TM2007's Profile
site for October book discussion
I am in a book discussion group. We would like some suggestions for restaurants/cafes in Park Slope or Prospect Heights that could accomodate 6-8 people for 2 hours and be quiet enough for us to discuss our book.
Looking for a fine Italian pastry shop in Astoria, Queens
St. Honore's French bakery on Ditmar's at 35th St, right across from Top Tomato. Their apple tarts are excellent as are all their other pastry items. They also have the best pecan pie that I and my friends have ever tasted.
Lunch on Saturday in Brooklyn looking for Italian
I went to Il Colosseo last week for the first time and it was great. We had the portobello appetizer, two homemade pasta dishes, and cappuchinos. The pizzas looked great as did the meat dishes. The serve was fast and friendly and the prices were excellent. We plan on returning in the future.
Looking for top quality bakeries in outer boroughs
St. Honore's Bakery in Astoria.On Ditmars Ave. @ 35th St, across from Taverna Kyklades. It is a great French bakery. Their apple tarts are wonderful and they have the best pecan pie I have ever tasted.
Kew Gardens on the Cheap
Tu Casa is good. I personally like Dani's for a late night pizza slice and I like the Italian restaurant part of it, too. For a whole pizza, I prefer Singa's on Lefferts. The bagel store Baker's Dozen (on Lefferts by the movie theater) does nice sandwiches and has decent coffee. About two years ago, Aron's Sweet Shop, a Bukharian Jewish bakery, opened on Metropolitan and 118th St. Aron's does great bread, homemade knishes, pastries, and tasty cakes as well as soup. There are tables inside the store where you can eat. I disagree with the comments about L'Angolo. They seem to be quite family and pet-friendly and they do a thriving outside business in the warmer months.
Kew Gardens may not be a culinary mecca but the people who run these restaurants are generally nice, the service is decent, the places are clean, and the food is fine. Given a choice between an affordable neighborhood with average takeout and a pricy neighborhood with amazing takeout, I prefer the cheaper option.
Old, traditional bakeries/pastry shops that still exist
St. Honore's Bakery in Astoria. This is a French bakery with amazing apple tarts. They are on Ditmars Avenue @ 35th Street. I lived in Astoria for ten years and always had to stand on a long line at holiday time for their pies and tarts. The pecan pies are fabulous. Definitely Rose and Joe's for bread.
Mail Order Coffee
I really like Zabar's Vienna Roast and the French-Italian Roast. They ship and the coffee isn't expensive. They have a high volume so the coffee is pretty fresh.
Best olive selection in Queens?
Best Yet Supermarket on 19-30 37th St off of 21st Ave. has a really nice olive bar. I like the pitted black olives in thyme. There cheeses are good and they carry a nice line of imported Italian products.Titan is also good.
Greek baklava in Brooklyn, Manhttan or Queens?
Try Lefkos Pirgos or Artopolis in Astoria.
woefully seeking la colombe coffee
Try the coffee section of Whole Foods on Houston. I think I saw tins of it there.
Just moved to Forest Hills--Looking for recommendations
There are a number of places along Metropolitan Avenue. I really like the brick oven pizza at Dee's. Leo's Latticini is in Glendale, a short ride away on the Q54 along Metropolitan. Atlas Park, also in Glendale, has a nice small Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings. Unlike the other Chowhound posters, I really like the Amish Market in Atlas Park. Aaron's Sweetshop, a kosher bakery on Metroplitan and 118th has great bread.
what will make me move to Astoria
St. Honore's Bakery - Ditmars and 35th. The apple tarts are amazing and the cakes are great. The cheap coffee beans at Best Yet supermarket by the Steinway Factory and their unexpected Italian product specials. The bread at Rose & Joe's Bakery on Ditmars by the station. The Afghan restaurant on Ditmars around 23rd Ave., near the funeral home. Igloo for a laidback brunch in the back garden. The feta at J&R on Ditmars and 31st Street.
Best Brooklyn neighborhood for a foodie?
If you don't mind the commute, try Bensonhurst or Bay Ridge. 18th Avenue in Bensonhurst has lots of fruit and vegetable stands, Italian bakeries with great breads, and small Italian specialty markets. There is one on 18th @ 80th street, close to Christopher Columbus park, that I really like. Queen Anne Ravioli has cheap homemade pasta. Bay Ridge also has some nice stores.
The south side of Williamsburgh, c. Broadway and Marcy, does have a Farmer's Market on Broadway and Havermeyer on Thursdays in the summer. While that stretch of Broadway is not noted for its produce, the cheap restaurant situation is improving. You can also take the M train to the Metropolitan Ave stop (c. 15 minutes from Marcy Ave and c. 20 minutes on the Q54) and shop the Italian bakeries, produce stands, and specialty stores of Middle Village. The G train to Nassau gets you out at the Greenpoint Farmer's Market on Saturdays.
Lunch near Javits Center
I will be attending BookExpo at the Javits Center during the weekend of June 2nd. I need a place to go to lunch with other attendees. One person is restricted to a relatively bland diet. I don't know that area at all. Any sugggestions would be welcome.
Looking for great diner
Mike's Diner in Astoria, at the foot of the N stop on Ditmar's Blvd.
Jury Duty - Kew Gardens
There is a good bagel store that sells excellent bagel sandwiches and pannini on Lefferts Blvd. It is on the left of Lefferts next to the movie theater. Dani's still exists - I like their slices. A Singa's Pizza opened just across from Dani's - nice small pies, sauce not as sweet as Dani's. There is also a chicken place right at the Union Tpke. stop of the E&F train on Queens Blvd. and Kew Gardens Road. I would not recommend Mood for lunch - I don't know how fast the service is although the place always looks empty as I walk by it.
