Five
Star Twist
On A Healthy Favorite
The
Garden of Eating:
212-02
Union Turnpike, Hollis Hills; 468-8483
Cuisine:
New
American Continental
Hours:
Sunday
to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.;
Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Specials:
Early
Bird Special from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
for $14.95.
Parking:
Street
Credit
Cards:
All
major
I
never thought I’d be this excited over a restaurant review. But then
again, anything is possible at The Garden of Eating in Hollis Hills. Owner
and chef Scott Barnett told me so.
Barnett,
a master chef who has worked at such high-quality establishments as Le
Cirque, Uncle Jack’s, Union Square Café, Orleans and LeBernardin, took
over The Garden of Eating three months ago, bringing with him a unique blend
of five-star new American Continental cuisine, and a pride in providing
customers with exactly what they want.
Barnett,
a Kew Gardens resident, actually waited on my companion and me when we
visited the romantically lit, comfortable restaurant that makes patrons feel
like they’re in a quiet, peaceful log cabin in the country, and said,
“You can have anything you’d like here. We’re here to please.”
Although
the restaurant offers a huge selection of meals that could please any
appetite, from traditional favorites like Chicken Fingers ($10.95), Turkey
Burgers ($6.95) and Meatloaf ($13.95) to specialties like Lemon Chicken
($14.95) or The Garden of Eating Burger made with Angus beef ($6.95), we
decided to start with a simple glass of Passion Fruit Sangria – made by
Barnett’s wife Szilvia – which was so tangy and refreshing, we could
have ordered a caraf.
Resisting
that temptation, we started our meal with Barnett’s Grilled Portobello
Mushroom Bruschetta appetizer ($5.95), which featured delicious mushrooms
covered in arugula, roasted peppers, caramelized onions and rosemary aioli,
creating a perfect mix of flavors. Other mouth-watering appetizers on the
menu included Crispy Coconut and Macadamia Shrimp ($6.95), a Bowl of Mussels
with garlic, shallots, fresh tomatoes, basil and chardonnay ($6.95), and
Union Square Matzo Polenta ($5.95).
Although
the wide range of special salads at the restaurant were tempting, we decided
to try Barnett’s award-winning Bayou Shrimp ($15.95) as an entrée, which
included fresh pepper crusted Louisiana shrimp with perfectly seasoned
whipped potatoes, crispy leeks, garden vegetables and tangy lemon barbecue
sauce. We also tried the Organic Baby Chicken ($14.95) with organic brown
rice and seasonal vegetables, which was juicy and flavorful and presented
beautifully.
The
portions were large, and each entrée came with a small soup or house salad
with the restaurant’s spicy Honey Dijon house dressing. Barnett offers a
large vegetarian menu, a wide range of wraps and a huge selection of
sandwiches. While most of the food is healthy at the restaurant, almost all
of it is organic, according to Barnett, who said, “I like to use the
highest quality food in my cooking.”
For
dessert, we decided to try the Three Mousse Chocolate Cake ($4.95), which
includes white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate mousse. It was
so good, it was sinful. The restaurant also offers a full bar and the
“Best Cappuccino in New York.”
With
Early Bird Specials and live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights,
this place is a hidden gem that no Queens resident should deprive themselves
of missing.
–
Angela Montefinise
|
