Recommended Area Restaurants

Updated February 26, 2023

  • 5 Burro Cafe One of the best restaurants in Forest Hills with nachos that are sublime, just for starters. Everything here is phenomenal. In the mood for some lighter Mexican fare? Try their grilled chicken salad -- quite excellent!
  • Aged Forest Hills' upscale steakhouse on the neighborhood's popular Restaurant Row.  Also has one of the best brunches in town on the weekends.
  • Austin House Diner Reliably good diner food. I'd pick it as the best diner in the Forest Hills area. I usually have just the basics - sandwiches, salads, etc.
  • Bangkok Cuisine Excellent Thai food. A beautiful place, great, friendly service and terrific food – what more could you ask for?
  • Bareburger Healthier burger fare that has rapidly become kind of a New York staple. They are constantly working hard at their menu, always mixing it up and trying new things. A fun place for the whole family, and you won't feel guilty! What's not to like? 
  • Cabana I stumbled upon Cabana's stall at a Forest Hills street fair. I immediately fell in love with their beef and chicken empanadas and their rice and beans. These were so exceptional, I just had to add the place to this page -- without having actually eaten at their Restaurant Row restaurant. That's an oversight I will correct asap. 
  • The Cottage Bar Restaurant Formerly The famed Irish Cottage, it reopened during the pandemic with new management. I've only tried a couple of things but they were great - and they now offer delivery. 
  • El Pollo Inka Peru This Peruvian restaurant on Queens Blvd. serves some of the best chicken, rice and beans you can find in the area. And, by the way, their avocado salad is simple, yet sublime. 
  • Dani's House of Pizza This local Kew Gardens favorite has quite possibly the best pizza you will eat anywhere on God's Green Earth. What else can I say?
  • Dee's Awesome pizza, pasta and everything else Italian. Always crowded and lively, one of the best overall family restaurants on Metropolitan Ave.
  • Gotta Getta Bagel The best place to go for bagels and all the fixings in Forest Hills. 
  • Jade Eatery & Lounge Indo – Asian food in a stylish, chic setting. One of the coolest-looking restaurants in Forest Hills. Also has outdoor seating overlooking lovely Station Square!
  • King Wok Kitchen Looks like your standard Chinese food takeout place, but everything I've had from this tiny place on Ascan is just excellent. My always reliable go-to place for delivery or takeout Chinese food here in Forest Hills.  
  • La Boulangerie A touch of France in Forest Hills. An authentic French bakery/cafe with all the touches you'd expect, from the wooden communal table, to excellent coffee, breads and croissants. And you can watch the bread being baked through glass windows as you soak in all the French ambiance. They also expanded into preparing some excellent sandwiches crepes and salads as well. Magnifique!
  • Martha's Country Bakery  Loud and bustling (pre-pandemic) extremely indulgent and high caloric :) NYC bakery offering cupcakes galore and every cake on Earth. 
  • Memories of Shanghai Awesome dim sum offerings for those wanting a more authentic take on Chinese food. Their menu recently expanded with a move to a bigger space on Austin St.
  • Moca Asian Bistro I recommend you try their boneless B.B.Q spare ribs – sensational! According to the menu, they are marinated & prepared for over 24 hours. And it shows.
  • Nick's Pizza To-die-for pizza. One of the best pizza places in the city, simple as that. And guess what? They now deliver. Would you believe it??
  • OBA Mediterranean Gyro & Grill 
  • OBA Mediterranean Gyro & Grill Recently opened grill in an inviting, open space at the corner of Forest Hills' famous Restaurant Row (70th Road) and Austin Street. 
  • Pahal Zan Looks like a hole-in-the-wall but don’t be fooled – terrific falafel and Israeli food. And friendly service to boot.
  • Pizza Classica I debated whether to include Pizza Classica on the list. Their all-encompassing Italian menu is simply sublime. But, why in the world do they not deliver to anyone north of Queens Blvd.? It's an old-school gem, with an old-school delivery attitude to boot! Just an editorial note: Many of us don't own cars in Forest Hills. Expand your delivery --- Please!
  • Portofino One of the oldest Italian restaurants in Forest Hills. Their general offerings are just ok, especially compared with some of the newer places in town. I still like their pizza, though. 
  • Red Pipe Organic Cafe One of Forest Hills' two independent coffee shops, located smack dab in the middle of bustling Austin Street. Last I checked they also had a wide selection of veggie-based food offerings.
  • Station House  Sensational bar, which also happens to have some of the best food in Forest Hills. Located on 71st/Continental Ave. across from the Long Island Railroad Station entrance. They recently started offering delivery during the pandemic.
  • Tuscan Hills Probably the best Italian restaurants in Forest Hills. And they recently moved closer to central Forest Hills, now right around the corner from Ascan on Queens Blvd. 


Kevin kevinmahony22@gmail.com 2010/08/31 at 4:20 PM
  1. Dee’s
  2. Jade
  3. Dirty Pierre’s
  4. Danny Browns
  5. Alberto’s
Other considerations:
  • Diners – Do Jewish people really live in Forest Hills? We need some diners that don’t double as a Board of Health teaching facility.
  • Pizzeria – I love brick oven pizza, but once in a while you need a good Brooklyn style Neapolitan Pizza. AJ’s is great by the slice, but as a pie doesn’t travel well. Other slice places on/near Austin are horrible. Mazarro on Metropolitan is good.
  • Steak – I’ve eaten at AGED about five times, the food and service is good. But, for their prices, get in the car and go to Peter Luger for an experience.
  • Fish – London Lennie’s. I wish this was my restaurant.




    Susan
    susannyny@gmail.com
    2010/08/28 at 4:09 PM
    My top places to eat in Forest Hills include:
    1. Sushi Yasu (71-45 Yellowstone Blvd). Hands down the best sushi in the neighborhood and it beats out most sushi places I’ve eaten at in general. Fish is extremely fresh and well prepared. Service can be slow but you can leave very well satisfied for < $30.
    2. Dirty Pierre (15 Continental Ave). A truly FABULOUS burger and fries. Another local neighborhood joint that I find on par if not better with many of the well reviewed burger places in NYC.
    3. Tuscan Hills (115-20 Queens Blvd). Finally, really good Italian food in Forest Hills. Service is fabulous and the owner, Roberto, is a gem. I'm a big fan of their pizza (makes for a great appetizer for two) but truth is, I've yet to be disappointed with any of the dishes, including those on the brunch menu (how come there aren't more places to enjoy a good brunch in Forest Hills?)
    4. Danny Browns (104-02 Metropolitan Ave). We need more wine bars with fabulous food in Forest Hills. I love the cured meats & cheese platters and they make a mean steak frites for a very reasonable $25. I still need to try DBs Brunch.
    5. 5 Burro (72-05 Austin St Queens). Down and dirty tex mex that is still a good value for the money. You also can't beat the margarita's.
    6. Forest Hills Diner (68-60 Austin St). I wish more people would take the trek down Austin street to eat at this place (versus Austin diner, which has more health violations than I care to think about). The owners are lovely and the food is leaps and bounds better than the other diners in the neighborhood.
    7. Hot Bialy's and Bagels (116-63 Queens Boulevard). Real, fabulous New York bialy's and bagels. Enough said.
    I also want to add, for those of you who are willing to take a short subway ride to LIC, you won't be disappointed with the Rudar Club (34-01 45th Street). This is an Istrian restaurant that I find myself going back to time and time again. The service is gracious, the food is rustic, Istrian home cooking and the price point makes you feel as if you're under-paying for all the food you are served!

    Anonymous
    2010/08/27 at 12:34 AM
    Has anyone tried Wafa on 72nd Ave off Metropolitan Ave? They have authentic Mediterranean food and their Falafels are out of this world. They do deliver!

    JCA
    godmothersupreme@yahoo.com
    2010/08/27 at 8:03 AM
    Wafa is excellent and sooo fresh!



    JCA
    godmothersupreme@yahoo.com
    2010/08/22 at 12:25 PM
    My top haunts (as a family and also a couple):

    1. 5 Burros on Austin St – aMAZing Margaritas, great Mexican food, fab juke box. It can get VER-y crowded and wait time is ri-DIC-ulous after 7 PM but that just proves how popular a place it is. I can sit at the bar and nurse a Margarita for hours…
    2. Bonfire Grill on Austin St – great food and great drink menu. Simple as that!
    3. Cheeburger! Cheeburger! on Qns Blvd – great for taking daughter and her friends. Multiple owners and as 1 or 2 are always there working, the service is terrific. Wednesday night is FREE face-painting and balloon art. (These 2 artists are just that: artistes! I have hired them for events.) If you’re hungry and don’t have kids with you, the wait time for a Wed night table is not worth it. Families camp out while waiting for their freebies.
    4. Bangkok Cuisine in Forest Hills Station – top notch adult dining. Pricey so not great for bringing kids but great for impressing your Manhattanite friends who dare(!) to pooh-pooh living outside of their island.
    5. A.J.’s Pizza on Austin St – good, quick slice-aria. Big screen T.V.s keep you entertained if you need to be.


    Wayno2424
    2010/07/15 at 1:34 PM
    Top Five Forest Hills Restaurants
    1. Dee’s — The menu looks like a diner menu at times but damn if Dee know’s how to make all of em good good good!
    2. Nick’s Pizza — Best pizza in Fohi, some of the best in NYC.
    3. Danny Brown’s — great wine list, great service, great food. The cheese/meat boards are nothing to write home about but the entrees are fannnnntastic.
    4. Cabana — Some of the best latin infused food in NYC
    5. Dirty Pierre’s — Best Pub food in Fohi and sometimes thats all I want
    Honorable Mention Da Silvana, Il Poeta, Alberto’s, Cheeburger, Five Guys, 5 Burro, Forest Hills Diner (so much better than Tower)




48 comments:

  1. I like Susan's list quite a bit as well as Wayno's.
    Danny Brown's is fantastic

    Dirty Pierre's as well

    for sushi it is Yasu followed closely by Katsuno on Metro (MUCH better ambience here as well).

    Nick's Bistro has been excellent the 3 times we've been and better than our recent trips to Astoria.

    Very sad that Q is closing - many memories there and always loved the ambience.

    Jade is fine imo but not THAT special unless it's a beautiful day and you get to sit outside.

    Nick's Pizza never disappoints after all of these years; however, Lillian's is the best for less formal, take-out/delivery.

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  2. Hope my top 5 local restaurants might be helpful.

    Favorite new restaurant- Exo Cafe-(Austin St) Food is great, their prices, especially during Happy Hour are amazing and the craft beer selection is perfect. The owners and staff are especially welcoming!

    Favorite Greek restaurant- Nick's Bistro (Met Ave)- The platters for $12 are perfect! Always a perfect meal, every time we go there.

    Favorite Italian restaurant- La Piccola Italia (Met Ave-formerly La Terrazza)- Wonderful personal pizzas, delicious salads and excellent entrees. Owner & staff always give us a warm welcome!

    Favorite Chinese/Asian Fusion restaurant-
    Moca Asian Bistro (70th Restaurant Row)- All the food is amazing and beautifully presented. Decor is lovely and the staff are very helpful and friendly.

    Favorite Bakery- Martha's Country Bakery (Austin St) Something delicious to suit every taste. The sweetest oasis in Austin St!

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    1. A few more to add to the list, in case they're helpful:

      Favorite Pub Grub: The Irish Cottage (72nd Ave)- Irish soda bread, fish & chips, burgers... their food is delicious and the drinks are perfect!

      Favorite Bread bakery: La Boulangerie (72nd Road)-The most delicious French bread, pastries and coffee, all served up with warmth from the owner and staff!

      Favorite Japanese restaurant: Midori-Matsu (Queens Blvd@ 75th Ave)- Very entertaining to watch the hibachi chefs in action! Their Sushi & Bento boxes are also excellent.

      Favorite Polish restaurant: Just Like Mother's (Queens Blvd@Ascan)- Delicious soup, potato pancakes, blintzes... all the comfort food you could ask for!

      Favorite Spanish restaurant: El Pollo Inka Peru (Queens Blvd@75th Rd) Excellent Peruvian food at a great price.

      Favorite Sweet treats: Brownies & Cream (Austin St)
      & Eddie's Sweet Shoppe (Met Ave@72 Rd), will be able to fulfill any person's sweet tooth!

      Other excellent choices are: Bonfire Grill and Cabana

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    2. Not a fan of Exo. $12 martini was watery. Bartender was too busy eating a bowl of noodles at the bar as well.

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    3. I'll have to second you on El Pollo Inka Peru...the chicken is out of this world! They have sangria and wine by the bottle, but I think it's still BYOB as well! $10/whole chicken...can't beat it.

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  3. I think that one of the most authentic but great japanese places is katsuno on metro. Unassuming and easy tomiss and prices are on the higher end. Food quality is superb though. I think if prices were more competitive it could be much better. Trust me as this is coming from a japanese.

    Cabana is one of my favorites too! Awesome food esp the paella. A bit cramped and no reservations I believe but worth the wait!

    Nicks pizza is great but I also really like arianas too! Especially since ariana delivers.

    As everybody had mentioned agora is excellent and glad to see outdoor seating! forest hills needs more of those seats!

    I would love to see some variety though...

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  4. A note about Martha'sbakery - Iwas recently invited to a family celebration - cakes and cookies galore but the ver first thing to go - the turuoise mini cup cakes from Martha's Bakery. Obviously they should make more turquoise bakedgoods. A smashing success!

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  5. Went to aged brunch a couple of weekends ago and it seems like the recently changed up the menu. I was quite disappointed to find half of the old menu items missing. I was with a large group of people and the service was awful. Very slow and the food came out cold. Used to be a great brunch place but not sure I'll be going back anytime soon.

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  6. Nice. Things can change in 2 years, so I'm going to refresh my list a bit as well:

    My top places to eat in Forest Hills include:

    Sushi Yasu (71-45 Yellowstone Blvd). Hands down the best sushi in the neighborhood and it beats out most sushi places I’ve eaten at in general. Fish is extremely fresh and well prepared. Service can be slow but you can leave very well satisfied for < $30.

    Update: Yasu has since moved across from Barnes & Noble on Austin Street, the prices are a bit higher, and the plates not quite a "pretty" (Yasu had to bring in help, so some of the artistry is lost). Nevertheless, the sushi is as good as ever!


    Dirty Pierre (15 Continental Ave). A truly FABULOUS burger and fries. Another local neighborhood joint that I find on par if not better with many of the well reviewed burger places in NYC.

    Update: I still consider Dirty Pierre's the best burger in Queens, but in all fairness, I still haven't tried Bare Burger.


    Tuscan Hills (115-20 Queens Blvd). Finally, really good Italian food in Forest Hills. Service is fabulous and the owner, Roberto, is a gem. I'm a big fan of their pizza (makes for a great appetizer for two) but truth is, I've yet to be disappointed with any of the dishes, including those on the brunch menu (how come there aren't more places to enjoy a good brunch in Forest Hills?)


    Danny Browns (104-02 Metropolitan Ave). We need more wine bars with fabulous food in Forest Hills. I love the cured meats & cheese platters and they make a mean steak frites for a very reasonable $25. I still need to try DBs Brunch.

    Update: I think D&Bs stopped serving brunch a while back. It's still a #1 choice for a nice dinner in the neighborhood in my book. With that said, I'm excited about Jack & Nellie's, which should soon be opening in the old "Q" space. It will be a beer and wine bar featuring charcuterie and small chef plates. Exciting!


    5 Burro (72-05 Austin St Queens). Down and dirty tex mex that is still a good value for the money. You also can't beat the margarita's.

    Update: There is no update. Nothing really ever changes at 5 Burro, which is a good thing in my book.


    Wafa's (NEW) (100-05 Metropolitan Ave). As good as all the press it's received over the past year + (NY Times, New York Magazine). If you like Middle Eastern food, this may be amongst the best in NYC. Yes, I said it and it shouldn't really surprise anyone. This IS Queens, land of great ethnic restaurants!!


    La Boulangerie (NEW) 109-01 72nd Avenue). Francois makes what has to be one of the best baguettes in the city. While great for the bread and pastries, I still have a few gripes about this place in terms of (1) the counter service, which was downright bad when they first opened, and is still very much lacking, (2) the lack of menu items ala a Le Pain Quotiden, (3) the lack of a restroom.

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  7. Restaurants no longer part of my "best" list:

    Forest Hills Diner (68-60 Austin St). I wish more people would take the trek down Austin street to eat at this place (versus Austin diner, which has more health violations than I care to think about). The owners are lovely and the food is leaps and bounds better than the other diners in the neighborhood.

    Update: There were some ownership issues and IMO, once George and his wife left, so did the quality of food. It's a shame that we really don't have even a decent diner option within a 10 block radius.


    Hot Bialy's and Bagels (116-63 Queens Boulevard). Real, fabulous New York bialy's and bagels. Enough said.

    Update: I haven't gone in a while and according to my neighborhood, Hot Bialiy's and Bagels changed ownership and with that change so goes the recipe.

    For those who are mobile:

    I also want to add, for those of you who are willing to take a short subway ride to LIC, you won't be disappointed with the Rudar Club (34-01 45th Street). This is an Istrian restaurant that I find myself going back to time and time again. The service is gracious, the food is rustic, Istrian home cooking and the price point makes you feel as if you're under-paying for all the food you are served!

    Update: I still highly recommend the train trip to the Rudar Club!!


    Tortilleria Nixtamal (NEW) (104-05 47th Ave, Corona). If you have a car, GO. I first heard of this place while watching Diner, Drive Ins and Dives. It's everything it's cracked up to be. The taco's are OUTSTANDING, and if you're a cook, grab yourself a 1 lb order of fresh corn tortilla's to go (they freeze wonderfully). You can share an order of guacamole, have 3 tacos and a Corona all for $20. It's a steal.

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  8. I am obsessed with Agora, I think I have been there everyday for the last 3 weeks. Fresh, healthy and amazing service!

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  9. My list: : )
    Danny Brown's

    Taci's (on Metro. Great Turkish food)

    Dirty Pierre's

    Jade Eatery

    5 Burro Cafe

    Moca

    Bangkock Thai

    Pahal Zan

    Dani's Pizza (THE BEST!!)

    Tuscan Hills

    Martha's Bakery (amazing red velvet cupcakes - they are 100% better than Magnolia's. Trust me!)

    Fuji Sushi (On Queens Blvd)

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    1. +1 for DANI's HOUSE OF PIZZA (THE BEST!!!)

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  10. PEOPLE: ignore the orig post and stick to the reader suggestions. Santa Fe is god awful and so is Portofino's.

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  11. Does anyone have gluten-free recommendations for someone with Celiac's (must avoid gluten at all costs, including cross-contamination)?

    Bareburger is excellent at accommodating this, and Chipotle's generally works well. Boston Market works too. We used to go to Cheeburger for their salads until we found a crouton in it even after we told the manager several times. Eating out is always difficult but hopefully you have suggestions!
    Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Not sure about other restaurants, but Natural has a pretty big selection i think.

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  12. Dirty Pierre’s SUCKS. I never even got to eat there because after an hour and many questions, our food never came. We just ended up getting up and leaving and going to Uno's.

    My top 5 are:
    1) Nick's Pizza. One of the best in NYC, not just Forest Hills.
    2) Bonfire. Wine Cellar was great, and this place is better + better decor.
    3) UNOs. Yeah, it's a chain, but the wait staff is really fun, and they have reliably good food and long hours that are great for late-night people.
    4) Santa Fe. They have a big menu and the wooden booths and enormous sizes are fun.
    5) Bangkok Cuisine. I had to give it a second try, but I was happy with it. The staff includes some really good-looking servers, but they kind of are douchebags when you have an allergy.

    The diners are all depressing. Austin House's food is just poor every time I go there. Just Like Mother's has decent food but seriously needs a decor update. T-Bone is just frightening.

    I'll mention that the soup and salad place that was on a side street (72nd Rd) across from the church was quite good, but they were kind of annoying insofar as they were never open when I went there -- every time they had catering to do, they closed shop. They also were very slow in their service. So I am not surprised they failed even though the food was awesome.

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    1. Dirty Pierre's sucks, and UNO's has "reliably good food"? I am not even sure what to think here.

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  13. There's a new and excellent Turkish restaurant called Roka on Metro between FH and Kew Gardens. Tu Casa on Metro at Lefferts is excellent and cheap (rotisserie chicken a specialty).
    Why is Martha's so popular? I prefer baked goods made with butter...

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  14. Walked by Common Space yesterday and their health inspection rating was "C"! I thought that was only reserved for Gray's Papaya. Their service, ambience and food was lacking and now hopefully they will clean up their act or close for good!

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  15. Gloria's Pizza on Queens Blvd (next to the Midway Theatre) is AMAZING. Great by the slices and pies for take out, overall an awesome local pizzeria. I don't understand how people can eat the crap at AJ's with Gloria's around the corner. I went to AJ's the 4th of July since Gloria's was closed, the pizza was dry and stale, horrible cheese, almost no sauce, the slice had almost no taste. Just disgusting.

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  16. Seriously? I've actually seen people refuse to pay for or even eat the runny slop that passes for pizza at Gloria. Awful food at insane prices. And when you order a simple eggplant hero, you shouldn't get home to find a meatball hero instead. Especially when you're a vegetarian. :-p

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    1. I reserve arguing with what restaurants people like or dislike since everyone's tastes are different. But your comment is so completely different from my own personal experiences with Gloria that I simply cannot let it pass. The members of my household all love Gloria. It has quickly become our favorite pizza place in Forest Hills. In fact, we think it is amazing pizza, and we consider ourselves pretty good pizza connoisseurs. The pizza we have gotten there—too many times to count at this point—has never been runny at all, by the way. You either have some kind of personal vendetta against them, or perhaps you're the owner of another business in our neighborhood that for some reason feels threatened by them, or you had one bad experience there, which is not out of the realm of possibility when it comes to any restaurant. If that is the case, I recommend you give them another try. Gloria Pizza has quickly become one of the indispensable businesses in Forest Hills. And I don't say that lightly. I have rarely had pizza this good, anywhere.

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    2. I second that! Gloria's is amazing and I've been on long lines to get a slice so I'm not alone in thinking this. The above poster must own AJ pizza

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  17. I'm surprised no one has mentioned Pampas Argentinas on Metropolitan. The steak and variety far surpass that of Aged or any other place serving steak in the neighborhood plus the atmosphere with the fountains and skylight is just so inviting.

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    1. Yes, I second this- it's one of the best restaurants in the neighborhood.

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    2. I LOVE this place! The steak and avocado salads are absolutely delicious! I nearly cried when the Takeout Connection closed because now there is no delivery. :(

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  18. New York Live just did a cute little segment on Eddie's Sweet Shop! : )

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  19. My favorites are:

    1) Wafa's - hands down the best food in the area. Great value and fresh food. Incredible specials and good wine/beer list, BYOB on Wed.

    2) Dirty Pierre's- Great food and fun place. The muscles are to die for. Only downside is it is a very small place so waiting may be required.

    3) Uvarara (in Middle Village) http://www.uvararany.com/
    The best wine list in the area, excellent food and facility. Totally worth the trip.

    4) 5 Burro's - GREAT Mexican food. Only drawback is it gets very busy and the workers can be "difficult" sometimes.

    5) Mint Thai - great food, value and BYOB

    6) Sushi Akio - GREAT very fresh sushi and BYOB. Downside is it is very small, and no real décor.


    Special mention:

    Nicks Pizza - good pizza, but they wanted to charge extra for grated chest. %#$^#$% that.

    Exo Café - good food and prices, but I cant stand the music volume and it is just too bright and sterile feeling in there.

    Common - this place is just aweful. Beans that taste like tomato sauce. Once and done.

    Bonfire Grill - not sure...some people love it, some people don't. I just cant decide on this one lol.

    Irish Cottage - really good for burgers and fried food only. Everything else is overpriced and inconsistent.

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  20. Il Poeta on Metropolitan is not mentioned that often, but excellent. It is a bit off the beaten path. Their desserts are outstanding as well...well made and not too sweet.

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  21. You need to expand your radius. Forest Hills has this whole other restaurant district on Metropolitan Avenue which is completely ignored here, with the exception of Dee's.

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    1. Wafa's is on my list. I just recently went to new Dirty Pierre's expansion, The Other Place, but the food and overall establishment was just ok. I won't be adding it to this list—at this point anyway. Other places I've been to down there, including Italian restaurants, Japanese, and Greek, were also just ok, won't be adding them to the list at this point. I do like the new Turkish place and want to go back again. Which do you recommend I try specifically?

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    2. How come you don't have Danny Brown's on this list? Best restaurant in FoHi.

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    3. So I've heard. One reason: Price. When I want to spend that much I've been going to Manhattan. But I will eventually get to it. I only put places I've tried and like a lot on my list. It's not a list based on other people's reviews or experiences.

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  22. Katsuno's Japanese restaurant on Metro is great

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  23. Great collections of restaurant!! I am looking for the best birthday restaurants NYC where I can celebrate my mom’s birthday. Can you suggest which place will be the best for birthday party?

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  24. Nice collection list of restaurant. The Bagel Emporium is the best an award winning Bagel Restaurant in New York. Add this your restaurant list.

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  25. As a foodie, gotta say, pretty unimpressed with the Forest Hills restaurant scene. Wafa's is the only one I recommend, so far. Eddie's for sweet nostalgia and an old fashioned Sunday. Beyond that, I head to Astoria or Jackson Heights or back to Manhattan/Brooklyn. I can't even find a good, hot bagel that floats my boat. And the coffee shop, Red Pipe, lovely people, but not of the caliber of anything like the good stuff in Manhattan. La Boulangerie baguettes hit the spot. I'm not asking to become Manhattan but I think a few more good spots, would be welcome.

    And while we're at it, bike lanes please and a not so bald (tree-wise) Queens Boulevard could certainly help me appreciate it a bit more. Walking out into green is a nice thing (Forest Hills Park is lovely. I wish it were bigger)...Maybe Forest Hill is just not for me. Don't try to talk me into the restaurants other mentioned above. I respect your choice. Been to most of them and they just don't hit the mark. I wish I could "curate" Austin Street.

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    1. As a native New Yorker that makes me a naturally "foodie," as you put it. I don't put these restaurants up there lightly. I have a simple rule for what I list on this page: if the food is great. This page is due for an update since I haven't done that in a while and places ebb and flow, but if a restaurant is on this page, it is good. I have been to puhlenty of places in Manhattan that were God awful, just inedible. Just because a place is on that island doesn't make it any better than what we have here in Forest Hills. I agree that we can use a lot more good places here - but the food at Nick's, Tuscan Hills, Jack and Nellie's, Banter, just to name a few, are equal to what I find at most of the places I go to in Manhattan.

      By the way, I have been to some of the most expensive restaurants in the city over the years. Sometimes, like in the case of Tao, the price is worth it. A lot of times, you're just paying for the "name." Some of the best food I have ever eaten are at places where the entree costs maybe $12.

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  26. Banter is now on my recommended list--for burgers...they are generous in size...and the fries are homemade! Very good...I also like Agora for Greek, but will try Nick's on Metrop. Avenue. 5 Burros never disappoints for a quick tex/mex fix, and recently went to Bangkok cuisine and enjoyed it very much...service was very attentive and friendly too. What Austin Street needs is a Spanish restaurant that serves paella and tapas, along with a cute little wine and cheese place.

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  27. What about Munch? Their sandwiches snd wings are to die for!

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  28. I'm really sorry we lost Danny Brown's, and now the Family Restaurant on QB is gone. Okay, their food was classic old school Italian, but sometimes you want that. Now that huge place is closed. What could go in there? For me, the perfect choice would be Pain Quotidien.

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  29. Keuka cafe is an excellent wine bar owned by a lovely local couple. Menu changes seasonally. Very classy and well run establishment.

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  30. Keuka cafe is a wonderful wine bar run by a lovely local couple. Great food and extensive wine selection. A must visit.

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  31. I would definitely add Keuka Kafe and Katsuno.

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  32. How about LaVigne and Il Poeta on Metro as well?

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  33. Ye Gods! You've never been to Il Poeta!!!???? Their clams and mussels appetizer with crostini? Even their simply wonderful roasted chicken with roasted potatoes?

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