241941 Mon Jan 05 17:34:42 -0800 2004 19 19 Outer Boroughs 0 1284538 if you had to choose say best Mexican in the Bronx, Best Indian in Queens, Best Italian on S.I., best Vietnamese in Brooklyn, all near a subway, or some other configuration... I am writing an article about making forays to the outer boroughs to get great ethnic food and I figured I would just go right to the source and ask the chowhounds. I haven't had great luck searching old posts, but I am thinking about Pho Tay Ho (anyone been lately) in Bklyn, maybe Sriraphai or Jackson Diner (still good?) in Queens... any recs if you had to choose one place in each outer borough? Mon Jan 05 17:34:42 -0800 2004 0 zoe 1 1284541 "...making forays to the outer boroughs.." You do realize, don't you, that some people actually *live* in the outer boroughs... Mon Jan 05 18:03:07 -0800 2004 1284538 0 Rico Pan 2 1284556 Here are 3 very consistent, high-quality ethnic destinations in Queens: Best Thai: Sriraphai in Queens Best Brazilian: Malagueta in Astoria Best Greek Seafood: Taverna Kyclades in Astoria Mon Jan 05 21:04:16 -0800 2004 1284541 0 Chicago Mike 3 1284640 i have to agree, esp about la malagueta. i have never had anything there that was short of delicious, and i have even taken picky eaters there. they have great specials and the waiters are very nice. Wed Jan 07 10:36:59 -0800 2004 1284556 0 alice1derland 3 1284747 I'll second Taverna Kyclades, although my wife and I are partial to Elias Corner in Astoria. The benefit of being able to walk across the street to what may be the last authentic Beer Garden at Bohemian Beer Hall may clearly be influencing my vote, however. We also had some great Malaysian at Penang a few years back, before they opened up their Manhattan locale(s). Not sure if their Flushing location is still there or not but it was very good when we had it back then. Thu Jan 08 20:45:01 -0800 2004 1284556 0 CKSmith 2 1284585 "in" rather than "to" would have been a better word choice but that's why she has editors, eh? :) Tue Jan 06 10:43:12 -0800 2004 1284541 0 mjr_inthegardens 2 1284611 goodness i live in red hook and am a born and raised brooklyn girl--i have hopes of sharing our outer borough wealth with those who don't! Tue Jan 06 15:47:20 -0800 2004 1284541 0 Zoe 1 1284553 Truc Mai at 7th Avenue and 60th Street is the best Vietnamese in Brooklyn. Close to the BMT. Mon Jan 05 19:27:45 -0800 2004 1284538 0 Bill 1 1284558 One vote for Pho Tay Ho Mon Jan 05 21:09:00 -0800 2004 1284538 0 bobjbkln 1 1284584 Mina foods in Sunnyside! Tue Jan 06 10:11:26 -0800 2004 1284538 0 jerusha 2 1284617 Also on the "great ethnic" list for Queens would be: 1) La Flor Bakery and Cafe...a bit difficult to describe but it's a combination very good bakery, "creative Mexican" entrees", and "other things"... 2) Andre's Hungarian Bakery for great "Eastern European" baked goods...don't miss the cheesecake. Tue Jan 06 16:37:19 -0800 2004 1284584 0 Chicago Mike 1 1284652 For Brooklyn, I love: Win Shing (Chinese) on Avenue U in Homecrest (a few short blocks from the Avenue U Q stop) Veranda (Turkish) on Coney Island Avenue just south of Avenue U same subway as above. Lennie's (Trinidadian roti etc - goat roti is fantatsic there) on Washington Acvenue between Lefferts and Lincoln Road in Lefferts Gardens - about one block from the Q stop at Prospect Park. Opinions differ about Christie's beef patties (Flatbush avenue, corner of Sterling Place, two blocks from 7th Avenue Q stop or one block from Grand Army Plaza 2,3 stop), but some swear by them. Worth checking out. Certianly etter than any in Manhattan that I've had. A fun Brooklyn day for visitors to the borough is a trip to the historic district around Courtelyou/Beverly Roads (either Q stop will do), where you can view the mansions built by industrial magnates such as the Fruit of the Loom and Singer sewing machine families (and the house where Sophie's Choice was filmed) at the turn of the last century. Walk from Flatbush to Coney Island Avenue taking in these beautiful houses and then grab a really spicy kebab with naan at one of the Pakistani lunch counter places on CIA - I think the one I went to and love is called Punjab and it's on the wast side of CIA, about 1/2 a block nborth of Courtelyou. And you get to enjoy some really scathing photomontages featuring George Bush. Wed Jan 07 12:53:33 -0800 2004 1284538 0 Louise 1 1284654 Here's another in the "best ethnic" category: Annie's Roti Shop on Rockaway for great Trini-Carib takeout. Wed Jan 07 12:58:16 -0800 2004 1284538 0 Chicago Mike 2 1284701 I have also been going to Auntie Chunkie's Island Cuisine down the street on the corner of Rockaway and Lefferts. They deliver the goods as well. I would give the slightest edge to Annie's, though Island Cuisine has a parking lot (which is important to me on my lunch hour). I prefer the chicken at Annie's and the beef at Island Cuisine. Thu Jan 08 09:35:37 -0800 2004 1284654 0 Tongo Rad 3 1284870 is this on the A train? which stop? do you have an address? i have to go out to far rockaway quite often for work and am always dying for something to eat along the A. Sat Jan 10 14:09:26 -0800 2004 1284701 0 queue 4 1284893 Annie's Roti Shop is not right by a train station. My GF says the roti shop closest to an A train stop is Hot and Spicy. Supposedly it's "3 blocks past the last stop on the A train"....near the Citibank on 121st st. Sun Jan 11 13:34:22 -0800 2004 1284870 0 Chicago Mike 4 1284941 queue, Just to let you know I saw your post. I've got a menu by my desk so when I can I'll post the address. But the location is on Rockaway Blvd at the intersection of Lefferts Blvd- about a 3/4 of mile east of Aqueduct. It shares a parking lot with a pizza place and is pushed off to the back of the lot. I use my car to get there so I'll have to put out the call for help with your subway question, though Chicago Mike seems to have given some good advice in that regard.. Mon Jan 12 11:22:50 -0800 2004 1284870 0 Tongo Rad 1 1284695 I have taken 7 different people to Mina (in Sunnyside) at this point. All of them liked it, 6 of them loved it, 2 of them loved it so much they have told me that they would not eat be able to eat at any other Indian restaurant again. (I fall in the middle category of 'loving' it)... So, yeah, 'Mina' in Sunnyside. There's about seventeen-thousand posts on the place here, so you can find out much more... --James Thu Jan 08 06:22:34 -0800 2004 1284538 0 james bennet 1 1284711 Thanks so much to everyone who had helpful ideas, I really appreciate all the Brooklyn and Queens recs. I realize most of us who post on this page seem to live in Brooklyn or Queens, but if anyone has had a great meal in the Bronx or on Staten Island recently, please do tell! Thu Jan 08 11:15:56 -0800 2004 1284538 0 Zoe 2 1284771 The Riverdale Garden - Yes, I do know something about it - I was there last night. - Last night we enjoyed a hip little spot that I came upon from driving past it a few times - a cozy comfortable spot with surprisingly fresh and crisply prepared ingredients - a warm interior with rustic tones and wood burning stove in the back by the bar - chef michael prepared us his special american cuisine, pan-seared salmon with mushroom risotto - and for desert a chocolate cake prepared lovingly by his wife who bakes for and runs the adjoining hip colorful cafe. I am happy that something new and innovative has come to my section of the city - not too far from the last stop on the 1 and 9 train - off broadway and manhattan university drive - i was so impressed - i wanted to reccommend it. Fri Jan 09 09:38:44 -0800 2004 1284711 0 Deidre Reynolds