52 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • JULY 11, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com dining out From the basketball court to the ocean fl oor BY BRADLEY HAWKS A lunchtime crowd gathers amid a vibrant hum of conversation beneath the grapevine-draped awning outside Taverna Kyclades. There is even a waiting list on this rainy Tuesday afternoon. Kyclades doesn’t take reservations; this 95-seat restaurant does not need them. It is always buzzing, even as neighboring establishments along Ditmars Boulevard scramble for business. The fi rst Michelin-rated restaurant in Queens, which has also topped Zagat’s lists, has no gimmicks. When asked to refl ect on the secret of his longterm success, chef and owner Ardian Skenderi lights up. “I cook with my heart,” he said. The former pro point guard from Athens stands six-and-a-half-feet tall, but wears a smile that could melt titanium. He knows several customers by name, many of whom dine at Kyclades multiple times a week, sometimes twice in the same day. “When I give someone a dish, I can always say, ‘This is the very best I can do,’ and if they tell me I can do better, then I am going to learn,” Skenderi said. Room for improvement would be diffi cult to fi nd. The sole chef, Skenderi is in the restaurant daily. He also gathers seafood before sunrise at the Fulton Fish Market in Hunts Point two to fi ve times a week. “We have no specials on the menu,” boasts the beloved chef, “because everything here is special.” Flame-kissed swordfi sh kebabs skewered with peppers and onions duet with glistening beets or Spanish-style saffron Taverna Kyclades 33-07 Ditmars Boulevard Astoria, NY 11105 718-545-8666 Open daily for lunch and dinner www.tavernakyclades.com rice. Whole red snapper is prepared to juicy perfection, carved tableside and accompanied with a ramekin of warm lemon oil. Challenging dishes like Spanish octopus served with olive oil and red wine vinegar, and even steamed horta (dandelion greens), are exceptionally tender at Kyclades in Astoria. Whole branzino is simply prepared in extra virgin olive oil and sea salt and fi lleted tableside. In fact, Taverna Kyclades exhausts nearly 20 cases of olive oil each week. Portions are the size of Skenderi himself, but the price point, remarkably, is lower than his Manhattan competitors’. Is the meal worth the inevitable wait time? You bet it is. The multiple generations of families who gather here regularly for special occasions — or just for some of the best selection and preparation of seafood in all fi ve boroughs — would enthusiastically agree. The complimentary galaktoboureko (syrup-soaked phyllo layered with warm Greek custard) is baked daily — and runs out daily, to. View Over 200 Reviews at queenscourier.com GRAND OPENIING CHICKEN FESTIVAL Restaurant ROTISSERIE • BBQ RIBS • POLLOS A LA BRASA THE TASTE OF PERUVIAN CHICKEN 196-17 Northern Blvd., Flushing, NY 11358 Tel: 718-224-0712 • 718-224-0713 FREE DELIVERY • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT SHEEHAN’S PUBLIC HOUSE JOIN US FOR LUNCH DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS Starting at $7.95 (11AM-4PM) Includes a FREE Tap or Domestic Beer or Soda MON DAY Cheese Burger with Fries $7.95 Buffalo Wrap with Fries $7.95 Chicken or Steak Fajitas $7.95 TUESDAY 3 Tacos with Tortilla Chips $5.95 Roast Beef Wrap with Fries $7.95 Chicken Quesadilla $7.95 WEDNESDAY Ham & Swiss Wrap with Fries $7.95 10 Wings, Blue Cheese & Celery $7.95 Cajun Chicken Wrap w/Peppers & Onions $7.95 THURSDAY 12 OZ Steak with Fries $10.95 Crispy Chicken Wrap with Fries $7.95 Chicken Salad Wrap with Fries $7.95 FRIDAY Fish & Chips $8.95 Corn Beef on Rye with Fries $7.95 Tuna Fish Wrap with Fries $7.95 Newly Renovated Dining Room Dine – In or Call for Pick-Up Live Music Friday & Saturday Coming Soon Special Dinner Menu • Private Party Room Available 171-57 46th Ave • Flushing • 718-961-6161
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