Enjoy this roundup of restaurants and pubs in Forest Hills.
Your favorite spot isn't listed? Or there's one you wouldn't set foot in if they paid you? Share your Forest Hills tastes (after years of comments below, we're bringing only the most recent 2009 and 2010 comments to a new page, See the new comments section here).
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Garcias for Mexican food – huge portions, friendly service!!
Lillian’s Pizza, and Capolinea or alot better then Nicks Pizza,
For Cheap Italian – go to ‘Ariana’s’ on Austin Street. There you can eat-in or take-out. For a great, but expensive Italian meal – go to ‘Portofino’ on Ascan Avenue or ‘Pasta del Giorno’ on Austin Street. Both are good date restaurants as well. For chinese takeout – ‘Chopsticks’. They have good portions for cheap prices. They also have a sushi bar. For very good sit-down Chinese food, ‘Tung Shing House’ on Queens Blvd. in Rego Park (corner of 65th Road). They have sushi as well. The best bagels are undoubtedly from ‘Gotta Getta Bagel’ on Continental Avenue/71st Avenue. The best desserts from ‘Broadway Bakery’ on Continental Avenue/71st Avenue. For good mexican – go to ‘Sargent Garcia’s’. They have a nice atmosphere. If you want take-out, cheap Mexican, try ‘Fresco Tortillas’ on Austin Street. For Indian, without a doubt ‘Tandoor’. It is located on Queens Blvd. in Rego Park. Good bar/restaurant? Irish Cottage and the Wine Gallery take the cake. They are both on Austin Street.
Happy eating!
Do not buy chinese food from Hing Shing kictchen, 104-09 Metropolitan Ave. there food stinks and their attitude is very bad. I had to take dumping back because they screwed it up twice. The casheir was rude and obnovious. I live in forest hills, this is not the kind of place that should be acceptable.
Thai-Bangkok Cuisine off Austin…excellent food, great atmosphere,friendly service…consistently good and very reasonably priced! Mexican-Sgt. Garcia…generous portions of good food,great service and awesome margaritas…not salty and crowded like the 5 burro cafe…Cabana’s for when you want great Latin food albeit in a packed setting, well worth the wait it takes to get a table as the service is excellent and the drinks strong!
austin street isnt the only place is forest hills with good restaraunts.. metro ave is filled with restaraunts.. my personal favorite is tutte bene rest.. its great.. try it !
i agree with michelle go to tutto bene on metro ave for great italian cuisine and music
Thanks Michelle and Jacob for the Metro Ave recs. Have you tried Olivia Bistro on that street?
http://queens.about.com/b/a/217621.htm
I’ve eaten at Rouge twice and had someone order me a meal delivered home. It’s never been worth it.
Tokyo Teriyaki is the hidden pearl of Forest Hills’ grubbery. Not only is there a unique aura as you walk towards the restaurant with the Mr. Myagi-like domain feel, but the Chicken Teriyaki isn’t “to-die-for,”… no, indeed, it is to live for! It’s amazing. The only downer is you have to suffer the company of the neighboring police precinct’s costumers as well as Russell Sage’s annoying “skater crowd”.
Trust me, get the Chicken Teriyaki.
I would never go to Rouge again!
After eating our meal, we saw a mouse running through the place. One woman was screaming and running towards the bathroom. I would have preferred to see the mouse before I ate!
I have live in Forest Hills for 10 years and haven eaten in just about all the restaurants. Every restaurants have their own Personal ambiance. I love Italian food and I found 3 restaurants that offers excellent food and their own personal ambiance. La Terraza on Queens Blvd is a lovely inexpensive restaurant with excellent food,lovely staff and friendly atmosphere.At night,it offers an air of personal/romantic intimate setting for relaxation with family, friends or just you alone. Watch the world go by as you view the crossroads of Queens Blvd from the window or thr sidewalk cafe. Portifino is another restaurant with excellent food. The friendly staff, chandliers and mirror keeps you busy as everything moves around you. In a hurry, stop by Past Del Giorno on Austin Street. With its excellent food, friendly staff, and palm trees, will make you feel your in the mix of things!! WHAT EVER MOOD YOUR IN, THESE 3 RESTAURANTS ARE ALL FIVE STARS **** TO us. ITS YOUR PICK!!
- R.DEVITO and C.Ruggerio
There’s a new restaurant called Pampas Argentinas that’s going to open up on Metropolitan. I was passing by and someone was in there so I asked if I could check it out. The Argentine couple (I assume they were the owners) were very kind and showed me around. It’s VERY nice inside. They even opened up a skylight that goes through the second floor! Can’t wait to go back and actually get to eat.
Has anyone ever eaten at the Q Thai Food/Wine bar on Ascan Ave? If so, what did you think? I just moved in down the block and I was curious. It is right across from Nick’s Pizza and down the block from Baskin Robbins.
Also, any night life suggestions for 25-30 yr olds?
RE: Q Thai.
Yes, I have. it was good, but not great. (i’ve had better thai). The atmosphere is lovely, but I think that is what you are paying for. a little pretentious for queens. I don’t mind paying for good food and excellent service and at Qthai, I didn’t get either.
anyone have any suggestions for a fun halloween night in forest hills? thanks!
I think Dirty Pierre’s in Station Square is the most fun place to have drinks in FH, but don’t know if they’re doing anything special for Halloween.
Austin Street was the worse place to go for Halloween. At 5pm 90& of the stores already had their signs shielding them from children with “No More Candy” posted. How insulting for them to lie like that. Everyone knows parents bring out the little ones around 4pm to 6pm. One store claimed they ran out at 2pm. I guess they were giving candy to adults, because no kid is out at that time for Halloween. Its a great place to spend your money, but it seems the stores care little to give back to its patrons. Can you believe Rite Aid turned us away at 5pm with “no more candy”. They were though willing to sell us a few hundred bags from their overstocked aisles.
Hey Courtney and everyone else check out La Terraza at 108-22 Queens Blvd (next door to Midway Theater…Thursday, Friday & Saturday they have Happy Hour from 11:00 pm – 3:00 a.m. with music and TV Heard they will soon have Karokee. Also from 2:00p.m – 6:00p.m every day they have 2 for 1 drink specials!! Very nice atmosphere, we had a great time, nice people. Check it out yourself. Fun people.
Just went to Tutto Bene last night and had a fantastic time. It is my favorite restaurant in the area. The service was great, we sang, we danced, drank excellent wine….hard to beat! I give it 5 stars!
Does anyone have any good nightlife recommendations around Austin St besides the Burro Cafe? It is always so crowded. Something for 20-30-somethings?
good food, horrible and rude service. i was there with my family and were treated as if they were doing us a favor. i’ve been there before and its not done on a first come first serve basis. I can’t quite figure out houw they decide. An all around bad experience.
@Courtney – I like Dirty Pierre’s for a drink, less crowded than the Burros, but for sure it’s got a divey atmostphere. The Jade Lounge tries to be more upscale.
@long time resident – Which restaurant do you mean?
Cabana restaurant on 70 road in forest hill is by far the best latin food in queens.The paella is to die for and i always have a mohito or red sangria. The price is really good.Appertizer,entree,desert,coffee,and two drinks cost $49 without the tip. T g i friday i spend more and it micro food.
For Valentine’s day I decided to have some “authentic” Japanese food from Ran. I had heard nice things about the place and the review they got in the Queens Tribunes was nice. I walked in at 8:00PM and there was a table of 6 already eating, a table of two finishing up, a couple at the sushi bar also finishing up and a couple who sat down as I was ordering take out. I was told that the order would take 30 minutes. I was pleased to see that the sushi chef was Japanese as well as the waitress- you just can’t tell these days. I went out to run an errand and came back 10 minutes later. The waitress told me it would be another 10 minutes so I sat down to wait. Another couple sat down and ordered. I waited, and waited and waited. The couple that came in last, asked about their dinner and were told something. 10 minutes later, they got up and left. They were clearly disappointed as this was Valentine’s day. It was 8:45. I asked for my order and was told it would be up any minute. The couple that came in AFTER me, finished their meal and paid. I waited. Past 9:00PM it had been over an hour, and the waitress brought me some tea. At this point, there was no where else I could go. I was screwed- unhappy wife at home and me starving. I waited some more. It was now an HOUR and a HALF. I decided to leave, and told the waitress so. She told me the food would be ready in a moment. I explained that it was an hour and a half already that I had waited, that it was now 9:40PM and that Valentine’s day was essentially over, and that Ran had ruined a nice evening. She stared at me aimlessly saying “but your food will be ready in a moment”. Too little, too late. Completely frustrated, I left and went to Wendy’s. Nice Valentine’s day dinner. The fact that the first couple got up to leave should have signalled to me that things were going bad. NEVER again will I go back to this place to eat in or take out.
Q Thai Bistro is awesome. Everything on the menu is delicious! Drunken Noodles, Twister Shrimp, and Curry Salmon are some of my favorites and the atmosphere is beautiful. Definitely check it out!
The best new restaurant in Forest Hills is Pampas Argentinas!! The steak is incredible and the empanadas are the best I’ve had. I haven’t heard too much about this place I guess because it is new but I recommend it highly. The place is really nice inside too. Can’t wait to go back and try some other dishes on the menu.
Best Restaurant in Forest Hills is La Terrazza! The Tuesday Buffet and Sunday brunch give the best bang for the buck! Food is delicious, service is great, decor is beautiful! Excellent! Highly recommend!
Visit them online at http://www.laterrazzaqueens.com
Has everyone forgotten Mardi Gras ? If you are in the mood for some finger lickin down-south Louisiana food, just hit the restaurant on Austin. Food can get greasy though, if we weigh in the hot appetizers. However, over-all the food is great. Try the Voodoo Pasta. If the right Chef is preparing it, you will go back for more.
Cabana restaurant, right off Austin is also great when it comes to latin food and Mojitos. Try the Mariquitas ( i believe thats the name ). The fried dry banana with garlic. I always ask for a second garlic sauce
Their steaks are good also, even though if you order the Lunch size, they are rather small.
Most other restaurants around Austin street are franchises and you can find their food in many other places (ex. TGIF, UNOs Pizzeria)
Well, these were my picks. Enjoy.
UJ’s has been closed for a while, may want to take it off this list!
My Kitchen on Metro is EXCELLENT!!!!
Thai Pot on Queens Blvd. has the best Thai…I don’t know why everybody always overlooks it, but it’s reasonably priced and absolutely amazing.
UJ’s diner has been closed for months. Someone is not doing their homework…
Ouch! Missed UJs on last update…fixed. Thanks, Jen and Danielle.
Naritas – great Japanese restaurant. Eat once a week there. Friendly staff.
5 Burros….. RUDE staff. it is like they are doing you a favor. Great food though. Watch out for the roaches.
I would never in my life go to Pinang at 111-10 Queens Blvd again, because I saw a roaches in my Pad Thai noodle. I was just dine in there last week, very poor management. The lady owner took the dish away without saying anything.
La Terrazza is HORRIBLE.
For an Italian Restaurant, there was no garlic in my dish and it was very bland.
The service is horrible, we ordered a bottle of Pouilly Fousse(sp) and when the waiter came out and put a cheap bottle of crap on my table he got insulted when I said I didn’t want it. They are also very rude….I will never ever go back to this place.
For the best Italian Food, go to Barosa’s on Woodhaven Blvd.
Rose, is that you from Barosa’s trying to promote your restaurant because your business is doing bad. Shame, shame, shame. There is no reason to try and berate someone elses restaurant because Barosa is doing bad. Maybe that is why they are doing bad, because of you. La Terrazza is a lovely restaurant and the amount of people that come in every day proves it. Personally, maybe the problem is you! No one every heard of Barosa’s on Woodhaven and I think you are trying to destroy La Terrazza reputation to build up Barosas. umm! I guess your the fool and what a fool believes, they deceive. The food, ambiance,waiters and waitress are very good at La Terrazza.(check out the reviews from the newspapers on the website, it speaks for itself) The owners would not accept less. Also, for your information, LaTerrazza do not use Pouilly Fousse(sp) water, they have Pelligrino water on the table. Everyone who ever ate there knows that. Maybe you brought your own cheap water in a Pouilly Fousse bottle and tried to pass it off as La Terrazza’s water. Needlesstosay, Laterrazza have been doing business at108-22 Queens Blvd for over 8 years, evidently, their food can’t be that bad since they are still there!! I definitely question your honesty. For those of you who are independent of jealous people like Rose who like to try and destroy other people business, judge La Terrazza for yourself,Look at LaTerrazza’s beautiful website and read the reviews yourself: http://www.laterrazzaqueens.com and then come to LaTerrazza and judge for yourself.
Bummer,
Luna Sur and Tuto Bene have closed. Both were located on Metropolitan Avenue.
Did someone say Barosa is slow??? Barosa not doing good? Listen up people whoever can say that obviously lives under a rock. Barosa is probably the busiest restaurant in all of Queens. They expanded 3 times and just opened a new restaurant in Brooklyn. If that is slow well God bless those guys at Barosa!!!!!
Does anybody know where La Tavernetta Restaurant on 88th street in Glendale relocated to?
I have lived in the neighborhood for 20 years. IMHO, there haven’t been many great restaurants here in Forest Hills/Rego Park but now I think there may be one. My Kithen can cook up incredible dishes. Not everything is at the highest level but even having one fabulous experience is rare in the neighborhood. A few weeks ago I had short ribs cooked in wine and coffee! Sounds weird but it was amazing. The owner is also really nice, you can BYOB with no corkage and the decor/ambience is quire nice.
I have eatten at La Terrazza and had plenty of great times in there, the service and the food is so delicious whoever says the food is bland must have no taste buds.There cook is one of the best,just go and try it out yourself and when you do ask for the shrimp franchese I never tasted anything so great, go and try it, you will love the ambiance of the restaurant,delicious!!
Im surprised that 5 burro isnt mentioned in the list of top burgers. There meat is always perfectly cooked and juicy, and who could go wrong with their spicy fries and a corona.
La Tavernetta is on Metropolitan Avenue now.
Best food is at Barosa……….. no doubt!!!! What a place..and not expensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Garcia’s is great, good food big portions and nice bar atmosphere
One of my (and my siblings in NY) restaurant is Chalet Alpina on Metropolitan Ave. Wonderful German food served by a friend staff and two wonderful co-owners. The variety of the menu is great, and the food is first class. Dinner here
at Christmastime is my Christmas presents to my family.
The best — by far — is DB Wine Bar on Metropolitan.
After that, I would say Bangkok Cuisine, which I knew when I lived in Hell’s Kitchen. Always excellent, always friendly, always reliable.
Aged is very good as well.
After that, I would say Nick’s Pizza is the best pizza in Queens, by far.
There are no good real Chinese places in the area any more, even Tung Shing house went downhill. We go to Flushing. Avoid the one on 70th at all costs.
Mardi Gras used to be good, but is horrendous now. Sushi Time makes very good sushi. The Greek place is too lemony (I’m Greek). Pasta del Giorno is meh and feels dingy. Jade is very good. Pinang is good but dirty. Ripe is ok. Cheeburger Cheeburger is actually rather tasty, believe it or not.
Uno rides the failure mark in health inspections.
The rest I avoid like the plague or have not tried.
I went to Danny Brown’s for Valentine’s Day. I had been there before and liked it but was stunned this time around. I found a nail in my pasta! Needless to say I will not return and will absolutely no longer recommend Danny Brown’s as I had in the past. TERRIBLE!