hopkicker3's Profile
Special occasion-type place in Queens? Or Roberto's in the Bronx?
Olive123,
I was just having this conversation with friends and family the other day...we were comparing ROBERTO'S to most of the Italian places in NORTHEST QUEENS and ASTORIA...and while alot of places have hype, glitz and are 'teflons" the consensus was that the only restaurant that we put up there with ROBERTO'S for food is VESUVIO OF WHITESTONE...a sedate little place in WHITESTONE run by a dedicated family from Southern Italy, I forget what town....you will not be disappointed..but ROBERTO"S is also a winner.
Bayside restaurants?
Becky,
The Bell Blvd. dining scene seems to revolve around the long time stalwarts like DONOVAN'S, BOURBON STREET, MAGGIE MAYS, PAPAZZIO...MAGGIE MAY'S...does MONAHAN'S even serve food anymore.
When people want to splurge or celebrate UNCLE JACK'S STEAKHOUSE fills that bill..otherwise UJ's has a steady clientele of Queen's based lawyer's accountants, doctor's, car salesman, etc.
The original ERAWAN Thai restaurant near 42nd Avenue is also popular.
I am sure the lack of parking on Bell Blvd. drives local's to THE BAY TERRACE SHOPPING CENTER which has an OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE, APPLEBEE'S. TONY ROMA'S, BEN'S DELI and an Asian or Chinese Restaurant plus a diner.
I could not tell you a thing about the various sushi or Chinese and Korean joints along Bell Blvd.
GINO'S on 35th Avenue is also a big draw.
...and TEQUILA SUNRISE has been around for about 25 years.......
VALENTINO'S ON THE GREEN
Hello Rich, I have heard from two reliable sources within the restaurant industry that Joe Franco has purchased property in the Whitestone/Beechurst area for the "new" CAFFE ON THE GREEN, the location is rumored to be on 154th Street somewhere near TONY'S BEECHURST.
Thank you for answering my questions.
VALENTINO'S ON THE GREEN
Wow...GraveGirl...I kind of felt that this place would stumble out of the gate. If you could please answer these questions: 1) What time did you arrive? 2) Was the restaurant busy at that time? 3) Were they understaffed? And did the staff appear to be a bunch of 20-somethings (inexperienced). VALENTINO"S has a tough act to follow, Joe Franco ran a "tight" ship at COTG, the service was always great and Joe was extremely well liked and popular. You cannot discount the appeal of that man...he was there for almost 20 years.
I have not been there yet, but I agree with you abou the menu I read "online". It reads like almost any other Italian restaurant menu in the Whitestone/Bayside area. I was expecting something a little more "Batali-esque" from this group.
Look forward to more chatter...
Something other than Asian in Flushing?
DELUGE RESTAURANT inside the FLUSHING CHINATOWN SHERATON HOTEL is very good and very relaxing with that big waterfall....THE MARCO HOTEL on NORTHERN BOULEVARD @ FARRINGTON STREET has a very nice restaurant named MAGNA...I ate there on a lark of rmy birthday and it was very good and reasonably priced...both places have websites.
The Flushing/Bayside/Whitestone borders are littered with a myriad of Italian and Greek restaurants as diprey11 has mentioned....and an AMERICAN STYLE GRILL called JOHN JOHN'S recently opened near FLUSHING HOSPITAL on PARSONS BOULEVARD
Lobster Cantonese Takeout Flushing/North Flushing/Bayside/Whitestone
You cannot ever go wrong with takeout from these places:
KING CHEF (2 LOCATIONS) WHITESTONE/FLUSHING
KEILLY (2 LOCATIONS) WHITESTONE/COLLEGE POINT
ASIAN CHEF...ON FRANCIS LEWIS BLVD NEXT TO KATI ALLO...NEAR THE CARVEL..
VALENTINO'S ON THE GREEN
They have been delayed for months...the local papers have been reporting an spring opening...maybe by Memeorial Day...they have spent over 3 million on renovations...a still tanking economy...unemployment still double digits...let's see if people will respond to a luxury restaurant this summer!!!!
Looking for good chow near Spa Castle in College Point
10 minutes away in Whitestone, Queens...VESUVIO OF WHITESTONE..149th Street & 12th Avenue..718 767 4730 for exceptional Italian food...also 10 minutes or so away in Flushing is MAGNA MODERN ITALIAN in the MARCO HOTEL on Farrington Street right off of Northern Blvd...PArking is easy at VESUVIO but tougher at MAGNA....but the food at MAGNA is lighter for a post spa meal....there is a parking lot next door if you cannot snag an empty spot on Northern or Farrington....and of course there are many options in Flushing Chinatown..and two dependable Japanese/Sushi places in Whitestone
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Vesuvio
12-02 149th St, Queens, NY 11357
Magna
35-25 Farrington St, Queens, NY 11354
Il Vesuvio on Bell is dead to me
Remember..this store has been under new ownership for over a year..if you miss the old IL VESUVIO family you will have to go to WHITESTONE to visit them at their now 3 year old restaurant.
Anyone Try Naple` on Francis Lewis and 29th Ave yet?
...I eventually look forward to trying some pies out of the Wood Burning Brick Oven, I drive by the place 4 times a day...not much going on yet...I think the parking situation will eventually catch up to them...The last few restaurants in this location were definitely mismanaged and always felt like they were just catering to the friends of who ever owned the spot at the time and appealed to a 21 -30 year old type crowd that was not to keen on spending money.
They obviously will also have to overcome many established pizzeria's and restaurant with a 3 mile radius of this location.
If the pizzaoila can put out an outstanding product and they are using really great ingredients maybe they have a shot...but again..PARKING!!!
Worthwhile in Whitestone, Queens?
..OK..on the same block as CASCON CHEESECAKE..CAFE RUSTICO for some really good pizza from the WOOD BURNING BRICK OVEN (whole pies only)...You can find some good deals on imported foods at RASPBERRY FARMS on 150th Street and 14th Ave and Joe puts out some really good food at the deli in the back of the store.
About 10 minutes away on UNION STREET in Flushing J & K Bagels prepares really great bagels..it is on the same block as the huge HMART between 26th and Bayside Avenues..
Your four choices already posted are all NE Queens stalwarts although that Union Street HMART has a huge fish dept. with great prices and quality and great produce as well.
A stones throW from PARK"S SEAFOOD is STRAWBERRY FARMS on Willet's Point Blvd. and 150th Street, the Italian concession in the back of the store makes amazing fresh mozzarella and sausages!!!
unique foodie experience for friend's 35th?
Just throwing some names out to you:
X2O in Yonkers
Frankies Spuntino in your 'hood..Brooklyn..if you have never been there it could be fun to share all of those small plates of Italian home cooking, etc...
I am still Big Fan of MESA GRILL after all of these years..Bobby Flay Southwestern...
Landmarc Tavern in Time Warner Center...
That is it for now...
Vesta - new Astoria Italian at 30th Av and 21st St
Great review...I look forward to heading over there this week for sure!!!!!
Pho on Bell Blvd.
Pho is very solid, very tasty, very price friendly and great late at night....I recommend it!!!
locale 34th ave and 33rd st
I have been recommending and going here for 2 years...what a great looking spot....it definitely is an Astoria "top ten" locale (ha ha a pun.)
Italian in great neck/Little neck area?? Help!
Yes..it is run by the same family...it is their second restaurant...and Mr. LAFONDA service has improved and it is worth a revisit!!!!
Italian in great neck/Little neck area?? Help!
NYJewboy and LaFonda...Jump on the Cross Island Parkway heading north....get off at the UTOPIA PARKWAY exit and take the service road to 149th Street and make a RIGHT HAND TURN at the CARVEL and on 12th AVenue in WHITESTONE you will be at VESUVIO aka "Da Nicola"...this is the best you will find in Northeast Queens and within 20 minutes of Great Neck...If you are bringing a party of 4 or more call ahead ..(718 767 4730) and let Nick know you are CHOWHOUNDER'S...Go for the regional dishes Chef and his Mom will not disappoint you...Trust Me!!!
new... restaurant in Queens area
...You will have to go to Forest Hills to fill this "prescription" msChrissy, to the one and only DANNY BROWNS WINE BAR & KITCHEN @ 104th Street and Metropolitan Ave., they have a website, check it out and you can thank me later.
Happy Birthday, I remember my 21st birthday back in the day.."WXOU Radio" (a trendy UES Bar back in the 1980's)...Yippee...and then mucho bar hopping!!!
PS..we are fellow Cancers, my birthday is July 8.
Burton & Doyle/Morton's/Bryant & Cooper..Need Feedback !!
Hi fellow 'hounders, I am leaving my safety zone on East 73rd in NYC to meet a group of childhood pals and their wives for dinner on Friday, May 30, '08. They have suggested one of these 3 STEAKHOUSES...any help you all could provide would be much appreciated. Are they all "by the numbers" steakhouses or do they offer any twists.
Ciao for now.
El Patron - Flushing
No liquor license yet..in about two month's according to my conversation with the owner...the rooms look more sophisticated compared to TEQ. SUN., and the menu is much more unique/sublime than your average Mexican Restaurant. Let's hope all works out for them and they get rollong when they can start serving MARGARITA'S and cerveza !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
El Patron - Flushing
..You read my mind, I passed it on Sunday night, it looks like it is still under renovation. I plan on going on a scouting mission on in the next 48 hours, but I am going to miss Brandon and the gang at Sushi Rock, they had great rolls and I loved that Lobster - Creab Cake they served.
The New KFC - Korean Fried Chicken
KYO CHON AND BON CHON ARE BOTH ADDICTIVE !!! GO FOR THE SPICY FLAVOR AT EITHER LOCATION...BUT EAT IT THERE FOR MAXIMUM CRISPNESS, FLAVOR, ETC. THE CHICKEN LOSES A LITTLE LUSTER ON THE CAR RIDE HOME.
where can I buy a dry aged t-bone steak in Queens?
In Bayside try..Peter's Market on Francis Lewis Blvd @ 32nd Avenue and/or Robert's Prime Meats on 35th Avenue at around 205th Street (near the Clearview Expwy overpass)...also D'Alessandro's in Flushing at Utopia Parkway and Rocky Hill Road intersection. In College Point EMPIRE MEATS on College Point Blvd near 14th Avenue..also in Bayside is Bell's Prime Cut on Bell Blvd. near 41st Avenue across the
STREET FROM Bourbon Street Restaurant.
Pho 24 in Bayside?
I've been there several times since I work nights and it is open 24 hours...They serve dependable and tasty vittles and the prices are so reasonable...no beer or wine...Good spring and viretanm rolls...great porks chops...have never had a bad nosh. There is also a branch on Roosevelt Avenue in Flushing, Chinatown.
FYI...The Bayside store is located next to "Pearl" (formerly BYZANTIO) near the Laundromat on that block.
GODFATHER style Italian restaurant
You may want try VESUVIO OF WHITESTONE for authentic Italian Cuisine. The restaurant is in Queens...the Chef is from Salerno...the rooms are intimate...12 02 149th Street.
ilvesuvio.us
Altadonna in Little Neck
I have heard that that whole strip of stores that encompassed ALTADONNA and the old FABRIC BONANZA was purchased and being converted into a H-MART Asian/Korean Supermarket.
Fish Store in Queens??
I second the vote on Park's Seafood, always impeccable fish...also any of the H-arts in the Flushing-Bayside area have excellent fish and they are do busy that high turnover is assured.
Applebee's coming to Astoria?
The only plus side to Applebee's and Uno's is that they tend to stay open late/later (Midnite to 1:OO AM) than all of the delicious spots in Astoria. This is a benefit mostly to people who work in the in the restaurant industry in the area or within a 15 minute drive of Astoria and to the late show movie goer, etc.
I work in two restaurants (One in Whitestone, the other in Great Neck), so the handful of times a month I want to go out with a group of friends to Astoria all the really goods kitchen's are closed (I know Uncle George's is 24/7) but we want cocktails, vibe, etc. Locale keeps the bar open late, but not food, not even salads and panini's. As great as Astoria is it lack's enticing late nite options (I know The Cup is 24/7 on Friday and Saturday)...So what Astoria and/or Bayside is lacking is our version of a Blue Ribbon !!!
If any Astoria residents can chime in with any hidden late nite kitchens please chime in !! I can counter with the late nite spots in Bayside/Flushing/Whitestone.
American in Astoria?
How about..."718" on Ditmars or Christo's Steakhouse or Locale in Astoria..all three have websites you can check out !!!!!!!
Storks Bakery Whitestone
I was just there the other morning...had the most amazing corn, blueberry and cranberry muffins. Plus I purhased a great loaf of crusty white bread that I used to make some amazing grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. On Friday, 7/20 I went in for a black and
white cookie at around 4 PM and they were already sold out...instead balck and white cupcake...yummy..Yes STORK"S is still great....
