Eatery Enclaves in Queens: Long Island City & Astoria

Faith Hope Consolo
  • RATIONAL USA
  • The NRF Show 2025
  • DAVO by Avalara
  • ERA Group
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • Easy Ice
  • The Scientific Group
  • Olo Catering
  • Food Export Northeast USA
  • Simplot Maple City
  • Imperial Dade
  • Baldor
  • AyrKing Mixstir
  • Day & Nite
  • SFA Winter Fancy Food Show 2025
  • T&S Brass Eversteel Pre-Rinse Units
  • Red Gold BBQ

Queens is home to the best neighborhoods to nosh. Long Island City and Astoria are the two westernmost neighborhoods in the neighborhood and closest to Manhattan. Enjoy this “royal” dining scene, where Queens wears the crown.

In Long Island City, aka LIC:

Center Boulevard, along the East River, is home to new residential developments with jaw dropping views and luxury living, and the dining scene has followed suit. The bar and restaurant scene takes its tone from Manhattan, a hop, skip and jump away. Transportation connections are concentrated and convenient; subway lines (E, M, G, 7, R, N, Q, and F) all stop in LIC, as well as the LIRR. Join me on a tempting tour of the best…

Alobar Restaurant (46-42 Vernon Boulevard). New American Cuisine with a farm-to-table vibe in a rustic chic space. Thursdays are Jazz night.

Blend on the Water (4540 Center Boulevard) Modern restaurant and lounge; cocktails, gourmet Latin-inspired food and expansive water views.

BLVD Wine Bar (4720 Center Boulevard) “offers wines, craft beers, champagne, champagne cocktails, artisanal cheeses, fine charcuterie, and other scrumptious eats.”

  • SFA Winter Fancy Food Show 2025
  • Food Export Northeast USA
  • Olo Catering
  • The NRF Show 2025
  • Red Gold BBQ
  • Simplot Maple City
  • DAVO by Avalara
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • Baldor
  • T&S Brass Eversteel Pre-Rinse Units
  • ERA Group
  • The Scientific Group
  • Day & Nite
  • Imperial Dade
  • RATIONAL USA
  • Easy Ice
  • AyrKing Mixstir

Il Falco Restaurant (21-50 44th Drive) Serves up fine Italian specialties courtesy of two Il Mulino alums.

Dutch Kills Long Island City Queens
The one and only Dutch Kills Bar in Long Island City, Queens

M. Wells at Dutch Kills (27-24 Jackson Avenue) Cocktail destination now offers a menu from Huge Dufour and Sarah Obraitis, behind the Michelin-starred M. Wells Steakhouse. Located south of the 59th Street Bridge and north of Court Square and the Citigroup building.

Maiella (4610 Center Boulevard)Classic Italian dishes with a modern touch. Located at the base of the iconic Pepsi sign in Gantry State Park featuring spectacular city views.

Mundo New York (37-06 36th Street) is located within the industrial-chic Paper Factory Hotel, a 10-minute subway ride from Midtown. Menu is a wholesome and sumptuous blend of Mediterranean and Latin influences.

Penthouse 808 at the Ravel Hotel (Rooftop – 8-08 Queens Plaza South) A giant indoor and outdoor rooftop restaurant, lounge and events space with breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline and Queensboro Bridge. Serves up Hawaiian and Asian inspired Pacific Rim cuisine from Executive Chef Seth Levine. A statement space!

SHI (4720 Center Blvd) Sweeping views of the NYC skyline featuring Pan-Asian cuisine. Chic ambiance.

Sushi Daizen (47-38 Vernon Boulevard) Minimalist, contemporary spot for cosmopolitan Sushi, Sashimi omakase or by à la carte.

Fushia Restaurant (44-29 9th Street) Modern Asian Cuisine located on the ground floor of Wyndham Garden Hotel.

In Astoria: 

There are diverse dining options on every block.Find multiple corridors brimming with restaurants, cafes, and bars that celebrate the flavors that came to our shores from Italy, Greece, North Africa, and Latin America and more.

Christos Steak House (4108 23rd Avenue) American Steak House with a Mediterranean Influence.

Crave Astoria (28-55 36th Street) Casual spot with lots of Greek & American dishes, plus Belgian-style chips all served until late. Area delivery favorite, will start serving brunch Saturdays and Sundays in early September.

IL Bambino Astoria Queens
A tasty chicken panini from IL Bambino in Astoria, Queens.

IL Bambino (34-08 31st Avenue) A delicious spot, and their philosophy says it best: “To share our passion for hand-made meats, cheeses ,and fresh bread with as many people as possible. Of those, we use a couple of different varieties of prosciutto, such as smoked (speck) and un-smoked (Di Parma); our salumi range from mild to strong, and our cheeses are both fresh and aged – all offered with our own selection of flavorful homemade condiments. Our Italian ciabattina bread is baked each day, exclusively for our panini and crostini. We also offer a small, but precise selection of unique wines and beer to complement our food.”

Piccola Venezia (42-01 28th Ave at 42nd St) “Fine-dining Northern Italian restaurant specializing in fresh home-made pastas, the freshest seafood, prime meats and game and world-class wines.”

Pachanga Patterson (33–17 31st Avenue) “We’ve come to love this mash-up of Mexico and NYC. It’s, creative, innovative and without pretense. We are a Mexican influenced restaurant that lets seasonal ingredients help guide our menus.”

Queens Comfort (40-09 30th Avenue) cash-only eatery serving “no holds barred comfort food” in a simple setting. The team behind Queens Comfort also opened new burger restaurant Flattopps, (3306 Ditmars Boulevard).

The Queens Kickshaw (40-17 Broadway) Cory Estelle, formerly of Venturo, in Sunnyside, is now the chef. Now offering an all-day menu of grilled cheese sandwiches and small plates.

The Shady Lady (34-19 30th Avenue) Weekend brunch is divine and the vibe is urban chic. “Global comfort. Delicious tapas in a warm atmosphere – tasty cocktails, fun & friendly staff. A place for grown-ups don’t take themselves too seriously.”

The Strand Smokehouse (25-27 Broadway) “We are the smokehouse, restaurant and bar in Astoria, NY specializing in smokes meats, great beers and powerful whiskey.”

Trattoria L’Incontro (21-76 31 Street) Fine Italian restaurant with a special-occasion ambiance and an extensive menu. Everyone who dines here raves.

Uncle Jack’s Meat House (36-16 Ditmars Boulevard) “Restaurant Stakeout” host Willie Degel is renovating the former Square Hardware space and turning it into Uncle Jack’s Meat House. A farm-to-table bar and grill with a speakeasy in the basement that patrons can only access with a password.

Vesta Trattoria & Wine Bar (21-02 30th Avenue) “Vesta is a neighborhood restaurant. We are inspired by Italy, the local green market and a commitment to a menu without boundaries. We welcome you to enjoy our wines by the shot, glass or bottle.”

Food boundaries are always in flux; watch for my next edition of Faithful Food! Happy Dining!

  • ERA Group
  • Day & Nite
  • SFA Winter Fancy Food Show 2025
  • The Scientific Group
  • Simplot Maple City
  • Olo Catering
  • Food Export Northeast USA
  • AyrKing Mixstir
  • Easy Ice
  • RATIONAL USA
  • Red Gold BBQ
  • DAVO by Avalara
  • The NRF Show 2025
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • Imperial Dade
  • Baldor
  • T&S Brass Eversteel Pre-Rinse Units