Cream

Cream is a new-ish restaurant in Ridgewood, Queens, re-opened by Owner and Chef Diablo.  Tucked away behind two unassuming wooden doors with the restaurant's name and logo in raised letters, the interior is warm and welcoming with soft lighting and a spacious upstairs dining area.  There is also a quaint outdoor garden area surrounded by bamboo which is obviously better suited for warmer weather.

According to Cream’s website, the restaurant takes bar food “to a whole new level” and offers cocktails that are “fun, inventive and interesting” made from “in house infused alcohol and purees of seasonal fruits”.  I can confirm that this is indeed the case.  There are specials throughout the week: happy hour between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. every day in addition to Boozy Tuesday, Whiskey Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, Feel Good Friday and Bottomless Brunch Sunday.

Cream’s Valentine’s Day menu was a winner.  Guests were treated to a specialized welcome cocktail: Drunk Sex (with strawberries, pineapple and Hennessy), Love Potion (Coconut Ciroc and Strawberry Puckers) or Mile High (Absinthe with a licorice flavor).  The appetizer choices were calamari, a charcuterie plate, a caprese salad, bread fondue, and a strawberry salad).  This was followed by an entrée of stuffed chicken breast (with mozzarella, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes) and beet mash, steak strips with roasted herb potatoes, Cajun salmon and shrimp on top of a creamy mushroom risotto or a veggie terrine.  Finally, there was a dessert of bite-sized sweet treats for two, served with two glasses of champagne.  On the way out, diners also got a professional photo taken (with optional props).

The ambiance and service were excellent, with an attentive server and a minimal wait time between courses.  They lose points for the spelling mistakes on the menu and the dollar store decorations which weren’t necessary, in my opinion, and detracted from the effective minimal table décor and overall mood lighting of the space.  I enjoyed every course (and the cocktail) and look forward to exploring their regular menu.