Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Marianella's Has Closed

Marianella's Taqueria, the Mexican restaurant / bar on 71st Continental Ave. closed down Monday night.

26 comments:

  1. That place looked gross and every time I read a review, it was a bad one. Chipotle should open in its place.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I completely agree, but how about a Shake Shack instead? of Chipotle?

    ReplyDelete
  3. It WAS bad and when we gave them a second chance, they were still rude and unaccomodating like the first time.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Agreed. I'd love a Shake Shack, but the space is to small.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Shake Shack wouldn't do well near Mcdonalds. On and around Austin St. only the cheap chains have the most financial success: McDonalds, Boston Market, Dunkin Donuts, Johnny Rockets, Fridays, etc. Put a Taco Bell up in this Marianella space and it would do great. While many FH residents say they want better, more sophisticated food, the truth of the matter is that they won't put their money where the mouth is and will always support cheap eats. Another example is the 7-11 and red mango coming to the former OTB space, more low cost snacks.

    Look at the success of Fayda bakery near the dirty T-Bone diner, that $1.10 cup of coffee gets customers in the door like moths to a flame! And why not? I'm all for saving money in any way possible as the majority in FH are frugal too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your comment is just wrong, bordering on moronic. I can name numerous higher-end restaurants and stores on both Austin St. and Metropolitan. Here's some words of advice: open your door, take a step, turn around, close it, turn around again, walk outside, open your eyes.

      Delete
    2. There is a point to Anonymous's comment. I've lived in the hood since 99 and I can see that many places that are more expensive, independent places just don't do as well as the chains. It's sad, but true. As much as I'd like to think the people in FH are more receptive to newer types of food, etc, there's still this "suburban" like attitude.

      Delete
    3. Um, I don't see the point, no. First of all, the very premise that all chains are cheap, for one thing, is just plain wrong. I regularly spend like $12 at Chipotle, just for a burrito and a soda. That's cheap? I doubt Red Mango is cheap considering you will be paying upwards of $5 probably for what amounts of a very light meal or really dessert or a snack. I don't think that's cheap. Key Food - that's cheap, all around. Taco Bell - cheap, yes.
      The moronic part of the comment above is the broad generalization about Forest Hillers and what they want to spend their money and how they spend it. Just because one person doesn't like to spend money, doesn't make that the case for everyone in this neighborhood. Far from it. Just walk along Austin St. and Metropolitan - and the nearby streets. Geez, you can't even get good chinese food in Forest Hills without paying upwards of $20. I mean GOOD chinese food, like at Mocha and Jade. I would hardly call that cheap. And those places do really well. And don't get me started again on the newer places that have come into the neighborhood, like Bareburger and La Boulangerie (which I regularly drop almost $20 a pop at when I go into). Hardly call that cheap.

      Delete
    4. I think the broader, more important point here is that until very recently, the quality of the eatery offerings in Forest Hills was sorely lacking. Cheap, as you called it, has dominated the scene. Finally, some more higher quality places are starting to open.
      There's room for both in FoHi. Why shouldn't there be? As you can see from the chart on household incomes I posted, this is a broad community with many different income levels. That's one of the things that makes it so interesting—like many other neighborhoods in NYC.
      I would just like to see some better quality food come into the neighborhood. We definitely could use a Chipotle. A good Mexican take out place we are definitely in need of.
      I'd also like to see a creative, more upscale diner-type restaurant where you can get anything from salads and sandwiches to fish, burgers, brunch, breakfast, etc.

      Delete
    5. YES TO CHIPOTLE!!!!

      Delete
  6. crossing queens blvdJune 13, 2012 at 9:44 AM

    If you're going to assert, "the majority in Forest Hills are frugal", an economic study conducted by a research firm hired by Helen Marshall's office says otherwise.

    13% of Forest Hills residents are frugal,
    15% are cheap,
    40% spend money with reckless abandon, and
    32% live comfortably within their means

    ReplyDelete
  7. I never ate there but it looked like a fast food restaurant and not a comfortable place to have dinner and drinks.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I knew it would close in less than 18 months before it even opened.

    ReplyDelete
  9. chipolte will open on the site of the former martha's / austin jeans. you heard it here, first.

    as for marianella's, well, they needed to pick an audience. were they a bar? were they a take out joint? were they a place in which the local kids could hang out after school? did you want to dine in? you decide. being everything to everyone was a detriment. oh and the food SUCKED. can't forget that.

    dumbjockinnyc@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. chipolte will open on the site of the former martha's / austin jeans. you heard it here, first.

    as for marianella's, well, they needed to pick an audience. were they a bar? were they a take out joint? were they a place in which the local kids could hang out after school? did you want to dine in? you decide. being everything to everyone was a detriment. oh and the food SUCKED. can't forget that.

    dumbjockinnyc@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I went to to Marianellas early on..and knew it would close. The place was awful. Like others said, was it a bar, a restaurant, fast food? It could not decide. The service was the pits, worse than fast food places. The food...THE WORST. BAD. So glad they closed.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I went there once, early on. The food was not fresh, which is crazy for a place that just opened. I mean, when you start off going downhill, not a good sign! By the way, there was a taco bell on the cheaper side of town, across from Parker towers and that closed. The Wendy's on 71st closed as well. So much for the theory that you can stick any cheap chain in this hood. Yet over priced lorill jewelers (yes, diamond district is a better buy than that place) somehow still exists. Go figure.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Not sure what someone will put in that space next.

    Doesn't matter though.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I loved the idea of a Taqueria, just not Marianella's. It would be great to have a quality Taqueria in the neighborhood.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The service there was so bad and the food looked no so fresh - I agree a chipotle would be great and I bet it would be packed

    ReplyDelete
  16. We would also love a Taqueria or a Shake Shack..but no way Shake Shack is coming to a neighborhood like FH..That small quality chain tends to stick to hip areas.

    I think the reason people on this blog think cheap eats is what people want is because whenever something new opens(hello bareburger) people cry about the prices. I have even seen people cry about the prices of their beloved Gloria on yelp

    Obviously we all want affordable food but we also want GOOD food and options..I think things in the neighborhood are slowly getting better though..please no more frozen yogurt though ;)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I would LOVE Shake Shack, but I don't see it happening. I feel like they'd go to Astoria before coming to Forest Hills.

    We really could have used a good burrito place though, which is why it's a shame that Marianellas was so bad. Chipotle should go in there, and if my dreams come true, Shake Shack can go someplace else. It's not like there's no empty stores on Austin Street. Take your pick!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. The place was a weird setup. It felt like a fast food with an uninviting bar.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Any more news on Chipotle going in the old Martha space?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was told Chipotle has no plans as of now to come into Forest Hills. They are interested in the neighborhood, but nothing is set in stone.

      Delete