goyourownway
Latest Reviews
Yakiniku West
Good Japanese sushi and tempura
40.72965 -73.98854 Yakiniku West is a Japanese yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurant where customers prepare bite-size meat and vegetable dishes on gridirons over a gas/electric grill in each table. The origin of today’s yakiniku is considered Korean barbecue, one of the most popular dishes in Korean cuisine. Beside yakiniku, the restaurant offers sushi, sashimi, salads, udon soup and Korean bibim-bap.
In June 2023, we were offered a table next to the restroom door. It took us a while to move to another table without the restroom smells. When ordering, we stayed on the Japanese side by opting for miso soup ($3.50) as a starter and shrimp tempura rolls ($12) & salmon toro sushi ($9.95) with rice ($3.50). Instead of a bottle of soy sauce on the table, the soya sauce was presented in a small bowl. We needed a refill.
The sushi and tempura had good flavour and texture. It was true to its Japanese roots without too much American influences. The Asahi beer ($6) tasted very good. Recommended.
40.72965 -73.98854 Yakiniku West is a Japanese yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurant where customers prepare bite-size meat and vegetable dishes on gridirons over a gas/electric grill in each table. The origin of today’s yakiniku is considered Korean barbecue, one of the most popular dishes in Korean cuisine. Beside yakiniku, the restaurant offers sushi, sashimi, salads, udon soup and Korean bibim-bap.
In June 2023, we were offered a table next to the restroom door. It took us a while to move to another table without the restroom smells. When ordering, we stayed on the Japanese side by opting for miso soup ($3.50) as a starter and shrimp tempura rolls ($12) & salmon toro sushi ($9.95) with rice ($3.50). Instead of a bottle of soy sauce on the table, the soya sauce was presented in a small bowl. We needed a refill.
The sushi and tempura had good flavour and texture. It was true to its Japanese roots without too much American influences. The Asahi beer ($6) tasted very good. Recommended.
Sobaya
Authentic Japanese soba & udon restaurant
40.72964 -73.98785 Among a ton of Japanese restaurants in East Village, Soba-ya looks like and really is an ordate Japanese buckwheat soba & udon restaurant, exempt not sitting on the floor, tatami mats and leaving your shoes at the door. No other competing Asian cuisines on the menu. Co-owner and mini-mogul, Bon Yagi, prefers authenticity to flash in his restaurants. No QR-codes in this Michelin Bibi Gourmand restaurant. With loud Americans inside, soundproofing is lacking.
As appetiser, we ordered in June 2023 Dashimaki Tamago (Japanese-style egg omelette, made by rolling thin layer upon thin layer of egg) and miso soup ($5). The soup arrived, but not the egg omelette, before our Yasal udon soup with mixed vegetables and mushrooms ($22) arrived. Lost in translation? The thick udon broth was hearty and flavourful. Well prepared and enjoyable.
Soba-ya serves very good udon, but the service could be better. Recommended.
40.72964 -73.98785 Among a ton of Japanese restaurants in East Village, Soba-ya looks like and really is an ordate Japanese buckwheat soba & udon restaurant, exempt not sitting on the floor, tatami mats and leaving your shoes at the door. No other competing Asian cuisines on the menu. Co-owner and mini-mogul, Bon Yagi, prefers authenticity to flash in his restaurants. No QR-codes in this Michelin Bibi Gourmand restaurant. With loud Americans inside, soundproofing is lacking.
As appetiser, we ordered in June 2023 Dashimaki Tamago (Japanese-style egg omelette, made by rolling thin layer upon thin layer of egg) and miso soup ($5). The soup arrived, but not the egg omelette, before our Yasal udon soup with mixed vegetables and mushrooms ($22) arrived. Lost in translation? The thick udon broth was hearty and flavourful. Well prepared and enjoyable.
Soba-ya serves very good udon, but the service could be better. Recommended.
Bahari Estiatorio
A lot better than most Greek restaurants in Astoria, but not its service
40.76176 -73.92495 Bahari Estiatorio is a family restaurant, originally from Kalamata, Greece, next of Astoria subway station and the N/W train. Father overlooks the restaurant and greets familiar guests, while his children run the restaurant. We did not see a new generation of grandchildren in the restaurant.
In May 2023, we ordered Elliniki salad with vine tomatoes, cucumbers, romaine salad, onion, green pepper, kalamata olives and feta cheese ($10,5) and Tzatziki, Greek yoghurt with chopped cucumber & minced garlic ($8) as starters and Kalamarakia Tiganita, squid dusted with flour and lightly pan-fied ($19,5) as main course. We asked if the squid was fresh or rather frozen, but this question was not greeted with approval. Everything is fresh was the short answer. The squid tasted excellent. It was fresh. The tzatziki had the right balance between garlic and cucumber. Salad was perfect. This was a very good Greek meal.
The service was clearly service stressed, and the grumpy sons did not make us feel at home. Small talk about their homeland was not appreciated. When we settled the bill by card, we did not notice the tip was not included. One of the sons said to us: “you didn’t like our service”. He knew. We do not want ouzo as welcome drinks, but where is that Greek hospitality?
Bahari Estiatorio serves food that rises above most Greek restaurants in Astoria, but not their service.
40.76176 -73.92495 Bahari Estiatorio is a family restaurant, originally from Kalamata, Greece, next of Astoria subway station and the N/W train. Father overlooks the restaurant and greets familiar guests, while his children run the restaurant. We did not see a new generation of grandchildren in the restaurant.
In May 2023, we ordered Elliniki salad with vine tomatoes, cucumbers, romaine salad, onion, green pepper, kalamata olives and feta cheese ($10,5) and Tzatziki, Greek yoghurt with chopped cucumber & minced garlic ($8) as starters and Kalamarakia Tiganita, squid dusted with flour and lightly pan-fied ($19,5) as main course. We asked if the squid was fresh or rather frozen, but this question was not greeted with approval. Everything is fresh was the short answer. The squid tasted excellent. It was fresh. The tzatziki had the right balance between garlic and cucumber. Salad was perfect. This was a very good Greek meal.
The service was clearly service stressed, and the grumpy sons did not make us feel at home. Small talk about their homeland was not appreciated. When we settled the bill by card, we did not notice the tip was not included. One of the sons said to us: “you didn’t like our service”. He knew. We do not want ouzo as welcome drinks, but where is that Greek hospitality?
Bahari Estiatorio serves food that rises above most Greek restaurants in Astoria, but not their service.
Court Square Diner
Authentic 24-hours open American diner
40.74619 -73.94569 on the intersection of the 7, G, E and M trains at the three Court Square subway stations in Long Island City, Queens NY, this 24-hours open diner serves all-day breakfast, salads, sandwiches, burgers and desserts and diner with chicken, fish & wings, steaks & chops, appetisers & roasts, sauté specialities, Greek & Italian specialities and upscale seafood. If not on the menu, it will serve any request.
In May 2023, we ordered stuffed salmon fillet with broccoli and fries on the side. The cold Stella Artois tasted excellent. The restaurant serves the food ordered quickly in large quantities, but don’t expect delicate flavours. Its main aim is to fill your empty stomach with plenty of calories. It does that well.
Court Square Diner is an authentic diner for the experience.
40.74619 -73.94569 on the intersection of the 7, G, E and M trains at the three Court Square subway stations in Long Island City, Queens NY, this 24-hours open diner serves all-day breakfast, salads, sandwiches, burgers and desserts and diner with chicken, fish & wings, steaks & chops, appetisers & roasts, sauté specialities, Greek & Italian specialities and upscale seafood. If not on the menu, it will serve any request.
In May 2023, we ordered stuffed salmon fillet with broccoli and fries on the side. The cold Stella Artois tasted excellent. The restaurant serves the food ordered quickly in large quantities, but don’t expect delicate flavours. Its main aim is to fill your empty stomach with plenty of calories. It does that well.
Court Square Diner is an authentic diner for the experience.
La Scialuppa Restaurant
Excellent seafood restaurant, good service, wonderful experience
N40°49.700' E14°14.914' on the island of Castle Nuovo, this restaurant is known for its seafood dishes. Carnivores should not be disappointed: they also have a good meat menu in English. Dinner starts around 7.30pm and the restaurant fills up quickly. The restaurant has an outside terrace on the square and a second one on the waterside. In April 2019, we made a reservation to sit inside in a beautiful interior overlooking the water and close to the lobster tank.
In April 2019, we ordered Caprese salad (€12) and seafood soup (€16) as starters. The latter is not really soup but a small portion of boiled mussels. The Caprese salad with mozzarella and excellent olive oil was delicious. Such a simple dish offering so much taste. Amazing.
The first main course was fried fish (cod, mullets, sole, anchovies, squids, red prawns, wheat flour, salt, pepper) €18. Fried like Japanese tempura, it was delicious. To supplement the little portion of salad, the eggplant lasagne was a good side dish.
The other main course was the tuna Sasà (tuna sesame) with simple strawberries salad (€22). The quality of the tuna was equal to tuna served in Japan. Fresh, delicate and full of flavour. Instead of the soya sauce, the sesame oil was a surprise. The salad with small strawberries was excellent. We enjoyed the local white Lacrima Christi del Vesuvio Mastrobernardono (€30)
With a line of guests waiting for a table, the best thing about the service was not rushing our dinner. There was no pressure from the waiters at all. After finishing dessert, the waiter asked if we would like coffee or something else. We stayed and enjoyed the music of the guitarist and the singing of the guests. For foreign visitors, a wonderful experience.
La Scialuppa offers a culinary experience with excellent food, great service and music in beautiful surroundings. Although not cheap, it is worth the price. Very recommended.
N40°49.700' E14°14.914' on the island of Castle Nuovo, this restaurant is known for its seafood dishes. Carnivores should not be disappointed: they also have a good meat menu in English. Dinner starts around 7.30pm and the restaurant fills up quickly. The restaurant has an outside terrace on the square and a second one on the waterside. In April 2019, we made a reservation to sit inside in a beautiful interior overlooking the water and close to the lobster tank.
In April 2019, we ordered Caprese salad (€12) and seafood soup (€16) as starters. The latter is not really soup but a small portion of boiled mussels. The Caprese salad with mozzarella and excellent olive oil was delicious. Such a simple dish offering so much taste. Amazing.
The first main course was fried fish (cod, mullets, sole, anchovies, squids, red prawns, wheat flour, salt, pepper) €18. Fried like Japanese tempura, it was delicious. To supplement the little portion of salad, the eggplant lasagne was a good side dish.
The other main course was the tuna Sasà (tuna sesame) with simple strawberries salad (€22). The quality of the tuna was equal to tuna served in Japan. Fresh, delicate and full of flavour. Instead of the soya sauce, the sesame oil was a surprise. The salad with small strawberries was excellent. We enjoyed the local white Lacrima Christi del Vesuvio Mastrobernardono (€30)
With a line of guests waiting for a table, the best thing about the service was not rushing our dinner. There was no pressure from the waiters at all. After finishing dessert, the waiter asked if we would like coffee or something else. We stayed and enjoyed the music of the guitarist and the singing of the guests. For foreign visitors, a wonderful experience.
La Scialuppa offers a culinary experience with excellent food, great service and music in beautiful surroundings. Although not cheap, it is worth the price. Very recommended.