Eatery near Noguchi Museum

Anyone know of a good eatery near Noguchi Museum (Vernon Blvd between 33rd Road and 10th St,Queens)? Blue Guide says Astoria is a 15 minute walk.

Maria-I must disagree with both Jim's and Gary's
assessment of Elias Corner. I've been eating at Elias
Corner for at least 5-6 years. I have been there at
least 5 times in the the last year which is after it's
"Zagatization." Since my objective is to send you to a
restaurant that I am confident you will enjoy, not to
a restaurant that is undiscovered, if you decide to
eat at Elias Corner, I'm sure you will be quite happy.
A number of months ago there was a similar clash of
opinions about Telly's Taverna, which is a restaurant
started by an ex grillman at Elias Corner. Jim and
others, took the "it's not good anymore" side of the
argument and Lisa Antinori(arguably the best poster,
where has she gone?) wrote about good meals she had
recently had there. Deja Vu. Now even though I prefer
Elias to Telly's, either place would be a fine choice
for your purposes. In fact, all of the choices would
be fine. I just hope you enjoy your meal and don't get
caught up in the shallow intelectual foodie mumbo-
jumbo that can appear on this board.

steve, the tone of your message is really uncalled
for. I don't like Elias much these days, I think
it's a shadow of its former self. Nonetheless, I
think you're TOTALLY entitled to your opinion...and
in any case I'd hope you'd allow me and others our
opinions, without deriding them as "shallow
intelectual [sic] foodie mumbo-jumbo".

"Since my objective is to send you to a restaurant
that I am confident you will enjoy, not to a
restaurant that is undiscovered"
If you or anyone else thinks I've ever touted an
inferior place just because it was obscure, or
dismissed a good place just because it's
well-known, speak now. I sure don't think I have...
My problem isn't that Elias and Telly's et al are
in Zagat...my problem is with what happened as a
result.
Food quite rightly inspires strong opinions, and
this is a place for passionate opinionated
no-holds-barred discussion. But "is too/is not"
chatter and disparaging comments just detract.
Ciao

Sorry Jim but, it's Gary's tone and message that I
object to and reacted to. He could have easily have
steered Maria to a different restaurant by suggesting
one that he likes better. His trashing of Elias, in
this context was something that was uncalled for. As I
said in my post, the same debate raged in Lisa's
Telly's post. A similar example of this is when
someone asked about Istria Sports Club. You, I believe
responded by asking why anyone would want to go to
that place (an entirely inappropriate response in my
opinion since this board should be about giving people
the information they ask for without their having to
suffer any recrimination for their choices). Instead
Lisa, ended up responding to the poster and thoroughly
explained what the place was about. I'm glad that she
did because about a month ago, using her post as my
guide, I ate there and I thought the place was really
good. So good, that I went back with friends 2 weeks
ago. Now it's in the context of these posts that I
posted my response to Gary. His calling Elias Corner
"crap", was nothing but a diservice to Maria who asked
a simple question about where to eat and who has
probably never ventured into the wilds of Queens
before. Why an answer that recommended the "obvious
choices" needed to be criticized, beats me. As for my
"undiscovered comment", that's the inference I draw
from the criticism of "crap" being so out of
proportion with any possible degradation in food that
the place might have suffered. Like I said, I ate there
5-6 times over the last year and it wasn't "crap".

"He could have easily have steered Maria to a different
restaurant by suggesting one that he likes better"

no he couldn't, because he doesn't KNOW a better one.
And though I in my writing try to mostly write positive
reviews (though it does require lots more work to
ferret out treasure), I certainly think there's value
in warning people away from places that are
overrated...and I agree with Gary that Elias is very
very overrated.

"giving people the information they ask for without
their having to suffer any recrimination for their
choices"
I never blast people, I just blast restaurants. And no,
I don't have much positive to say about Elias Corner,
the Istrian place on Astoria Boulevard (or, for that
matter, another of your other faves, Veniero's) though
you like them. So what? Taste varies!

"Instead Lisa ended up responding to the poster and
thoroughly explained what the place was about"

Lisa has more spare time than I do. If you feel that I
need to give every question my absolute and full
attention, provide corroborating evidence and offer
better alternatives every single time, I think you're
being unreasonably demanding of me. I volunteer my time
(and a significant proportion of my meager savings) to
keep this place going while juggling two extremely
demanding careers. Most people here seem pretty happy
that I've provide this service and community. But even
aside from Chowhound.com, I'm busy to the point of
frantic.

"Why an answer that recommended the "obvious choices"
needed to be criticized, beats me"

because in the case of Greek Astoria, the obvious
choices ARE for the most part crap. There are lots of
things in the world that are both great AND popular
(Miles Davis, Picasso, juicy crab buns, etc etc). But
lots more things are populary and crappy. That's life.
Ciao

Not to add more wood to the fire, BUT (you knew that awful preposition was coming, huh?...)

between teaching 6 different grade levels daily, writing my weekly restaurant column, working on my book project, volunteering for God's Love We Deliver, organizing a chapter of Big Brother/Sister, running the school newspaper, being a dutiful Sicilian daughter, going to the gym, and EATING (of course...) I really don't think I have that much spare time.

The only reason I chose to write about the soccer club was for the same reason I choose to write about any dining experience- I liked it a lot! It didn't matter to me that Jim didn't it and I in no way think my opinions are better than anyone's or vice versa. People are allowed to disagree and this is what makes life so fascinating and enjoyable.

I think everyone should have a cool lemonade (at City Bakery of course...) and RELAX!!! It's getting tres painful to read this succession of postings.

Here's to Happy Eating and a good disagreement every now and then...

Lisa

Not to add more wood to the fire, BUT (you knew that awful preposition was coming, huh?...)

between teaching 6 different grade levels daily, writing my weekly restaurant column, working on my book project, volunteering for God's Love We Deliver, organizing a chapter of Big Brother/Sister, running the school newspaper, being a dutiful Sicilian daughter, going to the gym, and EATING (of course...) I really don't think I have that much spare time.

The only reason I chose to write about the soccer club was for the same reason I choose to write about any dining experience- I liked it a lot! It didn't matter to me that Jim didn't it and I in no way think my opinions are better than anyone's or vice versa. People are allowed to disagree and this is what makes life so fascinating and enjoyable.

I think everyone should have a cool lemonade (at City Bakery of course...) and RELAX!!! It's getting tres painful to read this succession of postings.

Here's to Happy Eating and a good disagreement every now and then...

Lisa

" Sorry Jim but, it's Gary's tone and message that I
object to and reacted to. "

Now wait a minute -- get your time-line right. In my
first post, I said I disagreed with your choice of
Elias Corner and listed the bad stuff I had. What
recrimination did I engage in (either to you or
Maria)? Did I insult you or shoot down your other
suggestions ? NO.

I guess my crime of contradicting you on Elias Corner
elicited that "shallow intellectual foodie" remark.
Like I said, you are entitled to your opinion and I to
mine. I have the perfect right to disagree -- Maria
should hear all sides of the story. Where is there a
disservice to her ? I used the word "Crap" in my
second post to you to emphasize that I AM entitled to
my opinion of the food there. What's "crap" to me
might be "wonderful" to you, and that's perfectly ok
with me.

Enough said.

Hey, I have too ventured into the wilds of Queens before - many times, and many other places in search of good grub. I was even congratulated by Jim Leff himself for venturing to Jersey City for Indian food, and was a regular at Primorski's about twenty years ago.Not to mention the Portuguese in Jersey - fifteen (?) years ago.

Steve -- disagreeing with my opinion on Elias Corner
is just fine with me. I am sure that you might hate
some of the places I recommend. In my post, it is the
restaurant's food that I bash. I would disagree with
your opinion, but NEVER ever have I attacked or
ridiculed your tastes (or any one else's).

What makes you think you know me well enough to accuse
me of "shallow intellectual foodie mumbo jumbo" ? I
am not a writer, thinker or foodie wannabe -- but I do
have strong opinions, and a very good instinct of
what is good food and what is garbage. And I stand by
my opinion that most of the stuff at Elias is CRAP !!!

Thanks very much for your advice. Lisa Antinore says she has been offered a job reviewing restaurants for (I think she said) a string of local papers. Beginning of a great career of great benefit to humankind.
I like this site very much and am extremely grateful to Jim Leff. Hope he doesn't collapse.

There is a good Indian restaurant a little ways south
of Noguchi Museum. The 5 Star diner at 13-15 43rd Ave.
While you are in the neighborhood be sure to check out
the Socrates Sculpture Garden at Broadway and Vernon --
there is some beautiful work there.

You don't have to go that far. There is good Italian
food at Manducati's which is on Jackson Avenue in
L.I.C. I'm not sure exactly where the museum is but, it
can't be more than a 5 minute walk to the restaurant.
Though it's true that Astoria is only a 15 minute walk
from the museum, the part that is populated with good
restaurants is more like a 30-40 minute walk. It's not
a particularly scenic walk either. It's easy enough to
jump on the subway at Queens Plaza. Astoria is such a
gold mine of good eating, that it's hard to recommend
just one restaurant so I'll try and give you the
standard-bearers. Elias Corner at 31st St. and 24th
Avenue is arguably one of the best seafood restaurants
in the city. Uncle George's Tavern, is famous for their
quality to price ratio. Karyatis at 35-03 Broadway is
on the upscale side. There are countless others. If
you wander up Broadway or 30th Avenue between 31st
Street and Steinway Street your choices will be
plentiful. Wherever you decide to eat, you will find
that you are surrounded by Greek pastry shops. Save
room for dessert and coffee.

I was just at Elias Corner a few weeks ago. I have to
disagree that it is "arguably one of the best seafood
restaurants in the city". The only thing I enjoyed
was the fried cheese. Calamari was only passable, the
grilled octopus was extremely rubbery, the grilled
fish very unremarkable, the shrimp inedible. It seems
everything NEEDED a squeeze of lemon juice to rescue
it. I left declaring that I do not want to see
another piece of lemon for the next week !!

Many thanks for excellent tips on 5 Star Diner, Socrates Sculpture, Manducati and unscenic distance from Astoria. Re the Greek restaurants, in June Down the Hatch newsletter (arrived yesterday) Jim Leff says the Greeks you recommend have been sadly Zagatized and he is exploring others for next edition.

" Re the Greek restaurants, in June Down the Hatch
newsletter (arrived yesterday) Jim Leff says the
Greeks you recommend have been sadly Zagatized and he
is exploring others for next edition. "

You should address that to Steve's post, not mine.
Take Jim's advice about Astoria Greek restaurants --
he is right. My post about Elias Corner confirms his
opinion.

Gary, what IS good (not necessarily Greek!) near the
museum? pat

I would defer to others who know the area better. You
already know how I feel about some of the Greek places
near there.

Maybe Jeremy Osner can be of more help.

Well, I haven't been down that way in a little while.
My fave in the neighborhood (and btw in regard to the
history of this thread, the Greek restaurants in
Astoria aren't actually that close to the Noguchi
museum...) is probably the 5 Star Diner, which I've
written about earlier in this thread. Also there is an
Italian restaurant near there that I've never been to
but that intrigues me every time I walk by it, I think
it's on Crescent and 31st or 29th.

What else? There generally are not too many
restaurants that far west. If you don't mind a bit of a
walk there is always Kabab Cafe on Steinway, that's
about 1 1/2 miles from Noguchi. There are a lot of
restaurants on and near Steinway that I have never been
to but have heard good things about. A bit of a walk in
a different direction will get you to the
excellent Pearson's Texas Barbecue, and numerous other
restaurants near Vernon and Jackson.

Hope this helps,
Jeremy

Thank you both. Bar b que sounds good to me! pat

How can I subscribe to the Down the Hatch newsletter?

(I tried to post this question on General Topics but
the server won't have any of it.)

Thanks,
Jeremy

Down the Hatch cost $10 or $12 a year (bi-monthly) Robert Sietsema edits, Jim Leff does a page. Published by Mofungo Foundation, 92 Perry Street,#9, NYNY 10014

Thanks Maria!

"Down the Hatch cost $10 or $12 a year (bi-monthly)
Robert Sietsema edits, Jim Leff does a page. Published
by Mofungo Foundation, 92 Perry Street,#9, NYNY 10014 "

...but that ambiguity in price should give you an
inkling to the impenetrability of Down the Hatch's
subscription policy. Robert tries to keep circulation
small, so that policy remains pretty hush-hush.

Hey, Robert, do you want to pipe in here? Any chance
people sending in $12 and mentioning "Chowhound" might
be annointed with subscriptions, or is the list getting
too long again?

JIM

hey, any chowhound reader is a friend of mine. i'll accept subs as long as i think i can make that many. if i'm inundated i'll stop accepting. it's never been a problem, since who want to read pages of drivel!

--r.