About a five block walk from the Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue stop on the #7 train is Magna Ristorante, a southern Italian restaurant.
Magna Ristorante is located on Farrington Street, a small commercial street bounded by Northern Boulevard and 35th Avenue.
Nestled within a Winggate Hotel that is connected to an extended stay condo, and facing Asian restaurants and Karaoke bars, the restaurant has mood lighting, candle lit tables and an inviting carved wood bar and raised plush chairs. There are even four tables and chairs on the sidewalk in front. Magna has the feel of restaurants in Midtown Manhattan.
The owner, Martino Asagjerka, is direct from Italy and extremely proud of the restaurant, which opened two months ago.
"This is my baby," said Asagjerka, "I'm going to nurture it as it grows."
The owner greets every customer who comes in. On a recent weekday evening, Asagjerka hugged a returning female customer.
"She loves this place," said Asagjerka. "She just ate here last night."
Asagjerka serves complementary Antipasti (appetizers) to his better customers. All food is made to order.
"If you're in a rush, don't come to Magna," said Asagjerka. "Good food takes time."
The menu has Italian specialties written in Italian and translated into English. The staff wears
jackets and bow ties.
The bartender, Rebecca, said she was from Korea. She chatted with bar customers while serving drinks.
"I get a lot of Korean and Chinese business," said Asagjerka. "And a lot of European business from the hotels."
Entrees are very reasonable. The most expensive entree on the menu is a red snapper filet for $18.00.
Reservations are suggested.
Magna Ristorante - 35-25 Farrington Street, Flushing; 718-445-3352
Friday, July 25, 2008
Day Four - Fancy, Smancy In The Basement Of The Sheraton LaGuardia
So you want upscale in Flushing? Check this out, yo!
There's draped four person booths, plush carpeting, chandeliers, antique furniture, a waterfall, wine racks, even a "chef."
Some would call the place upscale. Others might say pretentious. I'm one of the others.
Deluge is a restaurant in the "lower level" (basement) of the Sheraton Laguardia Hotel, on 39th Avenue just off Main Street.
On a recent weekday at about 1 p.m., I took the elevator down two flights from the hotel lobby to the restaurant. I noticed the cavernous restaurant had few customers.
The hostess, who I'm intentionally not naming, eyed me suspiciously while I took notes.
When I told her I was writing about the restaurant for a school project, she asked me if I could
do that legally without the restaurant's permission. I mumbled something about the first amendment.
"Should I tell my manager," the hostess said.
"I can interview him if you want," I said.
"He's busy," she said curtly.
Despite drawing inhospitable stares of the wait staff, I did manage to get the hostess to give me a menu. I later learned it was both the restaurant menu and the room service menu. Deluge doubles as the kitchen for the hotel.
The offerings are rather pricey - as you would expect for a room service menu. A "char-broiled Black Angus burger, Apple wood smoked bacon and Brie with hand cut steak fries" (a fancy bacon cheeseburger deluxe) is $16. "Peppered N.Y. sirloin and frites" (steak and fries) costs $28.
A basic breakfast of two eggs, toast, home fries and sausage sets you back $10.95.
The hotel bar doubles as the restaurant bar, the hostess said.
When I asked how long it would take to serve an order, the hostess dryly said "20 minutes."
I left.
Deluge - Rock bottom at the Sheraton Laguardia Hotel - 39th Avenue off Main Street; 718-670-7400
Next: Day Five - Italian Oasis on Farrington Street!
There's draped four person booths, plush carpeting, chandeliers, antique furniture, a waterfall, wine racks, even a "chef."
Some would call the place upscale. Others might say pretentious. I'm one of the others.
Deluge is a restaurant in the "lower level" (basement) of the Sheraton Laguardia Hotel, on 39th Avenue just off Main Street.
On a recent weekday at about 1 p.m., I took the elevator down two flights from the hotel lobby to the restaurant. I noticed the cavernous restaurant had few customers.
The hostess, who I'm intentionally not naming, eyed me suspiciously while I took notes.
When I told her I was writing about the restaurant for a school project, she asked me if I could
do that legally without the restaurant's permission. I mumbled something about the first amendment.
"Should I tell my manager," the hostess said.
"I can interview him if you want," I said.
"He's busy," she said curtly.
Despite drawing inhospitable stares of the wait staff, I did manage to get the hostess to give me a menu. I later learned it was both the restaurant menu and the room service menu. Deluge doubles as the kitchen for the hotel.
The offerings are rather pricey - as you would expect for a room service menu. A "char-broiled Black Angus burger, Apple wood smoked bacon and Brie with hand cut steak fries" (a fancy bacon cheeseburger deluxe) is $16. "Peppered N.Y. sirloin and frites" (steak and fries) costs $28.
A basic breakfast of two eggs, toast, home fries and sausage sets you back $10.95.
The hotel bar doubles as the restaurant bar, the hostess said.
When I asked how long it would take to serve an order, the hostess dryly said "20 minutes."
I left.
Deluge - Rock bottom at the Sheraton Laguardia Hotel - 39th Avenue off Main Street; 718-670-7400
Next: Day Five - Italian Oasis on Farrington Street!
Day Three - Bonjour Mes Amis! French Bakery in Flushing.
On 39th Avenue, just off Main Street - inside the new "Queens Crossing Mall" - is a cafe called "Paris Baguette." The bakery is part of a chain of stores that originated in Korea in 1988 and have expanded into China and the U.S.
On a recent weekday at about noon, the place was doing brisk business. Although the staff and most of the customers were Korean, French words were enscribed on the wall -"Viennoiserie," and "Patisserie."
"Viennoiserie," according to Wikipedia, is French for "Viennese specialties." They're French pastries made with eggs, butter, milk cream and sugar. "Patisserie," again according to Wikipedia, is a French bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets. (By the way, "Baguette" is French bread.)
Yes, a French bakery in Flushing, with an outdoor cafe. It isn't exactly Paris. The outdoor cafe is actually a small concrete patio outside the mall with silver colored metallic tables and chairs. There are no umbrellas sheltering the tables from the sun. The tables overlook a small fountain trickling water over onto the sidewalk.
Just inside the cafe are glass refrigerated showcases and open counters with various french style pastries and cakes. Although the offerings appear to be French inspired, Korean words subtitle the cards announcing the baked goods. Among the extremely varied offerings are Danish Bread, Croquettes, and Cream Cheese pastries.
The staff wears faux French berets and blue aprons, all with the logo "Paris Baguette."
Andy Kim, 20, a college student, served customers at the open counters and helped ring up orders.
"The stuff here is definitely not Asian," said Kim. "I think it's French, but there's some other European countries pastries that we serve here too."
The pastries are surprisingly inexpensive. For $2.00, you can get a fresh blueberry or mixed fruit pastry that easily costs double the price at most bakeries. Coffee machines are outside the service counter, which means free refills. If you want a caramel macchiato, frappuchino or expresso, the staff can make those for you for about half the price you'd pay at Starbucks.
The bakery has about 70 seats, with various seating arrangements - stylish lounge chairs, couches and wooden tables and chairs. The lighting is extremely bright and the floors are immaculate. French and other European pop music blares from overhead speakers.
Yvonne Pak, 19, also a college student and part-time employee at the bakery, answered customers' questions in English and Korean. She said the bakery is open from seven in the morning to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
She said all food is extremely fresh.
"All of our pastries are baked daily on premises," said Pak.
Paris Baguette - in Queens Crossing Mall at 39th Avenue and Main Street.
Next: Day Four - Getting Fancy In The Basement of the Sheraton LaGuardia
On a recent weekday at about noon, the place was doing brisk business. Although the staff and most of the customers were Korean, French words were enscribed on the wall -"Viennoiserie," and "Patisserie."
"Viennoiserie," according to Wikipedia, is French for "Viennese specialties." They're French pastries made with eggs, butter, milk cream and sugar. "Patisserie," again according to Wikipedia, is a French bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets. (By the way, "Baguette" is French bread.)
Yes, a French bakery in Flushing, with an outdoor cafe. It isn't exactly Paris. The outdoor cafe is actually a small concrete patio outside the mall with silver colored metallic tables and chairs. There are no umbrellas sheltering the tables from the sun. The tables overlook a small fountain trickling water over onto the sidewalk.
Just inside the cafe are glass refrigerated showcases and open counters with various french style pastries and cakes. Although the offerings appear to be French inspired, Korean words subtitle the cards announcing the baked goods. Among the extremely varied offerings are Danish Bread, Croquettes, and Cream Cheese pastries.
The staff wears faux French berets and blue aprons, all with the logo "Paris Baguette."
Andy Kim, 20, a college student, served customers at the open counters and helped ring up orders.
"The stuff here is definitely not Asian," said Kim. "I think it's French, but there's some other European countries pastries that we serve here too."
The pastries are surprisingly inexpensive. For $2.00, you can get a fresh blueberry or mixed fruit pastry that easily costs double the price at most bakeries. Coffee machines are outside the service counter, which means free refills. If you want a caramel macchiato, frappuchino or expresso, the staff can make those for you for about half the price you'd pay at Starbucks.
The bakery has about 70 seats, with various seating arrangements - stylish lounge chairs, couches and wooden tables and chairs. The lighting is extremely bright and the floors are immaculate. French and other European pop music blares from overhead speakers.
Yvonne Pak, 19, also a college student and part-time employee at the bakery, answered customers' questions in English and Korean. She said the bakery is open from seven in the morning to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
She said all food is extremely fresh.
"All of our pastries are baked daily on premises," said Pak.
Paris Baguette - in Queens Crossing Mall at 39th Avenue and Main Street.
Next: Day Four - Getting Fancy In The Basement of the Sheraton LaGuardia
Day Two - An Upstart Fast Food Joint On Main Street
Move over Burger King, McDonald's, Blimpie's. Joe's Bestburger is slinging hamburgers on Main Street.
Located just off the corner of Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue, this original fast food restaurant has a limited menu of hamburgers, fries, chicken sandwiches and fried shrimp. The beverages include sodas, coffee, shakes and floats. Meals start at $6.65 for a hamburger, fries and a soda.
On a recent weekday, Eileen Huang, 16, a high school student, patiently stood on a line behind five people waiting to order. "This place is pricier than other fast food places," said Huang. "And the wait to get your food is longer, even in off hours."
Huang ordered a hamburger and paid $3.65 at the service counter in the back of the restaurant. She picked up her order 12 minutes later.
"That took too long," said Huang, "as usual."
Joe's food is cooked to order - probably causing the extended wait. Joe's has taken the wait into account - next to the service counter, by the soda machine, is a red bench seat.
Joe's also has 16 flat screen televisions. Two by the service counter were set to CNN. The others displayed a continuing loop of Joe's logo and menu.
Most the restaurant contains seating - including a counter with stools at the entrance, many booths for two and four people, and loose tables and chairs. Customers dine in bright overhead fluorescent lighting. Built in mirrors wrap most of the seating area.
Joe's serves a variety of toppings for burgers - including cheese, onions, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes. But the staff doesn't always get the order right.
"I got bacon on my burger I didn't order," said Huang, "I wonder who's missing it?"
Joe's Bestburger is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Joe's Bestburger - 39-11 Main Street, Flushing; 718-445-8065
Next: Day Three - A French bakery?
Located just off the corner of Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue, this original fast food restaurant has a limited menu of hamburgers, fries, chicken sandwiches and fried shrimp. The beverages include sodas, coffee, shakes and floats. Meals start at $6.65 for a hamburger, fries and a soda.
On a recent weekday, Eileen Huang, 16, a high school student, patiently stood on a line behind five people waiting to order. "This place is pricier than other fast food places," said Huang. "And the wait to get your food is longer, even in off hours."
Huang ordered a hamburger and paid $3.65 at the service counter in the back of the restaurant. She picked up her order 12 minutes later.
"That took too long," said Huang, "as usual."
Joe's food is cooked to order - probably causing the extended wait. Joe's has taken the wait into account - next to the service counter, by the soda machine, is a red bench seat.
Joe's also has 16 flat screen televisions. Two by the service counter were set to CNN. The others displayed a continuing loop of Joe's logo and menu.
Most the restaurant contains seating - including a counter with stools at the entrance, many booths for two and four people, and loose tables and chairs. Customers dine in bright overhead fluorescent lighting. Built in mirrors wrap most of the seating area.
Joe's serves a variety of toppings for burgers - including cheese, onions, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes. But the staff doesn't always get the order right.
"I got bacon on my burger I didn't order," said Huang, "I wonder who's missing it?"
Joe's Bestburger is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Joe's Bestburger - 39-11 Main Street, Flushing; 718-445-8065
Next: Day Three - A French bakery?
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Day One - An Old Fashioned Pizza Parlor in Downtown Flushing
It's easy to find non-Asian food in downtown Flushing. Commercial fast food, that is. Steps from the entrance to the #7 train, just off the intersection of Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue, there's a McDonald's, a Burger King, Blmpie's and a KFC. Even a Starbucks.
But if you want home style cooking, there are few non-Asian options in downtown Flushing.
In the immediate vicinity of the subway is Barone Pizza, a small pizza parlor sandwiched between a souvenir shop and a newstand on Main Street - right next to the L.I.R.R. overpass.
My lunch partner, Stephen Kwan, 34, an attorney, said although he's been downtown innumberable times, "I've never knew this pizza parlor was here."
Barone's storefront is about 16 feet wide. There's a red awning with the restaurant's name on it. During summer, spring and fall, an Italian ices cart sits in front. A lone employee usually stands sentinel behind the cart, ready to scoop a variety of flavors.
Once inside, it's classic New York pizza parlor. A glass counter showcases pizzas with toppings of every variety, as well as Sicilian square pizzas, baked rolls and salads. Against the wall, there's a standard two-drawer pizza oven. Next to the oven there's a slowly turning spit with lamb and a windowed refrigerator with the words "Snapple" emblazoned on the side.
Barone Pizza opened in 1971. The owner, Joe Pace, 46, worked for the Barones, the original owners.
"I bought the place in 1976," he said, "now I'm the last of the Mohicans," (referring to the dwindling number of non-Asian restaurants in downtown Flushing.)
The place has nine tables in the back - to sit you have to slide in and out. Four of the tables only seat two people. The only windows are at the front. It's obvious the restaurant isn't designed for leisurely dining.
"We're open nine a.m. to one a.m. everyday," said Pace.
A slice of pizza is $2.25. The largest 18 inch regular pie costs $15.50. Barone's also serves heros, pasta dishes, gyros and even knishes.
"The regular slices were a bit thin on cheese," said Kwan. "But the price wasn't bad."
The menu advertises "100% all natural ingredients." The three countermen greeted customers enthusiastically and service was quick.
When asked if he had plans to sell the restaurant, Pace said he was paying college tuition for his two children. "It's about $40,000 a year for those schools," said Pace. "I'm going to be here awhile."
Barone Pizza - 40-27 Main Street, Flushing; 718-463-2218
Next: Day Two - An original hamburger joint on Main Street.
But if you want home style cooking, there are few non-Asian options in downtown Flushing.
In the immediate vicinity of the subway is Barone Pizza, a small pizza parlor sandwiched between a souvenir shop and a newstand on Main Street - right next to the L.I.R.R. overpass.
My lunch partner, Stephen Kwan, 34, an attorney, said although he's been downtown innumberable times, "I've never knew this pizza parlor was here."
Barone's storefront is about 16 feet wide. There's a red awning with the restaurant's name on it. During summer, spring and fall, an Italian ices cart sits in front. A lone employee usually stands sentinel behind the cart, ready to scoop a variety of flavors.
Once inside, it's classic New York pizza parlor. A glass counter showcases pizzas with toppings of every variety, as well as Sicilian square pizzas, baked rolls and salads. Against the wall, there's a standard two-drawer pizza oven. Next to the oven there's a slowly turning spit with lamb and a windowed refrigerator with the words "Snapple" emblazoned on the side.
Barone Pizza opened in 1971. The owner, Joe Pace, 46, worked for the Barones, the original owners.
"I bought the place in 1976," he said, "now I'm the last of the Mohicans," (referring to the dwindling number of non-Asian restaurants in downtown Flushing.)
The place has nine tables in the back - to sit you have to slide in and out. Four of the tables only seat two people. The only windows are at the front. It's obvious the restaurant isn't designed for leisurely dining.
"We're open nine a.m. to one a.m. everyday," said Pace.
A slice of pizza is $2.25. The largest 18 inch regular pie costs $15.50. Barone's also serves heros, pasta dishes, gyros and even knishes.
"The regular slices were a bit thin on cheese," said Kwan. "But the price wasn't bad."
The menu advertises "100% all natural ingredients." The three countermen greeted customers enthusiastically and service was quick.
When asked if he had plans to sell the restaurant, Pace said he was paying college tuition for his two children. "It's about $40,000 a year for those schools," said Pace. "I'm going to be here awhile."
Barone Pizza - 40-27 Main Street, Flushing; 718-463-2218
Next: Day Two - An original hamburger joint on Main Street.
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