My favorite restaurant in Queens

The problem with learning how to cook is that it makes you not want to go out to eat anymore. "What's the point of going out to eat," you will ask yourself (or your husband will ask you), "when you can make better food at home for less money?" And sometimes the answer is "I can't stand being in my stupid messy house for another second" and then you have to go out just to save your sanity.

When that happens to me these days, I almost always want to go to Vesta. Vesta is a great place that is walking distance from my house (okay, it's kind of a long walk, but I can drive there and there is always parking) and has delicious food that I can actually afford. I like it so much that I rented it out for the rehearsal dinner for my wedding. If that's not a vote of confidence, I don't know what is.

I went there for brunch today with Zack and the in-laws. I forgot to take many pictures, but Joe was so pleased with his soup, I took a picture of it.


It's butternut and acorn squash soup - it was creamy and flavorful. Yum!

What else can I say about it? I've had so many great meals there - fried eggs with asparagus and polenta, pizza with potato, panchetta, apples, arugula and goat cheese, creamy amazing pasta with cauliflower. Plus, you can get a variety of wine by the shot, glass or bottle! It is awesome (I love the blanc de blanc).

I will admit - I've had a few small service issues the last few times I've been there. Today we waited almost 40 minutes for our brunch (but the owner came over and personally apologized for the wait). But I will continue to go back over and over again.

Oh, and order the Baby Jesus cake. You will not be disappointed.