Five Forest Hills Businesses That Should Expand

Red Pipe

1. Red Pipe Cafe
Forest Hills' only indie cafe is charming, delightful, delicious and cozy. And while the coziness is certainly part of its charm, a bigger space with more room to spread out wouldn't hurt one of the neighborhood's finest spots.

2. La Boulangerie
Our best bakery offers delectable eats, from sandwiches, to salads, to breads and soups. And the space, like Red Pipe, is authentic, cozy and inviting. But also usually crowded. It could easily double in size and maintain its French mystique.

3. Starbucks (71st Continental)
Why not? We're home to one of the tiniest Starbucks on Earth.

4. Mr Vino's Cucina
I recently had a sandwich from this tiny gourmet food shop on Austin St. and it was terrific—fresh and delicious. This shop has the potential to be so much more than just a gourmet food/craft beer emporium. I can see it as a sit-down lunch place with light casual top-notch sandwiches and salads, something our 'hood so desperately still needs.

5. Red Mango
See No. 3.

Gourmet Sandwiches Come to Forest Hills

Finally, there's a place to stop in and quickly get some higher quality sandwiches here in Forest Hills. The recently opened Mr. Vino's Cucina now offers a variety of artisanal sandwiches with gourmet ingredients.

As long-time followers of this blog know, I've been saying for years that one of the untapped needs of residents of Forest Hills is a conveniently-located place to pick up a wholesome, quality sandwich. We now have just such a place smack dab in the center of the neighborhood. They offer several Daily Specials, or you can have them make for you whatever your heart—I mean stomach—desires.

The closest thing we've had so far is La Boulangerie, which offers several excellent sandwiches, including their take on a pastrami sandwich (excellent, highly recommend you try it if you haven't), a tuna sandwich, and others. La Boulangerie does not make sandwiches to order, however.

Inside Mr. Vino's Cucina

I paid a quick visit this afternoon to Mr. Vino's Cucina, the new gourmet food shop on Austin St. The place is stocked with everything from smoked salmon to olives, cheeses and meats. And a lot of beer. Here's a few photos... Also check out their new Facebook page, and don't forget to like them!

Mr. Vino's Cucina Opens This Week

This new gourmet food store on Austin St. will be opening sometime this week, possibly Wednesday. And what's more, in what many may find as a really great surprise, it features an enormous selection of craft beer! Check out their extensive menu here (ignore where it says it's opening Monday. I'm told that's been pushed back.)

Mr. Vino's Cucina Sign

Eagerly awaiting this new gourmet food shop on Austin. They put the sign up within the past few days...

A Touch of Glass for Austin

I'm liking what I'm seeing as they start to reveal the new gourmet food shop Mr. Vino's Cucina, on Austin St. Nice and sleek looking...

More on Gourmet Food Store

DNAInfo.com reports the new gourmet food store Cucina, near the corner of Austin and 71st Continental will be opening within the next two months and will offer olive oils, caviar, spreads, imported beers and host wine tastings. (No sandwiches? I sure do hope they either forgot to mention them, or will be adding them eventually.)


The article also has details about the new Second Time Around store that recently opened. 
New Austin Street Consignment Store Sells Designer Looks for Less

New Gourmet Food Shop Coming To Austin

Wow, I'm quite excited about this. The mystery is over regarding what is going into that space where The Body Shop used to be, near the corner of Austin and 71st Continental. If this is anything as cute as their wine shop around the corner, Forest Hills is in for a real treat...