Blend on the Water

Like so many boroughs of the New York tristate area, Long Island City in Queens has experienced significant redeveloped. Upscale restaurants are among the many new businesses found there. So, foodies now have more culinary options in Queens than ever before.

Blend on the Water

I met a friend for lunch at Blend on the Water. Located at Long Island City’s waterfront, Blend has established a solid reputation for their excellent food, gorgeous interior and professional staff. We sat in the patio and enjoyed beautiful views of New York City.

We started with a mojito as well as a 2021 La Junta Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The classic mojito was refreshing with just enough sweetness to allow the fresh flavor of the mint to come through. The Chilean medium bodied red offered notes of black currant with a tinge of toffee.

Chef Florencio Martinez came out to greet us. An engaging fellow, he suggested some great options from the menu.

Latin Fusion Cuisine

For an appetizer we chose the Crispy Arepas. The dish featured braised short ribs, as well as avocado, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, lime creme and micro cilantro. The ingredients sat atop a crispy saucer shaped piece of cornbread. This was delightful. The flavorful short ribs melted in our mouths.

We also ordered some house-made guacamole with warm tortillas. This was fresh and tasty as well.

My friend and I both ended up selecting the same entree – an Arroz Con Mariscos (yellow rice with sauteed clams, scallops, shrimp and crab meat). This was exquisite. The rice was full of flavor. The seafood was perfectly cooked, and the cast iron skillet kept everything warm and toasty.

To complete our delicious meal, Chef Florencio Martinez brought a sampling of desserts to our table. At this point, we were fairly stuffed, but we could not resist the enticing assortment of delights. Wow, I am so glad we found some room in our bellies. The desserts were all excellent. The flan was creamy and delectable, while the warm chocolate lava cake was deep and luscious. The vanilla ice cream balanced the intense cocoa flavor of the decadent lava cake. Last but not least, the Pina Colada Tres Leche was unique and exceptional.

I highly recommend this latin fusion restaurant. The food was superb. The view was enchanting. The service was impeccable. Blend on the Water, 45-40 Center Blvd., Long Island City, NY 11109; https://www.blendonthewater.com

There are two other locations – Blend Astoria (Queens), and also Blend Williamsburg (Brooklyn). More locations are opening, so visit this website for updates – https://www.blendrestaurants.com

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