Saturday Brunch in Queens?
Have car, will travel...Looking for a nice brunch on a Saturday, pre-graduation. (Probably 4 people, but could be 8) Breakfast/lunch items. $20 per person, without booze, have to maintain decorum for the ceremony :)
Any help you provide is appreciated. (Lunch or dinner is not an option because of time and other commitments on that day.) Thanks!
GlendaleGal
May 16, 2008 05:03PM
I love Valverde's in Astoria (Steinway and 36th Avenue)... small place, but all fresh ingredients, amazing coffee. I've heard good things about Winegasm's brunch, but haven't tried it yet.
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I had a wonderful brunch at Bistro 33 in Astoria (Ditmars and 21st Street). They have pancakes, egg dishes, and other things, including sushi. Pretty good coffee, and meal comes with a drink, too. One of the best brunches I've had in town.
http://lilbistro33.com/index.shtml
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thanks for the link, but $14 for pancakes? That is just insane.
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I've never been but that does say it includes a Mimosa or Bloody Mary, so not totally ridiculous.
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I had brunch there and it was pretty bad. The staff is hopeless and the food is very mediocre -- just like Astoria!
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My brunch there was disappointing. Presentation was nice, but eggs were overcooked, and the toad in the hole (frog in the hole?) was very difficult to eat, from a purely technical standpoint. Omlette was pretty good, but not great. Service wasn't great either, but was very friendly. It was also a little pricey for what you get. I've heard good things about their dinner, so I might go back for that, but was underwhelmed by brunch.
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If you're in Glendale, you probably already know of it, but I just love, love, LOVE La Tavernetta. I no longer live in the area, but I've been known to rent a zip car just to go. And I just realized that they finally have a website www.latavernettaqueens.com. I've had great service there. My boyfriend and I once thought it a good idea to walk there when I lived in Kew Gardens and, after being unable to get a car service to pick us up (it was pretty late), the owner drove us home. It was very surreal.
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La Tavernetta has a brunch menu? Since when?
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I'm not sure they have a 'brunch' menu per se as an Italian restaurant, but I know they open early (11 am, I believe) for lunch. It's been awhile since I was there that early, but I recall that they added some sandwiches and lighter fare to the lunch offerings.
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This post comes probably a few days late but Tournesol in LIC has a pretty good brunch menu, as does Brick Cafe in Astoria. Both are definitely under $20 (w/o booze). I think both open around 11 am.
I also second Bistro 33 for brunch.
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Tournesol has really gone bad. I ordered a steak frites my last time there and it was unchewable. It was like chewing on a rubber tire. Not good. Manducatis Rustica is much better.
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I've eaten at Tournesol on average about 10 times a year for the last 8 years or so.
The last time I ate there was last night, in a party of 5.
We all enjoyed our meals.
Of those 80 meals at Tournesol, I would say half dozen were transcendent, and 3 or 4 were disappointing. The rest were why I keep going back: It's a reliably very good bistro. The fries rock. The specials are inventive. The room, at times, glows. And though it's not cheap but there's definitely a Queens discount.
I had a special duck entree last night that was good but not particularly memorable. 3 of us each ordered a blue cheese tart appetizer special; we all devoured it.
I disagree with your assessment that Tournesol has in any way "really gone bad."
Sorry you had a disappointing steak.
And I'm a fan of Manducatis Rustica, too, yes.
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The brunch at Winegasm is wonderful - it's about $15, but the food is really good and it comes with THREE mimosas, and not tiny ones, big mimosas. Great space, really nice staff and good food. It's a wonderful addition to Astoria.
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I love the brunch at Vesta. The warm bankie is excellent (creamy polenta topped with two sunny-side-up eggs, asparagus, mushrooms and truffle oil) as is the hangover pizza. Other entrees look good. As long as you stay away from the booze, it's easily under $20. Service is very warm and friendly, but not speedy, so if you're crunched for time it may not work for you.
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