Bistro 33 - Can't Go Wrong with Late-Nite Sushi

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105

718.721.1933

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.lilbistro33.com

Bistro happens to be one of my favorite spots in Astoria, especially for late-nite dining. Their kitchen remains open until midnight and their sushi bar is open until 1 am. So when Kimberly came to town on Friday night for an impromptu visit, we decided to catch a late sushi dinner there. The results were, as always, more than pleasing. Here's what we feasted on:

Anduille & Crawfish Gumbo - Crawfish and sausage--how could you go wrong? Dan and I are big fans of Bistro's soup--the last one we had was the corn--and were looking forward to trying a new one. The gumbo had tons of flavor and a delicious smoky taste from the sausage. It had a definite kick to it, which was nice and woke up the senses, but at the same time it was a bit strong for one sitting. Dan and I had to take turns eating it, to dull down the spices that were dancing on our taste buds.

Fire Dragon Roll - I decided to experiment with my sushi and try rolls that I've never had before. If you know me, you'll know that this is a big step for me because I'm usually traditional with sushi. This roll consisted of ingredients that I like--eel and cucumber, topped with avocado and spicy tuna. The overall combination was good but it was difficult to eat--the avocado and the tuna kept falling off and I had to eat it in two bites. It was kind of messy and annoying. I could live without it next time mainly because the tuna wasn't doing anything for me. The eel and the cucumber were however lovely and refreshing.

Sesame Crusted Shrimp Roll - To sum this roll up in 1 word--AWESOME. I was sorry that there was more Fire Dragon Roll instead of this one because I would've preferred it the other way around. It contained fried shrimp in an orange curry sauce and was topped with balsamic glaze. The shrimp was delectable--crispy and tangy from the balsamic. It was easy to eat and my dining companions each had a piece and absolutely loved it. Dan went as far as to say that he "should've gotten this roll instead."

Hitachino Nest White Ale - Kimberly ordered this fabulous Japanese wheat beer as a substitute for a Blue Moon. It came in cool-looking wavy glass with a juicy orange on the side for garnish. I have to say that I liked it better than Blue Moon--it was fruity, refreshing and definitely citrusy even without the orange. I highly recommend it.

The service was nice as always, and our waitress gave us plenty of good recommendations. In terms of the cost, it was reasonable, as most rolls ranged between $7-9, soup was $7 and the beer was $8.

Although Bistro is very small, they have sidewalk seating available, which is nice and relaxing on warm summer nights.

3 Mmmms