What are your top five Queens restaurants?

[Wet Towel]

And what are your top five dishes in Queens? Overlap is logical, but not necessary.

[BigV]

My list changed from the time you posted this when I learned El Coyote in Jamaica had closed its doors. Sigh. I'll be a little different and go with best value / food quality combo with a couple honorable mentions for places I go to frequently where I work (LIC) and live (NE Queens):

* Salut, Rego Park (love the kebabs, hummus, lagman soup, bread, cucumber/tomato salad- the service isn't super friendly and the atmosphere is a bit old school but for some strange reason that enhances the experience for me)

* Pio Pio, Jackson Heights. If only my local Boston Market would close down so I wouldn't have to go so far for Pio Pio's chicken.

* Avli, Baysde- if only for their stuffed chicken special (it's not always on the menu but they make it if you request it)

* Joe's Shanghai, Flushing- crab/pork soup dumplings, shanghai noodles (w/chicken), and young chow fried rice. Then walk over to Sago for some bubble tea (strawberry black, peach, and passion are all excellent).

* Tortilleria Nixtamal. It's not a full menu but everything they have is excellent and super inexpensive.

Honorable mention: Utopia Bagels, Stork's Bakery, Tony's Beechhurst Deli, La Vuelta, Bella Via, Court Square Diner (as judged against other diners), De Mole, Turkish Grill

[Polecat]

Good to see Tony's Beechhurst Deli get an honorable mention. I think it's one of the most underrated places in the city. As much as I like Leo's/Mama's in Corona, I like Tony's better. Plus, the staff is a very classy, nice, friendly crew. On the other end of the friendly spectrum, Salut's waitstaff can be ice cold. That said, I also dig the food and the overall vibe; haven't been there in quite some time, though. I've only had the souvlaki sandwich at Avli - liked it very much.

P

[janie]

the pasticcio is very good at Avli, but the chicken kebab was average. Service was not too good, either.

[PlomeekSoup]

Restaurants:
Avli (Greek in Bayside)
Mundo (Turkish fusion in Astoria)
De Mole (Mexican in Sunnyside)
Bonne Saison (Thai/French in Bayside)
Happy Buddha (Chinese vegetarian in Flushing)

Dishes:
Slice from Polito's
Spanakopita from Avli
Red Sonja from Mundo
Vegetarian duck w/red curry from Bonne Saison
Any combo meal from Veggie Castle II

[icelandadam]

burger at donovans, salted crab with mango salad at ayada, grilled chicken hearts at zabb, tongue tacos at coatizingo, lamb chop kabob dish at afghan kebab house

[queenseats]

Dim Sum: Jade Asian (Flushing)
Italian/American Bistro: Vesta (Astoria)
Brazilian: Malagueta (Astoria)
Lebanese: Wafa's (Forest Hills)
Venezuelan Arepas: Arepas Cafe (Astoria)

Some favorite dishes:
Biryani at Southern Spice
Lamb Sandwich at Xian
Any soup at Vesta
Green bean salad at Il Bambino
Guyanesa Tropical arepa at Arepas Cafe

[Val55]

Tournesol, Sapori d'Ischia, Sri, Imperial Palace, Uva Rara

The snail appetizer at Tournesol, the Fettucini at Sapori, the crab dish at Imperial, the gnocchi at Uva Rara and a slice at Amore's pizza

[diprey]

Imperial Palace, Sripraphai, Little Pepper, Spicy Mina, Stamatis. IIRC, all of them praised on this board. What, only five? OK, here is five more: Southern Spice, La Esquina Criolla, Chengdu Tien Fu, Nick's Pizza, Tournesol.

[norah_j]

Tournesol, Danny Brown's, 5 Burro, My Kitchen, London Lennies.