La Vuelta: Learn Spanish in Three Bites or Less

Of the countless lessons that online dating has taught New Yorkers, the long-held truth that unassuming exteriors can hold great potential applies doubly to the dining scene. We suspect this contradiction has saved La Vuelta from obscurity on 44th Drive in Long Island City. Amid the shotgun space encased in wood, there lies some truly delectable dishes that evoke a nuanced sense of Latin cuisine.

Beginning with the Tamarind Glazed Chorizo may be the decision you make all day. The seasoned meat stops just short of sinus-clearing to deliver a spicy punch. The portions are generous but won't stop you from enjoying the Grilled Adobe Spiced Pork Chop. Accompanied by Citrus Chipotle sauce and rice, this entree brings an uncommon earthiness to a traditional dish while the acidic notes of orange keep the pork from getting bogged down in a single flavor. Lastly, the Morros y Christianos (Cuban black beans and rice) rounds out La Vuelta's comprehensive Latin repertoire. The absence of Tres Leches cake from the menu is painfully apparent but the warm bread pudding just about fills the void. A convenient lunch spot and unexpectedly delicious dinner option, La Vuelta promises a memorable meal off the beaten path.

INFO:

La Vuelta

1043 44th Drive

(718) 361-1858

Lounge 47: Nostalgic for the Era of Jello Molds and Other Abominations

Lounge 47, with its vinyl booths and 1970's detritus, is an oddly thrown together nostalgia trip down Vernon Boulevard. Unfortunately, the restaurant seems to have never bothered updating its menu from the era. The result is a solidly mediocre dining experience that makes you yearn for the days of frank and beans under the watchful eye of Welcome Back Kotter reruns.

The chicken burger is filled with Swiss cheese and arrives with a half-hearted smile from the waitress. Warned that the sandwich filling is hot, you wait. After three regular check ins at 7 minute intervals, you discover that the scorching hot magma center of Swiss has only cooled to nuclear reactor levels while the surrounding meat has plummeted the temperature of a hockey puck. The salad arrives fresh and plentiful but is (very) cold comfort. As a consolation, there is a quaint patio out back where folks can drink away their misguided dining choices.

Next to Long Island City's other eateries, Lounge 47 is a weak entry into the edible gauntlet that runs down this Queens thoroughfare. The service is lackluster, if not openly reluctant, and the higher-end prices are unwarranted. Coupled with the fact that the menu suffers from a creativity vacuum, Lounge 47 reveals itself to be a bad idea poorly executed.

INFO:

Lounge 47

4710 Vernon Blvd.

(718) 937-2044

Restaurant Opening: El Ay Si

LIC gets another easily mispronounced restaurant on the Vernon strip: El Ay Si. They are offering tastings on Wednesday October 21st, Friday October 23rd, and Saturday October 24th. Chef Christopher Frakes will be putting together a selection of his favorite comfort foods for you to enjoy. BYOB, RSVP and seating is limited. They bill themselves as serving comfort food so anyone in need of a little TLC should be pleased...

Tuk Tuk: Thai Cuisine for the Jaded Curry Lover

For a place like Tuk Tuk, it would be easy to come off seeming derivative: Its owners opened the Vernon Avenue location after the success of a similarly named sister store on Brooklyn’s Smith Street (now closed). Plus, Tuk Tuk serves much of the standard Thai fare and projects a subtle Hello-Kitty-cafeteria motif inside the restaurant. However, one bite of the Massaman Curry dispels any notion that you’re eating less than uniquely sublime southeast Asian cuisine from people who understand flavor.

The exterior is unassuming to the point of near invisibility. However, it’s saved by the charming remnants of early 20th Century stained glass lettering that lines the doorway. Walking through the shotgun space, one is struck by the contrast of dark, sultry wood with the occasional pocket of neon citrus splashed throughout.

A caveat: the aroma of curry may take your decision making skills hostage and force you to commit culinary crimes you’ll want to deny later. Perhaps you’ll order half the menu under the delusion that the term “very spicy” is a relative term. You may suck down your delicious Thai iced tea before the good natured wait staff has finished taking your order. Some may even request extra peanuts despite the generously portioned minefield of freshly crushed ones already gracing your Pad Kee-Mao dish. All of this is forgivable considering how finely seasoned Tuk Tuk’s offerings are. The Duck Tamarind imparts a richness not often encountered in the cuisine and truly adds a new dimension to the meal. With well-priced lunch specials available, Tuk Tuk also doles out liberal portions so either come hungry or keep one hand free to walk the doggy bag home.

INFO:
Tuk Tuk
4906 Vernon Blvd.
718.472.5598

Restaurant Opening: Pomme Cafe

With new construction in full bloom atop the corner of 38^th Street and Broadway, Astorians will be glad to see a space that always held considerable promise finally come to fruition. While it may pain others to know another café is on the way, progress is slow, people. Let’s just rejoice that it’s not another painful dollar store addition to complete the Broadway trifecta of ugly, cheap and useless. No word yet on Pomme Café’s cuisine but you can bet it’s a mixture of Greek, Middle Eastern and Greek.