Bare, Press, Agora and Barosa

Recently we've been dining out frequently:

We've been to Bare Burger (http://www.bareburger.com/) twice.  The first time it was just Michael and I.  We had: The Big Blue Bacon-danish blue cheese, bourbon sauteed mushrooms, apple smoked onions, blackened maple bacon, lettuce and apple chutney with a bison burger on a wheat flour wrap.  Also a Maple Bacon Cheesebareburger-sharp cheddar, blackened maple bacon (one tiny slice), lettuce, tomato and mayo on a brioche bun.  Along with a side of onion rings-really good.  We asked that they not be fried in peanut oil.  The service was good and the burgers were fine.  Nothing to write home about.  The next time we went with Barbara and Paul after seeing Rear Window at the Midway Theater in honor of it's 70th anniversary-great show on the big screen!  We had:  The Western-pepper jack, blackened maple bacon, fried onions, house-made coleslaw and peppercorn steak sauce with a turkey burger on a wheat flour wrap.  Also a Pesto Red Pepper Burger-smoked mozzarella, roasted red peppers, baby spinach and pesto mayo on a brioche bun with a portobello mushroom cap. Also Ostrich sliders and a House salad along with assorted pickles and cole slaw-very good slaw!  So the company was good and that makes the meal, but the food was again, just average. 

Press 195 on Bell Boulevard in Bayside is a great place for friends and sandwiches.  We went with Dina and Dmitry and we had: Baby beet salad and an order of Belgian frite.  Then  The Bell BBQ Classic-grilled warm bbq chicken with fresh sliced avocado, melted Vermont cheddar, cilantro, melted Monterrey jack and creamy cilantro-lime dressing.  Also a grilled portabello mushrooms, fresh baby arugala and goat cheese with roasted garlic and black olive spread.  Also a spicy Buffalo chicken fingers, chunky blue cheese dressing and julienne carrots and celery.  And a classic burger.  A few beers, a few glasses of wine and good friends!  Always a pleasure!

We went to Agora taverna on Austin Street for my birthday with Jill and Lenny.  We got a table outside and watched a few people argue over a parking spot :)  We had a bottle of Greek wine (Stag's Head) and a Horiatiki salad-tomatoes, feta, cucumbers, olives, green peppers, oil and vinegar.  Grilled octopus-so yummy with capers and the mixed spread platter.  Dinner was grilled shrimp, chicken and pasta with meat sauce.  Dessert was yogurt with sour cherries and a chocolate souffle with ice cream.  Add ouzo and Greek coffee and it was a fun night with great friends!

Once again, for my birthday, which seems to have lasted a long time...We went to Barosa with Denise and Joe:  Fried calamari arrabiata-yum! Stuffed artichoke-yum! Arugala salad. Linguine with seafood in a champagne sauce; penne vodka without prosciutto; chicken scarpariello and rigatoni Barosa with broccoli rabe, sausage and cherry peppers.  They were out of zabaglione and for the life of me I cannot remember dessert.  Anyway, another evening with great friends! 

What a life!!!