The Best of Queens Restaurant Week

Borough Restaurant Picks by Local Bloggers and Chowhounds

By John Roleke

Updated 04/10/18

Christo's Steakhouse
Christo's Steakhouse. Courtesy of Christo's

Queens bloggers, foodies, and the Chowhound Chief himself weigh in on the best eats for the borough's Restaurant Week. Find out which places they think are worthy of the $25 special menu, or at least trying for the first time.

Queens Restaurant Week lasts only two weeks. Find participating restaurants and make sure to call the restaurants for reservations and more details on their special menus.

  • 01 of 07

    Best for Fish and Seafood

    London Lennie's
    London Lennie's in Rego Park. Courtesy of London Lennie's
    London Lennie's, 63-88 Woodhaven Blvd, Rego Park, 718-894-8084, lunch and dinner
    If you love seafood, this is the best choice in the 2011 Queens Restaurant Week. If you love seafood, you probably already knew this. London Lennie's has been a destination restaurant in central Queens for years. The $25 meal is your chance to get reacquainted or indulge for the fist time in Lennie's seafood. Take advantage!
  • 02 of 07

    Best Bang for the Buck, Best Steak, and Best Argentinean

    La Fusta, 80-32 Baxtor Ave, Elmhurst, NY, 718-429-8222

    Mighty Argentinean grill La Fusta earns a couple of top nods. NYC foodie and writer Krista Garcia says, "Restaurant Week is kind of about bang for the buck, so for my $20.07 I would hope for something grilled and meaty from La Fusta, the oldest Argentinean restaurant in NYC."

    But it's not just the oldest, according to Seth Kugel, coauthor of the Nueva York book and blog: "La Fusta is the greatest Argentine restaurant in Elmhurst, in Queens, in New York, and I would say the world if it weren't for some stiff competition in Argentina. Totally non-pretentious, humongous portions, pasta for your vegetarian date, a dulce-de-leche-filled crepe flambé, plenty of English spoken."

  • 03 of 07

    Best Italian in an Appreciated Neighborhood

    Ponticello Restaurant, 46-11 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11103, 718-278-4514

    Leading advocate for why Astoria is "the greatest place on earth," Zora O'Neill, the ​Roving Gastronome and travel book author, is going to use Restaurant Week to explore:

    "My Astoria nomination has to go to Ponticello, an old-school Italian/Istrian place that's a favorite of restaurateur Joe Bastianich (son of the famous Lidia). To be honest, I've never, ever been there because it just seems too blow-out ritzy. The Restaurant Week deal might not be the best way to sample the full spread, but it may actually get me in the door!"

  • 04 of 07

    Best "Top Chef" Hidden in Flushing

    Deluge, 135-20 39th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354, 718-670-7400

    If Restaurant Week isn't an excuse to try Deluge, then there won't ever be a time. Delgue opened up earlier this year in the downtown Flushing Sheraton, and it's staking a claim to eat in Flushing something other than the best regional Chinese food.

    Chef Michael Navarro cooks up some mighty tasty morsels - nouveau American style -- in a drop-dead gorgeous space. The indoor waterfall ain't gimmicky, but very fine.

    Continue to 5 of 7 below.
  • 05 of 07

    Best for Tourists and Best by Boat

    Water's Edge, The East River at 44th Dr, Long Island City, NY, 718-482-0033

    About.com's Manhattan guide Pam Skillings can't seem to forget that tiny island across the East River even when she's talking about Queens. She recommends Water's Edge for "the amazing views of Manhattan."

    Water's Edge only offers a $20 lunch special (and a $35 one for dinner), but maybe even better than the food, is that you can take their ferry boat from Manhattan to the restaurant's dock.

  • 06 of 07

    Best Queens Restaurants We Wish Were Participating

    Every year Queens Restaurant Week gets bigger and better, but you can't eat everything. You'll have to ask these restaurants to join in 2011. Start with Jim Leff's yen for a "lunch at Piccola Venezia (42-01 28th Ave, Astoria), Zum Stammtisch (69-46 Myrtle Ave, Glendale), or Trattoria L'Incontro (21-76 31st St, Astoria)."

    Then let's add northern Italian star Il Toscano (42-05 235th St, Douglaston), and the happiest restaurant on Northern Boulevard, Pio Pio (8415 Northern Blvd, Jackson Heights). And finish with Mets blogger Joe's pick of Erin's Isle (15403 Cross Island Pkwy, Whitestone, 718-746-8456). Ah, time to start saving up that $20.08 for next year.

  • 07 of 07

    Best for Steak with a Greek Twist

    Christo's Steakhouse
    Courtesy of Christo's

    Christo's Steak House, 41-08 23rd Ave, Astoria, 718-777-8400
    Sometimes I look through the restaurants in Restaurant Week and roll my eyes -- $25 isn't much of a deal at some of them. That's not the case at Christo's. Not at all. A $25 dinner at this Greek-style steakhouse is perfect here. Try it. You'll be happy.