N E W S J U L Y 6 L E H A V R E Superb Ribs Served “This is delicious!” So said my son Josh as he bit into his baby back ribs at Tony Roma’s on the upper level of The Bay Terrace shopping center on 26th Avenue. I had taken my family to the restaurant after I heard many rave reviews from friends. They were right. We began our dinner “outing” with sevenmonth old Jonah and his parents and uncle and were greeted by a “welcomer” – a nice touch as we entered a handsome contemporary environment with high ceilings that effectively absorb the noise, so that the spacious restaurant and bar seem almost intimate. We sat at a table, but there are many booths around the perimeter of the room. With the baby in a high chair, sitting at a table worked well for us. To begin our meal we ordered Tony Roma’s signature dish – a mouthwatering delicious onion loaf made from giant hand cut Spanish onions, lightly breaded, and deep fried into a delectable crunchiness surrounded by their original BBQ sauce. Forced by New York City law, all the dishes have calorie counts. It is very enlightening and helpful for those of us who are on diets! We also sampled the spinach artichoke dip served with warm tortilla chips, sour cream and salsa. It was also delicious, but the onion loaf was irresistible and we each fought for our share! There is a Roma sampler I’d recommend that includes the two above and boneless Buffalo bites – chicken breast lightly breaded and tossed with Buffalo sauce. The drinks came minutes later and there are free refills on soft drinks and iced tea. Ours were repeatedly refilled by the attentive waitperson assigned to our table. Although there are chicken and fish choices, any trip to Tony Roma’s must mean you order ribs or steaks. We sampled several rib and steak dishes – pork and beef with different sauces – each one was tasty and the meat fell off the bones, as it was tender and juicy. There is a wide selection of side dishes, but make sure to order the “loaded mashed potatoes.” At only 194 calories, it is amazingly tasty and worth every calorie! Try it; you’ll love it! There is free delivery in many northeast Queens communities and a take out counter for fast food pick-up. Tony Roma’s has a handsome bar with booths for dining and TVs all around the space. They are open seven-days-a-week for lunch and dinner. Call for delivery or reservations: 718-224-TONY (8669). Marvelous Mexican and Mariachi too If you want a wonderful night of entertainment and a delicious meal to go with it, then visit Tequila Sunrise, an old favorite of mine that hasn’t lost its luster. In fact it has only gotten better over the years. The busy, spacious, and popular bar fills the front room of the attractive well-lit restaurant. The beautiful and colorful interior sets the tone for the festive place it is. We found a table covered in a warm Ralph Lauren green tablecloth and brass chargers making an inviting setting. The tall carved chairs add to the atmosphere of Mexican folk art. While we enjoyed our margaritas, four Mariachi musicians came to serenade us. They sang and played their instruments with gusto and passion, keeping us enthralled. They proceeded to the other tables to entertain the diners with their requests and play their own classical music too. We began our meal with a tableside prepared appetizer of guacamole. It’s a house specialty made from green avocados, with diced tomatoes, chopped onions, jalapeno peppers and cilantro — delicious! I dipped it with the crispy warm tortilla chips. Yummy. I could have filled up on this tasty combination, but more awaited us. The menu also offers many other appetizers. We tried a few others, a breaded crab croquet made with mashed potatoes, garlic and crabmeat served on a bed of greens. We also had the avocado stuffed with crabmeat on a bed of mesclun salad. All delicious. For a main course there are multiple choices from traditional Mexican specialties like enchiladas de mole, shredded chicken wrapped in a soft corn tortilla topped with mole sauce, and a tequila combo which offers beef chimichanga, chicken enchilada and cheese quesadilla. There are dishes for vegetarians and specials of the day and even menu choices for children. I know my five-year-old grandson Blake would love their chicken fingers or a mini cheeseburger. My favorite choice for my main course was the margarita sea bass that had baby shrimp sautéed in a special margarita tequila sauce over the filet. My husband had his favorite, a steak. Here it is prepared grilled with avocado salad, shredded cheese, charro beans and Mexican rice, perfectly cooked to his medium-rare request. Of course no meal is complete without dessert and Tequila Sunrise doesn’t disappoint. We loved the fried ice cream and peach delight – a perfect way to end an enchanted evening and special meal. Try it, you’ll love it too! Press 195: The Talk of Bayside Finding a gourmet meal for a reasonable price is often a difficult task, and many times, restaurant-goers are faced with the dilemma of sacrificing quality for cost. The menu at Press 195 is broken down into seven key components: cold press, hot press, Belgian fries, starters, salads, burgers and knishes. Their extensive sandwich menu is comprised of over 40 different sandwiches and paninis. The best part? All of their sandwiches are $10 or less and can be paired with soups and salads during their lunch hour. What makes these sandwiches so great is the fact that their menu is extremely diverse, presenting everything from an Italian classic Panini (salami, provolone, and peppers) to the “#35” which combines Prosciutto di Parma, sliced pears, Fontina cheese, arugula and aged olive oil. Cold press sandwiches are presented on lightlytoasted Italian bread and include classics such as “The American,” made of roast beef, turkey breast, Vermont cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and a roasted garlic spread. The establishment is most frequently known for their hot press items, which include exotic, often imported ingredients sandwiched inside crusty bread, smothered in either olive oil or the homemade chimichurri sauce. The “#17” combines thinly-sliced ham, granny smith apples, brie and Dijon mustard to create a culinary delight, to say the least. The Belgian fries at Press 195 are amazing. Upon first glance, they seem typical. Crispy, oily but not greasy, served with loads of ketchup- they seemed like regular French fries. Boy, was I wrong. Light, crispy, salty – I finally understood the sensation surrounding this often neglected, typically mundane side dish. Chef Bryan Karp found the recipe for success through his recreation of the French fry, which has its own place on the menu. Not only is Press 195 known for the sandwiches and famous fries, but for their knishes as well. Press 195 created a sensation throughout the city by bringing back the knish, with a slight twist. Sandwiched inside a knish, customers can choose from steak, turkey, pastrami, and even meatloaf. Combined with other elements such as Canadian bacon, Vermont cheddar cheese and gravy, this restaurant has taken a traditional cultural staple and recreated it in an eccentric, innovative manner that all New Yorkers can enjoy. Although the initial menu is nothing less than hearty, one cannot leave without trying the “dessert presses,” which range from Nutella with fresh banana and ice cream to a “Banana Bread Press” with fresh banana and strawberry slices, New York State pure maple syrup, ice cream and candied walnuts. Press 195 takes common, everyday meal options and transforms them into alluring, enticing menu choices. You can visit Press 195 at one of their three locations in Brooklyn, Bayside, or Rockville Center, and put your culinary skills to the test. 6 LEHAVRE COURIER | JULY 2014 | WWW.QUEENSCOURIER.COM
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