It's been quite a while since
Astoria Cafe and Market opened, but Mr. H and I finally made it there recently.
Its Mediterranean flair is reflected not only on the menu, but also in the small market---focused on olives...
...cheese and meats, dried pastas and beans, sauces...
...wine and more. It's not a huge selection, but you can grab a few items for a meal and pick up wine to-go.
But in the center of the market, there is a large area of open cafe seating.
We shared the
Calamari Frito ($13) with Spanish Calamari Fried Crisp in Peanut Oil, served with Mediterranean Olive Salad and Honey-Harissa Glaze. The glaze and olive salad made it a unique, and tasty (
bit spicy), version, and the portion was generous enough for sharing.
We also shared the
Baked Brie en Croute Belletoile ($14) with Triple Cream Brie Topped with Fig Jam and Fresh Thyme and wrapped in Phyllo and finished with Honey and Crushed Pistachios.
You can never go wrong with baked brie! I loved the crushed pistachios with it.
Then we shared two small plates for the next course.
Sea Scallops ($16) with Seared Maine Diver Sea Scallops with a Saute of Shallots, Pancetta, Honey, Thyme and Apple Cider and served over Creamy White Cheddar Polenta. The polenta and crispy bacon were a great pairing with the scallops!
We also split the
Lamb T-bone ($15) with a Grilled 4 oz. Ohio Domestic Loin Chop with Italian Salsa Verde, Sweet Balsamic Glaze and Truffle-Mascarpone Fingerling Potatoes. The meat was seasoned and cooked perfectly, and I enjoyed the salsa verde with it. The potatoes were a tad under-cooked at times, but the flavor was good.
While we really enjoyed the food, and it's a great menu for sharing a bunch of smaller bites, the atmosphere wasn't what I had hoped. It was bright and loud, with a lot of foot traffic past our table. The service seemed a bit unorganized and hurried, but maybe it was just an off night. I'd like to give brunch a try.
There is a small parking lot down the side street next to the cafe, in case you can't find street parking in front. The menu isn't very family-friendly, in my opinion.
If you've been, what are your thoughts beyond the quality of the food?
Astoria Market and Cafe
5417 Detroit Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44102
(216) 266-0834
