Foodie Report: Queens, New York

Queens
Photo by Joe Buglewicz

New York City’s outlying neighborhoods are getting trendier and evolving into cultural hubs. Venture from Manhattan during your next Big Apple visit and check out these hip communities in Queens, which are filled with top eateries.

The trendy neighborhood of Astoria, in northwestern Queens, is traditionally a Greek neighborhood, so indulging in some Greek cuisine is part of the experience. Head to Ditmars Boulevard, which runs east to west and is located near the N and Q lines on the subway. Here, you will find an array of Greek dining options, but we suggest Taverna Kyclades. This seafood restaurant is known citywide for its delicious dishes. For an appetizer, try the pan-fried Greek cheese, saganaki or the fried calamari, and for a main meal, order the swordfish or sea bass with a side of lemon potatoes. The line at Taverna Kyclades can be long and reservations are not accepted, but large (very large) portions, a lively atmosphere and complimentary Greek custard for dessert make it a gratifying dining experience.

For brunch, Queens Comfort and Burnside Biscuits are worthy options (both located in Astoria). Burnside Biscuits focuses on southern cuisine — its brunch menu offers two-, four- and eight-piece fried chicken meals. While, Queens Comfort serves, of course, comfort foods like the buttermilk pancakes and maple cheddar sausage gravy in a relaxed family-friendly environment. Visitors will want to note that Queens Comfort only accepts cash and cannot seat parties larger than eight. Also, these spots are popular with locals on the weekends, so be prepared for a wait during brunch hours.

For dessert or a refreshing snack, head to Corona, Queens, where The Lemon Ice King of Corona serves famous Italian ice. Located near Citi Field, this ice stand always has a steady flow of visitors. There are more than three dozen flavor options, which the servers will refuse to mix, but our favorite flavor is mango.