BESTOF.QNS.COM • WINNERS GUIDE • BETHPAGE BEST OF THE BORO 2019 23
FOOD
BEST GOURMET FOOD
STORE
IAVARONE BROS QUALITY FOODS
6900 Grand Ave, Maspeth
718-639-3623 – www.ibfoods.com
The inspiration for Iavarone Bros was born
in 1919 as Pasquale Iavarone strolled through
Ellis Island. Over the course of the last
century, the Iavarone family has produced the
highest quality foods in Queens. No matter
how tough or harsh the critic, Iavarone Bros
has always received outstanding reviews. With
freshly baked breads and desserts, homemade
pasta and mouth-watering sausages, Iavarone
Bros is home to the finest food connoisseurs
in Queens. During past holiday seasons, their
food has been in such high demand that police
barricades had to be set up to slow the rush of
customers. Lavarone Bros has delivered only
the highest quality foods to New York, making
them the best Gourmet Food Store in Queens.
BEST GYRO
KALAMAKI GR
29-06 172nd St., Flushing
718-939-1616 – www.kalamakigr.com
Kalamaki Gr opened its doors on August
2014 with a vision and a passion to provide
Authentic Greek food, using the best and
freshest ingredients, at a fair price, served
in a comfortable, clean and family-oriented
restaurant. They do everything fresh daily
with a menu that includes skewers, beef and
chicken bifteki (patties), kebabs, pork gyro,
donner, all spreads and hummus, salads, fish,
spanakopita, and rotisserie chicken.
BEST HEALTH FOOD STORE
HEALTH NUTS
211-35 26th Ave, Bayside
(718)-225-8164
Health Nuts is a natural health food chain based
in New York that naturally has it all! For the
past 40 years, they have been supplying their
customers in Manhattan, Queens and Long
Island with wholesome natural and organic food,
vitamins & nutritional supplements and health
and beauty aids. Fresh food is prepared daily in
their organic juice bar and deli. Come and try
any of their fresh organic or natural sandwiches,
salads, soups, vegetarian food, juices, smoothies,
and snacks! There’s something for everyone!
BEST HOT DOG
BEN’S OF BAYSIDE
211-37 26th Ave, Bayside
718-229-2367 – www.bensdeli.net
Come to Ben’s Deli in Bayside the next time you’re
in the mood for a great hot dog with the toppings
you desire. Ben’s Deli has had the same name and
the same owner for over 40 years, which has given
plenty of time to perfect the process of making hot
dogs. A business that was started in dire financial
standing, the rent was paid in quarters sometimes,
has now grown to become one of the most popular
kosher delis in New York. With a variety of
specialty dogs, including the NY Fiver which holds
two dogs, three toppings and a pretzel bun, making
the rounds, nowhere in Queens offers a better,
tastier selection than Ben’s.
BEST ICE CREAM
PESSO’S ITALIAN ICES
203-20 35th Ave, Bayside
(718) 224-9130 – www.pessosices.com
There’s never a bad time to have some great ice
cream, even in the brutal New York winters.
It’s a good thing that Pesso’s Italian Ices, which
serves the best ice cream and ices, is open year
‘round. Pesso’s has been family owned and
operated since 2004 and serves 100+ flavors of
Italian ices, cream ices, ice cream and gelato, all
made on the premises by the family. It doesn’t
get more New York and authentic than that.
BEST ICED TEA
TEA AND MILK
32-02 34th Ave., Astoria
347-921-2056 – www.teaandmilk.com
Revolutionizing tea one cup at a time is a
lofty goal, but Tea and Milk is up for the
challenge. People at the store are committed
to serving you the best concept teas. Each
aspect of their ingredients has been perfected
and has endured long testing periods by
their tea-brewing masters. They are not your
run-of-the-mill franchise or mom and pop
shop, as they are tea enthusiasts who find
enjoyment and fulfillment by contributing to
the community and world serving fresh and
quality tea beverages.
BEST LOBSTER ROLL
LONDON LENNIE’S
63-88 Woodhaven Blvd., Rego Park
(718) 894-8084 – www.londonlennies.com
Get a taste of Maine without taking an hourslong
ride through New England at London
Lennie’s Restaurant in Rego Park. They
have a lobster roll full of succulent lobster
meat, dressing and seasoning that’ll satisfy
your seafood urge. A fixture in Rego Park
since 1959, London Lennie’s delivers the
best seafood, delivered fresh daily, to their
customers. The family-owned restaurant
carries on the tradition of the restaurant’s
founder, Leonard “Lennie” Barnes, who
discovered his love of fresh fish and seafood
while serving as a Merchant Marine. Local fish
and seafood is the essence of their menu, rich
with top-grade fish and seafood selections,
artfully prepared and presented to you with
pride and consistency.
BEST MEATBALL
MAGNA RISTORANTE
35-25 Farrington St., Flushing
718-445-3352 – www.magnarestaurant.com
Magna Restaurant is often referred to as
Flushing’s hidden gem, and for good reason.
Magna serves up some of Queens’ finest
Italian dishes and desserts including the best
meatballs in Queens. Whether on a panini or
in a pasta dish, Magna’s meatballs are sure
to impress. Rich and savory, these meatballs
are renowned through Queens. Magna uses
only the finest, freshest ingredients available.
Their friendly wait staff is kind and courteous,
and Magna’s atmosphere is both open and
comfortable. When you find yourself enjoying
a hearty meal at Magna’s, be sure to try the
best meatballs in Queens!
BEST PASTRAMI
SANDWICH
BEN’S KOSHER DELICATESSEN
RESTAURANT & CATERERS
211-37 26th Ave., Bayside
718-229-2367 – www.bensdeli.net
For over 40 years, Ben’s Deli has had the same
owner and same name. In that time, Ben’s
has perfected the pastrami sandwich. After
starting small and paying the rent in quarters,
Ben’s has quickly become an integral part of
New York’s kosher delis. With a monstrous
stack of delicious pastrami, Ben’s sandwiches
are enough to defeat even the hungriest of
customers. Nowhere else in Queens offers
pastrami sandwiches on the same level as
Ben’s. Their unmatched quality and flavor
give them more than just a leg up on the
competition – the run the town!
BEST PIE
MARTHA’S COUNTRY BAKERY, FOREST
HILLS
70-28 Austin St., Forest Hills
718-544-0088 –marthascountrybakery.com
Martha’s Country Bakery was founded with
the goal of making classic American baked
goods, and they have more than succeeded.
Their smiling staff starts the day early baking
the best pies in Queens. With over a dozen
types of pies, each more delicious than the
last, Martha’s Bakery is Queens’ premiere
place to buy pies. Flavors range from triple
berry to Mississippi mud pie, apple blueberry
to cranberry walnut. Stop by their warm,
welcoming store for a slice of pie and a cup of
coffee!
BEST PIZZA
AEGEA WEST GYROS & PIZZA
242-05 Northern Blvd., Douglaston
(718) 423-4429 – www.aegeagyros.com
AEGEA has been serving the best Greek food
Queens has to offer for over 10 years, Along
with delicious pizza & Italian specialties, this
one of a kind restaurant has it all. Whether it
be for lunch or dinner you’ll find something
for every pallet. Our cozy environment &
friendly staff will assure you a pleasant dining
experience. If on the go our takeout is fast
& hot out the door. Either way, AEGEA has
something for everyone.
BEST SALAD
AEGEA WEST GYROS & PIZZA
242-05 Northern Boulevard, Douglaston
718-423-4429 – www.aegeagyros.com
Get a great salad any way you want at Aegea!
Aegea was founded in 2004, and they’ve
been serving up some of the most delicious
Greek food in Queens ever since. While the
name might say gyros and pizza, Aegea also
dishes out some phenomenal salads. With
almost 20 salads to choose from, Aegea has
something for everyone! Aegea’s salads range
from more traditional Greek cuisine with the
Acropolis salad, which features cucumber and
goat cheese among other toppings, to more
innovative options like the Douglaston, which
features fried chicken and honey mustard.
Boasting a cozy environment and a friendly
staff, Aegea Gyros and Pizza is a staple of
Queens dining.
BEST SMOOTHIE
JUICE FOR LIFE
271-11 Union Tpke, New Hyde Park
(718) 343-2200 – www.juiceforlife.biz
Eating healthy is never easy. But Juice for Life
makes life a little bit easier. It’s an all natural
healthy eatery that includes some of the
freshest and most delicious food the city has
to offer. That’s no small feat. Serving gourmet
wraps, rice bowls, salads, soups, and of course,
their famous smoothies, it’s no wonder Juice
for Life is a huge hit for locals looking to stay
fit.
BEST SOUP
AVLI
3831 Bell Blvd, Bayside
718-224-7575 – www.avlilife.com/bayside
Whether you’re looking to cozy up on a chilly
day or nursing a sore throat, Avli has a soup
that will do the trick. One of the most popular,
well-known restaurants in Bayside, Avli serves
hearty, classic Greek cuisine, including two
traditional Greek soups: avgolemono and
faki. The avgolemono features chicken broth,
chicken breast, egg, lemon and orzo while the
faki is a lentil soup. Be sure to step into Avli’s
warm, homely interior for a delicious bowl of
soup!
BEST SPECIALTY PIZZA
FORNO PIZZERIA E TRATTORIA
52-27 69th St., Maspeth
718-424-1200 – www.pizzeriaforno.com
Looking for unique toppings on your pizza?
Look no further than Forno Pizzeria E
Trattoria. Since the day it opened, Forno
Pizzeria has promised to deliver a unique
culinary experience, and their specialty pizzas
do not disappoint. With over 15 choices, Forno
has an option for everyone. You can choose
from 10 types of cheese, sauces ranging from
classic tomato to white truffle oil and toppings
like capers and thin sliced salami. Forno
offers classic Italian cuisine with a twist of
innovation and ingenuity. Forno even goes
so far as to make their mozzarella fresh every
single day. Forno’s pizzas will blow you away
with their flavor, so be sure to check them out!
BEST SUSHI
SHIRO OF JAPAN
80-40 Cooper Ave., Glendale
718-326-8704 – shiroofjapan.com
If you want a taste of Japan but can’t make
the flight halfway across the globe to get there,
Shiro of Japan is the next best thing to being
in the Land of the Rising Sun. Customers get a
taste of exceptional Japanese food and service.
Shiro’s sushi is so popular, some of the house
made rolls have been replicated and served
across the rest of the United States. Offering
everything from grab and go, fine dining and
wholesale catering, Shiro of Japan surpasses
even the highest standards. With more than
30 different rolls to choose from, each bite is
more flavorful and savory than the last. Shiro’s
highly skilled and expert chefs make the sushi
from only the finest, freshest ingredients
available. Shiro of Japan has it all. Whether
you’re looking for classic sushi rolls or
innovative sushi with ingredients like avocado,
Shiro of Japan satisfies even the hungriest
customers.
BEST TACO
CASA ENRIQUE
5-48 49th Ave., Long Island City
347-448-6040 – henrinyc.com/casa-enrique
Casa Enrique is no stranger to fame and
recognition for their amazing tacos, so it’s no
surprise that their tacos have been deemed
the best in Queens. This Michelin recognized
restaurant serves the best, most fresh
ingredients around. Their daily specials use
seasonal elements to bring out the maximum
flavor. Casa Enrique’s tacos are prepared
with care. Their pastor option features pork
marinated in chilies and pineapple. The
suadero features a slow cooked brisket. Each
of Casa Enrique’s tacos seems tastier than the
last, and with innovative daily specials, no two
experiences at Casa Enrique’s can be the same.
BEST WINGS
FOREST HILLS STATION HOUSE
106-11 71st Ave., Forest Hills
718-544-5000 – www.fhstationhouse.com
Whether you want savory or spicy or both,
Forest Hills Station House has the best
chicken wings in the borough. The gastropub
boasts not only a deep selection of craft
beers, whiskeys and American fare, but also
jumbo-sized, farm style wings that can be
dressed with pickled pepper, barbecue, and
house made mild or hot sauces. The modern
and industrial interior is warmly lit to help
you make the best of your experience. Their
friendly and accommodating staff is always
ready to help. Be sure to check out Forest Hills
Station House!
/www.bensdeli.net
/www.kalamakigr.com
/www.bensdeli.net
/www.pessosices.com
/www.teaandmilk.com
/www.londonlennies.com
/www.magnarestaurant.com
/www.ibfoods.com
/www.aegeagyros.com
/www.aegeagyros.com
/www.juiceforlife.biz
/bayside
/www.pizzeriaforno.com
/www.fhstationhouse.com
