I first heard about this over the weekend, but wanted to see what was up before I posted anything. But The Family Restaurant, a long-time favorite of many Forest Hillers, and one of the older restaurants along that stretch of Queens Blvd., looks like it has closed. It has been closed for several days now...
I think I went to it once, on the advice of a friend, after moving to Forest Hills. I found the food to be just okay, not good enough that I wanted to go back. In fact, I'm not positive, but I think this might be the first post I've ever done about them.
I think I went to it once, on the advice of a friend, after moving to Forest Hills. I found the food to be just okay, not good enough that I wanted to go back. In fact, I'm not positive, but I think this might be the first post I've ever done about them.
We used to get pizza from there and it was good.
ReplyDeleteI haven't eaten there in years, so I feel like I don't have the right to be upset. But still. Sad.
ReplyDeleteIt used to be very good. It got progressively worse after Mike, the original owner, died and his wife, who ran it successfully for quite a while, finally sold it. That was the end. Still said to see yet another piece of our history disappear.
ReplyDeleteWhen the food is so so and the prices are exhorbitant what do you expect.
ReplyDeleteWow that is a large space too. I hope something useful comes to this space, unlike that weird Sneaker store that is in the old bike store space. I never see people in there. ever.
ReplyDeleteSo true.
DeleteThere was always a musty odor there. The restaurant was at its peak some 20 years ago .
ReplyDeleteI went there once a looooong time ago. The food was about the equivalent of what you'd find in the frozen section at Key Food, but the portions were huge. I was never inspired to go back. If I really want bad Italian food, Mama Celeste is cheaper.
ReplyDeleteI ordered in from there once when my brother was over. Everything we ordered was terrible. Like embarrassingly bad. I live right nearby and never ordered from them or ate there again. Quite frankly, I'm happy they are closed. This area has enough decent Italian food. Hopefully, someone else will come in and open a decent restaurant.
ReplyDeleteFood was consistently terrific, service always very accommodating, & prices reasonable. Very sad to see this landmark establishment closing its doors and going the way of Danny Browns:(
ReplyDeleteThe sign on the door says it was seized by the Marshall and in possession by the landlord.
ReplyDeletethe place on the corner of Ascan and Queens BLVD should be next. I think it is called Portofino.
ReplyDeletePortofino is always packed. They have a Tuesday night buffet and its jam packed. I walk by that stretch all the time and Family Restaurant was not usually that busy but they had too big of a space to fill. Ovo Sodo is not usually that busy either but Portofino has mostly full tables when I pass by. Three Italian restaurants were not needed in a two block range - especially since there's plenty of other Italian options in the neighborhood as well. I am sorry that Just Like Mothers got evicted only to have Ovo Sodo come in. Ovo Sodo is fine but we just don't need more Italian there - especially since they also own Tuscan Hills down the block.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Family expanded many years ago(it actually expanded twice), its only competition was Portofino. The pizza was consistently great until just a few years ago. It's a shame.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Portofino. How is the food? On a scale of, say... The Family to Tuscan Hills?
ReplyDeleteThe pizza is pretty good! However, I can't really speak for the rest of their menu, bc that's all I ever order there.
DeletePortofino is laughably bad (the pizza notwithstanding). Family Restaurant was terrible. Ovo Sodo, which no one goes to, is great, however.
Deleteagree the food at Ovo Sodo is great and fresh. Wasn't thrilled with Tuscan Hills last nght. Portofino is worse then Olive Garden. Prime location for a good restaurant when it eventually closes - which shouldnt be long. We need a good chinese restaurant where you can sit and eat.
ReplyDeleteThere is one. East Ocean Palace is a few blocks away on QB
DeleteOcean palace has good dim sum. The rest of the food however I wouldn't want to eat again
DeleteI remember when the Family Restaurant was a one store pizzeria in the mid 70's I ate there many years later when it was a large restaurant and it was still good. So sad to see another landmark close.
ReplyDeleteYep, I remember that, too. Tiny little place. Owner started to sell meals (pasta) from the freezer--said his wife made them. Tasted great. Then they expanded...and expanded. I went there for 40 years. Sad to see it go, but the food just wasn't the same anymore.
DeleteSorry, but this place was the worst. Between the horrible food and the mediocre service, it was begging to go under. Nothing like being ignored by waiters in an empty restaurant. Two lousy Italian places down (Pasta del Giorno and this one)...a few more to go. Let's just pray the space doesn't become another Urgent Care!
ReplyDeleteThe food was terrific and plentiful. I loved the hot antipasto and the parmigiana dishes as well as the plentiful red clam sauce. The service was always attentive. The hostess was very gracious. If you did not order desert, she would have a piece of the most delicious rum cake brought to your table because "you need to have a sweet taste in your mouth after your meal." The staff would always bring over a after-dinner drink as well, on the house. The staff was always pleasant, and the Italian food was better than most in the area. i even wanted to bring my Italian grandmother there. Now that's saying something... It was a cozy place that will be sorely missed. I hope the nice staff have found good employment elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you. The hostess 's husband owned it. NICK.
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