El Ay Si

Although not technically within the borders of Astoria, El Ay Si is worth a notable nod as a creatively comforting restaurant in Long Island City. Located on Vernon Boulevard, and rubbing shoulders with a handful of emerging restaurants and bars in the blossoming LIC food scene, El Ay Si focuses their menu on comfort food classics such as Mac n’Cheese and Slow Cooked Pressed Pork Belly while also experimenting with some not so traditional combinations.

Considering how much I had heard about El Ay Si, I was surprised at how small and narrow the restaurant was. Entering El Ay Si’s thick velvet curtains, you are greeted with the bar area. Walking past the bar and accompanying tables, you enter a narrow hallway filled with intimate, cozy, dark wood booths for two, featuring high backs and set beside a brick wall. The ambience is perfectly romantic and warm. Walking further back, you enter a more open bar room, featuring a large table for six, a bookcase hosting memorabilia and a collection of wine bottles, the restroom (which gains bonus points for being cute), and a door to an outside area which may not actually be in use. Graffiti artwork splashes the areas opposite the brick walls, a possible homage to the graffiti scene in LIC (and home to graffiti Mecca 5 Pointz).

hallway 

graffiti + ceiling

 My companion and I looked over the drink menu, and being fans of the deliciously white Sauvignon Blanc, ordered two glasses. Within a few minutes, our waitress came back, apologizing that they had in fact run out of Sauvignon Blanc but had this other white that we might like – Falanghina. She proceeded to give us each a sample of the wine, which we fell in love with, and also wrote down the name for us for future reference. This going above and beyond typical waitress duties had a lasting impression, and is a definite strength of the place.

We started our meal with the Grilled Calamari Small Bites. The calamari was fresh, and lightly seasoned with olive oil, garlic, lime, and sea salt. The flavorings were subtle, and accentuated the taste of the squid and olive oil. It was a great appetizer that did not leave us feeling overly full. For our dinner, we opted for one of the specials of the night, a Brisket Sandwich served with sweet potato fries (which we substituted for tater tots), and the Pulled Pork Tacos al Pastor.  The Brisket Sandwich was perfectly spiced and seasoned, and the meat was tender. The tater tots were also cooked perfectly - flawlessly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Grilled Calamari

Brisket Sandwich + Tater Tots

The Pulled Pork Tacos al Pastor featured grilled pineapple and caramelized onions inside the soft tacos, and sat atop a market salad, featuring pico de gallo, cilantro, and a flavorful citrus based dressing. The pork tacos were very tender, however they were laden with grease. The grilled pineapple and caramelized onions both added a sweetness in flavor to the meat.

Pulled Pork Tacos al Pastor w. Market Salad

The Cookies and Cream – fried Oreos with vanilla ice cream - was our dessert of choice. This comfort food classic was a great end to our night. Covered in a light, sweet dough, the fried Oreos were warm and reminiscent of childhood.

Cookies and Cream

The meals at El Ay Si offer a spin on classic comfort food, executed with precise details to make each dish the best it can be. The restaurant vibe leaves me craving more time in the private booths. El Ay Si features brunch on weekends, and features a Kid’s Menu for tiny tots and full bar for the big kids. They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. This is a place I will recommend for the great staff, relaxed environment, and fun takes on American dishes.

Bugatti Cafe

I had always been intrigued by Bugatti. Situated on an ever-growing food corner, Bugatti neighbors local favorites Pachanga Patterson, Bareburger, and Il Bambino on 31^st Avenue, with Italian food rivals Bartolino and Portalia on Broadway. Bugatti characterizes itself as a more upscale Italian eatery, seen in its dark wood décor and offering of valet services. My relationship with Bugatti started off on the wrong foot. Having purchased a Groupon to try out the establishment, I was told by one of the wait staff that they would not accept my Groupon on the Friday night I was trying to book, even though there was no mention of this restriction on the Groupon. Conversations with Groupon resulted in this restriction being lifted, but reading Yelp reviews of other Groupon users painted a less than stellar dining experience. Numerous reviews stated that when using their Groupons, patrons were treated differently, charged unfairly, and had an overall negative perception of the restaurant. Unfortunately, it seems as if Bugatti does not understand the point of this service. Yes, restaurants may not see a profit from diners using a Groupon, but the use of this service and other similar services is to gain repeat visits and therefore, more customers. Restaurants that fail to recognize this only end up hurting themselves more when they offer a disappointing experience.

The interior of Bugatti Café features dark wood paneling, with an exposed brick wall and mural covering the main wall. Bugatti has a full bar, located to the right, and has outdoor seating for the warmer months.  Stereotypical Italian music is generally heard to passerbys, but on the evening of my visit, the music choice was the Buena Vista Social Club. While the music isn’t blasting like many other places, it was a bit loud.

interior

interior

interior

Our server was friendly, which helped ease my reservations about the place. A basket of crusty bread was set on our table, served with some roasted zucchini and garlic in olive oil. The bread was fresh , and paired with the vegetables, was a perfect prelude to our meal. For our dishes, my friend and I ordered the Taglierini Con Pesto e Gamberetti and the Nodino di Vitello. I had wanted the Branzino (striped bass) entrée but it was sold out when I ordered. For a starter, we chose the Burrata.

complimentary bread

The Burrata is described as an imported cream-filled Mozzarella served on vegetable caponata and tossed pignoli nuts. This dish blew me and my friend away. A generous pouch of Burrata lay atop a medley of warm chopped vegetables and a bit of fresh pesto. The Burrata was so rich and so fresh, I have never tasted a Mozzarella like it before. Eaten with the seasoned vegetables further brought out the buttery flavor of the cheese. The Burrata is a winning dish at Bugatti, and one that I will be back for.

Burrata

The Taglierini Con Pesto e Gamberetti consists of fresh taglierini pasta with grilled shrimp, basil, and pesto. I thoroughly enjoyed this dish as well  - the portion was perfect, and the pesto was homemade, and very strong. I love strong pesto, but after eating so much of it, it got a bit overpowering. The grilled shrimp was perfectly cooked, and truly grilled, as I could taste the smokiness on the seafood.

Taglierini Con Pesto e Gamberetti

The Nodino di Vitello is a pan-seared boneless loin of veal, served with fresh sage, thyme, and a dry white wine sauce. It comes with broccoli rabe and roasted potato slices.  This dish was heartily enjoyed by my friend. The veal was extremely tender, and the rich wine sauce paired well with the meat. The broccoli rabe and roasted potatoes were both amazing, and well seasoned, making this dish a very fulfilling meal.

Nodino di Vitello

For dessert, my companion and I shared the Nutella crepes, served as two thin crepes rolled with Nutella. It is difficult to mess up Nutella crepes, and Bugatti did a good job in presentation and taste, offering some walnuts mixed in .

Nutella crepes

The owner of the place was sitting at the restaurant while we were there, and did not welcome us or ask us about our meal.  I noticed she catered to the regulars, and made no effort to see how we enjoyed the place, which was a bit disappointing.

Groupon and management issues aside, I really loved the food at Bugatti. We were lucky to get a nice server, and enjoyed our meal. The ambience and typical clientele at Bugatti is not the vibe I gravitate towards when going out to eat, but the excellent food alone makes this a place I will consider visiting again.  

Pomme Café

While Astoria is home to restaurants covering a variety of foods from cultures far and wide, there are not many options for French cuisine. Pomme Café is one such place offering diners their share of tartare and escargots on 38^th Street and  Broadway.  In the summers, Pomme Café opens up its outdoor seating, and from walking past the café, I noticed they offer jazz brunches on weekends. Now that summer is behind us, Pomme’s high curtains are drawn in, adding a mysterious touch into this foreign café.

I visited Pomme Café on a bustling Friday night. Before entering the establishment, I read on a flier outside that at 10:00pm that night there would be live DJ music. I’ve lived in Astoria long enough to know that live DJ music around here is never a good thing. Luckily, it was 7:30pm, meaning I would probably be out of there before the obnoxious clubbing music would commence. Upon entering the doors, I caught my first glimpse of the dimly-lit interior. Dark wood and curtains surrounded the dining area, with a full bar to one side. Benches and pillows create a mini lounge in one corner, while a DJ area is located towards the back. Candles and a soft chandelier give the place a warm, seductive glow. As I turned to the hostess, I noticed she was wearing leggings and a corset. Just then, another female hostess walked by wearing the same thing. I understand this restaurant is banking off the French romantic vibe, but I have been to France, twice, and no females go around dressed like that unless they work in Pigalle. It’s rather pathetic that a restaurant has to flaunt sexy women and not let the food speak for itself. This isn’t Hooters. The men also had a uniform, wearing suspenders to the traditional black pants and white collared shirt combination. I understand the uniforms chosen may be a nod to French culture and keeping up with the French theme, but it is not so much French as it is corny to the customer and objectifying to the women.

back of the cafe

bar area

interior wall

front area

My friend and I started our meal with a cocktail. Pomme offers a variety of wines, beers and signature cocktails, and they did not disappoint. I ordered the French Girl cocktail, which has cassis in it, a popular French blackcurrant liqueur. The place was packed on this Friday night, but as I soon realized, all the patrons were in using their Groupon that was expiring soon, myself included.  To start us off, our waiter brought us warm baguette slices with whipped butter. For our appetizers, my friend and I each got the Pomme Onion Soup Gratin, which is made with three types of onions, and three types of cheese.  The soup was very good, made with a rich beef stock base accenting the sharp cheese and crunchy baguette slices.  Next, we ordered an hors d’oeuvres, picking the Charcuterie, which ended up being a lovely surprise. The spread included dry cured aged meats (salami, prosciutto, and another meat), grapes, cornichons, pickled vegetables (cauliflower, carrots) and a fruit pate which I believe was guava. The aged meats were fresh, and the fruit pate complemented the salty meats perfectly. Our waiter forgot to bring us the grilled baguette that came with the platter, and once he brought it over, explained how the menu was going through some changes.  Apparently since my visit, the menu did change, and with that, an increase in prices.

pomme onion soup gratin

charcuterie

It was while we were waiting for our entrees did the atmosphere of the place change.  The music suddenly went from dim (but still awful) background music to full out blaring club music, thanks to the DJ starting her set an hour and a half early. It was loud, obnoxious, and totally out of place for a seemingly nice restaurant. While this may sound harsh hear me out: when I drop $150 for a nice meal at a nice restaurant (which would have been the price without the Groupon), I expect it to be an enjoyable experience, since it is not a typical, everyday occurrence. I do not expect to hear a techno version of Stairway to Heaven midway through my meal. I did not even think there could be a techno version of Stairway to Heaven. I could not hear my friend across from the table, and it disrupted the quiet, relaxing dinner I had anticipated. As I’ve learned, the majority of Astoria restaurants have a penchant for this type of music, no matter how fancy or laid back the venue.

For my entrée, I had the Seared Sesame Tuna, which, according to the menu, was to be served with French lentils, local farms ratatouille, wasabi cream, and pepper aioli. I love ratatouille and was disappointed to see my tuna on a bed of lentils, with a few measly bits of stewed vegetables mixed in the legume. So all I tasted with the tuna were the lentils.  The tuna itself was a bit bland, as were the lentils. I had no care for the wasabi cream and pepper aioli, which did not add much depth nor flavor, but instead presented a nice visual that some trendy chefs today prefer over substance. My friend ordered the Sweet and Spicy Catfish, described as pan roasted, with wild greens, fall couscous, Canadian ham, and horseradish cream. The catfish did come out with the wild greens and couscous, but there was no Canadian ham in the plate. The dish itself was good; it was cooked well, with just the right amount of sweetness but followed by a rather overwhelmingly spicy kick.  While both entrees were not bad, they were not memorable and did not blow me away or really leave a mark or urge for me to go back.

seared sesame tuna

sweet + spicy catfish

For dessert, my friend and I shared a delicious tres leches cake. The spongy, moist cake was served with fresh fruit, homemade whipped cream, and a chewy coconut wafer. I would not change anything about it.

tres leches

The prices at Pomme Café lean towards the pricey side, with entrees ranging from $16-$26 (this is before the supposed price increase and menu change). I did not think the food, especially the entrees, lived up to the prices.  I initially enjoyed the vibe and décor of the place (that is, before the DJ started playing and minus the corsets that make up the hostess outfits). The space itself is quite beautiful but as I soon realized, aside from the dinner clientele, Pomme heavily caters to the young clubbers of Astoria, who want to be seen and heard at all hours of the night. Walking past Pomme Café later that night, I heard the heavy bass thumbing from across the street. Aside from all the outdoor cafes on 30^th Avenue to be seen at, Pomme Café on Broadway is another one to add to the list.