Mirrored: 1st of June 2010, 08:47 Original: www.silive.com Views: 288 Settings: Loading the mirror...
http://www.silive.com Sign in to SILive.com >> Not a member? Register Now >> Close Sign in to SILive.com Username _______________________________ Password _______________________________ [ ] Remember me [ ] I forgot my username or password >> Don't have an account? Register now for free, or sign in using your AIM or Google account! * Site Search * Search Local Business Listings ____________________________ [ ] _____________________ _____________________ [ ] Home News Weather Sports Entertainment Living Interact Jobs Autos Real Estate Classifieds Place An Ad * Entertainment * Arts/Theater * Comics * Food/Dining * Music/Nightlife * Puzzles * Recreation * TV/Film * More entertainment Food & Dining Restaurant reviews, fine dining guides, recipes, & more in Staten Island, NY Bars, Dining Out, Food, Pam Silvestri, Restaurant Discussion, Restaurant Reviews >> Valentine's Day restaurant ideas for Staten Islanders By Pamela Silvestri February 11, 2010, 10:47AM valentine-cover.jpg Romance for all tastes on the most important date night of the year outbind://50-00000000D9FD11B94BBAEF47A9C6C073A59EB867070060B6034B4079D5119A0900B0D0D1439E00000604BD1B0000EC8B0C05976F86498C8DDB411300872200000A5BCD240000/silvestri@siadvance.com STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. --- Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday this year. This certainly leaves lots of options for restaurant-goers. And one doesn't just have to celebrate on the day itself - make the meal celebrations last throughout the weekend. Here's a potential game plan if the budget allows: Friday night order delivery, say, from an Indian or Chinese place. Saturday around 2 p.m. - typically a quiet time for food businesses - go to an upscale Italian restaurant that would normally be gangbusters at prime-time in the evening. Head to brunch on Sunday morning or make a midday meal part of an outing with the kids. Disclaimer: When reading these suggestions, please keep in mind that one person's idea of a romantic dining experience may be another person's source of indigestion. So we'll put it all out there and sincerely wish you luck this weekend. Love and hugs, Pam. 1. TABLES FOR ONE If you're flying solo this V-Day, some Island eateries are quite comfortable for dining at the bar. Adobe Blues (65 Lafayette Ave., New Brighton; 718-720-2583) has Tex-Mex tastes and seriously cold beer. Es-Ca (1559 Richmond Rd., Dongan Hills; 718-980-5006) has room for 20 or so singles at the bar; the Valentine's menu encompasses a brief version of their regular a la carte menu. Whether you're looking to hook up or not, Fortune Garden (1771 Hylan Blvd., Dongan Hills; 718-979-6100) is great for the 40-and-up crowd, whereas Fushimi (2110 Richmond Rd., Grant City; 718-980-5300) might be more of a magnet for 40-and-unders. Z-One (1821 Richmond Ave., Bulls Head; 718-494-9100) sticks with a lounge-diner theme so food options are fairly extensive and good for fussy eaters. Henny's (2187 Richmond Ave., Travis; 718-761-8379) will bring back memories for old-time Islanders. But the bar and food are as bubbly and vibrant as ever. 2. FAMILY AFFAIRS Bringing the kids? Drop by the Staten Island Zoo (614 Broadway, West Brighton; 718-442-3100) for a hot, salty pretzel or frank drizzled with mustard. Go for chocolates and novelties at Egger's (1194 Forest Ave., 981-2110; West Brighton; 7437 Amboy Rd., Tottenville; 718-605-9335). Get a lick at Do Me A Flavor (3477 Richmond Rd., Richmond; 718-351-3002) or Sedutto's Ice Cream (314 New Dorp Lane, 718-351-3344). And after a brisk skate at the War Memorial Ice Skating Rink, Clove Lakes, share a Coke, some fries and, well, maybe an ice pack for the bloody nose. The ice rink is located at 1321 Victory Blvd., Sunnyside, and can be reached at 718-720-1010. 3. (EM)BEDDED APHRODISIACS Test the shellfish theory: South Fin Grill (300 Capodanno Blvd., South Beach; 718-447-7679) and Dock's (240 Page Ave., Richmond Valley; 718-227-8500) both feature oysters regularly. The new Cafe Vorrei (1204 Hylan Blvd., Grasmere; 718-682-1756) does a nice job with them on the half-shell (on specials) and deep-fried with a spicy dipping sauce. For a more casual shucked experience, belly up the clam bar at Lobster House Joe's (1898 Hylan Blvd., Dongan Hills; 718-667-0003). Ruddy and Dean's (44 Richmond Terr., St. George; 718-816-4400) and Lacey's Bridge Tavern (75 Innis St., Elm Park; 718-273-7514) also present raw bar items. 4. LIGHT THE FIRE Uh, that would be with zesty or hot ingredients, friends. Think along the lines of Sri Lankan curries at Dosa Garden (323 Victory Blvd., Tompkinsville; 718-420-0919) or the steam table goods at New Asha (322 Victory Blvd., Tompkinsville; 718-420-0649) across the street. Mmm, the samosas and maknis at Taste of India II (287 New Dorp Lane, New Dorp; 718-987-4700) are wonderful and the warm pappadams at Chirag (1198 B Forest Ave., West Brighton; 718-273-8777) are memorable. Burrito Bar's (585 Forest Ave., West Brighton; 718-815-9200) Sunday brunch features zesty shrimp in ancho chili-wine sauce (Camarones Abodabos) and even a "little amigos" menu (a.k.a. kiddie fare.) There are dozens of great Mexican/Latina joints in Port Richmond. Our favorites: Emociones II (185 Port Richmond Ave., 718-273-2442) and Sin Fronteras Deli (340 Heberton Ave., 718-420-6366). These tiny eateries are not particularly romantic (by some standards) but the food is quite good. For tamer zest, hot lobster and the Latin theme, try La Candela (3921 Amboy Rd., Great Kills; 718-356-8798) and Real Madrid (2073 Forest Ave., Mariners Harbor; 718-447-7885). Locally owned Moe's (2397 Hylan Blvd., New Dorp; 718-979-8226) serves tacos and other heat-filled fixins. 5. SWEET DREAMS Sweet means many different things here: The Polish Place (17 Corson Ave., Tompkinsville; 718-442-8909) has awesome pierogi and BYOV (bring-your-own vodka). Perfectly charming Bennett Cafe on the grounds of Historic Richmond Town (3710 Richmond Rd., Richmond; 718-984-7095) features a very limited menu (and hours, so call for the schedule) with breakfast and lunch. In the way of sweet gestures, Dina's Hideaway (7331 Amboy Rd., Tottenville; 718-966-0006) pours a complimentary glass of wine to each patron plus a gratis flower to each couple. Of course, there's always a bakery date at Royal Crown (1350 Hylan Blvd., Grasmere; 718-668-0284) or Pasticceria Bruno (676 Forest Ave., West Brighton; 718-448-0993; and 1650 Hylan Blvd., Dongan Hills; 718-987-5859). 6. ON THE WATER Who can resist a water view? Carmen's (750 Barclay Ave., 718-356-2725; Annadale) puts you face-forward with the Raritan as does Coral Bay Cafe (722 Rockaway St., Tottenville; 718-356-3531) where Conference House beach is rather pretty under a blanket of snow. Eat at R.H. Tugs (1115 Richmond Terr., Livingston; 718-447-6369) for casual fare and an industrial water view. Dress up and head to the deep South Shore for excellent service, a pleasant, urban water scape and upscale Italian food at Angelina's (399 Ellis St., Tottenville; 718-227-2900). Joe & John Toto's (809 Capodanno Blvd., South Beach; 718-979-1888) is across the street from the boardwalk but hey, you can still see the water and they do serve a good tripe and linguini with clam sauce. If you don't want to trek to a blustery sea perch, there's always the tinkling sound of eau at Waterfalls (2012 Victory Blvd., Meiers Corners; 718-815-7200) as well as hearty Italian fare. And certainly don't forget the tiki atmosphere (waterfall and all) at Jade Island (2845 Richmond Ave., New Springville; 718-761-8080) where you can pretend to be lost at sea on a tropical island. Well, we mean lost at sea with a pupu platter and wonton soup that tastes just like it did in the early `70s. For more water views, steady food and sushi, check out Marina Cafe (154 Mansion Ave., Great Kills; 718-967-3077.) 7. ON THE ROCKS No, we're not talking about break-up places. Instead we're certain there are people out there who are just done with the whole meat market/dating scene - for the moment. Yep, party V-Day away at The Beer Garden (1883 Victory Blvd., Castleton Corners; 718-876-8900) or Black Dog Grill/Chow (382 Forest Ave., West Brighton; 718-442-8121) where there's some decent grub and speedy drink delivery. Drunken Monkey (1205 Forest Ave., West Brighton; 718-273-2267) has a tad more than wings and chicken fingers: They present roast beef as a platter or sandwich and a whole stuffed artichoke among their specials. 8. PUB GRUB Skip the froo-froo and opt for a meal at a friendly neighborhood spot. Danny Blaine's (1384 Bay St., Rosebank; 718-442-8431) does a fine job with nachos and the like. Lee's Tavern (60 Hancock St., Dongan Hills; 718-667-9749) has terrific pizza by many Islanders' standards. For burgers, stroll down Forest Avenue for the mother lode. On the strip, check out Jody's Club Forest (372 Forest Ave., West Brighton; 718-727-6338) where Tisha brews a good soup as well. Duffy's (650 Forest Ave., West Brighton; 718-447-9276) serves the patty on an English muffin with sweet potato fries. Schaffer's (2055 Victory Blvd., Meiers Corners; 718-494-9696) goes beyond the standard tavern thing with enjoyable pork loin and wurst platters. And what's better than a wurst with a good brewsky? That would be a bar with character and stick-to-your rib menu items - i.e. Killmeyer's Old Bavaria Inn (4254 Arthur Kill Rd., Charleston; 718-984-1202) or Nurnberger Bierhaus (817 Castleton Ave., West Brighton; 718-816-7461). 9. FINGER FETISH Mess around with snacking foods, little bites that don't need a fork. Planet Wings (2211 Hylan Blvd., Grant City; 718-668-9464) serves wings (obviously) over a dozen different ways. At The Crossings at Staten Island Mall (2655 Richmond Ave., New Springville) both Outback and T.G.I. Fridays fit the bill on this kind of fare. Seaside Turkish/ Mediterranean (124 Ocean Ave., South Beach; 718-556-9000) also has a good smattering of finger-licking appetizers. 10. WHERE WE MET... Go back to the first place you met, maybe a neighborhood spot known for double-cut pork chops like Elm Park Inn (238 Morningstar Rd., 718-720-1983). Canlon's (1825 N. Railroad Ave., Oakwood; 718-667-3013) serves a beef Wellington that has been incredibly consistent over the years. Plus large portions and convivial bar scene make it an attractive spot for long-time Islanders who pine for pre-bridge days. Portobello Cafe (4221 Hylan Blvd., Great Kills; 718-356-2233) has a neat little bar area with a good vibe at night - perhaps you stopped there when you were dating back in the day? 11. JUST HUGS Keeping it platonic (or just starting to date)? Stick to places where you cannot hide. We're thinking the eating area in the window (overlooking a parking lot and Burlington Coat Factory) at Asian Food Market (1801 South Ave., Travis; 718-698-8898) where you can dig into Peking duck and amazing, soft and sweet, fresh-from-the-oven pork buns. Or Burger Chef (1809 Victory Blvd., Castleton Corners; 718-273-7387) where the burgers are juicy and presented in a fluorescent-lit, mirrored dining area. Rinconcita Paisa (1431 Forest Ave., Port Richmond; 718-442-0880) is a Colombian bakery/cafe that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner under rather bright lights. C.H. Fried Chicken (229 Broad St., Stapleton; 718-981-8838) is a tiny chicken joint within view of NYPD security cameras. 12. HOT CAKES V-Day is Sunday this year, so let's highlight some of the breakfast-y spots. Lorenzo's (Hilton Garden Inn, 1100 South Ave., Bloomfield; 718-477-2400) impresses with a jazz brunch that is well-orchestrated on many levels. St. George Parish Grill (100 Stuyvesant Pl., St. George; 718-556-5355) recently opened with po' boys, grits, fresh biscuits and Southern fare; breakfast is served all day. Bistro (2561 Hylan Blvd., New Dorp; 718-987-1700) has a buffet appropriate for large groups. Los Catrachos (125 Beach St., Stapleton; 718-448-4820) is a casual new Honduran spot that does a nice job with poached eggs and hearty breakfasts with tortillas, beans and chorizo. The Historic Old Bermuda Inn (301 Veterans Rd. West, Rossville; 718-948-7600) has a champagne brunch every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. plus dinner and dancing on Saturday nights. 13. CHILLED APPS For the hot-blooded type, cooler foods might be in order. La Strada (139 New Dorp Lane, New Dorp; 718-667-4040) has a tidy inventory of the cold stuff such as antipasti, shrimp cocktail, unctuous fresh mozzarella with tomato, frutte di mare with calamari, pulpo, shrimp, mussels and scungilli tossed in lemon-olive oil-garlic dressing. West Shore Inn (3955 Victory Blvd., Travis; 718-698-9722) puts out starters like a seafood "teaser" sampler, crab martini, king crab legs and clams on the half shell. Nieto's (1195 Castleton Ave., West Brighton; 718-448-7389) presents shrimp and mixed seafood ceviche, Ecuadorian table traditions. 14. SEAL THE DEAL Ready to take your romance to the next level - or just maintain it? Do it with great food, a nice setting and excellent service. Let's tick off some of the Island's best establishments, in no particular order: Bocelli (1250 Hylan Blvd., Grasmere; 718-420-6150) does a beautiful job from soup to nuts and we've already mentioned Angelina's in Tottenville. Italianissimo (107 McClean Ave., South Beach; 718-442-4442) provides a nice welcome to the restaurant with gratis mini-calzones and fried zucchini. Espana (833 Annadale Rd., Annadale; 718-966-4040) and sister restaurant Espana Royale (1657 Richmond Rd., Dongan Hills; 718-980-4444) have near-perfect service and lovely dining rooms. Vida (381 Van Duzer St., Stapleton; 718-720-1501) is a great North Shore treasure with a blend of cuisines that touch on Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Eastern European cooking. Brioso (174 New Dorp Lane, New Dorp; 718-667-1700) is a sure thing with knowledgeable staff and wonderful brick oven pizza. Zest (977 Bay St., Rosebank; 718-390-8477) has a comparatively limited menu and features Franco-American fare. Filippo's Ristorante (1727 Richmond Rd., Dongan Hills; 718-668-9091) has a fantastic buratta appetizer drizzled with honey, plus freshly made ravioli. And if you haven't been yet, Casa Milla (461 Port Richmond Ave., 718-981-4530) offers reasonably priced, consistent food; it's a good value. Spanish tapas eatery Beso (11 Schuyler St., St. George; 718-816-8162) also comes to mind. The name, after all, translates to "kiss," and Beso's brick-lined dining room is a fine backdrop for an affordable, four-course brunch and enjoyable sangria. Trattoria Romana (1476 Hylan Blvd., Dongan Hills; 718-980-3113) builds a solid meal as does Da Noi's two locations (138 Fingerboard Rd., Fort Wadsworth; 718-720-1650 and 4358 Victory Blvd., Travis; 718-982-5040) where hospitality and food are consistent. DoSI Caffe (695 Bay St., Rosebank; 718-420-0091) offers a peek at the Verrazano Bridge and the dining room's fire place makes a cozy setting day or night. Sunday Brunch features live jazz and makes a great date with the family, even beyond Valentine's Day. AROUND THE WEB For menus, hours of operation and more information, go to the sites of some of the restaurants mentioned in this guide. RecommendRecommend (0) Print this Email this Share this: Share with Reddit Share with Digg Share with del.icio.us Share with Google Share with Facebook Share with Buzz Up! Previous story: Cake from a can of soup? Next story: Master the flavors Comments (5 total) RSS Post a comment Oldest comments are shown first. Show newest comments first tbone227 Posted by tbone February 12, 2010, 4:36PM This is the best time to get ripped off . Go on Saturday night, eat off the regular menu, and pay the regular price for the same food. Dopes who go out on Valentines day deserve to get it. Do a solid for your honey and go out the night before and enjoy the night, and not get caught in the crowded, wait for your table ( with reservations) nasty time. Inappropriate comment? Alert us. Reply to this comment | Post a new comment pigsfeettango Posted by axel April 07, 2010, 4:03AM . Zest (977 Bay St., Rosebank; 718-390-8477) has a comparatively limited menu and features Franco-American fare Thank you very much , you have no clue, like most of youre coworkers You guys ever leave the desk & know what`s really going on? I read so many incorrect articles in the SIA. that it really makes me wonder who runs that ship of fools. We will cancel our listing in AWE & restaurant list.Reviewers from SI A. are passe. (michelin & zagat will do) Inappropriate comment? Alert us. Reply to this comment | Post a new comment psilvest Posted by Pamela Silvestri April 07, 2010, 10:48AM Thanks, Axel. Stopped in there last week and it looks beautiful. We sent friends there who enjoyed it and do our very best to support you. Sorry you don't feel we enthuse enough about the lovely place. Good luck. Inappropriate comment? Alert us. Reply to this comment | Post a new comment pigsfeettango Posted by axel April 08, 2010, 3:08AM Hello Pam! I may have let a little bit to much steam out yesterday, i did`not mean to offend you , but sometimes I'm so fed up with S.I. i wanna gawk I lived in many places in europe, usa & abroad and never seen so many careless & selfcentered people ( garbage , littering etc everywhere) The only time i see a sanitation street sweeping truck is before a bycicle race, a marathon or if Bloomie comes to the forgotten borough. My question to you was basicly about this quote " a comparatively limited menu and features Franco-American fare" How many items you like to see on a menu in a recession ?? We have as of now 11 appetizers, 5 salads , 14 main courses + 9 desserts The last couple months a i had to put 10 lbs of fish & seafood a week in the garbage ( that makes me mad ,because the oceans are already over- fished). Sometimes i think , if i have to work for peanuts why in S.I. why not hawaii or montana ,at least you surrounded by beautiful nature. Anyhow i work my bud of until i die ,maybe we can change some things regards axel Inappropriate comment? Alert us. Reply to this comment | Post a new comment psilvest Posted by Pamela Silvestri April 08, 2010, 9:23AM Hey, Axel, It's cool, no sweat. You have a wonderful place and it saddens me to see talented people like yourselves have tough times. EZPass leaving the area destroyed business over there and I don't know what could possibly bring this back in the near future in a steady way. Frankly, having been in the business, I have enormous empathy for what you're going through. Limited menues are great things and that's what that refers to. My apologies to you for not seeing it that way. (See Bella Mama Rose's review on 4/about "restrained" offerings vs. "telephone directory" menus.) I'll change the approach to that description, though, for Zest. Axel, please write me at silvestri@siadvance.com and we'll chat further on email. Thank you for writing. Inappropriate comment? Alert us. Reply to this comment | Post a new comment Post a comment (You may use HTML tags for style) ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ [ ] [ ] [ ] You must accept the terms of service before you can post a comment. You must sign in to post a comment. Sign in to SILive.com Username _______________________________ Password _______________________________ [ ] Don't have an account? Register Now! We've upgraded our community features on SILive.com Learn more! >> Inside dining Food & Dining home * o Turning Tables blog * o S.I. restaurant reviews * o Recipes Browse by month: [___________________] [ GO >> ] PHOTOS Get in our photo album! Upload pictures to our "On the Town" gallery [IMG] SEE & SHARE PARTY, NIGHTLIFE PHOTOS >> PHOTO GALLERIES FROM THE ADVANCE >> ADVERTISEMENT Search Staten Island entertainment listings Events Music Dining Movies _______________________________ [____________] [__________________________] [____________] [ ] Staten Island events >> _______________________________ [____________] [_________] [____________] [ ] Staten Island music >> Search business listings for restaurants and bars in and around Staten Island. _____________________ [_________________________] [ ] * Restaurants & bars in Staten Island * Restaurant & bar news & reviews [___________________________________] [___________] [ ] o More Searches Staten Island movies >> Entertainment headlines * o Dennis Hopper, creator of hit 'Easy Rider,' dies 3:45 p.m. ET * o Local Tibetan staff meets Dalai Lama 5:15 a.m. ET * o What happens when kids think outside the ... tree 5:13 a.m. ET * o Northern Exposure 5:04 a.m. ET More: Entertainment >> Follow SILive.com News Twitter FeedsTwitter Facebook UpdatesFacebook Most Commented on SILive.com The stories you're talking about 37 Chaos at Staten Island's Clove Lakes Park captured in video of aircraft landing comments 24 Blowback for Guy Molinari from Vito Fossella fiasco comments 22 'Chaos' at Staten Island air show, as helicopter takes down branches, hurts spectators comments 21 Missed connections: NYC bus driver seeks sailor comments 15 Toddler in critical condition after being pulled from backyard swimming pool comments Post Free Classifieds FORUMS Entertainment talk Movies * signs of staten island by edroogie 05/25/2010 5:31 p.m. ET * Is anyone going to the... by baybdots 05/14/2010 2:56 p.m. ET TV/Radio * rip dennis hopper by wannabe808 05/29/2010 3:42 p.m. ET * Gary Coleman in a coma by kaan 05/28/2010 7:57 a.m. ET MORE ENTERTAINMENT FORUMS >> Advance InternetSILive.com * Site Search * Search Local Business Listings ____________________________ [ ] ____________________________ ____________________________ [ ] Site Map | Advertise | Contact Make us your home page Home | News | Weather | Sports | Entertainment | Living | Interact | Jobs | Autos | Real Estate | Classifieds | Place an Ad * Your Photos * Your Videos * Blogs * Forums * Celebrations * Opinion * Post a Job * Post a Free Classified Ad * Sell Your Car * Sell/Rent Your Home * Apartments & Rentals * Claim Your Business Listing for Free * North Shore * South Shore * East Shore * West Shore * NY Lottery * Obituaries * RSSSubscribe to our content (RSS) * AlertsSign up for newsletters * Twitter FeedsSILive.com Twitter feed * PodcastsAdvance video feed * MobileView SILive.com mobile site * MobileView mobile product offerings Subscribe to Staten Island Advance Subscribe to Staten Island Advance today and get as much as 24% off the newsstand price! Subscribe Now! (c) 2009 SILive.com. All Rights Reserved (About Us). Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement. Please read our Privacy Policy. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Contact interactivity management.