzled in honey. The Green Tea ice cream was overwhelmingly concentrated, and would have tasted better if the flavor was a bit more subtle. All in all, it was a great dessert.

Fried Banana with Green Tea ice cream

Leng offers fresh, delicious, and largely portioned Thai food in a beautifully decorated space that is sure to impress anyone. I am curious to see how the courtyard is when used; looking at the towering bamboo from the back room was impressive enough. Prices for main dishes range from $10 - $14. Although Leng is somewhat hidden on Broadway, it does get crowded, and at times, the small backroom can seem a little too crowded. However, service is fast, for the most part, and turnaround is high. It is a great local restaurant that Father Leng would surely be proud of.

Sugar Freak

Sugar Freak has been a long time in the making, with owners Michele and Al signing the lease for the 1,000-square-foot restaurant in 2009, with a longer than usual soft opening in June of 2011 and a grand reopening in September of that year. The restaurant derived its name due to the owners’ original concept of opening a dessert shop, which then grew to become a restaurant dedicated to New Orleans’ home style Cajun cooking.

I was lucky enough to discover Sugar Freak for dinner on the first night of their soft launch, and I have to say they’ve come a long way since their beginnings. The menu has gone through some changes and additions, the staff has grown, and the service has improved.

Sugar Freak from the outside

The décor at Sugar Freak is nothing short of beautiful and unique. Patchwork quilted pillows – each one unique - line the backs of the booth seating, with exposed brick walls and pipes lining the ceiling. The restaurant has a very warm, Southern hospitality feel to it. You feel as though you are in someone’s (beautiful) house (or the pages of the Anthropologie catalog) rather than a restaurant on 30^th Avenue. The extra thought that has gone into each detail is appreciated, from the aluminum split can candle holders, to the Mason jar salt and pepper shakers and the sponge painted paper towel holders on each table. The bathrooms are equally attractive, made entirely of wood and featuring tin pail sinks.

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interior

quilted pillows

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bathroom interior

bathroom interior

interior

On a recent visit, my friends and I ordered the Deviled Eggs and the “Debris” and Cheese Fries as appetizers. The Deviled Eggs are not your grandma’s holiday party hors d’oeuvres, unless your grandma happens to add some jazz to this traditional staple. Sugar Freak’s Deviled Eggs come in batches of four, with the flavors being spicy crab, shrimp, crispy fried chicken skin, and bacon, egg and cheese. This playful twist on a rather simple dish was delicious. The “Debris” and Cheese Fries is described as beef gravy with tender beef “bits” and Cajun cheese sauce topped with jalapeno peppers. When we got the fries, we thought the chef forgot to include the gravy. It wasn't until we were almost done with the fries did we see the thin layer of gravy on the bottom of the basket, without the beef bits described. This aside, the Cajun cheese sauce and what we could taste of the gravy was very rich and tasty, and went great with the jalapeno peppers sprinkled on top. Though we did not get them this time, we had the Crayfish Boudin Balls on a previous visit. Perfectly fried, these balls are a house favorite.

Deviled Eggs

"Debris" and Cheese Fries

For our main dishes, my friends had the Buttermilk Fried Chicken (All White) and the Grilled Chicken Po’Boy , while I opted for the Jambalaya, consisting of Louisiana-Creole seasoned rice with chicken and Andouille sausage.  The Jambalaya was well-seasoned, and had a hearty kick to the dish. The spices were rich and I enjoyed the little bits of crispy celery pieces throughout. The sausage and chicken were tasty, although the chicken was not as plentiful as the sausage. The first time I got this in the soft opening, I fell in love with the flavors of this dish and found it be one of the best comfort foods. I found the portion to be bigger on this most recent visit, and also found the rice a little bit dry.

Jambalaya 

The Buttermilk Fried Chicken left a lot to be desired. My friend found the chicken flavorful, but dry and lacking the greasy indulgence associated with fried chicken. This came with a side, and my friend opted for the tasty Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken w. Red Beans and Rice

The Po’Boys are served on Gambino’s French Bread from New Orleans, and topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo and served with fries. The Grilled Chicken on my friend’s Po’Boy was a little greasy, but overall the Po’Boys are a solid hit at Sugar Freak.

Grilled Chicken Po'Boy

Sugar Freak no longer has a dessert menu, but the desserts for the day are read aloud by the waiters. On our visit, Sugar Freak was serving their Popcorn Pudding, Caramel and Chocolate Bread Pudding, Bailey’s Bread Pudding, and Pineapple and Cherry Crisp. We ordered the Caramel and Chocolate Bread Pudding, which was moist and wonderful.  I was lucky enough to get a sampler of all three of their desserts at the time on my first visit, due to a longer than usual wait for a to-go order, and they were all equally delicious.  While their desserts are tasty, it strikes me as odd the owners decided to stick with Sugar Freak as a name for their establishment.  

Chocolate and Caramel Bread Pudding

Sugar Freak is a unique restaurant for Astoria, offering delicious New Orleans-inspired dishes in a fun and beautiful setting. It is one that I will continue to visit whenever I’m craving some South in my mouth. 

The Queens Kickshaw

I had been curious to try The Queens Kickshaw for a while, having seen the much hyped about establishment on various blogs, articles, and media outlets since its opening this past March. The Queens Kickshaw specializes in fancy and alternative grilled cheese sandwiches, but upon my recent visit, I discovered it also has a fine and impressive selection of coffees, teas, sodas, cider, and craft ales.

The Queens Kickshaw

Knowing that The Queens Kickshaw was mainly a grilled cheese shop, and a popular one at that, I waited until I could go for lunch during the work week, when I thought it would not be as crowded as a weekend afternoon. The place is simply decorated, yet amazingly beautiful.  High ceilings reveal vintage tiled molds, with ironwork and lamps surrounding the perimeter of the space.  Rustic light bulbs hang from iron spools above the bar. Industrial iron tables line the main dining area, with a larger wooden communal table in the middle for sharing. Beautiful wooden floors harmoniously brings the look together, alongside a patch of exposed brick in the front of the house, complete with moustache felt appliqués to warmly welcome the hipsters that come seeking refuge in this home-away-from-Brooklyn abode.

Describing The Queens Kickshaw as simply a grilled cheese spot is inadequate. The feel of the place is more reminiscent of an independent coffee shop, with a large variety of coffees in house, free wifi, and a staff that does not mind you sitting on your laptop for hours at a time. The main counter area is split by the coffee counter and the open kitchen, both of which provide seating where you can watch your sandwiches being made or your V60 Pour Over Coffee being dripped right in front of you.

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ceiling + light bulbs

interior hallway

communal table

Being a coffee and cider aficionado, I was so impressed over their selection of coffees and ciders. Living in Astoria, there is not much variety of coffee other than the 24 hour Dunkin’ Donuts and coffee you can get at the corner bodega. Queens Comfort offers Stumptown, which is as exotic a coffee I thought existed in this neck of the woods. That is, until I discovered The Queens Kickshaw, which serves beans from Coffee Lab Roasters based in Tarrytown, New York.  The Queens Kickshaw offers your usual espresso based drinks, along with V60 Pour Over Coffee. They also have two types of Japanese Green Tea, and you can take home one liter growlers of Cold Brewed Coffee.  I ordered the Honduras Finca Liquidambar Catuai, which according to the description has flavors of “plum, milk chocolate, subtle grapefruit, pleasant acidity.” I did not taste any of those flavors, and I am sure if you gave me a sample of each of the other coffees I couldn’t taste fig or leather either, but flowery descriptions aside, the coffee was good. My friend ordered the much talked about Iced Matcha Green Tea, which came out a vibrant shade of green, which was also good, and very potent.

pour over coffee + iced matcha green tea

The Queens Kickshaw has a plethora of craft beers, ciders, and wine to pair with your grilled cheese sandwich.  I was impressed I had never heard of the ciders offered and in awe of just how many they had.  In the United States, I am lucky to even find a bar that serves Strongbow. They also serve P&H Soda Co. syrups in all natural flavors such as hibiscus, ginger, and sarsaparilla, which they mix with seltzer once ordered.

The menu at The Queens Kickshaw is a bit limited. They have their eight signature grilled cheese sandwiches, a few cheese plates, some soups and salads, three snacks, and a mac & cheese and a stuffing as a main dish. They also have two desserts. I ordered the Gouda grilled cheese, while my friend ordered the Gruyere.  Reading the description for the Gouda sandwich made me really skeptical at first. The Gouda sandwich consists of black bean hummus, guava jam, and pickled jalapenos on brioche and comes with a green salad with a jalapeno vinaigrette.  While I do love guava and guava jam, the thought of the sweetness of the fruit mixed with the jalapenos and cheese instantly made me hate it; I am not a fan of sweet and savory combinations. I was so close to not ordering it, but heard and later confirmed with our server that it was the most popular menu item, so I had to give it a shot. And it was amazing. The guava jam does not overpower the sandwich like I thought it would, and the sweetness of the jam with the added kick of the jalapenos mixed with the cheese and buttery, toasty brioche bread gave it such a wonderfully unique flavor. The sandwich exceeded my expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised with the depth of the flavors. The green side salad that came along with it was delicious as well, and I really liked how the jalapeno vinaigrette complemented my sandwich. In fact, all the grilled cheese sandwiches come with a side that has flavors which reflect the sandwich.

gouda grilled cheese

gouda grilled cheese

My friend chose the Gruyere sandwich which consisted of pickled and caramelized onions on rye with Napa cabbage-caraway slaw. The flavors of this sandwich were good, and meet expectations but it lacked the wow factor that my Gouda sandwich had.  In the words of my friend, it was good, but not a home run. The slaw that came with the sandwich had caraway seeds sprinkled throughout, which complemented the rye bread the sandwich was on.

gruyere grilled cheese

For dessert, we ordered the bread pudding, which came out warm. The bread pudding was flavorful and moist, but lacked the sauce we were hoping it would come with and the orange caramel sauce described.

bread pudding

Our server was very nice, albeit forgetful, forgetting to bring us water after we asked, and asking us what sandwiches we had ordered after taking our order. I did not mind however, as he gave us our space and time, which is congruent with the atmosphere of the place.

I was very happy with my experience at The Queens Kickshaw, and will be there again, although getting me to stray from the Gouda grilled cheese will be hard. I would like to see The Queens Kickshaw expand their menu and selection of grilled cheeses – with so many cheese options out there, it would be cool to see new combinations of sandwiches. The portions at The Queens Kickshaw are small. Even going there for lunch, I did not feel completely satisfied with just my sandwich, but ordering the bread pudding filled the void. Prices lean towards the expensive, with my Gouda grilled cheese running $10, and the other sandwiches similarly priced. As of now, it is also cash only.

I loved the ambience and décor of the place, and their selection of coffees and ciders is to be envied. I think it is awesome that you can come here and do work while enjoying a coffee, without angry stares from the servers.  The music selection is great as well; in my time there I heard two Strokes songs quietly in the background, mixed in with hip-hop from the likes of Outkast and Biggie Smalls. This is a refreshing break from the usual club music blasting in most restaurants in Astoria.  This place definitely draws in the hipster crowd, and is something you could see being in Brooklyn. The Queens Kickshaw is open at 7:30am Monday to Friday (9:00am on weekends), with sandwiches starting at 11:00am. Closing time is 1:00am.

In addition, The Queens Kickshaw also offers live music on most Friday nights, and hosts various special events, such as cider pairings during NY Cider Week.