10 The Queens Courier • MOTHER’S DAY • MAY 9, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com THE COURIER/Photos by Bradley Hawks Sik Gaek serves up Korean barbecue at its very best. SIK GAEK 49-11 Roosevelt Ave Woodside, NY 11277 718-205-4555 www.sikgaekusa.com Open daily from 3 p.m. to 4 a.m. View Over 200 Reviews at queenscourier.com dining out Tabletop BBQ at Sik Gaek BY BRADLEY HAWKS “Oh, that’s probably too much food,” the server warns in a refreshing moment of honesty. “Most dishes are intended to serve three to four.” He then reaches under the table for an invisible switch, and flames appear. The restaurant is Sik Gaek, and the booths are tucked under tin awnings reminiscent of a back alley in a bustling Asian city, the walls plastered with karaoke posters. Next to each table sit enormous plastic red buckets where diners discard shells, bones and shrimp tails. This is Korean barbecue at its very best. It’s a whole different ballgame than the American version. Soon the waiter returns and begins frying a couple of eggs in a skillet to be set aside as one of many garnishes. Next, a technicolor parade of small plates arrives, none of them ordered by the table. These are customary complimentary dishes often enjoyed as appetizers or used as toppings with the main course. There are bowls of flaming red kimchi—one of pickled mushrooms and vegetables, garlic cloves and jalapenos—and yet another steaming dish of what appears to be an egg soufflé. The Korean rice cakes are a favorite at Sik Gaek. The thin strips of fish cakes glistening with a glowing red sriracha glaze actually resemble long, chewy gnocchi. Lush leaves of bibb lettuce serve as jade wraps for the delicacies to come. And now, the barbecue begins. Paper thin strips of bulgogi—sesame, soy and garlic marinated short ribs—sizzle and curl as they brown on the grill. A gargantuan, ice cube-studded platter covers the end of the table and brims over with piles of clams, sea snails, prawns, scallops, mussels and even shells full of crab meat, veggies and mozzarella cheese. It’s all slowly grilled on the tabletop. Bold diners will want to try Sik Gaek’s famous plate, the seafood hot pot—a rice bowl placed over the grill and filled with fresh seafood, including a live octopus, that is slowly steamed over the heat. Skeptics may want to check out the YouTube clip with Anthony Bourdain and David Chang. Whether you are adventurous or timid, the menu is ideally suited for sharing among friends who can agree on a few dishes. Even the spicy ramen soup is intended to feed a small family. Start off with a few orders and add more as you go along to gradually build a tableside grilled feast. From steamed fresh lobster to beef short rib stew, monkfish and mackerel to prawns and scallops, each order arrives in heaping platters. Although health codes prevent guests from taking home unconsumed raw meats, don’t waste those untouched gems. Ask nicely, and your server will have the kitchen steam or grill your leftovers and package it to take home. Georgia DINER & REstauRaNt Happy Mother’s Day - From Our -dinner includes- Winning Staff Choice of Appetizer or Cup of Soup or juice, celery and Olives, house Salad with Choice of Dressing, entree, vegetable, potato, challah Bread & Rolls, Any pastry and Beverage, dried fruit & nuts Appetizers Stuffed grApe leAveS with Rice • fruit SAlAd Cocktail Supreme ASSOrted juiceS • hAlf grApefruit Maraschino pickled herring Above Appetizer Selections Are Included with Your Meal Extra on Dinner 1. Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail ..........$9.95 2. Filet of Marinated Herring .....$6.95 3. Baked Stuffed Clams ...................$7.50 4. Chicken Fingers ......................$5.95 Extra on Dinner 5. Mozzarella Sticks ...................$5.95 6. Buffalo Wings .........................$5.95 7. Potato Skins (6 Pieces) .................................$5.95 Beer 111. Budweiser ...................$5.00 117. Heineken .....................$5.00 118. Amstel .........................$5.00 119. Corona .........................$5.00 Wine by the glass 107. Classic Red .................$4.95 107. Classic White ..............$4.95 107. Blush ...........................$4.95 Soups creAm Of turkey • mAnhAttAn clAm chOWder chicken cOnSOmme with Rice, Noodles or Matzoh Balls entrees 11. Roast maRyLaNd tuRkey w/Apple Raisin Dressing ..... $25.95 12. viRgiNia ham steak served with Wild Berry Ragu ........... $24.95 12. Roast Leg of Lamb with Mint Jelly ..................................... $26.95 13. Roast PRime Rib of beef Au Jus ...................................... $27.95 14. chickeN PaRmigiaNa with Spaghetti.................................. $23.95 15. Roast chickeN with Apple Raisin Dressing ......................... $23.95 16. bRoiLed veaL choP ............................................................... $32.95 17. bRoiLed heavy Ny cut siRLoiN steak with Mushroom Caps ................................................................................. $33.95 18. bRoiLed fiLet migNoN with Mushroom Caps .................. $34.95 21. bRoiLed fiLet of soLe aLmoNdiNe Topped with Roasted Almonds ................................................................. $30.95 22. bRoiLed stuffed fiLet of soLe with Crabmeat Stuffing .............................................................................. $34.95 23. bRoiLed seafood combiNatioN: Shrimp, Scallops, Filet of Sole, Halibut and Baked Clams .................................................. $38.95 24. bRoiLed LobsteR taiLs with Drawn Butter ..................... $45.95 beef & Reef: fiLet migNoN & teNdeR Rock LobsteR served with salad, Potato & Vegetable .................................................... $46.95 vegetABleS: Green Beans Almondine • Sweet Peas • Glazed Baby Belgian Carrots • Broccoli Spears • Creamed Spinach • Corn on the Cob pOtAtOeS: Baked • Fresh Garlic Mashed • French Fries • Candied Yams children’s menu 31. Roast tuRkey with Apple Raisin Dressing ................ $16.95 32. Roast Leg of Lamb with Mint Jelly ........................ $16.95 33. cheese RavioLi Topped with Mozzarella Cheese ...... $16.95 34. chickeN PaRmigiaNa with Spaghetti ..................... $16.95 Beverages SOdA, juice, cOffee Or teA desserts Apple pie, cheeSe cAke, ASSOrted dAniSh, chOcOlAte lAyer cAke or Any Other pastry OUR NEW AND EXCITING MENU AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, OFFERS COCKTAILS, STEAKS, CHOPS, SEAFOOD, PASTA, POULTRY All Baking done on Premises • Private Parties Available 86-55 Queens Boulevard • elmhurst 718-651-9000 (one block west of Queens Center Mall) Large Free Parking Lot
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