Queens, NYC restaurant recs--Friday lunch to celebrate law school grad
April 23, 2013 8:01 PM Subscribe
Wise hive mind,
My partner is graduating from law school this May, and we need to find a nice restaurant to eat lunch at following the ceremony. Within 20 minutes driving distance from Flushing, Queens, preferred, 30 minutes max for something great.
The requirements:
-within 20-30 minutes driving distance from Flushing, Queens
-must be able to seat a table of 10 comfortably and be used to big groups
-must take reservations
-$30-$50 a head
-parking lot or easy neighborhood parking preferred
-fancy-ish atmosphere (as much as I love a kitschy hole-in-the-wall, my partner's whole family is coming, and would like to commemorate his achievement with something "nice.")
-EXCELLENT FOOD!! I cannot stress this enough. My partner's parents are coming in from California, and I would very much like to go someplace that really shows off what the NYC food world has to offer.
I know that's a lot of requirements, but I'm hoping you all have some excellent suggestions for us. Thanks in advance!
The requirements:
-within 20-30 minutes driving distance from Flushing, Queens
-must be able to seat a table of 10 comfortably and be used to big groups
-must take reservations
-$30-$50 a head
-parking lot or easy neighborhood parking preferred
-fancy-ish atmosphere (as much as I love a kitschy hole-in-the-wall, my partner's whole family is coming, and would like to commemorate his achievement with something "nice.")
-EXCELLENT FOOD!! I cannot stress this enough. My partner's parents are coming in from California, and I would very much like to go someplace that really shows off what the NYC food world has to offer.
I know that's a lot of requirements, but I'm hoping you all have some excellent suggestions for us. Thanks in advance!
Best answer: I thought of L'Incontro as well. I've had some incredible meals there, and I believe it ticks off every item on your list.
Not completely certain about the driving as I don't drive in NYC, but it seems to be within your limits.
posted by bunderful at 8:53 PM on April 23, 2013
Not completely certain about the driving as I don't drive in NYC, but it seems to be within your limits.
posted by bunderful at 8:53 PM on April 23, 2013
What about one of the big Cantonese places in Flushing like East Lake? Or Parkside in Corona?
But in reality 30 minutes is enough time to get to big swathes of Brooklyn and Manhattan as well.
posted by JPD at 4:16 AM on April 24, 2013
But in reality 30 minutes is enough time to get to big swathes of Brooklyn and Manhattan as well.
posted by JPD at 4:16 AM on April 24, 2013
Flushing is a Mecca for Chinese and Korean food. If that's a viable choice for the family, get thee to Yelp and Chowhound and pick a place. They will all seat tables of ten easily and handle groups by default. Your price point is easily managed, outside of delicacies you won't likely be offered (and might not even like).
Parkside is an awesome choice but bringing it in at $50 after tax and tip ($38 before) will take some careful doing, including little or no booze, and a table for ten on a popular graduation day at Queens College or St. John's could be tough to get at late notice.
If my worst enemy were a Californian, I wouldn't ask him to try to find his way from St. Johns or QC/CUNY to Astoria in 20-30 minutes behind the wheel of a rental car. Queens geography and driving isn't for the faint of heart, even with a GPS.
posted by MattD at 4:38 AM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Parkside is an awesome choice but bringing it in at $50 after tax and tip ($38 before) will take some careful doing, including little or no booze, and a table for ten on a popular graduation day at Queens College or St. John's could be tough to get at late notice.
If my worst enemy were a Californian, I wouldn't ask him to try to find his way from St. Johns or QC/CUNY to Astoria in 20-30 minutes behind the wheel of a rental car. Queens geography and driving isn't for the faint of heart, even with a GPS.
posted by MattD at 4:38 AM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Hey guys, thanks for the answers so far! Just to clarify, his parents will not be driving a rental car. They will be driven around by native NY'ers who know how to get around, so that consideration is out.
We would like to keep it in Queens, without getting into Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Keep 'em comin'!
posted by dysh at 5:39 AM on April 24, 2013
We would like to keep it in Queens, without getting into Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Keep 'em comin'!
posted by dysh at 5:39 AM on April 24, 2013
In Flushing, the most upscale choices are probably Mulan or Imperial Palace. They're nicer than the rest, though Imperial Palace is more like "nice for a Chinese place."
Definitely post this on the Outer Boroughs board on Chow.com. The posters there are experts at the Flushing food scene (especially polecat, Lau and ScoopG). They can probably help with parking as well -- parking is a nightmare in Flushing on the weekend. I'm not sure how easy it is on a weekday.
posted by kathryn at 6:29 AM on April 24, 2013
Definitely post this on the Outer Boroughs board on Chow.com. The posters there are experts at the Flushing food scene (especially polecat, Lau and ScoopG). They can probably help with parking as well -- parking is a nightmare in Flushing on the weekend. I'm not sure how easy it is on a weekday.
posted by kathryn at 6:29 AM on April 24, 2013
Delicious. And everything else you're looking for. Not superfancy, but not nearly a hole in the wall either -- nice.
posted by troywestfield at 7:05 AM on April 24, 2013
posted by troywestfield at 7:05 AM on April 24, 2013
Response by poster: Sorry to threadsit, but we would prefer to avoid Chinese, Korean, and Thai food if possible. My partner is picky. Sorry, should have mentioned this earlier.
posted by dysh at 8:48 AM on April 24, 2013
posted by dysh at 8:48 AM on April 24, 2013
That really narrows the list down in Queens then. L'Impero and Parkside are the two big Italian options. (Don Peppe's is expensive and not very good)
Zum Stammstitch for German?
If you called ahead to Ali Kebab Cafe he might be able to whip you up something super cool?
One of the Greek Places in Astoria?
Danny Brown in Forest Hills (maybe the best "fancy" dining option out there - can't believe I forgot about it)
posted by JPD at 8:54 AM on April 24, 2013
Zum Stammstitch for German?
If you called ahead to Ali Kebab Cafe he might be able to whip you up something super cool?
One of the Greek Places in Astoria?
Danny Brown in Forest Hills (maybe the best "fancy" dining option out there - can't believe I forgot about it)
posted by JPD at 8:54 AM on April 24, 2013
If you called ahead to Ali Kebab Cafe he might be able to whip you up something super cool?
I don't think you can even fit 10 people into Kebab Cafe. It's not that great a place for picky eaters (there's no menu, you eat what he has and it's often organ meat), and it's in no way upscale. Mismatched furniture, weird claustrophobic layout, and last time I was there, I sat next to a big flat of bottled water. And it's also cash only.
Danny Brown in Forest Hills (maybe the best "fancy" dining option out there - can't believe I forgot about it)
They don't serve lunch.
Maybe the newly opened MP Taverna in Astoria? Here's the lunch/dinner menu.
posted by kathryn at 9:55 AM on April 24, 2013
I don't think you can even fit 10 people into Kebab Cafe. It's not that great a place for picky eaters (there's no menu, you eat what he has and it's often organ meat), and it's in no way upscale. Mismatched furniture, weird claustrophobic layout, and last time I was there, I sat next to a big flat of bottled water. And it's also cash only.
Danny Brown in Forest Hills (maybe the best "fancy" dining option out there - can't believe I forgot about it)
They don't serve lunch.
Maybe the newly opened MP Taverna in Astoria? Here's the lunch/dinner menu.
posted by kathryn at 9:55 AM on April 24, 2013
Does your partner like Greek food? Taverna Kyclades is really extremely good. You'd have to check with them about reservations; I know they don't take them for small tables but a party of 10 might be a different story.
posted by Mender at 8:44 PM on April 24, 2013
posted by Mender at 8:44 PM on April 24, 2013
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posted by wondermouse at 8:31 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]