A Breezy Brunch at The Astor Room

The Astor Room is one of those places I’ve enjoyed for so many different occasions: a fancy cocktail/catchup session, a celebratory birthday dinner, and a giddy group brunch. It’s upscale but still comfortable, making it a great choice when it’s time to treat yourself. Chef Nate Felder offered to treat the We Heart Astoria team to brunch, and the results were not only delicious, but super Instagram-worthy. Thanks to Marielle Solan for the mouth-watering photos!

We started with the 1/2 Grapefruit & Mixed Berries, which has a creme brulee-like brown sugar crust on top. Grapefruit is often a little too tart, but the sugar added just the right amount of sweetness to balance it out. This was a light, refreshing start to the meal!

 

The next bites we sampled included a Greek Yogurt & Honey parfait and Hot Donut Holes. The yogurt parfait had a lovely blend of textures: a little creamy, a little crunchy, and a little fruity. The ingredients were simple, but very high quality.

While the first two were tasty, the donut holes were on another level. The tray of five bites came with three different fillings: vanilla mascarpone, orange marmalade, and raspberry jam.  These hot little pillows of sweet dough are great for sharing, but I wouldn’t judge if you kept all five for yourself!

 

Now on to the main dishes. We started with Toad In The Hole, which consists of two eggs cooked inside ciabatta bread, served with hash browns and roasted tomatoes. Do you have one friend that’s a less-than-adventurous eater? We all know the type: you excitedly take them to your favorite new place, only to be disappointed when they ask the server if they can simply order fried eggs and toast. This is the dish to open their eyes. It takes simple, everyday ingredients and prepares them in a way that’s both beautiful to look at and fun to eat. Everyone likes eggs, fresh ciabatta, and hash browns. Bonus: the roasted tomato adds a pop of color.

 

 

The sweet stuff at The Astor Room is top notch. We started with Chalah French Toast, served with whipped cream, berry compote and maple syrup. These sweet, golden pieces of bread melt in your mouth. If french toast is your breakfast/brunch go-to, these might be your new favorite dish!

 

 

Yes, that is strawberry gelato melting perfectly on the pancakes. Brunch pancakes at The Astor Room come in three varieties: strawberry, chocolate, and blueberry. You’d be hard-pressed to find better pancakes in the neighborhood. These are fluffy and satisfying. Even if everyone is ordering a separate entree, I’d suggest getting a plate of these for the table to share!

 

Now for the heavy duty stuff. If you like big, in-your-face brunches, the Chicken and Waffles is right up your alley. The juicy chicken is cooked to a fried perfection, and the waffles add a carb-y complement to the meat. Go big or go home.

My personal favorite was the Lobster Eggs Benedict. Yes, that’s succulent lobster meat on top of an english muffin, topped with an egg and Hollandaise sauce. Eggs Benedict is one of those dishes that is pretty consistently a winner, but the lobster makes this version out of this world. While the french toast and pancakes were both close, this is the item I’ll be ordering upon my return.

 

The Astor Room offers a $26 Pre-Fixe brunch menu, which comes with one “Eye-Opener,” one Main Course, and unlimited Bloody Marys and Mimosas. There’s also live jazz at brunch, which provides a nice soundtrack to your meal without being intrusively loud.

 

Have you tried brunch at The Astor Room? Let us know your favorites dishes and drinks in the comments!

The Astor Room (34-12 36th St, Astoria)|(718) 255-1947)
astorroom.com| Facebook  | Twitter

This post was sponsored by The Astor Room. Thank you for supporting the businesses that support We Heart Astoria!

3 Comments

John September 16th, 2015

I don’t get it. Who decides in almost all of the eateries in Astoria that chicken and waffles and burgers are a must on the menu?? Such a limited brunch and lunch menu! What if I want Turkey with mashed potatoes and veggies?? You see that’s why I like Diners and places such as Lite Bites on Broadway. Lots of variety, great tasting food and at good prices!

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Lauren September 15th, 2015

The lobster eggs benedict is not on the pre-fixe menu?

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LindsayG September 16th, 2015

That’s a great question, Lauren! Adding lobster to Eggs Benedict is an extra $5. Hope you can enjoy the dish soon :)

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