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| Editor at Large Bernadette Sigado |
What you've been waiting for! These are not your typical restaurant reviews!
We review Long Island City Restaurants in a different way. We dine out and then share our experience with you-because we ARE you! We are local residents eating at the same places you visit--and we do it all in a casual, fun, informal way--just like you do when you go out with your family and friends!
We hope you find our reviews helpful and informative--and "familiar"!
Dishcrawl, a San Jose based food tour company, did it's first event ever in Long Island City, New York, this past Wednesday, July 16th 2014. It's sort of a wine flight meets pub crawl: three different restaurants, each with a tailored menu of small plates designed to showcase the chef's skills, as well as the focus of the establishment. On Wendesday, a group of about thirty of us explored three venues in the up-and-coming restaurant scene of the historic Long Island City, punctuated by a sunset walk on the beautiful waterfront--a Midtown Manhattan view which brags the Chrysler Building, Empire State and Freedom Tower all in one gloriously lit Panorama.
The night began at Alobar, a sort of European meets American bar and restaurant. Our gregarious chef and his truly New York style confirmed this; the very well crafted small plates included his take on the classic American baked potato: gnocchi, rich and creamy, heaped with bacon and scallions. That didn't stop him from using truly adventurous ingredients, including the light heirloom tomato salad with basil, avocado and Manchego cheese, topped with some deliciously toasted and delicately shaved croutons--and, most impressively, a bold octopus salad, cut into lovely tender chunks with two very well paired sauces to dip into. With it's sophisticated yet comfortable decor, dark wood, well chosen knick-knacks, open kitchen, and excellent but reasonable drink menu, Alobar was a hit with our group, certainly a place a number of our couples would love to dress up for a classy date-night.
Giddy, with at least one drink in our system, we walked over to the alewife, a classic American pub, which, while early, is definitely a watering hole for many LIC residents. I could imagine how the open room, high ceilings and big screen TV's would make this place a party late-night and especially during Sporting events. As a bar, we perused the beer menu, which bragged of a good number of local Breweries, with many I had never heard of. And, in bar food fashion, we were served truffle oil popcorn, mac'n cheese and pulled pork sandwiches, in no particular order. As a bar frequenter myself, I was very impressed by the quality of the bar food, lite macaroni, not too cheesy, and a reliable pulled pork slider. I can imagine how this food would be key in a drunken night out, without making you feel horrible and overly greased in the morning.
Our final stop was Open Door Restaurant, where the chef was extremely gracious and showed us a lovely end to the night. The decor was highly contemporary, with abstract prints on the walls and red and white stained glass fixtures around the lights. I particularly liked the quality reggae music playing when we came in, adding a little relaxation and fun to what could otherwise be a more serious business venue. The theme was "A Trio of Trios"-a salsa, followed by a tartar and finally a coquette trio. Small samples, but the variety of tastes was an excellent way to try many things on the menu, and showcase the chef's versatility. The salsa's were all delicious, mild black bean, surprisingly spicy mango salsa and a lentil puree. The tartars were very brave indeed-while the chef's favorite was the salmon, I found that to be a bit dill-heavy, as a person who doesn't fancy dill-I was far more impressed by the fluke, a light white fish, served on a lime, balanced to allow the flavor and delicacy of the fish to show. The tuna was also nice, tuna sashimi with some wasabi, simple and classic. By the time our coquettes came, I was too full of food, beer and wine to eat all of them, but from the bite I took of each, I could see how they would be a great appetite whetter, breaded little morsels containing seasoned rice or potatoes.
The night ended with everyone satisfied, and one of the more vociferous of the group standing and asking over the echoing conversation "Is everyone having a good time?". As our host, Greta, expressed at the beginning of the night, "Well, we're here for three hours, might as well get to be a family," I think after a few drinks and excellent food, the camaraderie was certainly appreciated. Dishcrawl was an excellent way for a number of strangers to share something they all enjoy in a community they all love dearly.
By Christina Mason
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