Joe's BestBurger, Queens (Flushing)

When it comes to hamburgers, fresh is almost always better, which is probably why Joe's BestBurger (their spelling, not ours) in the Flushing section of Queens gets such good reviews for their burgers. But it's not the only thing that is fresh at this local favorite; the cheese they use is fresh, as are the veggies they put on their burgers. And the fries are handcut, which is also a big plus. In fact, the only negative about Joe's BestBurger might be the fact that it is so far away from Manhattan that if you're visiting that part of the Big Apple only, it may be rather difficult to get to this independent fast-food joint (Flushing is nearly 10 miles from Times Square).

The menu at Joe's BestBurger is pretty simple and straightforward; big, juicy burgers with fries, with the option of getting a single, double, or triple burger. Joe's also offers chicken sandwiches, and if you like cheese on your fries, you indeed can get that here. And for drinks, in addition to the standard sodas and bottled water, you can get shakes, including a hot fudge shake.

If you have been to Joe's BestBurger in the Flushing section of Queens, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for Joe's BestBurger:
Joe's BestBurger
39-11 Main St
Queens (Flushing), NY, 11375

The phone number is:
(718) 445-8065‎

And here is the Web site for Joe's BestBurger:
http://www.joesbestburger.com/

5 Burro Cafe, Queens (Forest Hills)

Authentic Mexican food can be great, but sometimes you just want food that leans more toward the Tex-Mex side of things. Unfortunately, for many people, the only nearby options for this kind of food are chain restaurants, some of which are not good at all. So that may be partly the reason why 5 Burro Cafe in the Forest Hills section of Queens is such a popular place with locals. It is an independent spot with some authentic Mexican touches inside the place, and is a favorite for both food and drink.

5 Burro Cafe is a fairly small spot that is located just south of Queens Boulevard near where the Grand Central Parkway and the Van Wyck intersect. It is far enough away from Manhattan (more than 5 miles away, actually) to be a spot that few visitors to the Big Apple will ever get to see. The menu at 5 Burro Cafe consists of all the items you might expect at a Tex-Mex place, including enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas, burritos, and chimichangas. Prices for entrees aren't that bad, with most items being between $10 and $20. 5 Burro Cafe also has an extensive drink menu, including very large pitchers of margaritas.

If you have been to 5 Burro Cafe in the Forest Hills section of Queens, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for 5 Burro Cafe:
5 Burro Cafe
7205 Austin Street
Queens (Forest Hills), NY, 11375

The phone number is:
(718) 544-2984

And here is the Web site for 5 Burro Cafe:
http://5burrocafe.com/

Casa Romana, Queens (Sunnyside)

Queens has a fairly large Romanian population, with many living in the Sunnyside section of the borough (just east of Manhattan, along Queens Boulevard). And not surprisingly, there are a number of Romanian restaurants in the area, including one with a mix of authentic Romanian cuisine and traditional entertainment called Casa Romana.

Located right on Queens Boulevard, Casa Romana is easy to get to from Manhattan, especially if you have a car and there is little traffic, in which case you can get there in maybe 5 minutes from Midtown East. The atmosphere is old-world European, with a cozy, intimate feel. The menu at Casa Romana features a variety of Eastern European and Romanian specialties, including stews, stuffed mushrooms, pork chops, and sausages. Prices are mostly moderate.

If you have been to Casa Romana in the Sunnyside section of Queens, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for Casa Romana:
Casa Romana
3920 Queens Boulevard
Queens (Sunnyside), NY, 11104

The phone number is:
(718) 784-4768

And here is the Web site for Casa Romana:
http://www.casaromanarestaurant.com/

Il Toscano, Queens (Douglaston)

There are finds, and then there are finds. And Il Toscano in the wealthy outer regions of Queens (Douglaston) certainly seems to be one. This Northern Italian restaurant is popular mainly with locals from this beautiful part of Queens as well as other sections of Long Island's North Shore (including the aptly-named Gold Coast). It is an attractive, intimate little restaurant that has been around since the mid-1980s, yet is still mostly a hidden gem. And while it is more than 10 miles from the urban canyons of Manhattan, but really isn't all that difficult to get to if you're coming from Westchester County, the Bronx, or Connecticut.

The menu at Il Toscano features a variety of Northern Italian entrees (as well as some Southern Italian dishes), including duck confit spring rolls, baby chicken with Tuscan sausage, double-cut veal chops, grilled branzino (sea bass), spinach pappardelle, fettuccini with shrimp, spinach and cheese ravioli, and lasagna with with both bolognese sauce and bechamel sauce.

If you have been to Il Toscano in the Douglaston section of Queens, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for Il Toscano:
Il Toscano
4205 235th Street
Queens (Douglaston), NY, 11363

The phone number is:
(718) 631-0300

And here is the Web site for Il Toscano:
http://iltoscanony.com/

Cheburechnaya, Queens (Rego Park)

Let's face it; while most restaurants can be classified in one or maybe two categories, there are some dining spots for which it simply can't be done. Take Cheburechnaya in the Rego Park section of Queens, for example. Is it Kosher? Middle Eastern? Bukharian? Russian? Uzbek? Tajik? Well, the case can be made for any/all of these categories of cuisine. But no matter how you categorize Cheburechnaya, the bottom line is that its menu is varied and fascinating, with many dishes that you may actually have never heard of.

Cheburechnaya, which is a short distance southwest of Forest Hills and Flushing, is a fairly large restaurant with a capacity of about 100. Its menu, as mentioned above, is varied, with such exotic items as chebureki, samcy, grilled branzini, sea bass kebabs, veal liver kebabs, and lamb heart kebabs. The menu also features some more familiar dishes as pea soup, salmon steak, humus, spaghetti and meatballs, and grape leaves.

If you have been to Cheburechnaya in the Rego Park section of Queens, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for Cheburechnaya:
Cheburechnaya
92-09 63rd Drive
Queens (Rego Park), NY, 11374

The phone number is:
(718) 897-9080

And here is the Web site for Cheburechnaya:
http://www.cheburechnaya.com/

Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden, Queens (Long Island City)

The Astoria neighborhood within the Long Island City section of Queens is a bustling area that is home to countless restaurants, including a number of Greek dining spots as well as some Eastern and Central European restaurants. In the latter category is a Czech restaurant on 24th Avenue that has the last original outdoor beer garden in the six boroughs of New York. The Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden, as it is known, is an historic landmark that has been around since the early 1900s, and oozes history from every nook and cranny.

The Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden consists of an indoor restaurant and bar in addition to the outdoor beer garden. The menu consists of a variety of traditional Czech dishes, including chicken crepes, chicken schnitzel, goulash and dumplings, Pirogies, and potato pancakes. And, of course, the place has a huge beer list, including a number of microbrews.

If you have been to Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in the Long Island City section of Queens, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden:
Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden
2919 24th Avenue
Queens (Long Island City), NY, 11435

The phone number is:
(718) 274-4925

And here is the Web site for the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden:
http://www.bohemianhall.com/

O Lavrador, Queens (Jamaica)

Portuguese restaurants, while plentiful in parts of neighboring New England (especially around Fall River, New Bedford, Providence, and Cambridge), are relatively difficult to find in and around New York City. But there is a Portuguese dining spot in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens called O Lavrador Restaurant that has quite a local following.

Just a short drive from JFK Airport, O Lavrador is a good alternative to the chain restaurants that can be found around this area. The atmosphere at O Lavrador is a mix of traditional Portuguese and old-school New York, and the menu features such dishes as chourico, octopus, collard green soup, chicken cutlets, codfish stew, shrimp and rice, and sirloin steak with ham and egg on in brown sauce.

If you have been to O Lavrador in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for O Lavrador:
O Lavrador Restaurant
138-140 101st Avenue
Queens (Jamaica), NY, 11435

The phone number is:
(718) 526-1526

And here is the Web site for O Lavrador:
http://lighthousenews.us/restaurants/olavrador/

Zlata Praha, Queens (Astoria)

In our last entry, we featured a Polish restaurant in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. This time, we head a bit north (or south, cuisine-wise) to a Czech and Slovak restaurant called Zlata Praha in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens.

Zlata Praha is a relatively little-known restaurant that does, however, attract famous Czechs (such as the former NHL hockey player Dominik Hasek) when they happen to be in town. The atmosphere is old-Europe, and the menu items reflect this, with such entrees as sauerbraten, papirkash, goulash, boiled beef, stuffed cabbage rollentine, fruit dumplings, and breaded cauliflower. Prices are reasonable, with main dishes generally being well under $20.

If you have been to Zlata Praha in the Astoria section of Queens, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for Zlata Praha:
Zlata Praha
28-48 31st Street
Queens (Astoria), NY, 11102

The phone number is:
(718) 721-6422

And here is the Web site for Zlata Praha:
http://www.zlatapraha.cc/main.htm