Grab A Bite On Broadway
Sanfords Restaurant
30-13 Broadway, Astoria
(718) 932-9569
www.sanfordsnyc.com
CUISINE: American
HOURS: 24 hours except for a few major holidays
CREDIT CARDS: Yes – All major
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, I was trying to decide where I wanted to go to dinner and who I wanted to go with. The latter decision was an easy one, so I picked up the phone and dialed legendary Queens Tribune photographer Ira Cohen. The conversation went something like “Do you want to go to dinner?” “Yes.” “Okay, where?” “Sanfords in Astoria.”
I arrived at the restaurant and while I waited for Mr. Cohen — he was in Flushing taking photos at Skyview Center — I perused the menu of executive chef Raymond Animas.
When Ira arrived, we settled on filet mignon skewers for our starter. They came out shortly thereafter and for $25, we both agreed that we got our money’s worth. The skewers came in a yogurt and herb marinade with peppers, onions and a gluten-free red quinoa salad, which Ira gladly ate entirely.
Ira is known as many things around the office of the Tribune, but being a big drinker is not one of them. But on this night, he was feeling randy and had a couple of dunkelweizens, one of the many German types of ale on the vast beer list. He loosened his tie a little and decided on yellowfin tuna for dinner, while I settled on an 18-ounce sirloin steak. Our food arrived and we both commented on the presentation and how that is the type of little detail that makes a place stand out from all the others. As we ate, we discussed our fantasy baseball teams and how Ira tries to field a roster of Jewish-only ballplayers and how difficult that is. I offered to trade him Ryan Braun, but he balked and went back to his tuna.
My steak, which came with seasoned fries and a béarnaise sauce, was cooked to perfection. It was juicy, but not too juicy. It was thick, but not too thick. Basically, it was just the way I wanted it. The same can also be said for Ira’s tuna, which he gave two stars, the highest grade possible on the Cohen Scale.
Combined with my grade, Sanfords is a 10.
-Jason Pafundi