bobbyrab's Profile
St. John's (Jamaica) in Queens: WALKABLE or SHORT Local bus ride for lunch/dinner
There is always the reliable and classic King Yum Chinese Restaurant located at 181-08 Union Tpke, a less-than-10-minute walk from St. Johns east on Union Tpke. and on the same side as St. Johns.
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King Yum
181-08 Union Tpke, Queens, NY 11366
lunch in howard beach
I like Vetro which might be more upscale than you are looking for. Excellent food and they have lunch specials which are pretty affordable. I am not sure if they are child-friendly but you might want to give them a call.
cara mia
IMHO, a typical red-sauce neighborhood Italian that is worth going to if you happen to be around Hillside and Braddock Aves. The usual "parmigiana" dishes in the old-style green casseroles bring back fond memories of childhood Italian but you can do much better.
new year's eve in forest hills, queens
janie, I have always enjoyed King Umberto; I just wish FH had such a good, honest traditional Italian restaurant.
I didn't realize that the original post was from 2000. It just goes to show you how little progress FH has made in attracting some decent eating establishments.
Happy 2011 to all fans of good food!
new year's eve in forest hills, queens
Frankly, the local restaurant scene here in FH is so mediocre and with the tradition of most places jacking up prices for New Year's Eve, many of the locals that I know are simply opting to stay at home and either order up something simple or are having house parties where people bring "pot luck".
I myself am staying in on New Year's Eve but going to the Garden City Hotel for brunch on New Year's Day which is a tradition I and some friends have been following for several years.
La Tavernetta Closed?
I am an old Tavernetta customer and tried Naples on Sunday night. Overpriced, although entrees are discounted at 20% off. We just had a margherita pizza to test the joint and although made with top-flight ingredients, it was certainly not worth the relatively long drive from Forest Hills. I hate to say this but I don't think I would go back. Sad.
Old school Cantonese in Queens?
Actually King Yum has been around since 1953. Its owner, Jimmy Eng passed away at the very end of 2007.
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King Yum
181-08 Union Tpke, Queens, NY 11366
Rockaways or Howard Beach
Try Vetro, owned by Russo's on the Bay. GREAT Italian food with a southern bent. We were there for lunch yesterday and once before that. It is a new place with outdoor dining and a new rooftop lounge is opening this week. Professional yet very friendly service, homemade bread and desserts and an outgoing and skillful chef. Highly recommended. Try the mozzarella in carroza; it is outstanding. $15 lunch entrees too.
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Russo's on the Bay
162-45 Cross Bay Blvd, Queens, NY 11414
Hot Dogs in Queens...
Just to set the record straight, Ben's in Rego Park is NOT affiliated with the Ben's chain that is located throughout Long Island, Bayside and in Manhattan.
Tower Diner, Forest Hills
Tower is a diner is a diner; they shine as mentioned with fast delivery and a pretty nifty website. I concur about Shalimar; it might even be a tad better, a bit cheaper and lots more space.
24 HR/Late-night dining in Forest Hills?
Tower Diner is open until 1 AM. They also have a great website for quick home delivery.
Happy Robbins? Happy Robin's?
Happy Robin was a wonderful burger and steak family-style restaurant on the corner of 217th St. and Hillside Avenue in Queens Village. I grew up in the neighborhood and our family used to go there at least once a month. It was a wonderful place with great steak cooked on a huge open hearth for under $6 a steak as I remember. That shows you how long ago I am talking about. I would imagine that Happy Robin shut its doors in the early 1970s if not before. Wonderful memories.
FH Trader Joe's---Oct. 26th Opening Day !!!
Yes, sorry my Shayna Madel :) I did mean Plainview. After I get passed New Hyde Park, they all sort of blend in together for me! I am retired, so I go on weekdays and usually in the last morning and there is never more than three people ahead of me on line. Well, until this post......
FH Trader Joe's---Oct. 26th Opening Day !!!
I believe the "real world" does indeed know about TJs. I observe a lot of TJ paper shopping bags on the R Train in Queens, indicating to me that there are more than a few TJs devotees.
I schlep the 46 mile round trip to TJs in Hicksville and that store is a pleasure; relatively manageable at all hours of the day. I have a feeling I will continue to use the Hicksville store for a long time. The crowds at the Metropolitan Ave. store are going to be insane for a long time is my belief.
Anyone been to PJ's Steakhouse in Forest Hills
I read a review on a FH blog which stated that they serve A-1 steaksauce with their beef which just seems to be a big turnoff to me if their beef is truly prime. I will try try PJs myself in a month or so after the initial shake-out phase is done.
italian-american restaurants in jamaica, queens
Are you referring to Cara Mia restaurant on Hillside Avenue near Springfield Blvd? If so, this is in Queens Village (almost Bellrose) and NOT Jamaica. The food there in my opinion is servicable for a local joint; typical red-sauce neighborhood joint.
Lobster!
Original Palm -- 837 Second Avenue. STILL good. You have to realize the quality of beef has gone down over the last several years everywhere. The lobsters still rock here!
Las Vegas Review: The Capital Grille
Perhaps Capital Grille is cheaper because generally the steaks they serve are NOT prime; however "aged" they may be. I have eaten at two CGs, one in NYC and one in Phila. and they both greatly disappointed for the dollars charged. I would rather spend a little more and get REAL quality beef.
Queens boy trying to re-experience childhood foods
King Yum is on Union Tpke. in Fresh Meadows:
King Yum
181-08 Union Tpke.
Fresh Meadows, NY 718-380-1918
best prime rib in nyc???
The Palm - 837 Second Avenue
It's Fred Flinstone-like in size and succulent.
The Shops at Atlas Park - need some info
I have a feeling that they charge for parking simply because the locals would be mighty tempted to leave their cars parked at Atlas rather than on the streets if it were unlimited free parking. This would be extremely attractive in winter when indoor parking would sure be a better option than scraping ice and snow off of one's car. I do believe that the Queens Center charges for parking in its garage as well as the Sears-Marshall complex further east on QB.
The Shops at Atlas Park - need some info
Yup the Atlas Mall is indeed a strange place. I go there with my significant other who enjoys one of the specialty woman's stores there and I keep telling her the place will not last two years. The stores just don't seem to match up with the demographics of the surrounding neighborhoods. When you walk into Steinmart, it is eerily empty and with a sterile atmosphere. The movie theater is a good addition though and they do validate parking. Mostly non-descript chain restaurants there but the new German one I will have to try when I get in the mood to be in downtown Boca Raton off of Cooper Avenue.
LA MARMITE RESTAURANT
Does the OP possibly mean La Marmite restaurant, which is a formal French restaurant on Hillside Avenue in Williston Park? If so, the query should be on the Tri-state board. I have been there a few times and it was very good yet unexciting.
Benny's in Westbury
I went to Benny's last night, (Saturday) with my SO for the first time for my birthday dinner. I had read many positive reviews about Benny's on this forum and in the newspapers. My expectations were high that this was indeed a destination Northern Italian restaurant of the highest quality.
The place was mobbed and our 7:30 reservations were promptly honored, albeit a bit earlier as we arrived at 7:15. We were seated at a table for 2 in a highly-trafficed area where elbows from many different servers and patrons brushed against our table. We dismissed this as Saturday night "madness" and went on to enjoy our cocktails.
We noticed we were the only table without a bottle of olive oil so we had to request that along with bread and butter. The bread was not hot and we both noticed that the butter had a strange, stale taste like it had been sitting, uncovered in the refrigerator. We brought this to the waiter's attention, who sort of froze, shrugged and told us the busboy would bring us another dish of butter. It never came.
Appetizers were fresh mozzarella and I had rice balls. My SO commented that the rice balls looked and tasted just like the ones she gets from Iavarone Brothers. Maybe, I don't know but they were good as was the red, meat-based dipping sauce. The main courses of a chicken and veal special and simply-prepared pounded breaded veal chop were very good but not excellent in terms of taste, presentation and seasoning. We both felt the mashed potatoes that came with our main courses were a bit watery and my partner even suggested that they could be instant. THAT would be shocking and I hope they weren't; they just tasted amateurishly prepared. Tiramisu and apple walnut cobbler were both tasty but appeared to be commercially prepared.
I had read in a Newsday review that the restaurant was elegant on the inside albeit with a shabby exterior belying what lies in store for the diner once inside. With its suspended ceilings, gated and exposed windows, and catering hall appearance, we did not get the impression at all of upscale dining. Service was confusing with about 3 waiters assigned to us for the meal. Benny himself patroled the dining room, trying to quell too many scenes of commotion. I appreciated his hands-on style but it contributed to the feeling that we were dining on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange rather than in an "exclusive" Italian restaurant, venerated by many. Benny, when asked by my partner what would be the best nights to dine in order to avoid the Saturday night crowds, suggested either Tuesday or Wednesday night. He also brought us after dinner drinks when he found out it was my birthday; a very much appreciated gesture.
So ... Benny is a nice, hardworking owner who tries to cope with the rush of a Saturday night crowd. This crowd is testament to the fact that Benny's is a solid local Italian restaurant that might suffer from over-hype in reviews. I would go back once I adjust my expectations down a bit. Prices are high for what Benny's holds itself out to be; knock a few dollars off and it would be a great place to enjoy a meal that is a bit above average.
KNish Nosh - A Travesty
Since Knish Nosh's expansion, something has happened and none to the good. I went in there a week or so ago with my brother who lives in Wyoming so that he could schlep back to Cheyenne a dozen assorted knishes (right, Cheyenne has no knish shops readily available ;) ).
The new, expanded area was dark, some lights were on with missing bulbs and others were not on at all. No professional menus above the counter and the employees did not readily come to the front when we entered. Nothing behind the dark, dirty deli case seemed appealing at all. What a shame! My brother and I just shrugged, went to the old "knish section" adjacent and ordered the knishes, which, I am happy to report tasted pretty good -- just like the old days, albeit much more expensive. Oh, and don't read the NYC board of Health report on the place, although unfortunately, too many food establishments in Forest Hills get similar, dismal results.
Looking for good, old time Cantonese butterfly shrimp with bacon
King Yum, 181-08 Union Tpke. in Fresh Meadows, Queens makes the classic butterfly shrimp. Phone # is 718-380-1918.
Late-night cafes within striking distance of Rego Park
Perhaps the Tower Diner in Rego Park? I know it is open until at least midnight. Having had a late night "snack" there a few times, I know it is usually not at all crowded at this hour and I am sure you can "kick back" and punch away at your laptop keys.
Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur in NYC? [Moved from Spirits board]
OK, there are variations but here is the one I made:
1 1/4 oz. of gin
1/4 oz. maraschino liqueur
1/4 oz. lemon juice (to taste)
Shake it with crushed ice and serve in a cocktail glass..delicious and oh-so classic!
Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur in NYC? [Moved from Spirits board]
Thanks to all for you suggestions. I snagged a bottle today at Astor Wines & Spirits and just had the opportunity to try some straight. It tastes much more complex than the Stock maraschino with both a hint of sweetness and bitterness all at once. Tonight I will try the venerated Aviation Cocktail!
Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur in NYC? [Moved from Spirits board]
Anyone in NY have any ideas where I can buy a bottle of Luxardo Maraschino liqueur in order to make a proper Aviation cocktail? Sherry-Lehman does not carry it, nor do other midtown liquor stores I have tried. I have a bottle of Stock, but I understand that Luxardo is the standard-bearer.
Thanks!
