PaMa's Profile
kids birthday parties-restaurants
Salerno's Bakery in Whitestone does kids party (decorate your own cupcake). Uno's on Bell Blvd does make your own pizza for kids.
Salerno's Pastry Shop
15371 Cross Island Parkway Service Rd
Whitestone, NY 11357
(718) 357-4808
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Uno Chicago Grill
39-02 Bell Blvd, Queens, NY 11361
Salerno's Pastry Cafe
153-71 Cross Island Pkwy, Queens, NY 11357
herbal tea
Barley Tea. We had to quit coffee also and we liked the roasted barley tea. H-Mart sells it.
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Han Ah Reum
59-18 Woodside Ave, Queens, NY 11377
fresh mozzarella in QUEENS?
Marino Brothers at Auburndale. Family run, very clean and the mozzarella is very good. The deli selection is really good for such a small store.
I second the deli in back of Strawberry Farms their mozzarella is very good but that line is just annoying. It starts on the left. It starts on the right. People cut... with that said Strawberry Farms also has excellent rustic breads. Their rosemary foccacia is delicious.
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Marino Brothers
163-07 29th Ave, Queens, NY 11358
Strawberry Farms
24-11 150th St, Queens, NY 11357
A Ramble through Flushing
My two cents, nan shian dumpling house for their soup dumpling, just their soup dumpling, eat it their then leave and continue on with your food journey.
Fried wonton from Chiu's down the block from Corner 28 (parallel to the LIRR train track) to go, but pop one to two in your mouth when you first leave them. Trust me, it's worth it.
Not sure if you ever heard of Fung Wah bus service. $15 from Boston to Manhattan Chinatown. Catch a van service from Confucius Plaza to flushing $2 each way, leaving every 20-30 minutes or so. Drops you off around the corner from Starbuck.
I use to take this trip for Boston's seafood on the weekends.
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Corner 28
40-28 Main St, Queens, NY 11354
Clean takeout sushi joints in Queens?
Yup, just had the sashimi dinner and a spicy tuna roll last night. Still delicious. Last time I had the sea urchin hand roll, yummy. Only place I eat sushi in Queens.
Jewish Christmas Eve dilemma (Little Pepper closed!)
Second M&T. Why not try a different region of Chinese cuisine in the new decade?
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SN New Restaurant
44-09 Kissena Blvd, Queens, NY 11355
Ramen
Ajisen Ramen at Queens Crossing (across of the parking lot). Not a restaurant but part of the food court. I like Ajisen no MSG in the soup and I actually like the noodles. Setagaya is gone now replaced by Hakata. Nice staff but sadly, MSG in soup, lots.
JFK To Flushing
You can catch the van from Flushing to Chinatown on the block around the corner from Chiu Fong (it has a giant red soup bowl on top of the store), by the municipal parking lot (there's also a Starbuck on that block).
Next time you're in town, try Chiu's (not Chiu Fong). They are across the street from the Bland House (the housing project). It's on the same block as the White Bear dumpling. They have the best Hong Kong style wonton noodle in New York in my opinion. They also make the best fried wonton. They don't just dump the dumpling into the hot oil. They douse it repeatedly with hot oil and the skin is the crispiest and lightest. I didn't know fried dumpling can taste like that.
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White Bear
135-02 Roosevelt Ave, Queens, NY 11354
JFK To Flushing
You can call Four Two's Cab company (718)746-2222 from Flushing to JFK. We use them when we go to the airport. There's also Caprice II cab company on the 37th Avenue between Roosevelt Avenue and Prince Street on your left hand side.
XLB is great but not better then Din Tai Fung in my opinion. They don't use MSG in their noodle stock, big plus for me.
Best Fried Chicken in Queens?
LONG LIVE POPEYE"S!!! Cooking with Jazz also makes great fried chicken, the buttermilk variety.
any high quality sushi in brooklyn/queens??
I never tried Mickey's at Rego Park. I live in Whitestone and I drive pass at least a dozen other sushi places to go for take out at Mickey's.
Don't waste your calories for Yuraku. I think they are now a buffet. I use to love that place but in the past five years I have tried the place half a dozen time and it was down right bad everytime. I love the decor, the beautiful little garden and the service. It use to be such a wonderful oasis in Flushing, but now...sad.
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Yuraku
192-20 Northern Blvd, Queens, NY 11358
any high quality sushi in brooklyn/queens??
Mickey's in Bayside. Takara in Whitestone use to be good. I use to love their spicy tuna roll. I had it two weeks ago, one piece, and threw the rest out. Too bad, I like the owner.
Is it possible? A $70 per head restaurant/caterer for a wedding?
Queens County Farm in Floral Park/Little Neck has venues for rent. $500 - $4000 for open air to indoor venue . They use an outside caterer or you can use your own. Durso's in Flushing caters and the price is pretty reasonable. Durso's can provide wait staff if you need.
Another option is Douglaston Manor on a weekday. $60 pp. Both place have garden views.
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Durso's
18901 Crocheron Ave, Queens, NY 11358
Douglaston Manor
63-20 Marathon Pkwy, Queens, NY 11362
Taiwanese beef noodle soup
I love Taiwanese beef noodles. My favorite place was the one that use to be in Flushing mall. Gu Xing does sell beef noodle or use to, I had it there a few years ago. Don't bother, tender meat, no flavor. I agree with the lack of flavor with HBNH, noodles is fine and beef is tender but soup is on the bland side. I think it lacks the Chinese bean paste flavor.
The niu rou mian next to Sentosa is actually slightly better. They have different versions, clear broth, spicy broth and two other flavors I can't remembered because I only order the spicy and clear broth. I prefer their foor to HBNH, but like HBNH's service way better. Personally, I think HBNH's best dishes is the Pork Chop over rice. Better then 66 few doors down.
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Sentosa
39-07 Prince St, Queens, NY 11354
Columbian Chorizo and Moroccan Merguez
Charles & Sons in Whitestone sells Merquez. 150-54A (next to Corona Park deli). It's a tiny place, if you drive too fast you'll miss it.
Mooncakes in March?
What a great (and considerate) idea! Fayda Bakery inside Hong Kong supermarket sells them loose through out the year. It is usually on the self help section all the way to the right. Good luck.
Catering Office Meetings in Flushing, Queens
Durso's
www.dursos.com
189-01 Crocheron Avenue
Flushing, NY 11358-2316
(718) 358-1311
Their pasta is great their catering is fantastic as well. The chicken rollatini marsala is delicious.
Kid-friendly Italian Queens
None taken. Borrow this book at your library.
http://www.amazon.com/No-Kids-Good-Reasons-Children/dp/0771054777/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264636671&sr=1-9
Kid-friendly Italian Queens
My four year old is a saint and my two year old is, well a toddler. We go to a lot of Korean restaurant not because we love the food but because they are very kids friendly. They always smile even though my two year old is spilling water/food everywhere.
We like Il Vesuvio in Whitestone for Italian. There food is excellent and they are very friendly. There's always kids and the waiters are nice. We always order a platter of frito misto the second we sit down so there is something to keep the toddler occupy while we try to order and eat.
Worthwhile in Whitestone, Queens?
The place on Willets Point and Francis Lewis (across from McDonald) is Mediterranean Grill. Great food. Just went there last weekend. We had lamb, the special, Tilapia stuff with Spinach and a Souvlaki.
The lamb was delicious. I don't like lamb but I liked this a lot. The stuff tilapia was delicious. The spinach stuffing was not the standard Greek cafe spinach stuffing. It was bright green with just the right amount of dill and leek. The souvlaki was tender and the yougurt sauce had a nice hint of garlic not the overpowering raw garlic ones I've tasted in other Greek restaurant. Souvlaki was also tender, better then most souvlaki i've had in Northeast Queens. The owner comes out and ask each table if they are enjoying themselves. The staff was attentive and friendly. A definte go to for us when we don't want to go to Astoria.
My friend said they had a swordfish last time that was cooked perfectly.
My other pick in Whitestone is Il Vesuvio. The pasta is not the standard red sauce ones. I love the buccatelli.
Oh yeah Five Guy burgers (technically College Point) when I just can't think about having another McDonald. We are surrounded by McDonalds in Whitestone.
Advice on Dairy-Free dining?
Wow, no butter either. That's almost all western cuisine! They slap butter in everything. You really do have to stick with Asian food then. I mean, how much pesto can one person eat anyway. Lots of Asian don't do dairy and still have great food but I feel for you.
Advice on Dairy-Free dining?
Can your skin tolerate sheep's milk product? If so Sicilian food is a good choice as is Greek food. They mostly use sheep's milk or goat milk cheese. I don't like Italian food mostly because I don't like melted cheese (except Gorgonzola). My husband is Italian so I've had to find alternative.
Pizza with cheese is done but there are still a lot of other options are still available in Italian cuisines. You can have Marsala, Puttanesca, Cacciatore, Primavera, Pesto, Oreganata, a few off the top of my head. There is still hope in Italian food.
1st b-day party
The new Donovan is beautiful (marble mosaic tile floor, dark wood, airy feel). The old Donovan was expert at holding private party (been to three). However, I'm not sure how they are with parties now. I'm sort of bias with their service.
Three pregnant women each with a toddler went into Donovan for an early lunch one Spring afternoon. It took them ten minutes to seat us even though the place was empty (4-5 table occupied). We ordered three medium well burgers, two with fries, one with onion rings. An order of buffalo wings and two kiddie meal of chicken strip and fries. Two of the burgers were bloody the last one burned like a hockey puck. No onion rings, the buffalo wings became barbeque wings (and bloody in the middle) and the chicken strips came fifteen minutes after the burgers. It was not a good lunch.
My confidence is some what low with them holding a party but they do have a beautiful space in the back for parties. Maybe they just had an off day with us. Space alone is worth checking out.
1st b-day party
Cascarino on Bell is pretty inexpensive. About $35 per head with beer and wine (that was 2 year agos price). They have Valet parking. Il Vesuvio in Whitestone starts at $35 not including beer and wine but they have much better food and a better menu offering in general. Both have private room Cascarino upstairs and Vesuvio in the back. If you are looking for something else besides Italian, Kati Alo has a back room for party as well. Can't tell you what the price is but I'm guessing is comparable to Cascarino or cheaper.
white bear dumplings
If you want good wontons, go to Sifu Chio around the corner. That's all they make, wonton and a cantonese variation of wonton they call watercress dumpling but it taste more like wonton then dumpling. They are closes to the Dai Pai Dong experience in Hong Kong. Their fried wonton is also the best. It's crispy and light.
Chinese baby suckling pig, Flushing Queens NY
The best one I've had recently was actually in Little Neck. Inside the NY Mart (next to Pine Court Restaurant off the LIE) they say suckling pig. I bought some about a month ago. The skin was still crispy the next day and the seasoning of the meat was just right, not too salty like many sold in Flushing. If you can only get to Flushing, I would recommend Corner 28.
Search for shaved ice/bubble tea yields a gem in Bayside
A beautiful day today so went to the park and afterward took munchkins to Sweet Adele. Their strawberry ice-cream was delicious! I ordered green tea ice cream for myself and it had intense green tea flavor, not too sweet but the strawberry was, wow. It tasted creamy and like fresh strawberry. I couldn't believe it was only $1.00 per scoop.
I also tried their green tea mochi. It had bean paste filling but the surprise was it had marshmellow wrapped around the bean paste inside the mochi. I ended up buying 3 more to go. This is a really nice neighborhood gem. I wished I lived around the area!
Moving: Temple Snacks & Little Pepper
I posted how bad Temple's fried prok chop was a while ago. I love their pork belly but the pork chop was just starchy, bland and greasy. Happy Noodle makes an excellent pork chop with rice (came across tit by accident). Closest to May Wah (now closed) from Chinatown. It even has the sour pickle vegetable and marinated egg they had at May Wah. Caoncur with Lau, Lai food also makes a very good one.
Kid-friendly in Flushing
Every dim sum place is going to have chicken feet & tendon. Jade Asia has a more nuvo selection then most.
For non dim sum highly recommend Sunway. They are very child friendly. Your kids will like their bubble tea and slush (frozen shake) selection. They do serve dim sum, no push carts, just order off the sheet. Their stir fry noodles are very good. Almost every table order it. My munchkins love this place.
Also would recommend Minni Shabu Shabu. Each person have their own pot. My kids get a kick out of it and they also have bubble tea and slushy. They also have shave ice, Taiwanese style.
