BESTOF.QNS.COM • WINNERS GUIDE • BETHPAGE BEST OF THE BORO 2021 59
RESTAURANTS
BEST RESTAURANT
PICCOLO SOGNO
195-14 47th Ave, Flushing
(718) 224-1717–www.piccolosognony.com
Piccolo Sogno in Flushing is all about serving
authentic Italian cuisine and providing the
ultimate restaurant experience in Queens.
When executive chef and owner Maurizio
opened Piccolo Sogno in 2009, he envisioned
bringing the best of what Italy has to offer to
New Yorkers and has since become a mainstay
in the borough. Whether you’re craving
calamari, baked clams, a big plate of fettuccine
or pizza so freshly baked you can smell each
ingredient from your seat, you’ll be rest
assured that you’re getting the best food you’ve
ever had. What makes Piccolo Sogno a truly
delightful place to dine is their never-ending
commitment to treating every guest — old and
new — like a member of the family.
BEST RESTAURANT
WITH A VIEW
VETRO RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE
164-49 Cross Bay Blvd, Howard Beach
(718) 843-8387–www.vetronyc.com
Dinner with a view? Don’t mind if I do! If
you want to enjoy a delicious dinner with an
incredible view, you have to go to the rooftop
of Vetro Restaurant & Lounge. When you are
seated at its rooftop lounge, you are greeted
by a panoramic view of the bay while you dine
upon their fine cuisine. Whether you are under
the sun or a starry night sky, the rooftop is
the perfect place to enjoy a night of food and
fun with your friends and family. Plus, the
rooftop provides the ideal place where you
can celebrate any occasion at any point during
the year.
BEST ROMANTIC
DINNER
PICCOLO SOGNO
195-14 47th Ave, Flushing
(718) 224-1717–www.piccolosognony.com
The ideal romantic dinner involves great
company, soft candlelight and warm, delicious
food. Piccolo Sogno elevates this concept by
providing an unforgettable experience where
every guest is greeted like family as soon
as they walk in the door. At Piccolo Sogno,
serving authentic Italian cuisine in the heart
of Queens is the name of the game! Every dish
from its addicting chicken parmigiana to its
freshly baked pizza is carefully prepared by
executive chef and owner Maurizio, whose goal
is to bring the best of what Italy has to offer to
the table. Piccolo Sogno’s delicious plates will
ensure that every romantic date is the most
memorable one yet.
BEST SEAFOOD
RESTAURANT
LONDON LENNIE’S
63-88 Woodhaven Blvd, Rego Park
(718) 894-8084–www.londonlennies.com
Searching for fresh and unforgettable seafood?
Look no further than London Lennie’s.
Owned and operated by the Barnes family
since 1959, this seafood wonderland in Rego
Park has evolved from a quintessential fish n’
chips shop to one of New York City’s premier
seafood restaurants. Celebrating over 57 years
of excellence, London Lennie’s is perhaps
most famous for its fresh, local seafood
selected daily at the world-famous Fulton Fish
Market. Dubbed the best seafood restaurant
in the borough, London Lennie’s philosophy is
simple: it’s the best or nothing at all.
BEST SOUL FOOD
AND SOUTHERN
RESTAURANT
SOUTHERN GIRLS SOUL FOOD
218-28 Merrick Blvd, Springfield Gardens
(718) 949-0400–www.southerngirlssoulfoodny.
com
If you’re looking to get a taste of authentic
Southern cuisine in Queens, Southern Girls
Soul Food is the place to go. Opened in 2008,
the family-oriented establishment serves up a
hearty, mouthwatering selection of Southern
classics such as short ribs, catfish and
barbecued pork and chicken and waffles along
with two sides of your choice and cornbread.
Everything is made from scratch and their
extensive menu guarantees to deliver soul food
with lots of flavor. Visit Southern Girls Soul
Food today for the menu, stay for the Southern
hospitality!
BEST SPANISH
LA FUSTA
80-32 Baxter Ave, Elmhurst
(718) 429-8222–www.lafustarestaurant.com
For the best Spanish cuisine in all of Queens,
La Fusta in Elmhurst goes above and beyond
in serving its loyal and diverse clientele. Since
1970, La Fusta has established its reputation
as being the go-to place for traditional
Argentine cuisine and steakhouse in New
York City. Each of its menu options places an
emphasis on the grill. If you’re a meat lover,
its meats and poultry are slowly cooked over
glowing embers on the grill resulting in a
perfectly charred, juicy piece of meat. For fish
lovers and pescaterians, each piece of grilled
fish produces the same exact result! In true
Argentine fashion, each dish is accompanied
by a glass of wine. Don’t wait! Visit La Fusta
today!
BEST STEAKHOUSE
UNCLE JACK’S STEAKHOUSE
39-40 Bell Blvd, Bayside
(718) 229-1100–www.unclejacks.com
Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse isn’t your run-ofthe
mill New York Steakhouse. The quality
of their food and service underscores their
commitment to excellence and to your
satisfaction. The beef is perfectly aged for
28-35 days depending on size for optimum
flavor and moisture. Uncle Jack’s have aging
boxes to control time, temperature and
humidity so every piece of beef is perfect
before it is cooked. Their steaks are cooked
in 1800-degree infrared broilers that provide
a great char while searing in all the juices
in the meat and then finished to desired
temperatures and served with their natural
au jus. Uncle Jack’s take tremendous pride
in their reputation as the “Best Steakhouse in
New York City,” and so do Queens residents.
BEST TEX-MEX
MOJAVE
22-36 31st St, Astoria
(718)-545-4100 mojavenyc.com
Queens residents do not have to travel to
the Southwest for the chance of indulging
in authentic Tex-Mex cuisine. Mojave in
Astoria takes your mouth on the journey
where every dish has that authentic Mexican
flare. From starters such as the hand hacked
“Hass avocado guacamole’’ and “MotherRoad
Roadhouse Chili” to entrees such as slow
and low braised short ribs of angus beef,
Mojave’s menu is always fun and interesting.
Complement your dish with a nice, cold glass
of Mojave brew’s blonde ale or an irresistible
Mojave’s margarita on the rocks or frozen.
Whether you’re meeting with friends and
family for brunch or having a date night,
Mojave will provide you with the ultimate Tex-
Mex experience at any time of day!
BEST THAI RESTAURANT
BKNY THAI RESTAURANT
47-11 Francis Lewis Blvd, Bayside
(718) 281-1900–www.bknythai.com
Looking for the best Thai food that Queens has
to offer? You need to head over to BKNY Thai
Restaurant. Short for “Bangkok New York Thai
Restaurant,” BKNY Thai is literally bringing
a slice of Thailand right to Bayside, and has
been delighting the taste buds of Queens
residents since 2006. Their authentic Thai
fare will have your mouth watering from the
time you step into the restaurant. They stay
true to their roots at BKNY Thai, though some
of their menu items tend to border on Thai
fusion. Whether you’re a Thai food veteran or
a newbie, no matter what you order, you will
leave feeling full, satisfied and planning your
next meal with them.
BEST UPSCALE/FINE
DINING (TIE)
PARK SIDE RESTAURANT
107-01 Corona Ave Corona
(718) 271-9871–www.parksiderestaurantny.
com
Once in a while, an upscale dining experience
is needed to truly enjoy the best of what New
York City has to offer. And you won’t find a
more perfect fine dining experience than at
Park Side Restaurant in Corona. Its menu
features the finest that Italian cuisine has
to offer, from chicken parmigiana to clam
cocktails. Of course, it isn’t truly New York
City-style upscale dining without occasional
celebrity sightings from Bobby Flay of Food
Network fame, Kevin James and Adam
Sandler. For more than 30 years, Park Side
Restaurant has become one of the best Italian
restaurants in the city, and Queens residents
seem to share the same sentiment.
BEST UPSCALE/FINE
DINING (TIE)
VETRO RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE
164-49 Cross Bay Blvd, Howard Beach
(718) 843-8387–www.vetronyc.com
Fine dining should be more than just fine;
it should be an exquisite and memorable
experience that pleases all the senses. Vetro’s
experienced chefs combine traditional
offerings with exciting international
inspirations to create dishes that are both
classic and innovative. Vetro’s dinner menu
offers everything you want out of a luxurious
meal, from delicious appetizers like tuna
tartare and grilled octopus to carefully
prepared entrees like skirt steak and spring
rack of lamb. Vetro’s award-winning wine list
features more than 415 selections from around
the world, including the highest quality
Chardonnay, Chateau Talbot and Sauvignon
blanc. You will truly feel like royalty at this
one-of-a-kind restaurant, from the first
moment of contact with one of their servers to
your last bite of dessert!
BEST VEGETARIAN
RESTAURANT
THE THIRSTY KOALA
35-12 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria
(718) 626-5430–www.thethirstykoala.com
If meat isn’t your thing but you still prefer the
finer meals in life, head over to the Thirsty
Koala for the best vegetarian dishes in town.
Start your meal off with tasty veggie appetizers
like the hallum fries, featuring flash fried
strips of Cypriot halloumi cheese, or the corn
and jalapeno fritters, made with sweet corn
and manchego cheese — and don’t forget to
try the vegetable soup of the day. For your
main course, indulge in The Thirsty Koala’s
delicious take on Eggplant Parm, its stuffed
acorn squash, or the gluten-free pasta of the
day (which can also be made vegan upon
request). If you’ve saved room, you’ll have
no trouble finding a delectable dessert, from
Koala Chocolate Truffle to salted caramel
slices!
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