Paris Baguette Opens on 71st/Continental

Thanks to readers Joe and Cher for the pics... And yes, Almighty God in Heaven, my discerning eye does indeed spot prepared sandwiches in that cold case. 

I must have been truly a good boy this year to deserve this. 

Paris Baguette Coming Into Radio Shack Space?

Friday Update: This information has been confirmed, they are moving into the Radio Shack space: Forest Hills' New Paris Baguette Won't Serve Espresso Thanks To Starbucks

The menu at the Forest Hills location will be almost the same as at other outposts and will include a variety of pastries, bread, soups and sandwiches.

I was told by a construction worker today that a Paris Baguette is going to open in the Radio Shack space. If you're not familiar with them, this is a global bakery chain. Here's the link for more information: http://parisbaguette.com/

There is already one of these nearby, in Rego Park. And if I recall, the chain was looking at the space where the new Dunkin' Donuts went into at Austin and Ascan.

Here is more about them, from their website:
We are an international, franchise, fast casual bakery-café founded in 1988 specializing in French-inspired goods. In addition to chef-inspired cakes, pastries, sandwiches and signature coffee, we offer a unique Parisian experience to thousands of customers daily. Today, there are over 2,700 locations worldwide, satisfying cravings and taste buds of all ages and backgrounds.

I included a question mark with my headline only because the worker spoke with a very thick accent, and though I repeated what I thought he said to me when I asked the name of the new place, I can't be 100 percent certain I heard him right :)

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.

Red Pipe's June Events

The guys over at Red Pipe on Austin just tweeted their June events. I had been meaning to post this for May and forgot, so I'm making up for that right now!

Red Pipe Cafe Review from eateryROW

Fellow local blogger eateryROW's review of Red Pipe

I especially love the way it starts...

I've lived in Forest Hills for the better part of ten years. But I'm from Manhattan and I do miss it. That said, these days, it's sometimes easy to forget that I'm not there. In the past few years, Forest Hills has gotten wine bars, cocktails and craft beer, enough taxis to make midtown blush, concerts, expensive restaurants with pedigree chefs, brand-new luxury buildings, bakeries, hotter girls...

What's Up With? New Town Grocery

With Newtown Grocery (shown above a few years ago after an unfortunate mishap) apparently packing up shop, speculation has begun about what will be taking its place. The space is being marketed as "perfect for a corner cafe", with more than 1,000 square feet of space and, according to an ad I saw, would also include a couple of neighboring businesses. Some local folks believe it may be the up and coming coffee chain Caffe Bene that may move into the location. The chain has already opened a couple of locations in Astoria. And, as we all know, as the saying goes, "What's good for Astoria..."

Quick Update

Future home of 7-Eleven

• I'm told the new 7-Eleven next to Red Mango will open by February.
• And a commenter on this blog pointed out that the old Network/Status Quo Cafe on 72nd Ave. has been rented out to parties at this time unknown.

Vanilla Sky's Opening Day

Here are some photos from yesterday's opening of Vanilla Sky, Forest Hills' new cafe/frozen yogurt place at the corner of Austin St. and 70th Road (Restaurant Row). I have to admit I'm not much of a frozen yogurt connoisseur and don't get very excited about it (see my Tweets), but I liked their's—the flavors I tried tasted more like regular ice cream and less like yogurt. And the place is really really nice. Very modern and sleek, with great touches. I especially liked the fact that they also sell other things like sandwiches, coffee and smoothies (see their menu below). So, Forest Hills has more than just another frozen yogurt shop in Vanilla Sky. We have a full-blown cafe that's really cool and fun, and with outdoor seating to boot.

A great summery touch - enjoy your fro-yo and other treats in their "green" outdoor seating area

Loved their cool-looking furniture. Very modern.

They had a variety of gourmet sandwiches, sodas and waters.

Vanilla Sky Opens Today

The new frozen yogurt/cafe opens today at the corner of Austin Street and Restaurant Row (70th Road), just in time for today's Street Fair on Austin.

Vanilla Sky Progressing

Walking around Forest Hills these days it really is striking how much new construction is going on, especially along the main shopping drag of Austin St. The latest I've noticed is the corner where Europan used to be has been encased in plywood as they near completion of the frozen yogurt/cafe Vanilla Sky:

The Trouble With Vienna

I spent some time at the relatively new Cafe Vienna over the past couple of days, the restaurant/cafe/wine bar next to the Midway Theater. My friends and I talked a lot about the place while we sat there and our conclusion: while this is certainly a very nice restaurant, with a bit of an overhaul it could be a smashing success.

The restaurant wasn't very crowded this past Saturday night - and perhaps that is not a surprise. Cafe Vienna lists a Coca-Cola on its menu for $4.50. I point that out because it is kind of symbolic about the things that are wrong with this new restaurant -- for one thing a menu of rather exotic desserts and food offerings at often steep prices that kind of seems more at home in Vienna itself, than here in New York City.

What does Cafe Vienna get right? They did a really nice job in renovating the space. It's airy, inviting, pleasant. But it could also be better. Our conclusion: Cafe Vienna should remake itself along the lines of Ozzie's Coffee in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Inside Ozzie's on 5th Ave. in Park Slope.

If you haven't been to Ozzie's this photo gives you kind of the idea of what we are talking about. It's a relaxing coffee shop where people can find a spot on a sofa or a comfy big chair, spend time reading, chatting, spread out with a newspaper and kick back for an hour or so. It's eclectic, hip but fun, relaxed - just the kind of spot we could use here in Forest Hills. And what's more, the space next to the Midway Theater where Cafe Vienna is right now would be ideal for this type of place.

Cafe Vienna has begun to embrace the nice weather this time of year brings with it - its big windows were open Saturday night to their outdoor seating area. Good move! But change up the place by throwing some comfy couches into the mix, lose the Viennese-style and go with more of an American coffee house feel with a more classic American coffee house menu, scatter around tables with books and magazines and newspapers. And I really do think, this place would be a huge hit.

If you want to see one new local place that has already captured this feel, check out La Boulangerie. I hear that Saturday morning its comfortable, inviting new space was packed with people just hanging out and enjoying this French bakery's freshly made offerings.

La Boulangerie Coverage

Boy oh boy, Forest Hills' new French bakery La Boulangerie is really racking up the coverage!

Here's how they handled the opening at the Edible Queens Blog: La Boulangerie Brings a Taste of France to Forest Hills "Crunchy on the outside," Edible Queens says, "with the flaky crust giving way to a buttery interior this croissant is surely the finest to ever be made in Forest Hills."

And here's a review from Eatery Row: Forest Hills "Should any of you readers ever ask yourself "why does Manhattan get all the Le Pain Quotidien's?" you need hunger for one no longer. Now, we have one."

And Jon ends his review by saying: "It's a relaxing place where you can go, have an espresso, read the Times, and smile in the knowledge that Forest Hills is finally becoming a little more refined."

Early Impressions: Old Vienna Cafe

I stopped by the Old Vienna Cafe on its opening night Saturday. I really liked this very original and unique new restaurant. You really get the feel you are visiting a restaurant in Vienna or Eastern Europe, from the table in the center loaded with small pastries, to the accordion player serenading you, to the decorative chandelier. It all makes for a very cool place to relax and unwind with friends. Oh, and did I mention the coffee and cake are delicious?

The menu includes a variety of small plates and sandwiches such as a cheese platter, and assorted tea sandwiches; entrees like mixed grill kebabs, bratwurst and weiner schnetzeil; salads; wines and imported beer; teas and coffees, and a variety of desserts like fruit tarts, vienna cheesecake and creme brulee.

Also, though the atmosphere in Old Vienna Cafe is very relaxed and fun, I would characterize this as a fairly upscale restaurant. The prices can be a bit steep ($8 for the slice of cake in the photo below, $23 for weiner schnetziel, $5 for a cappuccino and $8 for some of the beers.) But, hey, you get to listen to a fabulous accordion player as you soak up the Eastern European vibe. So I guess you're paying some for the unique atmosphere. I only tried their dessert and coffee, which were really good, so can't vouch for the entrees or appetizers.

Here are some pics I snapped. I will scan and upload their entire takeout menu soon.

La Boulangerie's Hours

In case you were wondering, these signs were  in La Boulangerie's window earlier today:

Location of La Boulangerie

Since people keep asking, maybe this will help... in the window below, as you scroll forward La Boulangerie is on your right, where the law office used to be.



View Larger Map

New Opening Day for Old Vienna Cafe

I was told last night that this new cafe, next to the Midway Theater, will actually now be opening this Saturday, FYI. Originally, the Grand Opening had been planned for Thursday.

By the way, just a few comments about other restaurants here in town. I walked by the new Agora Taverna Greek restaurant last night at around 8:30 p.m. and it was packed with tables inside and outside all taken. That place is a huge hit.

Also, by now I have had both breakfast and lunch at the new La Boulangerie French cafe/bakery. Yesterday I tried their croissants and coffee and both were top notch. As many have already said, this is such a nice addition to our neighborhood, and the proprietors are so welcoming and friendly. I wish them all the best of luck.

La Boulangerie on Facebook

The beginnings of this new bakery/cafe's Facebook page, with tantalizing details such as "breakfast, lunch and coffee":
http://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Boulangerie/221808484514534?sk=wall

I walked by last week and saw some folks in there with the door opened and it looked bright and very welcoming. I'm very much looking forward to the opening of this place! Anyone know when exactly?