Trattoria L'Incontro

……the king of Queens

Believe it or not, you can leave the Manhattan city limits and find incredible places to eat. One such gem is Tratottia L’Incontro, which is conveniently located in Astoria, Queens one block away from the N, W Ditmar’s Boulevard stop. L’Incontro has all the warmth of a traditional, family-style Italian restaurant as well as all the bells and whistles that go along with fine dining. The atmosphere was loud and vibrant and the paintings on the walls reminded me of my travels along the northern coasts of Italy. Even more impressive, was that the servers were extremely well trained and even wear ear pieces in order to hear last minute changes to the menu directly from the executive chef (Rocco).

A well known tradition of L’Incontro is the number of specials the waiter lists each and every night (which apparently rarely ever changes but they still continue to do it). First, the waiter listed over 20 appetizer specials in addition to regular menu; my head was starting to spin. Then, he got to the entrees. I lost count, but I think he topped 30, not including the regular dinner menu. This place had everything under the sun (I was in food heaven), and if they didn’t have it our waiter assured us they would do their best to make us whatever we wanted. To me, that is a sign of a great restaurant that will be staying put for a long, long time.

APPETIZERS

Before we even ordered appetizers the waiter brought out Rocco’s famous sun-dried tomato tapenade, consisting of pureed sun dried tomatoes, anchovies and olive oil. Thank god I was with some returning customers of L’Incontro or else I would have filled up even more. This stuff was addicting and they kept bringing more and more each time we downed another bowl of it. We actually had to tell them to stop. Just beware of this and TRY your best not to go overboard.

Ravioli stuffed with veal, filet mignon and sprinkled with crumbled sausage

Welcome meatlovers! This dish is your destiny. Every single bite had a multitude of flavors. First, I tasted the veal and filet mixture, which was so elegantly stuffed inside homemade ravioli. Then, I immediately got the taste of the ground sausage on the outer layer along with the mushroom based sauce.

Homemade Chestnut Pasta with leeks, crumbled sausage and truffle oil

This was a house specialty and came highly recommended by our waiter. We ordered an appetizer portion for each person at the table to have a taste. The pasta was long and flat and had an earthy taste to it which was well complimented by the leeks, cabbage and crumbled sausage that it was accompanied by. This was not a creamy dish but none-the less very rich and delicious. Although I was partial to the Ravioli, I am not sure you could go wrong with any pasta you ordered.

ENTREES

Grouper stuffed with spinach and mascarpone cheese

Rich flavors were present in every bite of this dish. The fish was prepared beautifully; perfectly butterflied, and then stuffed with the spinach and mascarpone mixture. On top, it was sprinkled with bread crumbs which encrusted the fish giving the soft and creamy flavors and a crusty and hard texture. Also, as all of my readers are well aware of my love for spinach, it was one of the deciding factors when ordering this entrée. If you love rich, creamy flavors then I would highly recommend this dish. (This was one of the specials recommended by the waiter)

Black cod encrusted with pistachios

My beautiful date ordered the black cod encrusted with pistachios and served with string beans and potatoes. The fish was soft and flaky and melted in your mouth. In addition, the crust was a delicious combination of nuts and spices and not too overpowering.

Overall, this is one of the best Italian restaurants that I have been to in the NYC area and it rivals any of the top places in Manhattan. It is definitely worth the trip to Astoria. Just remember to pay full attention to the list of specials from the waiter. My ADD kicked in when he got to the entrees so I may have missed out on a few great dishes. Either way, I plan on going back very soon.

	Restaurant Review Rating Scale
			Total Points Available
Food	9		10
Service	8		10
Ambiance	9.5		10
Bang for the Buck	8.5		10
Overall	9		10
	44		50

Neighborhood: Queens/Steinway
2176 31st St
Astoria, NY 11105

(718) 721-3532

www.trattorialincontro.com

Piola....great for a quick bite

Hello Pizza Lovers—and movie goers alike! This was a great find- or suggestion I should say. Saturday night after finding out that the movie we wanted to see was sold out of the earlier showing, my date and I decided that we’d grab a quick bite before catching the later viewing. Venturing to an old favorite only to find they couldn’t seat us, we made a quick call to a friend who suggested Piola. As we found the place and thanked her for the recommendation she made sure to tell us that ordering our pizza with fresh mozzarella was a MUST. Suggestion noted.

Whole Wheat Thin Crust Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella, Ricotta and Spinach

WOW. I really enjoyed this pizza. The crust was light and thin just as a good thin crust homemade pizza fresh out of a wood burning oven should be. The red sauce was light and not overpowering and the cheese was soft and delicious. Both of the cheeses blended well together and with the spinach and each bite tasted delicious, refreshing and almost... healthy. I did not feel as I normally do after finishing a slice or two of pizza.

Salad with Fresh Mozzarella, Carrots and Tomatoes…

Save your money and I’ll save my breath. This Salad was as boring as watching The English Patient while tripping on mushrooms. I could’ve made a much better salad at home and would have been better off ordering a second pizza.

If you are a movie goer and have your ticket stubs... Piola gives you $3 off your meal per ticket. For us- this paid for the extra charges of a whole wheat crust and fresh mozzarella cheese. Even without the discount I wouldn’t have done it any other way.

Piola ($)
Pizza, Italian
48 E 12th St, New York 10003
Btwn University Pl & Bway
Phone: 212-777-7781

	Restaurant Review Rating Scale
			Total Points Available
Food	7.5		10
Service	8		10
Ambiance	8		10
Bang for the Buck	9		10
Overall	9		10
	41.5		50

Scalini Fedeli

…… worth another shot

DISCLAIMER:

Before I begin this review, I would like to mention an incident that happened during my meal (between the dessert amoushe boushe and the real dessert course) that may have had an effect on my overall opinion of Scalini Fedeli. Whenever I eat at a fine dining establishment, I’m oddly curious of the bathroom situation. Don’t ask me why. A good indicator to me, it’s a nicely furnished bathroom, obviously has to be clean and provides a refreshing break from the meal. Unfortunately, Scalini Fedeli has not been reading the J Spot, because the bathroom was disgusting. Wet paper towels everywhere, blood on the toilet seat, mud on the floor, etc. After I saw that and came back to the table it put a really bad taste in my mouth. This place has the nerve to charge over $100 per person and not have a clean bathroom? I would love to see what Gordon Ramsey would have to say about this.

Now onto the food….

Scalini Fedeli is quietly one of the top restaurants in NYC. The upscale décor is evident by the concaving ceiling with its unique ridges left by its original owner, Daniel Bouley (of Bouley restaurant). The service is what you would expect from a top notch restaurant; properly trained waiters, who are passionate about the menu and willing to offer helpful suggestions. The food contained top notch ingredients such as truffle oil, exotic pastas and only the best seasonal ingredients. Scalini Fedeli is a price fix menu ($65) where you have your choice of an appetizer, entrée and dessert. Appetizers offered include fresh pasta dishes and salads; while entrees are split up by fish, chicken and meat dishes. The possibilities are endless because the menu has something for everyone, as I had an extremely difficult time deciding what to get.

APPETIZERS

Soft Egg Yolk Ravioli with ricotta and spinach covered with truffle butter

The presentation on this was flawless. One huge ravioli stuffed with fresh ricotta cheese and spinach (J Spotters know I love spinach), encased in a soft egg yolk shell. This was one of those dishes that you just wanna stare at and feel weird ruining the perfection in front of your eyes. My fork easily cut through the ravioli, while the ricotta filling stayed intact so I could scoop it up with some truffle butter that was the base of this dish. If I had to pick out one flaw of this dish, it would be the overuse of truffle butter as each bite had an oily aftertaste that replaced the great flavors of the ravioli.

Pappardelle in a Game Sauce with venison and hare finished with barolo wine and bitter chocolate

MUST ORDER DISH. I must admit, I have never had or heard of Papperdelle pasta, but something tells me I will not forget it after last Friday night. You have to be a true foodie to venture to order a dish that comes in a Barolo wine and bitter chocolate sauce. I was not disappointed. The plate came out steaming hot and my eagerness to try this dish caused me to burn a few taste buds; However, there were enough left to truly appreciate this dish. The large flat noodles were cooked perfectly and the balance of the venison and hare ragout went well with the wine and chocolate sauce. The dish was not too gamey and every bite made my mouth salivate. I would recommend this dish to anyone who loves perfectly cooked, piping hot pasta blended with a meaty (but not too hearty) ragout and finished with a mouth watering sauce. Three out of the 5 people at the table ordered this dish and my date and I and another coupled shared-- everyone was able to enjoy this MUST ORDER dish.. I only wish I’d ordered my own.

Braised short ribs of beef with a cherry pepper and natural glaze, fennel-apple puree

I am still smacking myself for not ordering the short ribs. Thank god someone at the table let me try a bite of it. Phenomenal. Unfortunately, I got a braised pork loin, which I would recommend against and to order the short ribs instead. They were served with a cauliflower puree and steak fries cooked in truffle oil. The one bite I took was never-ending and the juicy flavor still lingers in my mind (yes, I have food dreams).

All in all, the meal was very impressive and met all my expectations. It’s a perfect place for anniversaries, birthdays or any other special occasion. It is unfortunate that I had to witness the bathroom that way, because it was disturbing and altered my true opinion of Scalini Fedeli. As a food blogger, objectivity is a must have trait, which is why I felt to need to disclose the “bathroom incident” as I like to call it. I feel a second visit to Scalini Fedeli is imminent, because I caught the chef on an “off night” and I’m pretty confident that Scalini Fedeli is capable of serving unforgettable meals.

165 Duane St., New York, NY 10013 nr. Hudson St. See Map | Subway Directions

212-528-0400

	Restaurant Review Rating Scale
			Total Points Available
Food	8		10
Service	8		10
Ambiance	9.5		10
Bang for the Buck	7		10
Overall	7.5		10
	40		50

Penelope…. Homestyle cooking at it’s best

You feel right at home when you walk in for a meal at Penelope. The décor is reminiscent of your grandma’s old kitchen and dining room; and the food is no different. The menu is somewhat limited, but I’m confident there is something for everyone. This past Saturday was my second time going there for brunch, and I have ordered the same thing twice. It was almost impossible to justify ordering something different than the Nutella French toast so I conceded and the sweet and savory dish made the decision for me. There is a brunch price-fix ($14) which includes you choice of coffee/tea, juice or an apple cider mimosa. Penelope is very popular for brunch so you have to get there early to avoid waiting in a very long line. I would suggest any time before 10:00AM should ensure you a spot with a reasonable wait. My dining partner and I decided to get a coffee at the local coffee shop and sit on the bench outside of Penelope while we waited. Arrive after 10am, and you could be taking the risk of waiting on Lexington Avenue for close to an hour.

Nutella French toast

Three slices of French toast filled with chocolate hazelnut filling, topped with powered sugar, and accompanied by a plentiful side of fresh fruit… what gets better than that? With Italian sesame seeded bread as the base for this dish, it had no flaws. The bread was soft and fluffy and savory without the chocolate. It alone would have been a solid French toast offering. This French toast however was filled with an unforgettable chocolate filling which drizzled out with each bite. My palate was overwhelmed with delight at the savory French toast flavors that were balanced with the sweet hazel nutty chocolate. The powered sugar was a nice touch adding some extra sweetness. I sparingly used the maple syrup on the table, as to not overpower the toast with syrupy flavors. I was also very impressed with the overflowing side of fresh berries and honeydew.

Salmon Wrapped Poached Eggs

The Salmon poached eggs were soft and runny… in a good way! They came served over a large piece of black seeded bread that alone would’ve been delicious. The eggs were topped with a generous portion of salty but not too salty smoked salmon and drizzled sparingly with a “green goddess” dressing that complimented all of the tastes and flavors throughout the dish. If you like eggs and nova—this is definitely the dish for you. It was served with a side salad which was boring consisting of simply lettuce and cranberries. Although the dressing was nice, if you can substitute sides, I would.

We also ordered a side of chicken apple sausage, which usually is a favorite of mine, but unfortunately, the portion was very small and just wasn’t that great. All in all, Penelope is a great brunch place which you should add to your cycle, especially if you live in the area. The service has been consistently great each time, the food always comes out promptly and I never feel rushed by the servers.

	Restaurant Review Rating Scale
			Total Points Available
Food	8.5		10
Service	8.5		10
Ambiance	8.5		10
Bang for the Buck	7.5		10
Overall	8.5		10
	41.5		50

Penelope ($$)
American (Traditional), Desserts & Bakeries
159 Lexington Ave (At 30th St) New York 10016

http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaId=6&restaurantId=6198