I couldn't help but notice this odd, Disney-like villa taking shape near the Queens Center Mall when I went for my periodic DMV-like experience at the Time Warner Cable Center today. It seems that the illusional pleasantness of "America" is encroaching upon, of all places, the NYC Borough of Queens! Who would've thunk! This block appears to contain an Olive Garden which looks like something out of the Harry Potter Theme Park experience down in Orlando and I am told there will be a few other chain restaurants.
It's Olive Garden, as well as a Longhorn Steakhouse and Joe's Crab Shack. I know that Longhorn's website lists it's opening date as September 29th
ReplyDeleteThere was an article about this in the Daily News about a year ago. It's actually a little behind schedule, these restaurants were supposed to be done in the spring. The others are a Longhorn Steakhouse and a Joe's Crab Shack.
ReplyDeleteThese chains are all on shaky financial footing. They will be out of business in no time.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine any real New Yorker ever actually wanting to eat at an Olive Garden. Maybe if someone blindfolded them and brought them there as a joke, though...?
ReplyDeleteLOL. Agreed!
DeleteFinally, genuine, authentic Italian food in Queens - goodbye Little Italy!
ReplyDeleteIf you hate the Time Warner experience at Queens Center, they have a small office on Atlantic Ave a block off the Van Wyck that's never crowded & has a little parking lot.
ReplyDeleteI returned my cablemodem, the only piece of equipment I ever had with them and will not be going back ever again thankfully.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah it's depressing they create low grade restaurants here and think there is somehow a market for customers. The new condo in rego park crams in people like sardines and yet they screw up the area building these restaurants. I surely hope no one gives them business and they fail though I will say I have heard good things on Joe's Crab Shack so that one could stay.
But darden unlike ignite put in the Olive Garden which is low grade Italian and a low end steakhouse called longhorn.
I'll take the olive garden over most italian joints. i liked it better than tuscan hills.
ReplyDeleteTotally down with "to each their own" and everybody being entitled to their own opinion. But when this is your opinion i just HAVE to call you out. Olive Garden better than Tuscan Hills?!?! What sad, foodless existence have you been living? I am sad for you.
DeleteIt's the kind of people who like Taco Bell more than 5 Burros, Dominos Pizza more than Gloria's, Americanized Chinese takeout more than authentic Chinese food.
DeleteThere is a cool craft beer joint right near there, across the blvd near the post office on Eliot Ave called Q's Kraft Bier. I recommend.
ReplyDeleteGross!
ReplyDeleteMmm. I can't wait to bring my real Italian family to Olive Garden and have some authentic Bologna Alfredo.
ReplyDelete