Astoria, Restaurants
Feb 17, 2014

Twist and Smash’d Coming to Bud’s Ale House Space

A WHA tipster tells us that Forest Hills based Twist and Smash’d is coming to the closed Bud’s Ale House location on Steinway Street.

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A We Heart Astoria tipster tells us that Forest Hills-based Twist and Smash’d will open in the old Bud’s Ale House location at 34-02 Steinway Street. Twist and Smash’d serves twisted potatoes and gourmet burgers (perhaps they are even smashed), along with salads, breakfast and snacks. Here’s the menu for the Forest Hills location.

So what’s up with those twisty potatoes? The owner tells all: “While traveling in Ecuador we found a small cafĂ© that sold twisted potatoes. We were enchanted by this idea of a potato on a stick and brought it back to New York with us.” These crispy twisty potatoes were a big hit during their market research and people really seem to love them. It’s hard to go wrong with crispy potatoes, truth be told. The sweet potato version sounds tasty, too.

Looks like a lot of meat options, but there is a homemade veggie burger (with caramelized onions and mango salsa) option, and a crab burger, too. A gluten free bun is also available.

We look forward to learning more over the coming weeks.

ETA: Here’s a photo of the place as it is now:

twist-and-smashd-steinway

Photo credit: Jake Geiger

About Meg Cotner

Meg Cotner was trained as a harpsichordist and now works as a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of "Food Lovers' Guide to Queens," and is a skilled and avid home cook, baker, and preserver.

9 Comments

Wes

The sign says “Beer Bocce Burgers,” one on top of the other. There’s no reason to parse it as “Beer Bocce.” It’s Beer. Bocce. Burgers. Three ideas.

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megc

Well, we had fun thinking about the idea of “beer bocce” but since then have learned that yes, it’s three individual things – beer, bocce, and burgers. Hope you get a chance to try them all at Twist and Smash’d and let us know your thoughts!

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debinqueens

anything would be better than bud’s….last visit, was served a “Chicago Dog” that consisted of a dog topped with pickle relish, sauerkraut and jalapenos. when I tried to explain what a Chicago dog is — and showed him the recipe on his own menu — he said ‘that’s how we make it here.’

but at least they played stale hip hop at 110 dB…

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dunnypop

I didn’t notice a mention of Bocce ball.

Love twisted potatoes. Haven’t had them since I went to prague.

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megc

Bocce is mentioned on the window coverings they’re using as they prepare the space. The word is under the word “Beer” so perhaps they are talking about something called “beer bocce”? Not sure. Anyway, actual bocce has been played in Queens for decades. There’s a bocce court in Astoria Park, and the old timers in the tiny Italian area of Corona play it regularly.

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GersonK

I’ll try to reserve judgement until they open, but I doubt they’re setting up an indoor bocce court to try to draw in “traditional” players. And isn’t beer bocce just beer pong for people who think they’re too cool to play beer pong? Of course, the arrival of beer bocce in Astoria could have as much to do with the mainstreaming of (beer) bocce as it does with the parkslopeification of Astoria.

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megc

I had wondered if “beer bocce” is like beer pong (I am not a drinking game person, myself, as a total lightweight when it comes to alcohol). Twist and Smash’d actually originates in Forest Hills, not Brooklyn. The Queens neighborhood the brokers have been trying to compare to Park Slope is Jackson Heights, not Astoria. That effort started about 5-6 years ago – this article may be of help.

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MichaelP

Bocce was in Astoria way before the parkslopification happened to Park Slope.

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