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Categories: American (Traditional), Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Long Island CityBroadway (N, W)
Mon-Sun. 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m.
Don't Just Wish Someone A Good Holiday, Give Them One With Chili's.
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The more I go to Sanfords, the more I like it there.
The quantity/quality you get for relatively inexpensive food and great service is outstanding. They play great "hip" music and even let you cork your wine if you don't finish and take it home (not all places in Astoria let you do this).
One complaint is the food is usually the slightest bit overdone. If you like medium-rare, I would recommend ordering rare. This is not the biggest issue in the world as it is not drastically overcooked, just a small thing they could work on.
If you are going on a Fri/Sat night, there might be a short wait for larger groups, but for 2, you can usually get a spot easily.
I really love their burgers on english muffins (ask for it). Also the sweet potato fries are amazing! Wine is priced very reasonably (but no hard liquor).
I'll start with the best thing: the staff is always very friendly.
Food here is pretty good, been…
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We ordered from them via seamless web. The delivery was slower than the time billed on the website, though the prices are definitely reasonable for what it was. Overall, we were pretty disappointed with everything except the chicken fingers, which were merely okay. The fingers have a crunch outer coating, more kind of a friend chicken style exterior, a bit crispy,a bit light. The french fries were more like warm potatoes, barely even fried. We were also disappointed with the soup and the salad.
I mean, the delivery time frame and price is enough to make it a favorite, but the food just doesn't deliver.
Yum! Awesome Brunch Menu- if you haven't seen it online already... not sure what you're waiting for.
VERYYY cute place, outside and inside... cozy and PACKED on the weekends (for their great brunches of course).
I love the French toast, whole wheat pancakes, oh my!
Also, recently had some dinner... great pasta and garlic bread!!!!!
-Mushroom ravioli - rich, crazy good for mushroom lovers
-Lobster ravioli- very creamy and delicious, fresh lobster!
Plus they deliver 24hrs... looking forward to eating here more!
GREATEST. PANCAKES. EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also try the chicken fingers, cowboy steak and butternut squash ravioli
Sanford's is an affordable, diner-esque establishment in Astoria that's open 24 hours a day.
The restaurant has a coffee shop vibe, with an ever so slightly more upscale feel. The waitresses and hostess who work there are both very nice. So nice, in fact, that they're almost annoying.
We arrived on a Sunday for their famous $13 brunch. The menu offers plenty of different options. There are breakfast foods, salads, lunch items and pastas that are all served with your choice of alcoholic beverage and a cup of coffee or tea.
My corned beef hash benedict was very tasty, but generally just average. They served me toast instead of english muffins, and the corned beef hash was definitely of the canned variety. Nevertheless, it was tasty and filling albeit slightly underwhelming. But, I can't lie. I enjoyed it.
My Mom ordered a croque madam. The presentation was terrible. It looked like a big, sloppy mess thrown on a plate. Had I ordered it, I would have been seriously disappointed, but my Mom said that although it didn't look appealing, it was actually good.
We both had mimosas with our meals which were pretty standard. Nothing special, but nothing to complain about.
Those who ordered the pasta dishes, salads and quesadillas were no doubt more pleased with their meals. They all looked far better than what we ordered for ourselves.
In summation, you really have to know what to order and what to avoid here. For $13, I suppose it was worth it, keeping in mind that you get what you pay for.
Best brunch spot on a budget! Amazing $13 prix fixe brunch until 4PM includes a delicious gourmet meal and two drink refills!
I had the Whole Wheat Pancakes with caramelized banana and a bellini. My sister enjoyed the Florentine Fritata (spinach and feta cheese) with potatoes, toast, and a mimosa. The food was fabulous and the ambiance was beautiful and relaxed.
I went pretty late for brunch, but I imagine this place is packed around peak times. Sanford's might be my new favorite place!
Why do I have to go to the city for a good brunch when the perfect ones are right here in Queens...Sanford's Restaurant in Astoria delivers......It was surprisingly a lot better than a lot of restaurants in Manhattan....
What's more....The commute on the weekends are horrible..the trains are all messed up...cancelled and rerouted....
This restaurant has one of the best brunches I've ever had...and they are open 24/7....which is a really big plus..ideally located in Astoria, Queens..at the Broadway # 7 stop to be exact or on the R on Steinway and walk a few blocks..
I had the Crogue Madame from the Brunch Prix Fixe Menu..$13.00 which was layered 3 slices each of of french toast, melted gruyere cheese , smoked ham and 2 fried eggs...which included a choice of coffee/tea/cocoa and beverage..choice of mimosa/champagne/Wine/Bloody Mary/Bellini Screwdriveror Jouice..1 free refill...A very hearty brunch....indeed and Camille had the Corned Beef Hash Benedict...we both had the Mimosa...thoroughly enjoyed our food. The atmosphere was very pleasant and the decor...simple clean and crisp....the waitress, very friendly....what more can you asked for...and you are home in 30 minutes....Will go back and try their Smoke Salmon Benedict...which was my first choice....
The search is over...I have finally found REAL brunch in Queens. Like with mimosas and decadent pancake/french toast concoctions and eggs benedict...and without kids running around!
The brunch menu is $13 prix fixe, and it comes with your choice of alcholic brunch beverage (mimosa, bellini, bloody mary) and a non-alcoholic drink such as coffee or juice. I got a Croque Madame, which was very hearty, with 3 pieces of toast layered with Gruyere cheese, topped with a thin slab of sweet-ish country ham and 2 nicely runny fried eggs. My sister got the eggs benedict, and judging by her clean plate and exclamations of, "We HAVE to come back here," it was pretty good.
Next time I MUST try the banana peanut butter pancakes and/or the burger with bacon, pepperjack cheese, and aioli with a side of cajun fries.
The service was actually almost too attentive, with both our waiter and a designated coffee/tea guy stopping by seemingly every 5 minutes to try to refill something. The manager or owner also came by at one point to make sure everything was okay, which is great, but on top of all the other attention we were receiving--a little much.
The atmosphere was perfect: trendy, but still comfy and not too uppity. The lighting is dim, and the booths are covered in a nice soft material that you don't stick to when you try to get up.
Admittedly, if Sanfords were in Manhattan I wouldn't be giving it the fifth star, but the price, location, and lack of others in its class in Queens make it a top choice for me.
I came here for brunch and was surprisingly satiated. The price is great!
Wasn't a big fan of the homefries, but the breakfast burrito had good flavors. The avocado inside it was a little under-ripe, and I've seen bigger quantities in a breakfast burrito.
However, the atmosphere is great. Egg whites are no extra charge. Open 24 hours. And the prices! The prices are awesome!
I've now had lunch here twice and it was just fantastic both times. The atmosphere feels more like Manhattan than Queens without the Manhattan prices. The burgers are huge and delicious and the soups taste like Your Momma made them. I'd love to try their brunch sometime as Yelpers seem to swear by it. A no miss if you're in the area!
Yelp- you've done it again. I had only a couple of minutes to find a great restaurant for my friends and I to eat at last night, and I found a winner. Definitely recommended.
The three main points I usually tend to criticize at a restaurant are food, atmosphere/decor and service.
Walking into Sanfords, I first noticed the modern decor. I'm a fan of modern anything so this place got gold stars for their look. When's the last time you came back to a restaurant for the atmosphere alone? Never? Well, you'll be doing that with Sanfords.
I say this because their food is pretty standard. They have an awesome menu with many different types of food that are affordable, but when it comes to taste and quality, it's alright. Maybe it depends what you get and when.
The service was super friendly so high points of that too.
I'd give Sanfords a 4.5 if I could, but I'll just go with 4 for now. ;)
The decor and atmosphere of this place is very typical of the decor you'll find in the modern/hip places on 30th ave.
Located right at the Broadway N/W stop, this 24 hour restaurant provides superb food options all times of the day. Although I've never had any of their actual dinner items, their sandwiches and such are just as good as their brunch.
I particularly like the simplicity of their pulled pork sandwich coupled with a side of sweet potato mash.
As for their brunch at a prix fixe of $13, the pricing is economical and competitive while providing often superior quality food than some of the other places in Astoria that try to position themselves as brunch spots.
Went here for some breakfast on the day before Thanksgiving. Super friendly staff, love the decor, and the prices are fantastic for the food they serve. I got the Croque Madam, and it was really, really good. My boyfriend ordered the Big Boy Breakfast and was surprised at how much food came with it. The coffee is really great (both decaf and regular). We left totally satisfied and I can't wait to go back and try brunch and dinner.
Uhm, they have $22 bottles of wine. I hope other people realize how freaking amazing that is, considering this is NYC and decent wine always seems to be at least $40/bottle.
AND they have sweet potato fries. Sweet, sweet potato fries. I recommend trading your meal's side of potato chips out for these babies because they are awesome. Like, I want to eat them all the time and not feel bad about gaining 25 lbs awesome.
Not to mention our waitress was adorable, they have a kick-butt dinner bread basket, andddddddddd the place is trendy looking. AND they are open 24/7, which makes the sweet potato fries world domination that much more of a possibility.
This place is just Perfect!! WHere do I start? The food, the service, the vibe, the look, the price,....all perfect.......
The vibe of this place reminds me of the old jerrys in SoHo. The layout of the place is perfect and low lighting at night makes it so you can be intimate and comfortable.
The Food, the sanford Panini is delicious I highly recommend it. The burgers are really amazing as well, no matter which one you get they are all cooked to perfection and each one flavored and moist. Even the turkey burger...wow sooo moist..soo. Now 2 things they removed from the menu that I wish they would bring back. One the homemade potato chips, they were amazing I would normally order 2 orders. The nachos..PLEASE bring them back!!
I have not had breakfast here but others have and raved about how light and fluffy the pancakes are and the waffles. I mean seriously everything on the menu is just outstanding you can't go wrong with this place....Did I mention the price? for real I don't know how this place makes money offering such beyond reasonable prices. The service is always on point no matter what time of day or night. Go to the place, enjoy and yelp about it and tell your friends. Really everyone I bring here LOVES it.
Most 24 hour joints in Queens either have the Golden Arches looming above them, or a selection of saran-wrapped pies gathering dust under a counter. But not Sanfords, a shiny beacon of gentrification gone right.
Now I'll confess, I haven't been here at four in the morning, and I haven't even had their allegedly amazing brunch - but I can say that their Lunch/Dinner menu is most definitely up to stuff.
I had a great steak sandwich that proves that they don't have to be an impossibly messy and sloppy monstrosity to eat. (Still a bit unwieldy, but that's the nature of the beast). The meal comes with your choice of potato (sweet! go for the sweet!), and a soup or salad to start with. The soup was a very basic and somewhat unremarkable chicken soup, but considering the prices of the sandwich, I'm not gonna complain, and just enjoy it as a pre-meal freebie.
The decor is nicely put together, and it creates a fancy, friendly vibe that stands out on a street filled with fried chicken joints, 99 cent stores and a bagel place. I love Queens, and I really like Sanford's.
Great diner!!!
So I went to Sanford's the other night for my birthday and i made a reservation for 14 of us..to my dismay & of my people cancelled and I was utterly embarrassed because they said they would be there and i finally had to tell the hostess that she could give the table away.
Anyway the place has a very nice ambiance. I wouldn't recommend that kids are brought to the restaurant because it seems to be more of an adult type of place.
The service was very fast. Our waitress was very bright cheerful and witty. She was making lots of jokes with her and I loved her accent. She made me feel really special since it was my birthday.
I enjoyed my entree. I had the salmon and my friends had steak another had penne with shrimp and the other two had the angel hair with shrimp. My sister is sort of a plain Jane so she just ordered the chicken quesedilla. She said it was really good. I was so excited about going out afterwards that I didn't really peruse the menu like i normally do.
My salmon was very good. The flavor and the way it was cooked was amazing however I think they could have left off the bbq sauce. It didn't need it and it is something i"m just not used to having on my salmon.
The only disappointment was that they didn't serve mixed drinks. I was ready to get my party on and I had to wait til after dinner to start drinking. They only serve wine and beer and I drink non of those. I thought they served drinks because I read another review that said the drinks were cheap compared to NYC prices.
Overall I give it a thumbs up and would go there again for dinner.
Oh and I believe that the prices are very reasonable as well.
also when i emailed them to find out if it was OK to bring a group of 14 the owner or manager not sure who his name is Gus emailed me back personally and I thought that was nice as well.
FINALLY went back for dinner after the remodel. Had a late Thursday night dinner (arrived at about 10:30pm) and was veryyy pleased. I got the Ahi Tuna Club which comes with homemade chips and soup or greens ($12.95). I ordered the split pea soup (mmm) and was asked if I wanted croutons on top. Being a fan of carbs in any form, I said, "yes!" Best decision ever. The soup was tasty but BOILING HOT when I got it and the croutons on top made it very good.
Mmm Ahi Tuna Club...avocado, wasabi aioli...basically a lot of deliciousness packed into a cub sandwich. Oh, and I remembered to get it on rye bread. Also a great decision. Great sandwich, great soup, great homemade chips all for $12.95...oh, AND I had half the sandwich left over for lunch the next day. Yum.
I've gotta say, I wasn't a hug fan of Sanford's before they redesigned it. But it re-opened and my… Read more »
"I'm in the mood for a burger!" said hubs-master-flex
We're moving and have um....zero food left in the fridge. Oh, woe is me. I have to go out to eat. I consult my hand sidekick. Have you heard of it? It's a website called http://yelp.com. I cannot make a decision without it.
So I type in "burger" in the search and "astoria, ny" in the near sections and VIOLA! Sanford's comes up on the first page. I can't deny the popular vote (unlike *some* democratic systems [i'm looking at you USA] *ahem*), so off we went.
The food is insanely good-hub's burger was the size of his head in roundness-not too thick so it cooked evenly and the fries were worth every penny of the extra $3 for them. I had the california wrap. I didn't eat a whole lot of it. I was too busy stuffing my face with his french fries.
I remember Sanford's being closed for a while over the summer. Must have been for a renovation because this place was ZEXY with a capital "Z"-dim lights, orchards on every table, candles, unobtrusive electronic hypnosis music that subliminally says "take off your clothes"
Good for dates, good for groups of around 6ish, good for brunch/takeout
APPROVED!
It became clear to me after this current session that the Sanford is a brunch place, not a dinner place.
The Bistro burger (cooked medium) glass of OJ and coffee were all on par for a 4/5 rating. The coffee wasn't flat, the OJ wasn't out of a box and the Burger had lots of flavor and juice and all were included in the brunch special.
Glad I went back to give this place a second chance.
I give this place such a low rating because the beginning was really good and the conclusion sucked!… Read more »
Being at Sanfords was like a baby high school reunion. I remember the good ole days of me and two of my best friends sitting at the local Big Boys, chomping on some fries and sandwiches after the football games, just because we could.
Flash forward 7 years and we are visiting a friend who lives down the street from Sanford's and it was like we never left those days long since passed. The only difference instead of a Big Boys filled with white trash and smoke, we now have an extremely classy, fantastic menu filled establishment. A $10 pasta prix menu: large bowl of pasta, salad or soup and a beverage, I mean cmon! Add that to the basket of bread set at the table beforehand and I had to be rolled out of there.
For my meal I was debating between the Chipotle burger (yay for giving money to charity!) and the fettuccine with applewood smoked bacon. I got the latter, mistake. I am not a cheese person and I don't really care for bacon. Yes I know I chose the worst possible dish, that is my fault not the restaurants. Besides that fact it was good (just for someone who can appreciate it, I just had no business ordering it. My friends had the ravioli and I have to say the eggplant with pine nuts ravioli was so good. 4 palm sized pockets filled with goodness in a great tomato cream sauce. I recommend this dish if going with the pasta.
Next time I am in Astoria I would make it a necessary stop here. You have the great food, choices, plus it is 24hours and at such a great place how could I not?
Now having been to Sanford's Restaurant a multiple amount of times, as well as ordering in on several occasions, I now feel that this review will be as accurate as it gets. Firstly, my favorite appetizer is the Butternut Squash Ravioli, my favorite entree is the Sesame Chicken Teriyaki, and my favorite dessert is their fried cheesecake. Now let's go on to the review:
Environment/Appearance:
Sanford is a beautiful and modern looking restaurant. The music is usually soothing and calming, which is very enjoyable while you eat your meal and talk. The seating is also very comfortable. You have a choice of a booth, a regular table, to sit at the bar, or outside.
Service:
Well, the first thing I absolutely think I need to say is that the staff is very friendly. The owner(s) always come and say hi to me when I am there. The waiters/waitresses are also all very friendly. Even the bus boys are friendly. However, in my opinion, I feel the service is generally a little too slow when it comes to your actual meals, but they do give you the bread the second you sit down which is nice. I always seem to get into a conversation with the staff there, which is always nice.
Food:
Now the most important part of any restaurant: the food. The food here is fantastic. I have no complaints about the food here. Yes, like any restaurant, 1 out of 100 steaks are going to be overcooked it happens, I am sure most of us understand. Never has my food been under-seasoned, over-seasoned, undercooked, etc.
My overall thoughts:
This restaurant is great to take your kids, family, friends, or even co-workers. The menu is well thought out and the prices are not too shabby. Also I would like to mention that the prices for the liquor are not too bad for NY as well. I hope you found this review helpful!
Damn. Maybe my judgment was impaired at about three AM when we strolled into Sanford's Saturday night. After about six Jacks 'N Coke and copious amounts of dancing, the lady and I were starving. Sunken eyed , delirious and mind-numb we sat down and ordered the spinach artichoke dip, the fried goat cheese and roasted pear salad and a British burger--one of Sanford's specialties.
The burger was cooked perfectly and full of surprising flavors like paprika (I think). Unfortunately the burger came on an English muffin, which I've always believed to be a superfluous and shallow attempt at appearing continental on the part of restaurants. Its not that I'm opposed to different forms of bread, its just that English muffins can get greasy. And this one did. So greasy I had to wet my fingers to properly wipe them down. But don't let that stop you. The sauteed onions and peppers made the burger sing.
She had the fried goat cheese salad, which was brilliantly refreshing and different. The grilled pear slices and roasted peppers covered with a dressing I can only guess at as ceasar rounded out an already outstanding meal. This is drunk for food for the discerning inebrient.
The spinach artichoke dip and tortilla chips whet our appetites and made us both think of ways to carry it home in vats.
Luckily, she lives nearby and we'll have ample reason to go back. I can't recommend Sanford's highly enough, especially when your body has been dancing salsa for the last two hours and your appetite is bigger than Puerto Rico.
I'm torn like Natalie Imbruglia.
The brunch here is a great deal. I had the crab cake benedict today and for $13 you get that, homefries, toast, coffee AND a bloody mary (small, but strong). Great stuff.
However, I also had dinner here a month ago or so and the food was oversalted and took about 25 minutes too long to get to the table (35 minute wait between the appetizer and entree on a not-particularly busy night).
I am willing to give this place the benefit of the doubt. I actually liked it a bit better before the redesign (when it felt crappy and homey), but they have made it a beautiful spot (with prices to match) and I'd bet most of the dinner specials are less horrid than the oversalted trout I had recently.
Tasty tasty food. I came here for brunch. My friends and I were very pleased with our food. The home fries were absolutely incredible (the best thing on the plate).
Even though the restaurant was really busy and had a line of people waiting, they didn't rush us out. They continued to serve us coffee and let us chat even though we clearly finished our meal.
I might be one of the few that liked this place better pre-renovation. I'm not sure what vibe they are going for here, but it's a freaking mess. Diner-esque fare, but it feels more like a tacky lounge inside -- ridiculously loud house & pop music included.
Not too long after they reopened, we tried to order for delivery one night and found out, according to the guy on the phone, that they no longer make half the menu they used to. Ok, fair enough. Change can be good. A couple months ago I stopped in and asked for a new menu, only to be told by the bitchy hostess that they "no longer *do* menus". Alrighty, then. That's a good business move....
Finally, we found an updated menu on another website and were shocked by the prices. $12.95 for a wrap?? $11 for an appetizer?? Are you kidding me? This ain't Soho, kids.
On a final note, don't even bother with their website. The prices are about $3 - $4 off and they haven't been listed on SeamlessWeb for about a year now.
Fail.
I've been here two days in a row. Last night and the night before.
Six stars might be good.
The great things about this place
#1 Armando, a server
#2 Great pseudo Brasilian music
#3 Great, clean bathroom
#4 Quick on water refills, as I am half camel
#5 All the food has been dope as hell
Night 1: I show up after a rousing gym workout...get 12 glasses of water before I order...as I am dehydrated like a sweaty man in the Sahara. They have Mexican ninjas filling up the glasses. Then one of them, a genius of some sort says 'quieres un vaso mas grande?' I nod...and out comes the glass of all glasses. Yes! I love, speedy intellingent service.
Out comes Armando. I order the 'Crunchy Chicken Ranch Salad'. He ignores me, and says 'esta ensalada esta riquisima', pointing to the Hangar Bistro Steak Salad. In my weakened and depleted state, I hardly fight back.
10 minutes later, my tastebuds erect a statue to Armando.
The salad of the year.
Five 3/4 inch think, 1.5 inch tall, 5 inch wide slices of perfectly medium well hangar steak, which I divided into roughly 30 bites. Roquefort, grapes, roasted red peppers [which I ordinarily hate but they were great] some other deliciousness.
The bread is superb, they have these seed studded crisp crackers that are fantabulous w/ butter.
So I pay and leave.
Night 2: I return w/ my girl...ask for Armando, which results in a seating change. We order the 'Crunchy Chicken Salad' which Armando allows this time, and also the Spinach-Artichoke dip. 20 seconds later, Armando returns...'Listen...the dip isn't that great, and we have butternut squash ravioli...'
5 minutes later, my tastebuds declare Armando de-facto leader of the Mouth Colony.
Lord have mercy.
That stuff is good.
Now to be fair, I've never been invited to judge truly fine dining. But Sanford's, which is like a classy diner of sorts [open 24 hrs] is great. Beautiful decor, fun tunes, sexily dark w/o looking dirty.
Armando is 2-0 btw.
I remember a time when we would go to Sanford's at 2am for blueberry pancakes. Or maybe a good ol' burger and fries. Not anymore... : (
I know it's been a while since they had their remodel but I have to say that I'm disappointed with the changes. How does a place go from being a typical diner to a full fledged restaurant menu with a dinerish feel? Completely throws a guy off!!!
That said, I have eaten here since the remodel and had some sort of a panini sandwich thing. It was pretty tasty, but just not what I was in the mood for. I'm pretty sure I dropped $15 for it as well. Ehh...probably won't return.
I'm sad that I just discovered Sanford's a few weeks before I move away from Astoria. It's my new favorite brunch spot, thanks to the décor, fast and friendly service, and their attention to detail. The chips that came with my fiancée's wrap were homemade from thick slices of potatoes. The wheat bread they served with my frittata was nutty and chock-full of whole grains. The cole slaw was very fresh and made with red cabbage.
The main dishes were excellent as well. I had a Florentine frittata and she had a chicken and avocado wrap.
Came for brunch on a Saturday and we were seated immediately. Good timing since the place filled up complete with a queue within 30 minutes or so.
Off the prix fixe menu I ordered a frittata and a mimosa.
The good:
1) the toast and home fries were delicious. Can't really go wrong with wheat toast, and the home fries were sliced really thin which was different and tasty.
2) mimosa was delicious! So was the coffee.
3) I heard they recently changed the decor ... well it looks great.
4) Even with the line of people, we were not rushed out.
The bad:
1)The frittata was way way drier than I would have preferred. Overcooked. I had to doctor it up with lots of salt and pepper as well.
2) The promised free refill of my mimosa never materialized on the table.
The brunch menu was pretty extensive and everything looked really good -- I would definitely give Sanford's another try for brunch or lunch.
A FIVE?! Yes - at worst, it's a 4.5 (and please note this is based on a singular brunch experience, but given that this heaven is a block from where my best friend now lives, will probably be visiting much much more).
The pair of us came here for Sunday brunch, and Astoria was well represented by this cute, hip spot, that is apparently open 24/7!
For $12, you get your bottomless coffee, one of any several brunch (both breakfast and lunch) entrees (three versions of eggs benedict, fritatas, salads, burger, etc.), and your choice of brunch must beverage - mimosa/champagne/bloody mary/wine with one refill.
I got the eggs benedict over crab cake and was definitely not disappointed. The eggs were huge, perfectly poached, and the hollandaise very complementary and not at all overwhelming. The crab cakes - again, really couldn't get much better. Gorgeous slices of homestyle bread, mimosa with the fresh squeezed OJ in a generously sized flute! Am in brunch heaven?
I'll admit a few things that could be improved in my book: (1) get one of those curtain thingies for that door that is going to open frequently with new customers - it helps with the wind in winter, and (2) don't pre-butter my toast - especially when you put so much -- but that's pretty much it! Other than that, everything was tops (food, service, pricing!!).
I'll admit, I can be stingy with the stars, but a near perfect brunch experience at a mere $12? While that may make me appear easy to appease, let me tell you how hard it is to achieve this! Bravo Sanford's - I hope to revisit you for other meals soon enough!
Ok, I kick started my Yelping with a rant, so I might as well start reviewing all the places I've been saying "I'm gonna Yelp" for the past, um, 6 months or so.
I had eaten at Sanford's once before they closed for renovation, and it was meh. The food was alright, but definitely in the diner category, and I remember service sucking. This is definitely not the same restaurant in any capacity.
The first thing you'll notice is how pretty it is, even from the outside. They also have their (extensive) menu displayed in a case out front. Brownie points for being open 24/7.
When you walk in, you no longer feel like you're entering a diner, as you did before the renovation - it's the farthest thing from it now. Earthy wooden walls, mosaic tiled entryway, contemporary decor but with a very warm approach.
Back to the menu. Honestly, everything sounded appealing to me...and when I say everything, that's saying a lot considering how many options they have. I chose the organic rotisserie chicken entree, which came with 2 sides and a salad. My friends both got sandwiches (one wrap and one flatbread) and they were given a potato option and soup or salad as well (we weren't expecting so many sides, especially for an $8 wrap....great value).
All of the food was tasty and we had no issues with any of our dishes (I am Miss Bad Food Karma, so this makes me happy).
More brownie points and surprises: One of my friends had chosen chips as their potato. I was flat out expecting Lays. They brought out a plate of fresh made potato chips. Amazing.
Service WAS something to write home about. Waitress was alert and friendly. Waters were filled before empty, and dishes were cleared promptly.
I will definitely go back. I will re-review and potentially award a 5th star if the service and food keeps up (I hope!).
Good food, generally very good service. I love their cranberry pancakes, chicken terriyaki, the pork, the calamari salad, the lobster ravioli, the chicken orzo soup and a few sandwiches. They also have great coffee and they use ORGANIC eggs!!! I like their pre-fix pasta, fairly decent. Also the salads are always superbly fresh. I do think they should extend the pre-fix to weekends or at least Sunday, otherwise I get to order it literally twice a year and that's just a shame. I like the new design. I love that they are open 24/7 and I like their beer selection. I'll be back.
Sanford's has been open for many years and was apparently once what I would call an "honest diner," with simple, plain old American food. I know this because the back cover of their menu features an old copy of their original, mid-century menu. Who wouldn't like to go back to the days of a sandwich and fries for a buck or less?
They have since gone rather high concept with their cuisine. Before their recent fire, and makeover, I thought that there was a huge disparity between their high concept menu, and their space (which still looked like an honest diner).
I must say that I'm a huge fan of regular, ol' diners, having grown up on Long Island with nowhere else to hang out. While the Sanford's menu is a bit fancy for my taste, they have stuff on it to please even picky eaters. For example, a few solid burger options. They also boast a very well curated wine and beer list, and some tasty desserts. The pecan pie is the best.
I was displeased with a recent appetizer, which was described in the menu as basically a caprese salad, but wound up having red peppers in it. I hate red peppers. All in all, this is a solid place, however.
"this just might be the best breakfast ever." -baby sister
Perhaps not the best breakfast ever but Sanford's is indeed a great neighborhood brunch spot. I expected an unbearably long wait but we only loitered outside for about 15 minutes before being seated.. not bad, Sanford, not bad.
The ambiance of the restaurant is trendy. I don't know what it looked like before these renovations happened but it's very modern. The only thing that bothered me was the lighting was too dim for my tastes.
The prix fixe brunch menu is a bit limited but almost everything sounds delicious; The breakfast menu was also available and had typical breakfast fare - omelet, cereal, pancakes, french toast, your choice of salty breakfast meats. Off the prix fixe, the crab cakes benedict or the smoked salmon benedict were both delicious.. although if I had to pick, I think I'd go with the crab cakes. The baby sister had the western omelet quesadilla served with awesome guacamole. French toast was good, not mind-blowing but a decent french toast.. which was exactly what I had in mind.
While the hostess was on top of her game, our server was mediocre. I can't tell if it's just because the restaurant itself was busy or if it was just her. She wasn't rude.. she just didn't seem to be around. It took quite a while for us to place our order although she was pretty quick in processing our check.
Overall, worth the trip. I walked out of Sanford's still wondering if it is a restaurant pretending to be a diner or a diner pretending to be a restaurant.
I'd go back again simply because there were too many dishes left on the brunch menu that I wanted to try. I'd also like to test out their standard lunch/dinner. Yum.
Sanford's occupies an ordinary dark/deep city block space but has done a fantastic job with decor. Clean, modern lines, layers of earthy, natural textures. Large orchids in heavy, clear glass pots on every four-top.
Menu and food, when it comes down to it, are no better than ordinary diner fare. Scrambled eggs are not fluffy, and the home fries are underwhelming. But a nice touch or two. The hot chocolate is a bit large and frothed with a whole lot of steamed milk. The whole wheat toast is higher grade, with seeds inside and oats on the crust. The fresh squeezed OJ, however, tastes like store-bought and is served old fashioned diner size, about six ounces.
That said, the food is very cheap. Five bucks flat for two eggs scrambled with bacon, home fries, and toast.
Food 4 + ambiance 7 + value 7 + service 7 = overall 5.4 / 10 (decent/forgettable)
if you are in queens and you are wondering....."wtf is open 24hrs?"
this joint is!!
Now this is not your run of the mill Denny's, IHOP, or any other BS diner open 24hrs....this is the Ruth Chris Steakhouse of 24hr spots. The ambiance offers smooth music, dim lighting, comfy booths, clean establishment, clean bathrooms, and friendly staff.
Did i mention their menu has a large variety of options?
I had a pressed pannini....don't remember which one but it was good as is their desserts!! get the chocolate lava thingy.....so good i almost pulled a meg ryan in Katz Deli. ;)
I want all to know about this hidden spot in Astoria.
i had high hopes for brunch. I must say i was let down. The food was eh. I couldn't help but feel like it was trying too hard. All those ingredients in my frittata should have stood out, yet the result was muddy and band. While the atmosphere is really cool, almost too cool for a used to be a greasy spoon diner, the service is just ok.
i must say over all i was a little disappointed.
So, I should start this review by saying that I love Brunch. I love the concept of Brunch. I enjoy filling up on Brunch. I dig having Brunch with friends, brunch alone, Brunch on Sundays, Brunch on Snowdays...you get the idea.
Sanford's has one great brunch!
Went there with five friends to give it the full test. The brunch menu was a nice variety, full of interesting and familiar choices. Many raise a bit of an eyebrow - appealing selections. All of our meals came out quickly and each dish looked tastier than the next! Everything from blueberry pancakes, to some crazy french toast creation. wraps and more. Some tasty sides as well. Coffee was only okay but it was bottomless and the juice was poured straight from an Ocean Spray container.
The price was right also - $12 for brunch. We received some quality service as well. The setting is warm and comfortable and the location is top to tough. I'm quite excited to go back and trying other meals beyond brunch as well! It looks to be a nice place - a smaller, upscale dinner. I've heard they have renovated since a fire and have only been reopened since November.
Overall, the experience was certainly beyond your average brunch!
I've now said brunch more times in a review that I ever dreamed I could. Here is one more for good measure: brunch.
Free coffee or tea!
Neighborhood: Fashion District
Free Pizza for Yelpers!
Neighborhood: Battery Park
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Category: Diners
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Category: Burgers
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Category: Bars
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