Press 195 and Cedar Creek

Press 195 has been a long time favorite of ours even though we do not visit that often.  (http://www.press195.com/index.php).  We are not in Bayside that often but really wish that a Press 195 would open in Forest Hills.  Then we would be there all the time.  The sandwiches are amazing.  Never had a bad one, and with so many to choose from you can go back again and again to keep eating!  Cucumber salad is great.  Beers on tap are great.  Bartenders are really nice, quick and they pay attention to their customers, unlike the host who took our name then gave away empty tables to others who came in after us.  Not such a  big deal, we were happy at the bar with an order of  Belgian fries (OMG) so good, but I'm just saying.  We had:  Belgian fries with chipotle jalapeno mayo; a #20-roast beef, marinara, fresh mozzarella and roasted garlic spread; and a #30-turkey, bacon, Monterey Jack, tomato, chipotle mayo and guacamole.  WOW!

Saturday night we went to a new place Cedar Creek (www.cedaarcreekli.com) on Cedar Swamp Road in Glen Cove.  I discovered it on OpenTable.com and it was a success.  The menu is varied and American (when was the last time you went out for American food?)

We had:  Buffalo chicken spring roll-Vermont cheddar, scallions, bleu cheese and Frank's hot sauce; Mediterranean plate-hummus, tzatsiki, Kalamata olives, charred feta and crispy flat bread; Salt & Pepper calamari-grilled pineapple, shishito peppers and sweet chili sauce; French onion soup and Lobster bisque.

Then:  Chop-chop salad-chick peas, roasted peppers, olives, cucumbers, tomato, feta, onion and red wine vinaigrette; Loaded baby iceberg wedge-applewood smoked bacon, grape tomatoes, shaved red onion with Maytag blue cheese dressing; North Fork green salad-cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, carrots with shallot mustard vinaigrette; and Caesar salad with parmigiano-reggiano and croutons.

Then:  Pan seared organic Scottish salmon-shallot roasted cauliflower, sultana golden raisins, toasted almonds, crispy carrots, chive oil; a chicken special which was devoured but I can't remember what it was and a pasta special with angiolotti stuffed with cheese in a cream sauce with peas, onions and bacon.

Dessert was:  Warm apple crisp in it's own baking dish with Granny Smith apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, rolled oats and vanilla bean ice cream; Profiteroles with vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate sauce and Dark chocolate Oreo mousse with fresh whipped cream.  A few glasses of white, a bottle of red, a few cocktails and decaf cappuccinos and espresso and HOLY CRAP we were stuffed.

The food was all very good.  We all agreed that it was one of the best all around meals we've had in a restaurant in a long time. The service, however, is rushed.  I don't believe they intended to rush us, but appetizers and salads and soups came one on top of the other.  Crowded and uncomfortable.  Plates being removed while others are still eating. Maybe they just need to advise their staff of proper etiquette.

It was a great night with Glenn, Eileen and Grandpa Bruce.  We will have to bring friends back to try it again.