241638 Wed Nov 19 16:19:02 -0800 2003 15 19 Outer Boroughs 0 1282651 Hi Everyone: I just got accepted into the Peace Corps, and will be serving in Central Asia. I don't have an exact country yet, but I'd like some kind of a discourse of the cusine and some restaurants within the city. (Have Metro Card, Will Travel) Thanks in advance. -TC Wed Nov 19 16:19:02 -0800 2003 0 TC 1 1282655 Congratulations! Should be interesting. I know there are some restaurants in Queens in Forest Hills and Kew Gardens. Some are Jewish as well as Uzbeki, etc. I went to one on 108th Street near 67th Rd or 63rd Ave (subway stops on the R). (Others might remember better where these things are). I believe it's called Salute and the food was really good. It had some elements of Persian and Afghan cuisine and some elements of Russian. There are other places around there. There's also one right off Lefferts Blvd. in Kew Gardens near the Kew Gardens Cinema. Then, if you search a ways down the board there has been talk of a place that is Kazakh, I believe, in Brighton Beach, and I know there is at least one other Uzbeki one there too. Sorry I can't come up with any names at the moment. But these are good areas of the city to look into. Wed Nov 19 17:54:16 -0800 2003 1282651 0 JH Jill 2 1282669 I hit that movie theater a lot...they show GREAT movies, they're real people, not a chain, and they could use support (you'd think Queens' only full-time theater for independent/foreign films would have a fan base, but they're usually empty). Nice pleasant walk from the F train. So I definitely want to try that place on Lefferts. Do you (or anyone else) have any details? Wed Nov 19 23:04:50 -0800 2003 1282655 0 Jim Leff 3 1282670 PS-- the other place you're trying to remember is Salut 63-42 108th Street Rego Park 718-275-6860. It's kosher. Never been. Wed Nov 19 23:06:42 -0800 2003 1282669 0 Jim Leff 4 1282676 The place on Lefferts near the theater is called Uzbekistan Cultural Center and Tandoori Bread. Highlights, to my mind include the lagman, a brothy soup with chunks of lamb and noodles, flavored with dill, the bread, obviously, various kebabs, especially lamb and bone-in chicken, and a sweet bread called katlama. If you really want to have a multi-culti experience, take in a Sunday afternoon foreign flick at the theater, followed by a little shopping at the gourmet foodstore on the corner and dinner at the Uzbeki place, complete with Uzbeki karaoke floor show. Does't get much better than this! Thu Nov 20 06:44:42 -0800 2003 1282670 0 Ken Atkinson 5 1282682 There are two other Uzbeki restaurants that are similar to Salut. Beautiful Bukhara on 108th Street near 65th Road also has excellent kebabs, lagman and manty. It's even smaller than Salut and only seats about 25 people. Search this Board; there have been several other threads on this place. Cheburechnaya, 92-09 63 Drive in Rego Park, between Wetherole and Austin Street, 3 1/2 blocks south of the 63rd Drive stop on the G/V/R, is much larger seating about 100. It's often full on Saturday and Sunday nights as well as lunch time during the week -- a pretty good sign, I think. The Chebureki are good, the humus fine, the bread is excellent, but the real reason to go is the kebabs. All are outstanding, including the ram testicles. I've found the service efficient but cold at all of these places. Also, remember, all of these restaurants are kosher and are closed from Friday afternoon until after sundown on Saturday. el jefe Thu Nov 20 12:00:51 -0800 2003 1282676 0 el jefe 5 1282687 Yes, of course. the famous "Uzbek Tandoori Bread" place. Always loved their bread, though not the food as much (it's been years however). I forogt it's so close to the theater, since because it closes so early it's always out of contention for a movie meal (i catch the late show). Any other decent food in the nabe that's open later? Dani's House of Pizza is execrable. Kew Gardens Sabor (81-39 Lefferts Blvd., Kew Gardens, 718-846- 1214) looks good for takeout, kind of quirky and homespun, but they close kind of early too really, my chow of choice is Knish Knosh and a cheese danish from Andre's on my way to the movie. Would like to do a bit better. Sorry Lion Pavillion closed (sob). ciao Thu Nov 20 13:44:06 -0800 2003 1282676 0 Jim Leff 6 1282689 Hey Jim, wasn't this about Central Asian cuisine? ;-) Thu Nov 20 15:09:30 -0800 2003 1282687 0 el jefe 7 1282692 yeah, I forgot to change the subject title. But listen...it's never too late. You could have done it in your reply (as I've done it now). Future hounds will now be able to find the thread upon searching. Also, it will now draw more people interested in talking about this (very different) topic. Thu Nov 20 16:45:44 -0800 2003 1282689 0 Jim Leff 8 1282698 We frequent the theater (discounted shows before 5 and certain days of the week besides the good films). We've yet to try the Indian place around the corner or the pizzería across the way. The grocery/deli across Austin Street has a fantastic selection of Ben & Jerry's in the freezer. We haven't gone to the Uzbeki place because my friend who's tried it only likes the bread. We have gone to the two half-timbered tavern places close by. The one on Lefferts was good, but we prefer Austin Ale House on Austin or by the LIRR platform. Especially like the buffalo burger and fries and a great brownie sundae (can't remember what they call it but it was quite scrumptious). Thu Nov 20 19:40:03 -0800 2003 1282692 0 JH Jill 9 1282699 we've had a cautiously positive report on that indian. the pizza is the aforementioned execrable dani's house of pizza. I, too, only like the bread at the Uzbek (also good carrot salad, though). The ale houses bum me out for drinking, but I'll try the buffalo burger and brownie sundae, thanks. As for the theater, call me a sap, but I prefer to pay full price 'cuz they're so hurting for business. Want/need them to survive. And prefer movies at night, anyway. ciao Thu Nov 20 19:52:12 -0800 2003 1282698 0 Jim Leff 10 1282705 It's not that I ever get there at the discount times. I just thought I'd mention it to encourage people to go. Jill Fri Nov 21 01:59:15 -0800 2003 1282699 0 JH Jill 11 1282916 Thank god we have that movie theater! It has saved me dozens of journeys to Manhattan. I have tried the Hindu-Pakistani close to the movie theater. Not bad. Not very good either. On Lefferts Boulevard there is a deli with outstanding strudels (apple, cherry and cheese) and a very decent selection of cheeses. Has anybody tried the Latin restaurant next door? Thu Nov 27 12:38:20 -0800 2003 1282705 0 Lucho 6 1282752 If Sabor is the one I'm thinking about (write-up from Sylvia Carter in the window, some friendly Pride articles and flags), I found it to be very pleasant. Homey, nice food--and not a get-your-food-and-run type of place. Also, the burgers are good at the place around the corner, down toward the RR tracks. One afternoon last winter we ignored the forecasts of snow and took the quick F ride from J'Heights to see some cool, fun foreign film at the indispensable, wonderful Kew Gardens Cinema. When we left the theater there was a foot of snow on the ground and a pure, calm stillness. We had an all-time romantic dinner at that burger joint.... Sat Nov 22 15:54:24 -0800 2003 1282687 0 jwqns 7 1282753 That's the Austin Ale House whose burgers I spoke highly of below. Glad we're not the only ones who like them. I have to get over to Donovan's and try theirs, but these are good for discussing the finer points of film over. I imagine it's quieter here too. Sat Nov 22 17:15:35 -0800 2003 1282752 0 JH Jill 2 1282671 congratulations again. salut is at 63-42 108th Street, Forest Hills, Queens 718-275-6860. i had a good time there. the food was extremely good, delicate, lots of dill if i remember, unlike anything i had tried before except maybe hungarianish. the service there really put me off but i came away amused by the coldness of the waitress and waitor we dealt with. chio pio in brighton beach is at 3087 Brighton 4th Street, Brooklyn 718-615-9221. i love this place. i've only been a couple times, but the chicken kababs were perfect. they're nice in there. it's not fancy at all; a small room with the television on in the corner kind of place. Wed Nov 19 23:07:20 -0800 2003 1282655 0 babar ganesh