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andiberlin

@andiberlin

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Food writer (professional journalist) and critic at @newsdayfeedme. I’ll meet you anytime you want at our Italian restaurant.

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The best things I ate (and drank) this month on Long Island and Queens! It includes two martinis, Malaysian calamari and something called Chicken Chinese.

Read the full list at the link in my bio.

I’ve been mostly down the writing rabbit hole, as my @newsdayfeedme colleagues and I were finishing up our Top 50 Restaurants of Long Island. On the weekends, I’ve been working on my book Fishing in the Desert, which is coming along so well. I finally made it to Chapter Seven with my 24 Hours of breakfast burrito breakup. More about that later, lol.

But I still found some time to go out, especially if it meant having a savory martini. FYI, I’m not including the pickle martini from Sweet Afton. That was very interesting but I prefer a pickle back. But this shiso martini, yes please. So let’s get into it ….

📸: Malaysian salted egg calamari at a new spot in Garden City Park, called @smomalaysia . It used to be a Chinese takeout and you have to go to the bathroom next door at the couple’s boba place. But hot damn, this was the most incredible fried squid, with salty savory egg in the batter. Oof!

Got to see the elusive @andyloveshotsauce for one epic night and we shared a plate of this family style Italian dish at @donpeppenyc by the airport. I wanted to get chicken parm but @joedistefanoqns insisted we try this Chicken Chinese. I was skeptical but I came around because I’ve never once in my life said no to Chinese food. Well, it was pretty Italian but damn, that tomato sauce was chunky fantastic.

This shiso martini at @rewind_nyc in Long Island City makes me want every martini to be a shiso martini. So delicate, so floral, I had two!!!

The build-your-own martini at @beaconlbny in Long Beach was pretty damn fun. I always have the coolest adventures with @yoalison .

On Rosh Hashana, @joedistefanoqns shared some lamb in the form of dumplings at the New World Mall food court in Flushing. Do I have this right? It was lamb inside? I was kind of in passenger mode so if you really want to try these potstickers, you have to take his food tour. taken in New York, New York by @andiberlin

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6 days ago

FeedMe’s annual Top 50 restaurants list is back with new additions, bringing everything from authentic shawarma to stellar Turkish cuisine, and even the first burger spot to ever make the list! 🍔🍴

Comment “TOP 50” and we’ll send you the full list!
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#longisland #longislandny #suffolkcounty #nassaucounty #toprestaurants #food by @andiberlin

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a month ago

50 best restaurants on Long Island is out today! And this is the (fourth??) year I’ve worked on this list with my colleagues @erica_marcus and @mariesworldeats. As you can see, we complement each other so well and you can be sure the places we were able to agree on hit all the marks. Great ambiance, interesting food, culture, adventure, and many in a “nondescript strip mall.” (Andi catnip.)

Here are some unidentified shots of many of the meals I’ve had over the past few months. Message me or comment if you want to know what they are, because I’m not trying to give everything away. But thank you to all my eating partners, @solartephy , @arielledollinger , @yoalison , @melireports , @josynajelie , @randeedaddona , @meghan.giannotta and more. Link in bio folks!!! taken in Long Island, NY by @andiberlin

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a month ago

Just here to say that I had a perfect 10/10 meal at the new Om Wok in Astoria. I think these were the biggest, beefiest best momos I’ve ever had. But this Tibetan blood sausage dish called gyuma, it just took my breath away. Housemade, so funky with liver meat and peppercorny bouncy! Seared on the edges!!! I was dying crying loving, living! Haha. taken in Astoria, Queens by @andiberlin

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a month ago

Best dishes of the month! On Long Island, Queens and Brooklyn … This August I feasted on South Indian breads, Tibetan momos, Burmese eel, San Diego French fries and then I got acid reflux so I went for Jewish deli, lol.

I think I have it under control now but I’m definitely taking a break from making my own raw tomato salsas. I think that’s what pushed me over the edge. It works better when you don’t live alone and you have someone to share. Anyway I just wanted to keep it real. But you can find the ready-for-primetime version of Long Island’s best dishes at the link in my bio.

It includes a couple of these picks, plus submissions from @mariesworldeats , @erica_marcus and @melireports. That bandeja paisa looked great, and the fish in the paper?!

📸: The Tamil tiffin combo platter at @tasteofchennainy ‘s fancy new location in Bethpage just totally blew me away. I’ve been trying to eat less carbs but screw it!

Tibetan beef momos at an Anthony Bourdain approved spot @lhasa_fast_food in Jackson Heights. @joedistefanoqns gave me his book where he talks about these momos, and I felt so meta eating them with him and the book in my purse! They were like soup dumplings, but meatier.

Totally a fan of the new @burmesebites in Astoria and even more a fan of this crispy eel dish, which sounds a little adventurous but really just tasted like sweet Sichuan fried chicken.

Um, carne asada fries???? I felt like I was in Tucson again at @taquero.mucho5 ‘s new shop in Dix Hills. These were even better than Filiberto’s because the fries were so damn crispy despite being totally loaded with stuff.

I had a really stressful doctor’s appointment in Brooklyn last week where I discovered my belly is not actually big from food, but other non-cancerous materials. Well that’s a relief? So I walked over to @gertienyc and got a pastrami and some decked out latke bites. The pastrami was okay but the latkes made me happy to go back to this office several times until I am free of fibroids and also my entire life savings. taken in New York, New York by @andiberlin

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a month ago

Like Shakespeare, I’ve coined a new phrase to use when describing deviled eggs, which are the world’s most perfect food … The “custardy mustardy part” refers to that heavenly yolk center, which here is topped with caviar because hell, it’s been a month.

I rate Long Island’s caviar delights from least to most delicious in my latest @newsdayfeedme article, out today. This one is from @shands.general and while it’s not my number one pick, I freaking loooooved it.

link in bio taken in Shands General by @andiberlin

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2 months ago

“Next time you’re walking around Huntington village thinking about what to eat for dinner, may we suggest going to @ikka.li to see the biryani in a tube ... It’s rather dark inside the new restaurant, but when a server comes out carrying a half-charred tube made from bamboo, pay attention, because they’re about to pour the steaming rice from its cooking vessel into a serving bowl.

By the time we saw it, we’d already eaten our fill of coriander cakes and a deeply spiced goat curry served in a miniature pressure cooker that’s cracked open at the table. But the Thalassery chicken bamboo biryani ($28) is just one of the many spectacles at this ambitious Indian restaurant and cocktail bar.”

This is one to watch!!!

Read more at the link in my bio. taken in Huntington by @andiberlin

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2 months ago

So I’m back in the saddle, aka I have a home again and eating at full speed! But looking back on the best dishes I ate in July, I’m struck by how much I was able to accomplish while I was living in hotels and moving all my crap by myself around New York City. I know that eating is easy but I’m proud of myself for holding it all together and finding new fun things to love, even when life seems to be just smacking me in the face.

So here’s some incredible food I ate on Long Island, Queens and Manhattan. Two of these dishes, you’ll find at @newsdayfeedme ‘s list (link in bio.) And the rest are history. 🤣

#1. Every meal since I moved to Astoria has been a banger, but this is the most topical. So freaking pumped to have a new Burmese spot within walking distance to me, is that a dream???? @burmesebites has an exhaustive menu full of dishes I’ve never tried, I can’t wait to try literally everything on the menu. But this nga shint chaut sat, crispy eel in a sweet spicy garlicky crunchy chile mix, was just bonkers. Thanks to @jonathanforgash for highlighting it and @joedistefanoqns for ordering it!!!

#2: Holy schnikes!!! This goat karahi that I ate while living at the Roslyn Garden Inn, it was the highlight of my month!!!! I seriously said to myself, this is the best thing I’ve ever eaten. @karahi_adda in Westbury

I’m in love with the halal diner , @lavadiner in New Hyde Park. They serve the best Jordanian mansaf I’ve ever eaten. 😝 But honestly, this Greek omelette was my favorite dish of the afternoon. It’s just a perfect Greek omelette and home fries, and if you know me, you know how much I value this!!!!

Sometimes I just want a great fish sandwich and this one at @shands.general in Patchogue was spectacular.

@yoalison and I had an unforgettable special occasion Thai tasting menu at @bangkoksupperclubnyc in the West Village, and this Hokkaido scallop ceviche in a watermelon granita with pickled watermelon rind was just unbelievably fresh and so beautiful. This is a splurge that’s 100 percent worth it, even if you’re say, living at the Hilton Garden Inn. taken in Long Island, NY by @andiberlin

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2 months ago

Alright, I honestly can’t believe we’re all still doing social media mashups in 2026. But this one from @driftwoodlbny is just so Long Island it merited a look. And hell, it was pretty lobsterrific!

I’m tempted to call it the best egg sandwich in Long Beach, but I still also love the one at Blacksmith’s Breads. Read about three interesting lobster roll creations that passed the @andiberlin and @mariesworldeats test at the link in bio. taken in Long Beach, New York by @andiberlin

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2 months ago

This feisty little gem deserves a spot on the grid, mostly because it kicked my ass but also because I’m surprised it was this good. I wanted to show my friend Ben something good to eat in Elmhurst, and I was planning to take him to the Taiwanese place with the hot and sour soup, or the Indonesian ramen place or maybe some Thai or Vietnamese, but he zeroed in on this place and said “it spoke to him.”

Turns out, “this is better than Sripraphai,” according to the faded old Village Voice article by @rsietsema tacked to the wall. That’s a compelling statement but I’m convinced it’s true after one taste of that fatty pork neck!!! It was almost like charcuterie, whoa. But the spicy beef tom Zaab soup ripped open another dimension and left us stumbling around for half an hour, crying for Athena to save us. Is this place a Trojan horse???? taken in Elmhurst, Queens by @andiberlin

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2 months ago

At Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, you’re paying top dollar to see legendary performers by the water, and there is absolutely no need to be distracted by hunger pangs. 🍴

Grab a bite before or after the show! Frankie’s Pizzeria is Long Island Italian food done right. The portions are ginormous, which is helpful for fueling up before or winding down after several music-filled hours at the beach. Plus, Frankie’s is just minutes from the Meadowbrook State Parkway connecting you to the venue. 🎤

Link in bio to see Andi’s entire journey.
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#longisland #longislandny #jonesbeach #jonesbeachtheater #concert by @andiberlin

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3 months ago

An ode to Sunnyside, Queens, which entertained me for a glorious eight months until I was unceremoniously pushed out by mold. The first neighborhood I lived in New York City, you could say I waited 39 years to get here. And I honestly didn’t want to leave, because as Rachel said, “This is a dope neighborhood.”

I loved the trees, and the black squirrels, and I loved that you could walk two minutes and get to Jajangmyeon. Like literally on my block. And then around the corner you could do a momo crawl with several Nepalese places and the Turkish market and the Peruvian place that gives you free wine.

All of these pictures seem to be food and cats, because in truth I was rather lonely here. It was difficult getting pushed out of the trillionth relationship and having to live alone in a cave like dorm room that I turned into a schlocky Southwestern art gallery. I did my best. But it was a block away from the subway and I finally felt the city all around me. I came into my own here, the fullest version of myself, the Andi that was always there.

So for that, I will cherish you Sunnyside, and I will visit you often, as I’m just ten minutes away in Astoria. 😂 taken in Sunnyside by @andiberlin

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3 months ago