Daniel

I have eaten there a few times. I found the quality of meat to be rather suspect. Almost reminicent of the type of chicken bits you would get from one of the girls who hands out toothpicked samples at the food court in front of the cajun express. Got the chili chicken and despite my request to be scalded, the food was mildly heated. Had the lemon corriander soup which was excellent. Had a few other dishes that were just eh. Chicken lolipops were certainly good. Not on the same level as a the three star ones at Spice Market I think the sole reason for this places existance was to introduce me to the lemon corriander soup. Hehe. I just think that its a bad chinese restaurant and an ok indian restaurant. There isnt one dish you cant find better and equally priced somewhere else.

Havent been here in about 6 months. I checked menu pages and understand that the menu is likely to have changed. Any recent reports or updates? I know about the close quarters, the extensive american wine list, and the super friendly attentive owner who makes skeptical people like me even think that a person like her might truly be that nice. But whats going on with the food. Is it worth the gamble of sitting next to obnoxious people who LIKE TO PROJECT THEIR CONVERSATIONS TO THE TABLE SITTING NEXT TO THEM!

Went to compass this friday night and had a terrific meal. The setting was perfect, the scenery beautiful, large cosy quiet booth for two also a big plus, (with the exception of the cusions that kept spreading apart), the only problem, one incompetant waiter. Everyone from the bartenders to the really funny maitre di were pro's. If i wasnt on a first date i would have asked for a new server, but i was on good behavior. The place was surprisingly empty for a friday night, which IMO is a good thing, but i think they might have been using bus boys as waiters. My waiter didnt even fully understand english, let alone the dishes he was serving. We wanted to order three appetisers and one entree. He refused to let us oder the appetisers first and then order the main course after we thought about it for a bit. Which after he left, i found out was not the restaurants policy at all. But regardless of him not being able to explain what was in the dishes, or how they were prepared, or even the type of bread that came in the beautiful bread basket, the meal and the company were excellent. We started with the Fruits of the Sea, which consisted of shrimp, oysters and clams. Their was a mignionent sp?, a cocktail sauce, and a mayo dressing. Not a big fan of the mayo dressing, but the more choices the better. Everything was fresh, the oysters were west coast, the clams from the east. The shrimp spent half the year in la and the other in ny. We then got the thyme roasted shrimp. The came heavily spiced which i loved. Head on and really meaty. They were awesome, I had no problem reaching over and sucking the discarded head of shrimp from the persons plate i was with. I dont know where that falls under on first date etiquette. But who cares. The third appetiser we had was the rabbit arrabiata with manilla clams. This was really good stuff.. The rabbit was excellent. It was juicy, moist, and just all around amazing. It was better then the rabbit i had the next night at wd-50. This dish really made the most out of the flavors and now i know how rabbit tastes.. I have had rabbit at grand sichuan and other places, but this was the first time it was served in a sauce that brought out the flavor, and didnt hide it. It was so good I decided to tell me date she was eating rabbit. And she liked it so much that after a moment of shock, and a little mention of thumper, she continued to eat the dish. Next came the entree. We ordered something with monkfish medallions. At this point i had a bottle of wine in me Coupled with my get to the restaurant a half hour early to drink beer and jamesons on a first date game plan, i dont really remember too much about the monk fish. Other then it was really good. I wanted to get the venison, but i am glad i didnt.. I dont know if she could have handle eating bambi and thumper in the same sitting. For dessert we had the caramel parfait, which was excellent. And this chocolate soufle.. Both were very good. And by this point, our busboy/waiter had left for the evening and our closer was this real nice guy. At the end of the night we met katy and i think there was a guy walking around who was an ex-cop.. Both were really nice. Definately looking foward to going back there.. It has all the class and style of a place with twice the Pretentiousness and half the quality of food.

Oh i forgot to mention that they have the worlds bitchest waitress there. Someone at the table remembered her from mary's fish camp. Its so surprising that a place who has such a nice owner and father team, would let that miserable person into their world.

I just went there this saturday and had the exact same dishes..I dont know how you were able to remember all that. Did you go with a notebook, or not had. That was a terrific review and pretty dead on.

The last time I went to mercer kitchen i was outside smoking when a tough looking homelessman asked me for money. After not giving him money, he proceeded to scream at me and tell me how he was going to shoot me. I went back in to tell the manager to call the police and the manager said to me"oh that guy is out there all the time we call the police on him all the time, there is nothing we can do" I demanded the manager call the police and he told me to hold on. He then came back about 15 minutes later and told me that if i wanted to, i could call the police myself. Meanwhile this guy continued to harass everyone that walked by. So, i have my food sitting at the table with my friend, there is this maniac threatening people on the street, and i have the manager caring less about the situation, making me call the police myself. Needless to say, i ended up walking out of the restaurant with my friend, my night was ruined, and I am sure the homeless guy probably made 100 bucks. Has anyone else dealt with that whacko who stands outside of the place?

Yeh i think zagats is exactly what the majority of people are looking for. I think its terrific for what it is and provides the average person with helpfull information. From price, to address, number, brief overview. Most people here dis zagats, rightfully so, because they have an abnormal knowledge and interest in restaurants. I dont think any published book will satisfy them because a book could never be current enough to keep up with new chefs, new restaurants, or issues. That is why these boards are so successfull and cool. But for the average person who wants to find a place by cuisine, price, and neighborhood, zagats is very helpfull.

I really contribute the ferns and the stucko outside and the attempt to "class up" the place to the greeks. My old neighbor owned the old Kings Diner on rte 18 about 12 years ago.. And i swear to god, the guys place was decorated exactly like a cheesy greek diner.

Word thank you for the info. Yeh i have a trip to giorgione planned tomorrow and might hit up cesca thursday for lunch before the flight. A lot of my friends have had nothing but good things to say about cesca.(the same ones who didnt like landmarc). This girl told me a story about the owner sitting in the customs office in italy eating his raw milk cheese before they confiscated it. With love like that, its gotta be good.

Hey just got back from chitown, leaving for china for a couple of weeks, so i am trying to get as many italian meals in before thursday. This girl i know told me that arbuto is worth trying. Has anyone been there? Is it spending one of my last italian meals before i go?

Hey John, Now you have to try woogies in nyc and tell me which you like better.

Wow thats awesome. My question is I had two reservations cancelled within the time period, but only received one call. Do people think i am going to be able to get two reservations now.

I use to stop in the Peanut Butter Co just to get cherry cokes a few years ago when i was in the area all the time. They mix their own and it was always terrific. I have forgotten about the place until recently when my butcher, Empire Purveyors, started selling jars of their stuff. I wonder if they sell it all over the city?

balmagowry to you.

Geeze i didnt even realize it was from today.. What timing.

I did a little searching and found this review on Agnandi. It also has the phone number and address. 19-06 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria 718-545-4554. Article

Does anyone have the phone number?

Did you you get any of the things that i just wrote about.. Or no the name of that spicy feta dish. What did i miss?

I want to start off by thanking everyone for the help. I really appreciate it. While pulling into my parking garage I was speaking to the attendant about my plans for the evening. I told him i was going to Astoria for greek food and he immediately said stamatis. Once i heard that, i thought it was a sign, and my decision was made. Around 7:30 my friend from queens came to pick me up and was trailed by my girlfriends little sister and her friends who needed to follow us to the long island expressway. So, despite my mapquest printed directions, that told me to take the 59th street bridge, we took the midtown tunnel, and a short 30 half later, and two gas station stops, we were there! We went to the original stamatis which i believe was on 23rd ave. It isnt much to look at, there are a few fish in the window, a bunch of unfriendly looking guys standing behind grills, and a few rows of six person tables. The decor was fine, it reminded me of a usual greek restaurant, with painted scenes of beautiful islands and cliffs on the walls. We hadnt eaten all day so we were ready to order. Let me say, that the second you sit down, before the water comes, there is a heaping plate of garlic bread placed right in front of you. Screw some shnazzy amuse, this was a good indication of what was to come. Started out with the grilled octopus, saganaki, and eggplant salad. The grilled octopus was by far the best appetiser on the table. The saganaki which wasnt done table side, was a little too breaded for my liking. It almost seemed deep fried to me. However, how bad is fried cheese and lemons going to be. The eggplant salad, which i have only seen as melezanasalata, was actually written in english. It differed from the ones I have had in the past by them leaving it pretty chunky, and having pieces of feta in it. Very good, but I have had better. For the main course we had the lamb chops and the porgy. Both were excellent, the lamb chops were cooked perfectly, they were really nice cuts of meat, and were left pretty much unseasoned. The fat from the lamb washed down with the house red wine. Awesome! The porgy was also grilled to perfection. The charred skin, mixed with the oily taste of the fish and the refreshing lemon. Oh baby! Served with lemon potatoes and mixed vegetables, it was a great meal. Meanwhile, the staff was great. The waitress friendly, cute, and really helpfull. She steered us away from some things and gave her opinion.. In fact, funny story, me and my friend were going out for a cigarette, and she directed us to this backroom were the staff was eating this spicy feta dip and listening to loud music. She told us to try some of the feta dish and it was great. I dont remember what it was called, but i am getting it the next time i go back. The meal ended with two rice desserts. One called halav i think and the other was like a rice pudding. Several oozo's and greek coffees later, we were sad to go. This place was alot of fun, the food was good. I would recommend the lamb and the porgy, I would get the octopus again, and try that spicy feta dip. But it has really started me on a quest to find the best greek place in astoria!

Get out of here. That interview wasnt real was it.. That has to be some type of april fools joke. She answered every question with a jean-georges story. Who wrote that?

Do you have jobs to hand out? Some people don't have a choice. I actually am looking to hire people. Unfortunately, i have a smoking office in new jersey.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but where does the smoke go? I'm stumped how there can be an indoor smoker! The thing uses real wood chips. I have alder and other ones available. It definately does smoke because it burns wood. But what you do is probably put about 4 table spoons of fine sawdust,. The smoke is trapped and circulates in the device. Some does escape but it wouldnt be more smoke then say a cigar.

Does anyone know where this place is located or the phone number. I am very very unfamiliar with the area! thanks

You dont certainly have to act surprised that the reporter has relationships with chefs... But you should be really surprised that the reporter values their relationship over there duties. It makes no difference if the two were married for christ sakes, someone in that high of a position should be able to seperate the two. To think that a NYT critic can have her opinion so easily swayed , attacks the credibility of all other critics.

At least the Times should definately feel safe that Hesser wouldnt pretend to go to a Jean Georges restaurant. Unlike Blair. They really did hang her out to dry though. Something must have happened that we are unaware of. They must have gotten a lot of complaints.. But that three stars certainly did stick out like a sore thumb.