Help! Moving from bklyn to Little Neck/Great Neck

[mdog]

In a quest for more space for less money me and the wife are moving from Dumbo/Bk Heights- to a community on the border of Little Neck (Queens- so hopefully this won't get bumped), and Great Neck (LI). My worst fear is having nowhere locally to venture out of my apartment for great chow. Anyone know about good food in the area?? The only thing I know of is that there's a Peter Lugers in that area, and a pretty good diner (yes- that's right- a diner) named Scobee's.

Help!

[NYJewboy]

Interestingly enough, I grew up on the border of Little Neck and Great Neck and currently live in dumbo/Bk Heights. Sadly but truthfully, the food around there cannot compare with what you left. You must accept that. I feel you will eventually come to the conclusion that when you want to go out for dinner you should drive back into the city, or accept an OK but assuredly lesser meal. The food out there ranges from mediocre to all right, nothing stands out as being that good. Take it from me, I go through this about once every 3 weeks, as I visit family still out there.

That being said, the Bell Blvd places might be the best bet. If you want to spend a bit more there is the ONLY exception: Peter Luger's, which I think is as good in Great Neck as it is in Brooklyn. I hope this helped, and didn't make you feel worse. At least you got a bigger house!

[byrd]

Take Lakeville Road all the way south to the end at Jericho Turnpike for Umberto's Pizza.

[dhammer53]

Is TJK Cafe a diner or a restaurant?

Must have been a diner at one time, but today, it's a casual restaurant, with no pretension. While not a fancy place, our party enjoyed the food. Cost for 2 = $81.

My wife wnjoyed the salmon, ribs for me, our friends did the seared tuna and Chilean sea bass (at a $31 price).
The prices were higher than I expected.based on how the website looks.

If you BYO, they charge $3 a glass. So 2 people = $6. and 4 people with 4 glasses = $12. I'd say this places is BYO friendly. The food was good too. I'd go back.

[scott55]

Lived in Douglaston for 15 years
Here is my low down

Il Bacco best moderate Italian
Il Toscano sometimes great sometimes good, prices won't bite you, similar to the city
IL Mulino nowhere as go as the city
Best pizzza Joes II on marathon
Stay far away from Giordanos not edible

Chinese very tough Peking house on union tpk
Thai Erawan on Bell Blvd
Greek few on bell blvd all around the same level
Drive to Astoria Telly's and Elias for fish

sushi
Tomi Sushi

Kebab House good
Chciken Place next door to it not, forgot the name

TJK ok, used to be better

[Qdiner]

Erawan is one of my favorite Thai restaurants and I agree about Giordanos, not good.

[Geo8rge]

Fear not, if you are moving for more space for less money, then so are the restaurants. They know you have money, just make sure you do. Consider buying a folding bicycle, to make traveling on the LIRR easier.

[johnk]

Conti's in Little Neck is a VERY popular place.
Have the gnocchi a la nona.
We also love the eggplant salad @ Kebab House.
I've been hitting my local red sauce Italian (Clinton in Whitestone) for an ongoing need for Veal Parmigiana and broccoli/garlic & olive oil. Get there early. After 7 there is a 30-45 minute wait.
Next on the hit list; the new El Vesuvio in Whitestone.
Go west Dog.
JK

[LloydG]

Someone posted a nearly identical question on the tri-state region board, with a number of responses. I live in GN, and I listed a fairly long list of places in that thread.

I haven't tried many of the places listed here, but some of them sound pretty good -- I have to venture west.

BTW, I agree with the Seven Seas diner -- the food is always fresh and really good.

[LloydG]

Oops - I now see that it was you who posted in the tri-state board.

[Calling All Toasters]

You can pretty much window shop on Northern Boulevard between Glenwood and Marathon Parkway. I agree with Northern Manor for dim sum, Kebab House, and La Baraka, all of which are in there. For (relatively) upscale Italian, there's La Grotta. Very good cheap Chinese at Szechuan Cuisine. All in about 5 short blocks.

Warning: Scobee is there also. Absolutely avoid if you care about food at all--if you must go to a standard LI-style diner, the Seven Seas at Northern and Middle Neck rises to competence.

[Linda]

there's 2 sushi places that i like out there. the first one is called tomi sushi (formerly tenjin sushi) on northern blvd near little neck parkway. korean-owned and i think they have a huge all you eat sushi banner outside. i never do all you can eat, but the owners learned and mimmick tenjin's recipes and dishes, so it's good. tenjin was japanese owned. they have good appetizers, like fried tofu, fried soft shell crab and such. oh, a little thing i LOVE there that i haven't found elsewhere: ask for the UFO HANDROLL WITH TAPIKO and CRUNCHIES. omg, it's to die for. thank me later.

secondly, i like sushi family, nearby scobee diner. korean owned, but very consistent rolls. do not go here for sashimi, but if you like rolls, this is the place to go. they also give you salad, banchan and green tea ice cream with your meal.

i hear good things about la baraka and conti's.

in a hurry, i don't mind giardino's on marathon or little neck? i forget. solid, decent italian. nothing jawdropping, but good when you're with a ton of people.

there's this little italian place near the LIRR station that i always meant to stop by but never got a chance to. always crowded.

oh, and you're near bayside... my fave chinese/korean place is on bell (guh song).

i love press 195 on bell (the sister location to the original park slope place). a good panini place.

tequila sunrise on bell also belts out decent mexican food. a tad expensive for the area, but i was extremely impressed with their ceviche and paella.

vipizza is one of my fave slices (bell) and erawan is consistent thai (bell).

enjoy!

[grindy1]

Giardino's is on Douglaston Parkway. The "little Italian place near the LIRR station is Il Toscano. Great food but a bit pricey - http://queens.about.com/cs/restaurant...

[Linda]

thanks for the clarification! i no longer live out in eastern queens, so it's been some time since i've been out there. :-)

[grindy1]

Many good places. Name the cuisine and we'll make recommendations.

[mdog]

Thanks for the help everyone. All this positive feedback about the food makes me/us happier about the move. To answer your question- we love all kinds of food, as long as its good- especially Indian, Mexican and Thai.

[bigjeff]

you're relatively close to floral park so you've got tons of indian places; santoor, and even bombay sizzlers is good. also, lots of snack places; dosas you can get on hillside and 249th, I believe.

as for thai, probably nothing special, all generic type places, and mexican as well, you might just have typical chinese tex-mex and no real taquerias, unfortunately.

[Silverjay]

Northern Manor on Northern, a little west of LN Parkway, for Cantonese.
Santoor on Union, east of LN Parkway, for Indian.

[Helen F]

Kebab House has pretty decent Turkish food, also nearby Le Baraka.

[bigjeff]

been to both (although a while ago) and had some nice meals. classy places, not hole in the wall kebab storefronts.

[lambretta76]

The Vespa on Northern used to be pretty OK - dunno if it's still there or not. (I don't know if it was in LI or Queens.)

Lots of good Korean places as you get closer to Flushing - around Bell Blvd.

[bigjeff]

there's a dae dong which is serviceable, its on northern blvd near the cross island expressway; overall decent place, good naengmyun in the summer if that's what you're into.

[pds8232]

Yup, Scobee's is OK if you know what to order. Stay simple.

Also good is TJK Cafe on LIE Service Rd. near Marathon Pkwy.

Best part of your move? Decent schools & no trouble parking. Ever.

[dhammer53]

Is TJK Cafe a diner or a restaurant? A friend of mine, usually with good taste, recommended this place.

[pds8232]

Moderately price restaurant with good salads, fresh fish, good baby back ribs and nice desserts. Reasonably priced. Try their white wine sangria.