Based on a couple of good reviews from Chow, we headed to ANDES HOTEL RESTAURANT for lunch. Don't bother. The onion soup was not great. It was passable, about the level I'd expect from a diner-lots of cheese but a thin, watery broth really lacking any depth of flavor that characterizes this soup. Also the $10 chicken sandwich was not from fresh chicken breast, it was cut from a smoked/processed chicken-product. The pulled pork was also pretty flat and dry. All in all, it was a $50 lunch of mediocre soup and sandwiches. If you are from NYC and know good food, please skip this one. I'm sure it is fine for locals who don't care, and the atmosphere is charming and the service was fine. This is the first time a Chow recommendation has led me astray so I wanted to warn others.

Would not go back. Although delivery food was great, we ate at the restaurant and the quality was terrible. The food was greasy and not fresh. I sent back my dish and asked for something different and it was equally bad. Would not return or recommend.

-----
Sonali
44-13 Queens Blvd, Queens, NY 11104

Ordered delivery tonight from Sonali. The sag paneer was really good and the rice is spiced with cardamom which is a nice touch. The veg pakoras were a bit greasy for me but that's probably because fried food doesn't travel very well. The service was quick and the food tastes fresh and like it was made with care. I'd definitely order from them again.

-----
Sonali
44-13 Queens Blvd, Queens, NY 11104

Cinema Paradiso is great - especially their lunch specials. Now there are a bunch of chain restaurants that are near the theater. Yuck. Try The Cup, Cinema Paradiso, or walk over to the Pathmark on Northern Boulevard and get some of the best fried chicken in Queens at their chicken counter. Note, if you are going to eat fried chicken in the movie theater, you should sit in the back row so the aroma doesn't drive people nuts.

The food is expensive for what it is. The $5 margaritas were tall and very good. We ordered a few appetizers and they let us order "off the menu" and get chorizo nachos. I wouldn't go back except for the good drinks. The entrees seem very expensive to me.

My husband went there last week and liked it. They have $5 margaritas during happy hour, 5-7pm I think. We're going tonight.

We drove here tonight (from Sunnyside queens) and had dinner. It did not disappoint. Usually we go to Atomic Hot Wings in manhattan for wings but decided to try someplace new. We had hot wings, hotter wings, tofu wings in hotter sauce, rice and beans, and jalepeno shrimp poppers. Everything was excellent. The place is individually owned (not a chain) and the owner spent time talking to us about how they make all their own sauces etc.

The fried buffalo tofu was a little spongy and weird but I liked it (my husband did not, but he is less adventurous anyway). The spanish rice and black beans for $1.50 were amazing. Really great seasoning and flavor. We liked the hotter sauce better at first but then my lips felt like they were on fire and I was glad we got some of the standard hot ones to cool down. The jalepeno popper was strange to me (my husband loved them). Filled with shrimp + cheese and wrapped in bacon. Not your standard frozen/fried pepper as we were pleasantly surprised.

Our wing standards are pretty high as we usually go to Anchor Bar in Buffalo for the real deal. Buffalo Cantina is a close second best and a lot easier to get to.

Buffalo Cantina also had a great chilled out atmosphere (which is more than I can say for Atomic Wings). This is our new wing place for sure.

http://www.buffalocantina.com/

Went to Dee Thai on Friday night for dinner. I had the crispy pork pad thai - amazing! - and the spring rolls which were also great. My husband had the pork cutlet which was dry but when he asked for a side of chili sauce it perked right up. They had 2 for 1 drinks which was awesome. All in all a great dining experience.

I'd be wary of delivery from them, though, because the foods tended to be a bit greasy and would not travel well for take out. I can understand how people didn't like their delivery food.

they do still have good cookies.

hi - i'm looking for a nice place for dinner near the big movie theater
in astoria. we go to the Cup diner all the time, but we're kind of sick
of eating there.

any recommendations or ideas? we need someplace walking distance.

thanks!
Sunny

that's it! thank you!

There is a chicken sandwich healthy fast food place on 6th ave around 22nd Street. I'm trying to meet a friend of mine there tonight but I can't remember the name of it. does anyone know what i'm talking about?

thanks!