One Lunch Midtown Needs From Astoria: bZ Grill
I fell like every time I have ever brought up my quest for a real gyro here in Midtown, one out of bounds place has always come up in the comments: bZ Grill in Astoria. “bZ Grill this, bZ Grill that.” “You could make it out to BZ Grill and back in an hour” “bZ grill has the best gyros, hands down”. Well last weekend I finally made it out to Astoria for a little bZ Grill action, and I must say… if there is a petition to get these guys to open a branch in Midtown, I’d like to sign it.
You can order a gyro sandwich, and be pretty content- but I’d recommend going with a friend and ordering the mix grill… or as I liked it to call it, the “Big Mamma Jamma”.
For $19 you get chicken, gyro, two kinds of sausages, and their bifteki all piled high atop a mound of fries and veggies. A dollop of tzatziki, and Kopanisti (which is kind of like a feta spread) and you’re in business. (I don’t think my picture does it justice.)
The two sausages, which are both made in house, were delicious- but I think the bifteki was the best of the three- which they describe as a Greek version of a burger. That’s kind of accurate, if burgers had Greek cheese oozing out of the middle.
Yes, that is gyro-tastic pork fat resting beneath that bifteki
The chicken was fine, but the gyro… well, the gyro was as advertised. Whenever I think gyro, I usually think lamb- which I have to come to learn is a misconception. Authentic Greek gyro is usually (although not always) made with pork, and bZ Grill’s version is outstanding. In contrast to the processed gyro cones you get at most Greek restaurants, they have what appears to be a spit wrapped with actual pork- so what you get is delicious bits of what is clearly real meat, but also fat (hello!). Needless to say, it was delicious.
I know it’s pretty unlikely we’ll get a bZ Grill in Midtown anytime soon, but I’d settle for a spot that serves a real pork gyro. As much as I love the processed lamb/beef cone thingy, there is no substitute for delicious pork fat. It’s right off the N train, so if anybody would like to attempt a lunch hour sprint to Astoria- time it and let us know how it goes. For those of you who are less adventurous, it’s worth a weekend trip to Astoria just to check out. And if you live in Astoria already? Well, you are a lucky bastard!
bZ Grill, 2702 Astoria Blvd, Astoria, 718-932-7858 map
Related:
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Posted by Zach Brooks at 11:45 am, September 25th, 2009 under bZ Grill, Out of Bounds.
21 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
21 Comments
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Wow, an Astoria entry for real. That mixed grill looks awesome – it better for 19. Hooray Queens!
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I live in Kew Gardens so Im half a lucky bastard.
Zach, you just found my saturday dinner spot…or maybe I will ditch the Korean food in Jackson Heights for some bZ action -
can i just order all of that delish meat? dont want fries or vegetables!
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Korean food in Jackson Heights is a ripoff (if you are referring to the Korean BBQ joints?). You are better off feasting on this!
I live very close to Astoria so I must be 3/4 of a lucky bastard then.
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how many stops is this on the 57th st N R train.
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Zach, you missed out on one of the gems there: Greek fries. It’s a whole mess of fries topped with feta cheese and stuck under the broiler for a couple minutes. It makes my arteries harden just thinking about it, but it’s sooooo good.
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@cds – I dipped the fries in that feta stuff… does that count!
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Close, but not quite the same thing. When my sister and I lived in Astoria, we’d order the Greek fries and dip ’em in the BZ sauce. It’s pretty surprising we’re both not morbidly obese. Thank god for high metabolism.
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I live off the Broadway stop in Astoria, two stops closer to the city than this stop, it takes 20 minutes for me, during rush hours, after on the train – to get to 49th st & 7th ave. I’m guessing this trip would take over an hour – waiting for trains, travel time on trains, getting there, ordering, waiting, getting back to the train, blah, blah – all while considering you would have to bring your food back with you. Sounds worth it though, but i’ll be making this a weekend excursion for sure.
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Zach, I f’ing hate you. What is this, midtownlunchTEASE.com?
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Ughhhhh, that bifteki cheese looks like man juice. eesh
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Hollydriver…..if you have…or have experienced ‘man juice’ like that….get down the clinic.
I will now only refer to you as Cheesey Dip..
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Holy crap, I live only a few blocks from this place and had no idea. I’m so excited to try it. Thanks Zach.
And Wellerfan, it’s 8 stops from 57th, probably about 20 mins each way, plus wait time for the trains. At least during the weekday you have both the N and W to get you there and back.
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I’ve found them to be nice there too and tolerant of public drunkeness.
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Excellent! This is just a few blocks from me. I’m definetly going to have to check this out on the weekend Thanks Zach!
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I have heard nothing but good things about BZ but have yet to try it. It’s pretty far from my apt, but Seamless Web says they will deliver to me. I hope they can send that meat platter straight to my door!
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lmao @ the signs proximity to the apartments. Must be like the Kenny Rodgers Seinfeld episode.
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*Sigh* I am a criminal. I am 100% lucky, as I live about a five minute walk away from this place and I haven’t been in over a year. Someone needs to take away my Astoria card.
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My rents went into bZ over the weekend after I showed them this post and the owner said he’s looking into bringing bZ Grill into the city because the rent prices have come down so much. Looks like Zach might get his midtown wish.
Ok, I have to let loose and say FOMG! I completely forgot about this place, somehow. I used to live by that subway stop, and jesus christ BZ Grill. I love Bklyn, but some days, I desperately miss the delicious Greek food of Astoria.