Searching for comfort in Long Island City

Are you sick of reading about my move yet? If yes, forgive me. This is the last time I’m mentioning it, I promise (…maybe).

My old neighborhood standby - the kind of cozy, broken in place to go to after a hard day for beer and some comfort food - was the beloved Brennan & Carr, famous for its cheap but amazing roast beef sandwiches and super crispy fries drenched in synthetic cheese sauce (my fave). Although I’d go there only about once a month, it was comforting to know it was there.

My new neighborhood is pretty industrial so the five-block radius surrounding it is mostly devoid of restaurants. There are tons of places a 15-minute walk in either direction, but that’s not so convenient.There is but a handful of places in our immediate ‘hood and Dutch Kills Centraal is one of them. Dutch Kills is an area of LIC that was apparently an important road hub during the Revolutionary War in the 18th century. Occupying a corner of 39th Avenue, the restaurant/gastropub pays homage to that era with a warm interior, featuring lots of wood and other reclaimed objects. They serve classic home-style foods with sophisticated touches.

I went for the pan roasted chicken breast. Cooked in a balsamic-rosemary sauce (unfortunately skinless), it was served with buttermilk mashed potatoes and a steamed kale salad. The chicken was really tender and flavorful. Along with the crunchy kale and super creamy potatoes, the dish was perfectly balanced and definitely hit the spot after a long day.

Rene got the maple glazed duck breast, which came with red quinoa and an arugula salad. The duck was perfectly cooked - still red inside yet really tender. The quinoa was my favorite part; it was dressed in a sweet orange dressing that complemented the duck well.

Overall, we really liked the place. Both entrees were well portioned, balanced and reasonably priced (both $15). I also love that they have a roster of local beers on tap. However, I still miss my synthetic yellow cheese…