Urgent Care for Your Teeth Coming to Forest Hills

Dental365, opening on Austin St., is described on its website as providing: "convenient, affordable and exceptional dental care 365 days a year. Dental365 operates numerous, immaculately maintained dental offices throughout the metropolitan New York area." The website says it is open seven days a week, accepts walk-ins and offers affordable care and financing options.

From Crepe to Crepe

For all those readers wondering why we can't just get another high-quality takeout place that makes normal awesome sandwiches, I so hear your pain. 

Why do all the takeout places that have been opening lately have to be so overly indulgent? What do they all think of us? That we're just a bunch of slobs? Is a place that just makes incredibly delicious, high-quality ingredient takeout sandwiches beyond our reach in Forest Hills?

Anyway, the Bubble Crepe place in the "Austin Street Mall Complex" is being replaced by... wait for it... another Crepe place. Hip, hip, hooray. I can't remember the last time I had a crepe.. and I don't stay up all night thinking about how much I'm looking forward to my next one, to tell you the truth. (I do stay up all night thinking about Nazi America Under Trump, though.)

Local Food Update

A couple of recent food experiences to share...

Agora Taverna

Is it just me, or has Agora Taverna on Austin St. gotten a lot better with time? The last couple of times I've been there (experiences stretched over several months) I've enjoyed what I've had both times. The latest: their grilled whole trout with lemon potatoes. I also had the hummus as an appetizer. Both were really good. And sitting outside the other evening for dinner in their extremely comfortable chairs made it that much more enjoyable. I have not been disappointed by this place recently, while my early experiences when it opened a couple of years ago were very hit or miss. I'm interested in hearing what other people think.

Agora's whole grilled trout (edited for those sensitive to the site of entire fishies).

Munch

What to make of Munch, the little eatery in the Austin St. "mall" ? I stopped in there the other day for a late snack/meal and left with one of their tuna fish hero sandwiches. It wasn't bad. But also kind of reminded me of the tuna fish I'd make myself at home, which isn't saying too much, though I am not the worst cook in the universe. It's an interesting place and I can't speak for all the food there—yet, since I've only had this one sandwich. But it was fine and a nice option to have for simpler, fast-food fare that isn't Chinese or Mexican in the 'hood. They have a variety of salads, burgers and other sandwiches. I posted their entire menu a while back.

Munch's tuna fish hero sandwich

Forest Hills' Gay Bar To Close

A reader sent me this from Pride Lounge's Facebook Page:

My good friends it has been a great journey I want to thank everyone for being great friends supporters to Pride lounge and me; I have really had a great experience and crazy parties, the LBGT community has been so great, thank you for supported me as a straight business man but unfortunately the spending and the register doesn't reach my goals so come and celebrate the last few days of Pride lounge; starting July 1 I am Changing the identity

New Restaurant: Munch

Here's the menu for this new casual / takeout place that opened in the 'Austin Street Mall.' Has anyone tried it yet?

El Coyote Opens

I know a lot of readers have been very eager to know when our newest Mexican restaurant was opening. Opening day was yesterday so you don't have to wait any longer! El Coyote is located in the upper level of the "Austin St. Mall" complex, where Garcia's used to be. And look, they even have a nice indoor palm tree...

Openings and Closings

Just some news from the past week while I was away:

- A reader spoke with the owner of the El Coyote Mexican restaurant, who says his new place in the Austin St. mall will be opening in about a month.

- @foresthills72 tweeted that Tuscan Hills' new place on Queens Blvd. will be called Ovosodo. I can't think of anything else in Forest Hills I am looking forward to more than the opening of this place (except to find out what the other concerts are at the Stadium this summer). Ovosodo will be going into the former Just Like Mother's space and is the place that will have Tuscan Hills' spectacular pizza and a variety of other foods.

Here's some details from the craigslist posting:
New restaurant in Forest hills looking for part time and full time employee.
Here are the position that we are looking for:
Line cook, Pizza man, dishwashers
Waiter, Waitress, busboy, Barista
Interview will be held Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at 
110-60 queens boulevard(between Ascan Ave and 73rd road)
Subway take the F train and use the 75th avenue stop
Bring your resume, No Phone Calls 
Ask for Marco or Roberto
The name of the Restaurant is Ovosodo, but we still have no Awning

- We lost what could have been an amazing cultural gem as a movie theater showing indie films like Kew Gardens Cinema does when Brandon Cinemas on Austin finally closed its doors, to be replaced by, joy, some type of medical clinic.

- And work began on turning the former Bike Shop on Queens Blvd. into what one reader says is going to be a sneaker and sportswear store.

New Mexican Restaurant Opening Soon

The signs have gone up for the new El Coyote Mexican restaurant where the former Garcia's used to be on the upper level of the Austin St. mall. This small chain has three other locations, two in Connecticut and one in nearby Jackson Heights. Really looking forward to trying them out. Thanks to @sgreen3 for tweeting me the photo.

Garcia's to Become Another Mexican Restaurant

The former Garcia's space, located at 70-09 Austin St., (third floor of the "Austin Street Mall"), will become the latest site of El Coyote, whose nearest restaurant is on Northern Blvd. in Jackson Heights. This small chain also has two other locations, in Monroe and Brookfield, Connecticut. The place has some pretty good reviews on Yelp. The food reviews seem to be very strong.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in this info this morning!

Garcia's Closes

The Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce sent out a tweet last night announcing that Garcia's Mexican Cafe, located on the second floor of the Austin Street 'Mall', has closed its doors after 25 years in business. My take is that the opening of Chipotle just across the street probably took away a lot of Garcia's business. The neighborhood just couldn't support so many Mexican food places and 5 Burro Cafe remains extremely popular (and quite excellent in my opinion). Now attention turns to what will take the place of Garcia's. It's a fantastic location for another restaurant, what with the outdoor seating and large space inside...

Still Open, and Closed

I found myself recently visiting the Austin Street "Mall" after quite a while away and it was interesting to note a couple of things:

Common Space is long gone, having been closed back in March for some reason by the Health Department. I never got a chance to eat or drink there, despite a quick visit one evening. I especially liked their nice outdoor space in the back. This would make a good space for another restaurant, or maybe that indie coffe place so many of us have been dreaming about. It even has the space outback which would be perfect! And, given its slot upstairs in the "Mall," I'm thinking it just might be a bit more affordable for some entrepreneur to make happen than a space right on ground level on Austin St.

And, despite some predictions to the contrary, it looks like Corfu Grill, the smaller Greek restaurant, is holding its own even though Agora Taverna opened just a few feet away. When Agora first opened, I had my doubts Corfu would survive very long. But I think part of the reason it may have is that Agora is so much pricier. And, I also wonder if a big part of the reason is that, sadly, Agora just isn't the amazing Greek restaurant so many of us had hoped for. Sure, some of its dishes are really good, especially when it comes to fish and seafood. But I have been super-disappointed by other entrees, such as chicken dishes. A bland, easily forgettable chicken kabob in a Greek restaurant? What?? How does that happen? When you're paying the prices Agora is charging, the food really should be worth it. Yes, it sure is a beautiful restaurant they built, no doubt about that. But if the food just isn't worth the price, I don't care how pretty the place is.

Openings and (Temporary) Closings

Looks like YogoMonster, in the Austin St. "Mall", is on a winter hiatus...

While there's some construction getting started next to the Midway Theater, the site of what we believe will be Gloria's Pizza (formerly of Flushing)...

Restaurant Update

Some local restaurant news and commentary:

• A few readers have asked me if I would post something about Oko, the frozen yogurt shop on Austin. I've been told that at this past weekend's street fair they were offering samples from of some new Korean food offerings. One reader wrote: "They were giving out samples on Sunday during the street fair and the items were *tasty*.  I think they provide a great service and their eco-friendly/all natural approach is enlightened." Another reader told me that this place has a variety of freshly made sandwiches and other foods (they were responding to one of my recent posts about the lack of a good place in town to get a really good, higher-end yet simple sandwich!). Anyway, I totally agree with these readers. I have always liked Oko. It is a very nice, modern-looking, clean place and the food I have had there has been quite good. I plan to go back and sample more of their food very soon. Thanks for writing in about them! 
• I recently tried the new Brownies & Cream store on Austin. I had two of their regular brownies and they also let me sample their ice cream. All of it was quite good. The brownies were quite enjoyable and I plan on going back again when I need my next fix. They had two home-made ice cream samples when I was there and the one I tried--I forget what it was--was excellent and I would definitely get it again. The woman behind the counter could not have been more friendly or helpful. This store is owned by a young, local couple who are just starting this new business. We need more like them in our neighborhood! If you get a chance, visit Brownies & Cream and give them a try!
• Also, some Austin St. Mall news: I've been told by readers that the make-your-own salad place Energy Green had the same owners as the former Tako Sushi. They had cut the storefront of Tako Sushi in half, tried Korean in the space, which didn't work, and then opened Energy Green. Anyway, as sad as I have been that Energy Green has closed, now comes news that the popular Sushi Yasu (formerly on Yellowstone Blvd.) has taken this space in the Mall. I haven't tried Sushi Yasu but hear fantabulous things about it. I can't wait to try it.