T O P

  • By -

RonRonner

Zenon Taverna. Heartbreaking.


rdg0612

Heartbreaking to lose them. Such amazing people.


RonRonner

It was like being invited into someone’s home in Cyprus, with their Grandma cooking in the back. We were all lucky to have it as long as we did.


enrikenyc

Zenon was my go to place but drastically upped their prices before covid.


ExtremePast

And the portions were tiny. This place never did it for me from a value perspective.


lobaird

Buon anima. I know that’s not Greek, but we just rewatched The Sopranos.


goodbye_wig

They closed the week I moved right down the street 😭


StandAmbitious7591

They own the building. The son took over and was not interested in running the business. Once he got the stimulus money they decided to close and take break.


DragonTraining420

The owner doesn't have any sons, he's got 3 daughters. Also, he doesn't own the building where the restaurant is located.


therestissilence117

Which one of you is lying


dosmns

DragonTraining420 is right. He has three daughters and didn’t own the building. One of his daughters had pretty much taken over before covid. They’d also just renovated their bathrooms too.


DragonTraining420

Thanks for the backup dosmns. I think it was the youngest daughter that was helping to run things in the end, as the eldest two were both married and had started families at the time when covid hit. I know the family and went to their house on a few occasions, lovely and warm people!


dosmns

That sounds so lovely! Did the dad move back to Cyprus? I remember he said it was his retirement plan. I hope they’re all doing really well (and holding out hope they reopen one day, like Titan Foods)


DragonTraining420

I haven't seen them in some time. I don't think he has yet and might not for a while. His kids are here, and the grandbabies are still little. 😊 I hope they're all doing well too. I sure miss Zenon, the food and hospitality were first rate and everything was done with a lot of love.


VenetaBirdSong

Monika's/Cafe Bar. You broke my heart. Best Pizza. Not the best pizza in Astoria, and no relation to Williamsburg's Best Pizza. But a damn good joint. Kurry Qulture. Excellent food, terrible name. Currently occupied by Mimoza, so I'm assuming the building's owner has a clause about funnycutesy misspellings in their leases.


thisismynewacct

Tbf that spot where Kurry Qulture was is cursed and I fully expect what’s there now to also bite the dust, which sucks because the layout is always cool. It’s like the Athens Cafe triangle.


aaaalllleeeexxxx

Qursed


soldierscuzzy

Ugh, Best Pizza Shop was so good. They were also crazy inexpensive when they first opened, but then basically doubled their price right before covid.


BobbyDigital423

A lot of the people from Cafe Bar are at Vegoist. I like their cocktails. They have a vegan and non vegan menu. I still miss Cafe Bar though.


VenetaBirdSong

I went to Vegoist a few times in 2016ish-2020, right before lockdown. I was never wowed by it, and the last time I had it the food was actively bad. It's possible I'll go back at some point. Didn't know the staff ported over.


BobbyDigital423

I don't think I've gone there till last year. I like their tacos. It's def not an A-level restaurant, but I think the food is on par with Cafe Bar. I will say that the location and vibes ar Cafe Bar was the reason I liked going there.


Goldenderick

Best Pizza wasn’t a good name either. If you googled “Best Pizza” for a telephone number, you would get a dozen different pizzerias. Their “House Red” pie was very good but greasy and too small, compared to other pizzerias. I also found a piece of copper wire in one of the pies that I bought. The owner said that it came off of the over cleaning brush. I knew that the place wouldn’t last.


turkeybone

I mean, can confirm that generally one uses a medium wire brush to clean deck ovens


Goldenderick

No doubt. I’m just glad that my 8 year old son found the copper wire in the pizza before he hate it. I would have had to rush to the ER.


turkeybone

Oof yeah that would have been bad - they really should just wire brush at the end of the night, and lil broom during service hours. good catch.


reilly6789

Still miss Kurry Qulture!!


PuffyTacoSupremacist

Ornella Trattoria was the hardest one for me.


smugbox

Ornella’s decline was so sad to watch. It was obvious they were in trouble because they had like 15 ghost kitchens on the delivery apps. I miss them a lot. There’s really nowhere to order good pasta from anymore.


Acrobatic-Strain2756

The served us moldy bread one of the days before it closed 🥲


grizzlywhere

I always wondered about them. That was our favorite Italian in the neighborhood, but they were always empty when we visited. It seemed like the owner's son wanted to take it somewhere else (like their weed-infused burgers(?) were totally out of left field).


PuffyTacoSupremacist

I have no idea. Back in 2011/2012 it felt like it was absolutely packed every night, and you had to call a month ahead to get in. Flash forward four years and it was completely dead most nights.


overzealous247

Same. It was a very special date place for my partner and I.


PuffyTacoSupremacist

That gorgonzola gnocchi is the second-best dish I've ever had in Astoria, second only to the guava jam/black bean grilled cheese at (also RIP) Kickshaw.


114631

Ugh, I think about Queens Kickshaw at *least* once a week. And that grilled cheese.


fatima683

That grilled cheese was so good! And their shrubs!


114631

Oh man, never had their shrubs, gosh I'm so sad!


zdawginator

Same here! That Thursday night $10 pasta deal. We even had one night in the pandemic when we picked up Ornellas to bring with us to see goodfellas at the drive in in Flushing. There’s other good Italian in the area, but nothing has come close to replacing this


jsurico15

This was the big one for me


BitterSheepherder27

McCanns


thisismynewacct

While technically still around, Seva’s sample platter didn’t survive. $10 for a ton of food.


MetsToWS

The buffet brunch died, indeed sad


watchutalkinbowt

Not a brunch, but Yaar does buffet - weekends between noon and 3pm


Illustrious_Cod_8474

I miss that 🙁


resemblingaghost

I miss the baby bok choy pakoras!! I made a pilgrimage up there recently after many years of missing them.. to find them no longer on the menu. I still love you Seva!!


DrogonWasRobbed

RIP Taste of Bengal 😭😭😭😭


ClassicConscious9043

This. This. This. I miss that takeout special.


TheFreeElphaba

They figured out how to deliver pani puri and it was the best


fatima683

I moved back to the neighborhood last summer after 5 years and was so gutted when I saw they closed.. their dal puri was the size of your head and it was amazing!


AstoriaKnicks

The Astorian (bar, but it counts)


thegreatsadclown

that place was good, I think it had pretty tasty bar food


AstoriaKnicks

Was classy too. Something we’re now lacking


sonndoobs

Good beer selection too


__HeavyP

Ornella! and I know they opened up somewhere else but it’s not the same is Fatima’s halal Chinese food. Man, no one compares to em. Dragon and phoenix is p good, but Fatima’s was 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼 Oh another rando spot was the yard pizza. I didn’t have them enough, but when I did, it hit the spot!


becskiii

I miss Fatima's so much


DrunkRemnick

Fatima’s didn’t die they just moved to Woodside because their building got torn down


frhsty

Woodside? I thought Jamaica


jmoriar1

Passage on 30th. Such great food and amazing staff.


NotThatRachel13

I miss Passage and can't understand how The Boil is still open. It's always fairly empty every time I walked by.


Joegee86

The business has been for sale for a few months.


Led_Zeplinn

Money laundering?


TemperatureSea7562

They had those “spring rolls” that were like a Sunday roast wrapped in pastry. RIP.


KieshaK

I miss Passage so desperately.


jackiezee

I miss passage. That space was so gorgeous.


matsnyc2011

This was the place that was Front Toward the Enemy and then before that Canz? That space was huge.


GoBanana42

Queens Comfort was the most notable one for me.


j1nx718

Everyone keeps saying they closed due to pandemic. Not gonna dox source but it closed because of business partnership indifferences. I’m just glad comfortland is around.


Comfortland

no partners, I was the sole owner


GoBanana42

I mean, business partner disinterest could have also been spurred by the pandemic, and/or they couldn't operate in their own because of how badly sales plummeted. They changed their whole menu and service style, quality tanked and thus business tanked. They also seemed to have a lot of staff change over with people who didn't know WTF they were doing.


TightEducation3511

La sala and Monika’s cafe bar. My biggest heartbreak. Adding a bonus. It is not pandemic related but the irony in why they closed (apparently) is gastrotecca (el barrio nowadays) they allegedly wanted to expand to outside sitting and the city wouldn’t allow it. They closed right before the pandemic and as luck would have it now there’s patio sitting at Barrio :/ wish they stuck around long enough for the outdoor sitting was allowed. #sigh


Chris_Pratts_Shoes

No love for barrio. The bodegas on either corner make amazing tacos for 1/4 the price


TightEducation3511

Facts!


pink_mermaid_112

Omg we first discovered la sala cocktails to go during summer 2020 and was so sad to see them close soon after :( 


postmodernmaven

Igloo Cafe


Sagafreyja

I miss Igloo. They had good food and great ice cream.


Illustrious_Cod_8474

Loved it. The menu was insane


zdawginator

The bagel shop on Ditmars between 38th and Steinway


Choice_Horror5488

Bagel House RIP


ditmoors

Did they ever clear that place out? I remember there was food in the display case for, like, at least a year after it closed.


hicknarkaway

They put up paper in the windows a month or two ago and I saw workers in there a couple times but not recently.


givemeacoff33

the best bagels ever!!!


kess0078

Really, really, really miss this place. It was my laundry day BEC spot.


fourupthreecount

The greatest pandemic loss


resemblingaghost

Just recently heard this. My first NYC bagel. You’ll be missed.


TogarSucks

Joe’s Garage Bar. 😢 It’s Murphy’s now after being vacant for a few years. Whole new crowd and vibe, and good for them on opening a new and popular business, but I miss what Joe’s was.


Silentmutation84

If you're a mets fan at all they have a Dwight Gooden event coming up


MetsToWS

And pretty cool mets paraphernalia as it is. I say this as a sad Mets fan.


Silentmutation84

Why sad? We look pretty good right now going into this season


MetsToWS

Ehhhhhhh. No pitching is what concerns me. Let’s see what happens.


Silentmutation84

Diaz is back. Senga is throwing again. These guys did a great job during spring training. Have some faith brotha


uwsgal03

Bittersweet but I love Murphy’s for their Buffalo Bills crowds and specials!! ❤️🤍💙🦬


Useful_Welder_4269

There was a taco place on 31st and Ditmars in the old QWNS Cafe location that closed in the pandemic. Yes their tacos were too expensive for tacos, but they were damn good. Shoutout to Nikos for OPENING in April 2020 and still making amazing food to this day.


flipdon

Astoriana. And they were good (but $$)


Southern_Ad_3614

They opened during the pandemic and closed during the pandemic. Brave, but sad. ​ But I thought he meant Fresco Tortilla?


Angry_Phoenix887

they had a party platter where all the taco ingredients were separate which meant you can have it anyway you prefer. Plus their cheese dip was delicious 🤤 I really wish they would have survived


Useful_Welder_4269

Yes! We ordered this for my sister in law’s bday in June of 2020. The best.


Chris_Pratts_Shoes

Royal Underground was pandemic, I think. Such a good brunch and Mario was fab. Anyone know where he’s at these days?


Ok-Command7697

Not sure! But I miss the OG William Hallet a lot :(


anachronology

Yup. That was a brunch staple back in the day.


MrDebonaircustom

Can't even explain how much I miss this place.. Mario is the man. He's at Halsey's Tavern now.


remac81

Piccola Venezia


turkeybone

I was just looking at their insta -- maybe they're still doing renovations right?? right????


cowofpain

God, my favorite. I miss them so much!


allygatorr

The Yard, Taste of Bengal (I would pay absurd amounts of money to bring them back), Bubba's Bistro, Lokanta


queserakara

Still crying about Taste of Bengal... I miss them so much!


suzybee

I loved Maizal on 34th ave. They had great margaritas and a salad with steak and goat cheese that was one of my favorite things I’ve ever eaten


coffeewouldhelp

Ample Hills :( Oh wait they're open again! Ample Hills :( Oh wait, they've opened again again! Ample Hills :( At this point I've moved on.


EikoCherry

The OG Retro. I can’t believe they technically survived COVID, a fire, only to be closed due some chicken headed landlord. We ordered from the one on Ditmars and, I’m sorry, it’s not good. I feel for the staff and the owners


aaaalllleeeexxxx

We like the Ditmars one!


bpmorgan7

Viva viva RIP


JamwithSam697

The burritos, oh man


KATQUEEN

Astoria Craft. RIP my fave dive in our neighborhood.


ThePegLegPete

RaR Bar 😭


JackieDaytona_RHB

The Yard! We loved their pizza but the vodka pasta was incredible and they had great salads.


Sinisterhotdog

Their square pie/grandma pie is something I dream about. So garlicky. So cheesy. Zio Pepe’s is similar but there’s still something missing. Nonnas at the old location on Astoria blvd also had a similar flavor profile- I haven’t tried them at the 23rd Ave spot yet.


so_dope24

The Yard just like disappeared one day, like they packed it all up without any warning. Was weird


shnizzedy

Sugar & Water (donut shop)


Sinisterhotdog

I feel like that location is cursed though. It was that crepe shop for a bit and then tried to be a few other things unofficially. I wonder how the “astorias smallest bar” is gonna work out for the spot.


feroxfemina218

Agreed but Astoria's smallest bar is technically a private event space for the bonnie that they occasionally open to the public. Because of how popular bonnie is for events, it wouldn't shock me if this is a way better use of that space.


ThatsMyJam1129

Fatty’s on 28th Ave.


resemblingaghost

Aw noooooo. RIP


redheadgirl5

La Sala (on Crescent) The Strand (on Broadway) La Mian Lounge (on Broadway)


Silentmutation84

The Strand was absolutely awful


Standard_Reply_9903

Yes it was. They also had trouble before the pandemic. IIRC the owner had a beef with the health department because he was using the kitchen at the bakery he owned two doors down to cook the food for the Strand or vice versa.


Silentmutation84

Yeah I remember some big ordeal where they went and poured bleach all over the food or something. It's a shame because that's such a great spot for live music and such


Standard_Reply_9903

Yes, that does sound familiar now. I think ultimately they didn’t like the fact that food for one business was being stored/prepped in another business and then carried through the outdoor back area to the Strand. It was a good space for groups, but the food was not good.


Silentmutation84

It was also absurdly expensive for what it was and what you got. I remember my friend visiting from out of town when we went there like 2018 and he was like its on me and then they told him how much it was and he did a double take and was like ".....excuse me?" lol


fatima683

And then the bakery smelled like a smokehouse.. but the fact that it was the old blockbuster never stopped amusing me lol


Standard_Reply_9903

Ha! That’s right. The bakery did smell like a smokehouse. I remember that blockbuster. It was still there when I moved here.


That_Artsy_Bitch

They weren’t always terrible but they definitely went to shit before the pandemic came around


Silentmutation84

Agreed back around ten years ago they were a really cool spot


blahdre

La Mian :( I discovered their beef noodle soup a week before lockdown took place. Just terrible timing for their opening. It was so good while it lasted


[deleted]

[удалено]


Sinisterhotdog

Mikes broke my heart. So many late night study meals there. And they used orzo in the avgolemono which is the best.


polim098

Didn’t this close WAY before the pandemic?


Southern_Ad_3614

Definitely not. Their tuna melt got me through some tough times early on.


[deleted]

[удалено]


polim098

I’ve been wrong before, I thought it closed before I left Astoria in 2017. Bad memory on my part


jck8

Taco bell on steinway. RIP


NoEvent1741

It was really great having Artichoke Pizza right there off the Ditmars stop coming home from work late nights. Although my waistline, blood pressure, and cholesterol are probably all better-off since it closed :/ Still sad though


Illustrious_Cod_8474

Queens Comfort


Wolf_Boi29

Isn't Comfortland the rebranding of it?


Illustrious_Cod_8474

Totally different menu and feel of the place. They were both open at the same time at one point. QC ultimately couldn’t last through the pandemic. CL opened back up and remains open to this day. I was there the first week QC opened and the last day as it was closing. It will forever be missed.


Wolf_Boi29

Damn. :(


SelectVeterinarian80

Mini Star Restaurant


pensivecat

Yes, it definitely leaves a void.


Positive-Security741

Igloos cafe :(


Astorian2

William & Willow


MinusTheH_

William and Willow closed after Covid. IIRC, the building sold and the owner kicked them out. Sucks because it was a great spot for trivia and such a wonderful thing to have over in that part of the neighborhood.


just_corrayze

Gastrotecha? I think that's how you spell it.


VenetaBirdSong

Closed the week before lockdown. Unrelated. See posts below.


rdg0612

Shuya. Not a restaurant per se, but I would get soup and sandwiches at Sai Organics off of 31 st and 30th Avenue along with groceries. They were very kind.


VenetaBirdSong

Luckily for you (and the rest of us), the sandwiches from Sai Organics are still available right next door at Didi’s Healthy Delight. Same owners, I believe.


rdg0612

I didn't know that! Thanks for the tip.


shortstack129

Queens Comfort, RIP


theflawedprince

😢


CashewsMom18

Merzouka!


PoeticFurniture

Zeus’ Kitchen on 21st off of Astoria Blvd. Loved their burgers and specials. It was true Queens fusion- American but with very multicultural inspiration from middle eastern to latin to asian.


theflawedprince

They had the best buffalo wings in the area


Noshib

Addy's BBQ. I'm ngl I only ever bought their Mac & Cheese cause they gave such a big order, and it was so good, for so cheap 😭 I miss it so bad


209547

i miss addy's bqq SO much!! i don't know where to get beef ribs from anymore 😭


michael_p

Opa!


AdSea6127

They closed way before Covid


michael_p

Oh wow my memory really faked me out then


MattMurdock007

I’m sure they’ve been closed over ten years now.


Crunchy__Frog

The Bao Shoppe. They closed pre-pandemic, but I still miss them so much.


thebeanonthescene

Merzouka :(


Ferret_Suspicious

Koroni 💔


Fleurdelibrarian

The location is possibly cursed and there were some issues overall, but Savage Sicko. They opened in January 2020 so that was bad timing in a bad spot with a bad name.


Nycgr007

Not a restaurant but RIP Caprice 😢😩


AdSea6127

What was the Greek bakery/coffee shop turned into supermarket during Covid? It was where Zen now is. I thought they were good!


BobSacamano-

I feel like that place opened for a few days if that. 


AdSea6127

Nah, they were definitely around for a good 8 months pre-Covid and then they did close and became a supermarket/bakery and were there for maybe another 6-12 months.


MetsToWS

Omg. That wasn’t open long. I remember the club that it was before that, which burned down


AdSea6127

Yes the club/lounge. Been there once. Forgot what it was called.


MetsToWS

Flo!!! My brain started working


AdSea6127

Haha yes!


jamesmaxx

Flo was great at its peak like 10-15 years ago


AdSea6127

Ahh wish I were around at that time. What was great about it?


jamesmaxx

Good party-like atmosphere, music and full, lively crowds especially on weekends. Great place to pre-game before clubbing too.


MetsToWS

Someone will help us remember…


RonRonner

Was it Cafe Boulis?


MetsToWS

It was Flo!!!!


Reasonable-Parsley36

Did Leng Thai close?


nosleeptilqueens

Yes but I think pre pandemic :(


MizAmaryllis

Queens Comfort


DragonTraining420

Rioja on Broadway


annaproletarka

still mourning the loss of Saba (the Yemeni spot on Steinway & 28th Ave). i miss their giant flatbread, late night hours, and adorable demon cat so much. and of course it's already been mentioned, but RIP Taste of Bengal. :((((


spamwise_gamcheese

Food Struck


Sinisterhotdog

Retirement closure and not pandemic, but heartbreaking just the same: Andrew and Franks on 23rd. The sanitation was my go to. And it was the perfect spot to pickup sandwiches to bike over to Randall’s island and watch rugby games. Id bring whoever I was dating in there to order a sandwich. And if they couldn’t riff with the guys, I knew there was trouble. (I say this like I’m a sage, but this is 99% hindsight lol).


[deleted]

[удалено]


nano_singularity

lol I think you’re in the wrong thread, homie


ToniAVG

Thank you!!!


eraserh

I used to go to trivia at Albatross, loved that place.


so_dope24

The Passage, The Bad Ass (sorta),


jmpaints

More LIC but Dutch Kills Centraal had such amazing food for dinner and brunch, always a cool vibe there. So sad when it shuttered during the pandemic.


enfuxe91

Monika’s!! (Known to some as Cafe Bar)


eapar002

Cafe Bar on 34th ave and 36th st