Pizza Slices - Revealed

Those of you who guessed Gloria Pizza were correct! Specifically, one of their whole wheat plain slices and one of their grilled chicken salad slices. Both were delicious. If you haven't tried them yet, Gloria, one of our newer pizza places in FoHi, is located right next to the Midway Theater.

Newest Delectable Delicacy

I love discovering delicious food, especially when I find it unexpected places.

I have been getting pizza from the recently opened Gloria Pizza (right next to the Midway Theater) every couple of weeks for a while now and have been liking it more every time I go. My most recent discovery was their Grandma pizza - delicious, tangy and saucy squares of goodness, Though plenty of crust to chew on, the lesser amount of cheese has been especially appealing as I try to fight the battle of the bulge. I find Gloria's Grandma pizza to be the best I've found in Forest Hills. The sauce is so fresh and tangy - getting hungry just thinking about it!

But the real reason for this post is my delightfully unexpected discovery at Gloria Pizza - their house salad. Who on God's earth would've imagine that a simple house salad from a pizza place could be so delicious? Their secret ingredient - their amazing house dressing. I don't know how they make it, what goes into it, but trust me - it just may be the best salad dressing I've had in New York City, or right up there with the best.

I don't say this lightly. Believe me, I am not easy to please when it comes to food. (I'll never set foot in T-Bone again, for instance, since the time they served my Dad their shrimpless shrimp salad like 10 years ago). So when I discover something this good, I just have to spread the word.

More on Jack & Nellie's

Here's a link to an article in DNAInfo.com about the new wine bar coming into the spot on Ascan where Q Bistro used to be: Upscale Wine Bar Coming to Forest Hills

By the way, here's some other local restaurant-related news:

1) I heard that La Boulangerie celebrated Bastille Day over the weekend by making fresh crepes out in front of the store. Too bad I missed that!
2) I also heard that Piu Bello, located on the corner across from the Post Office, has been shut down by the health department. The biggest question I had about this place is how did it last this long given that every time I passed by there were just a few people in it.

By the way, some people have commented on this blog that certain locations in Forest Hills are cursed — that no matter what goes in to them will fail. They cite locations like the one right next to the Midway Theater, which has changed hands like six times in the past several years and is now Gloria Pizza. Or the spot where Piu Bello is right now - or was.  I happen not to agree. Firstly, I think Gloria Pizza may just prove the naysayers wrong. Their pizza is really good for one thing. And every time I go in there it is fairly crowded. So I think Gloria may be here to stay.

Also, the value of the location where Piu Bello is just went way up thanks to the success of the new Farmer's Market, which is bringing droves of people to the area in front of the restaurant every Sunday now.

What we need where Piu Bello is located is a high-quality, family-friendly, upscale diner-type eating establishment. (Yes, the kind that received the most votes in our recent poll right here on EOTC.) Just imagine in the nice Spring or Fall weather that restaurant there on a Sunday for brunch with all its windows open, maybe even people eating out in front (if allowed), while the Farmer's Market is open across the street. I'm getting a real Union Square vibe now.

Finally Filled Forever?

I was just thinking—especially now that I've tried Gloria Pizza for myself a couple of hours ago and already want to go back for more—that I now can predict that the record-long streak of failing businesses that occupied that space next to the Midway Theater has now officially come to an end. I predict that as long as Gloria Pizza wants to remain in that spot, and can afford the rent, they will be there.

I will now try to recount all the different businesses that have been in that spot since I've lived in Forest Hills.

Let's see, first there was Krispy Kreme, followed by a pet store I think, then a pizza place, followed I think by new owners of another pizza place? And now Gloria Pizza.

How'd I do? Did I forget anyone? I feel like I may have....

Gloria Pizza's Menu

Click on the photos for bigger versions...

Gloria Pizza - Early Review

I just visited our newest pizza place, Gloria Pizza, next to the Midway Theater and took home a couple of regular slices. My verdict: the pizza was very good. And, I also like what they've done with the place.

My first two regular slices from the new Gloria Pizza in Forest Hills.

First, the pizza. My impression is that it is a traditional type of New York City pizza, helped by a sauce that is both sweet and a tad more spicy (garlic I think) than is typical. And the combination of that and the excellent, crunchy crust, lands a regular slice at Gloria a notch above your typical NY style pizza. I want to try their pizza again, but on first impressions I might rework my ranking of my favorite local pizza to this:

1. Tuscan Hills
2. Nick's (pepperoni pizza)
3. Gloria Pizza
4. Nick's (regular pizza)
5. Portofino

If you prefer a more traditionally cheesy NY style pizza, then I would rank them this way:

1. Tuscan Hills
2. Gloria Pizza
3. Portofino

Gloria is a very close second to Tuscan Hills, by the way. For me, it depends on whether I'm looking for a more filling couple of slices (Gloria) or a lighter pizza with amazing flavor (Tuscan Hills).

As I mentioned above, I am also impressed by what Gloria did with the inside of the new place. It's a very airy, comfortable space. They did an excellent job.

So my initial, early grades:
Pizza (regular slices only, mind you): A
Restaurant: A

Gloria Pizza Now Open

Gloria Pizza is now open for business. If you stop by for a slice today, drop us a line below about what you think of Forest Hills' newest pizza place. I'm especially interested in hearing from people who used to love the place when it was in Flushing. Does it live up to your memories of it?

Mad Men and Pizza

• Forest Hills, specifically the Tennis Stadium, found itself center-stage in last night's episode of Mad Men. A good chunk of the episode was set at the Stadium as they tried to pitch a Heinz commercial to the Rolling Stones who were performing there.* Gothamist has a nice write-up about it, along with a bunch of photos and a couple of related videos:  As Seen On Mad Men: 14 Photos Of The Rolling Stones At Forest Hills Stadium In 1966
• Good news for all you pizza lovers! Gloria Pizza opens tomorrow at 11 a.m.!
• I was told Bareburger may start home deliveries some time this week. They will also start serving craft beer in the next couple of weeks or so.

*Just a side note: Those really looked like White Castle burgers they were eating afterwards. Lord did those look good.

Some Loose Ends

With the excitement over Bareburger's opening having died down here in Blog-land while we wait for the next big restaurant or shopping news, here are some other smaller items of note:

• Bareburger says it may start home delivery next week.
• Gloria Pizza says it may open on April 2nd.
• Readers have told me that medical offices are planned for the former Mandee/Annie Sez building on the Western end of Austin. Not sure if that means the entire building will be medical offices, or just a portion of it. The facade was very good for a retailer, so that seems like a huge waste to me.
• I have to remember to get myself down to Metropolitan Avenue where there are some delectable restaurants awaiting me down there. Wafa's and Taci's, the new Turkish restaurant. 

While We Wait For Pizza

Just a little diddy in honor of our soon-to-be newest pizza place... I think I speak for most of the readers of this blog when I ask, "When are you guys going to freakin' open already????"



While the above is indeed an annoyingly catchy song, please listen to the following only at your own risk.

Gloria Pizza's New Sign

I really like the new sign Gloria Pizza's put up, next to the Midway Theater. To me it seems to fit the location really well. And they smartly made it very visible during the night along Queens Blvd. My (blurry) pic at the bottom was shot from across the street. I'm still not sure when they're opening. Word was possibly this month. Now that they have the sign up, they are one step closer, so soon...

Gloria Pizza's Website

The Under Construction page for Gloria Pizza, home of the future website for the new restaurant opening next to the Midway Theater: http://gloriapizza.com/ Mama mia I could really go for a slice right about now!

Daily News Article on Gloria Pizza

Fabled Gloria Pizza returns to Queens

Boy, I sure do hope this place lives up to its reputation. The original sounds really great. :)

Waiting for Gloria

Boy, is it just me, or is it taking an eternity for our newest pizza place, Gloria, to open, next to the Midway Theater? My friend snapped this shot of the inside of the place the other day. And I noticed they have a sign up looking for employees, if you're interested...

Signs of Gloria...

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and Chanukah...

So, after weeks of online rumors and speculation, finally a sign confirming that your former Flushing favorite, Gloria Pizza, will indeed be making its new home right smack in the center of Forest Hills, right next to the Midway Theater.