Former Bonfire Grill Location

Thanks to Stacey for tweeting this photo. Carved in concrete outside the door of where Bonfire Grill used to be:

Queens Boulevard—The Next Foodie Zone?

It seems like the blocks along Queens Blvd. are starting now to mimic what's been happening down on Metropolitan Ave. with all the new restaurants opening. And it makes perfect sense—they're probably a lot less rent than along Austin St. so we're starting to see all kinds of new independent restaurants open up there. It's a very exciting trend. And with the planned beautification of Queens Blvd. which just started in Jackson Heights and is supposed to eventually make its way down here, too, could it be we are on the cusp of a rejuvenated and actually enticing Queens Blvd. corridor?

Matiz, a new Latin restaurant which sounds very interesting, recently opened at the corner of 73rd Road and Queens Blvd. If anyone has tried it yet, let us know how it is. I'll check it out asap, too.

And DNAInfo reports that Thai Boulevard will soon reopen at 110-70 Queens Blvd.

DNAInfo also says the Indian restaurant Baluchi's, closed by the health department for various unpleasantness, will reopen in the fall as some kind of lounge by the same owners. Um, ok....

Meanwhile, on Austin St., a reliable commenter on the Blog's Facebook Page says the former Bonfire Grill is being converted into a new restaurant by the owners of Jack & Nellies on Ascan. It will serve American fare and be open for lunch.

And Red Mango recently broke out of its claustrophobic space at the corner of Restaurant Row to begin outdoor seating, immediately making it immensely more enjoyable. The photo below is from this Sunday morning when they were putting out the tables...

From Candy to ... ?

Looks like something's coming in to that ideal corner location at Austin and 72nd Ave., formerly home to the candy store. Between this and the work going on at the former Bonfire Grill location further down, and the construction of the new building a little ways away (once planned to be another walk-in medical clinic, and now who knows?), a lot's going on all of a sudden. By the way, doesn't Reef look great now that the scaffolding has been removed? Which got me to thinking: how many years are they going to keep the scaffolding up  at the corner of Austin and 72nd Road, across from the church? It's been up there for like two or three years it seems. Isn't there a legal limit on these things? One of our neighborhood's most charming eateries, La Boulangerie, has had to put up with this ugly scaffolding for all of this time. It's a shame!!

Under Construction: Former Bonfire Grill Location

Something's going on there... Blog rumor: Italian restaurant. If anyone knows for sure, post below...

Bonfire Grill Closes

Weeks after I first heard the rumors that this was coming, I can confirm tonight that the Bonfire Grill restaurant and bar on Austin St. has indeed closed. It's a little sad. After all, Bonfire was one of the first of the wave of new restaurants and bars that have transformed Forest Hills from a neighborhood sorely lacking great, New York City-quality restaurants, into one that has now begun to overflow with them.

In the past couple of years, I rarely went back to Bonfire. I never thought their food was that great to begin with, and then, when Bareburger, Banter, Station House and all the other new places started to open, I had less and less reason to go back to Bonfire.

But when Bonfire Grill opened on Austin Street a few years ago, it was the first hint that the neighborhood was starting to change. For that, it will always hold a special place in this blogger's heart.  

My interest now turns to what will happen to this space. The Uncle Louie G's ices space next to it has been left empty for months. Makes me wonder if the landlord has sold the two spaces to someone who will combine the two and open something interesting there?

Bonfire Grill on Austin was dark tonight, after it closed its doors Sunday

Austin Update

Just some things I've noticed:

1. Despite what someone commented about on this blog, Bonfire Grill is not closed for construction and is not expanding into the ice cream place next door to it. Just a little reporting tip to the commenter who said so a week or so ago: Before assuming a place is closed, try opening the door. Bonfire Grill is quite open for business, was pretty busy this weekend and has really good food. Oh, and I'll say it again: That ice cream shop always closes down for the winter and reopens in the warmer months. Always had, always will. 
2. The saga of the former Austin Jeans location continues. Austin Jeans closed its doors a month or two ago after being in business for a very long time. Then, a yoga clothes shop started moving into the space and then overnight, no more yoga clothes. The place has a "For Rent" sign on the window again. A prime location for a small retailer or cafe if I've ever seen one here in FoHi.

All for now - Keep Warm and Carry On!

Most Improved Restaurant of the Year

Friends kept urging us to go back to Bonfire Grill on Austin St. We had stopped going there, oh, about a year after they opened. We had gone several times, but found the place just failed at some of the most basic dishes, like chicken sandwiches and the like. (You can tell, when I don't dig a restaurant or business, I don't blog about them at all.)

But, at our friends' urging, we gave it another shot recently and I'm really glad we did. The whole place seems to have changed. The menu is different. And the food—it's gone from a C to an A! So, I'm announcing our inaugural "Most Improved Restaurant of the Year Award." And am happy to give it to Bonfire Grill!

I'm really glad to see Bonfire having improved so much given that it was early in the recent wave of new restaurants that have come into our neighborhood. It was really disappointing to have to admit that it just wasn't that great in the months after it opened. It was one of those places that just looked so much better than the food was. I'm glad to see the food has caught up with the appearance! It's now a more than worthy challenger to Banter for best all-around casual restaurant in central FoHi.

Recommended:

Nachos - to die for, and enormous!
Salads (Grilled chicken is excellent)
Sandwiches

Bonfire's awesome new grilled chicken salad

Bonfire's grilled chicken sandwich - enormously improved!