Alobar: Fantastic Food Is Only A 7 Train Ride Away
Last week I did something I rarely do. I try a new restaurant outside of the city. As much as I love Queens, I haven’t really seen anything that will make me go across the 59th Street Bridge. That was of course, before I found Alobar. Located on Vernon Boulevard, the first 7 train stop in Queens, Alobar Restaurant is a great neighborhood restaurant with top-notch service, an old-industrial New York feel and locally farmed ingredients. It’s the best of all worlds just ask the reviewers on Open Table.
Alobar is known for its beer both draft and bottles/cans but it has a great wine, cocktail and whiskey list as well. I drank every gin punch and every elderflower cocktail on the menu which I why I don’t remember the names of any of them. But no worries. Based on that statement when you see the cocktail list, you’ll know what to order.
I love vinegar and Alobar’s “pickles” section was made for me. Pickled Cauliflower & Fennel ($4), Sweet Carrot & Tarragon ($4), Baby Beets & Dill ($5) and Calamatta Rosemary ($5) will leave your sour taste buds satisfied and your face puckered. A not so “small plate” that caught my eye was the Wild Mushroom Toast. It was easily enough for two people and was delicious with smoked ricotta, roasted garlic, duck egg and red wine onions ($10). I didn’t even need to see it on the menu. The table next to me ordered it and I knew that was what I wanted. I also had a few Ginger Glazed Baby Backs ($3.50 per piece) that made me wonder why I don’t eat ribs more often. Probably because no one else coats theirs with ginger!
The prize was definitely the Mac & Cheese “Carbonara” ($17). Four cheese blend with pancetta and truffle braised egg. My mouth watered when I read the menu description and it was so rich that I couldn’t finish the bowl. But after I admitted defeat I still stuffed 3 or 4 more spoonfuls into my mouth! There was also a Kentucky Fried Rabbit dish, a Roasted Pig and a Hunters Point Burger that came with BATTERED BACON. If I could have hugged Executive Chef Ian Kapitan I would have! He knows about vinegar and he knows about bacon. Bless this man and the kitchen he cooks in! I was stuffed but I made room for the Spiced Apple Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream and it blew me away. It was perfect in every way possible but that didn’t stop me from thinking about the Walnut Maple Pie with Pumpkin Gelato, the Salted Caramel Bread Pudding or the Chocolate Peanut Butter Parfait.
Alobar will be hosting their monthly beer dinner this Thursday, August 9th at 5:30 PM featuring Stoudts Brewery of Pennsylvania. As one of the pioneering craft breweries in America, Stoudts offers a variety of amazing lagers and ales. $50 gets you a 5-course dinner curated by Chef Ian Kapitan paired with 5 beers by Beverage Manager Chess Lankford (excluding tax & gratuity.) $10 flights of beer will also be offered. A Stoudts representative will also be present for all your burning brew questions.
