Let's Eat!

Nestled behind Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood is a little bit of paradise right on Seneca Avenue.

My first visit to Ridgewood Eats was a memorable one to say the least, thanks to the great food and warm hospitality offered by coowner Spiro Venturis and his staff.

After a long week of peanut butter sandwiches, I was ready to take on everything that Ridgewood Eats threw my way.

The dinner menu consisted of a tantalizing cocktail of Greek, Italian and American dishes, which were reasonably priced in the $8.95 to $14 range.

After careful deliberation on whether to go with the very inviting salmon steak served with vegetables or one of the classic meat specialties, I opted for one of the new menu offerings, Chicken Fantasia.

Served with garlic broccoli, roasted peppers and olive oil on a bed of yellow rice, my entrée was big enough for two people.

But the mouth-watering sautéed chicken was so delicious, I just couldn't get enough—it was truly love at first bite.

My friend, Delilah, went with Salmon Piccata prepared in white wine with mushrooms and capers.

It's another day at the office for Spiro (pictured at center) and the crew at Ridgewood Eats. The one thing that we both couldn't get over was the freshness of the vegetables that just melted in your mouth.

These weren't exactly the typical frozen Birds Eye offerings you'd typically find at a lot of other eating establishments.

Venturis took pride in the freshness of not only his veggies, but the rest of his food as well, which, he pointed out, is never saved, reheated or precooked. The constant flow of customers wouldn't allow him to even consider doing it any other way.

As a Washington Heights native who grew up working in his father's deli, Venturis developed a passion for coming up with a vast array of unique lunch and dinner servings.

Meat specials, such as Steak Creole, served with sauteed onions, peppers and marinara sauce, is a sight to behold, as are the ovenpressed wraps, panninis and extraordinary specialty sandwiches.

And for those calorie counters, Ridgewood Eats presents an inviting selection of Garden, Greek and Cobb salads.

The Popeye Salad, in particular, is high in nutrition, prepared with (you guessed it) mounds of spinach leaves topped with bacon, sliced eggs, tomatos, mushrooms and a generous helping of croutons sprinkled in.

After only four years in business, the good news about Ridgewood Eats is spreading fast, as the jack-of-all-trades restaurant has a steady stream of clientele that come from as far out as Long Island, New Jersey and even Florida.

In addition to its incredible menu, Ridgewood Eats has a very welcoming and homey feel that has people coming back for more.

The lovely portraits adorning the interior complement the attractive brick façades, which could be found by the booths in the front end of the restaurant.

The colorful decor and friendly waitstaff makes a routine visit to Ridgewood Eats feel more like a weekend meal at your favorite uncle's house.

Delilah and I were treated to Italian pastries and cappuccino to finish off our wonderful eating experience that brought me back to the great Italian dinners my mother used to whip up as a boy growing up in Brooklyn.

For a breakfast, lunch or dinner that'll take you back into time and put a big smile on your face, it's Ridgewood Eats.

Ridgewood Eats is located 903 Seneca Avenue.

For further details, call 1-718- 366-3287 or visit www. ridgewoodeats. com.