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They even sell their pork to other NYC
restaurants.
BZ Grill has great pork, folks. Go eat
their pork.
The meal rounded out with a few small
plates: Greek fries covered in melted
feta, pita bread with the eggplant salad,
sundried tomatoes and feta spread, and a
bacon-wrapped chicken skewer that I just
had to order seconds of.
But like I said earlier, Ferdeklis is the
kind of guy that likes to try out a new
idea before he knows where it’ll lead,
and that philosophy extends to his menu.
While he’s certainly nailed traditional
Greek fare, he’s pushing himself to
discover new house-made items to add
to his repertoire. Recently, that’s included
desserts and homemade ice cream
sorbets. I got to sample four: a thick
yogurt panna cotta that will be a huge
hit around the holidays, a chocolatey
profiterole and house-made mango
sorbet and strawberry ice cream.
Y’ALL. This ice cream. This was really,
really, really good ice cream. When I
brought up the idea of opening a Greek
ice cream parlor with this recipe, a knowing
grin spread across Ferdeklis’ face. While he
wouldn’t confirm or deny anything, it was
obvious the idea was already in his head. I
can’t say whether or not we’ll see a BZ Chill
anytime soon, but in the meantime, grab a
scoop of this stuff.
With our plates cleared and our bellies
full, I had to bid Ferdeklis family a fond
farewell. Before I left, I asked Ferdeklis
what he wanted BZ Grill to be (besides
delicious). He told me that to him, BZ Grill is
a callback to his childhood in Rhodes, when
his mother would give him a pocketful of
cash so he and his friends could run down
to the neighborhood spot for gyros and ice
cream. His shop is supposed to be that: a
place the neighborhood trusts, a place that
feels like home. It doesn’t matter if you’re
a Greek immigrant, a Midwest transplant
or a Midtown commuter, you can still find
something here to pick up and bring home
to your family.
With a busy holiday season full of friends
and family coming up, perhaps that’s the
kind of thing our neighborhoods need
right now.
Photos courtesy of BZ Grill
BZ GRILL
27-02 ASTORIA BLVD., ASTORIA
718-932-7858
BZGRILL.COM
BZ