Bistro 33 Birthday Brunch

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

718.721.1933

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.lilbistro33.com

This weekend was my husband, Dan's 30th birthday and we celebrated pretty much the whole time from Friday through Sunday. After an amazing dinner at Vesta, which I'll get to later this week, we chose to indulge in a Saturday brunch at Bistro 33, Dan's other favorite Astorian hangout. While we were tired and undoubtedly hung over, it was an enjoyable experience that we had to get out of our system. Here's what sustained us for much of the day:

Cajun Fritatta - I was dying to try this ever since Margot's boyfriend, Dillon got it last summer. A big fan of andouille sausage, I was looking forward to this aspect in particular. It was a bit on the spicy side but I welcomed the kick that it gave my senses. The crawfish, nestled inside was also nice and I loved the tentacle-iness of it all. If you order this, know that it's super hearty and that Bistro's chefs don't mess around with spices. The only thing I'd change is the limp, tasteless greens that came on the side--I'd substitute them with nice hash-browns instead.

Pancakes with Apple Butter - This was Dan's choice, and because it was on the lighter side, it soothed his "after-party" stomach. The pancakes were soft and fluffy and served in Bistro's customary silver-dollar size. The apple butter topping was rich and flavorful, further topped with soft cubes of baked apple. I thought highly of this dish but it had a completely different feel than mine - desserty rather than robust.

Service and Cost:
The service was fine - attentive enough but not overly personal. We got a different server towards the mid-point of our meal, which was acceptable but inconsistent. Overall, the service is nothing to rave about or to complain about.

We paid $14 per person (without tax and tip) for the dishes I described above including a cup of coffee/tea and a morning cocktail. Not a bad deal but there are better ones out there in Astoria.

2 Mmmms