Mario’s Deli, 4723 Vernon Blvd, 718.937.3193

Sometimes things and places are right under your nose, but you miss them entirely until one day you see a video about your neighborhood and shots of a deli with amazing looking home-cooked food right on Vernon that you noticed but wrote off as just another deli. Oops. Well luckily, the loss is only mine and it’s righted now. Mario’s Deli has been on Vernon Blvd forever, and clearly there are many in the know because every time I go in there, it’s hopping with hungry people.

Mario’s deli achieves pure excellence »

Tuk Tuk 49-06 Vernon Blvd 718.472.5598 718.472.5597

So far there are three Asian fusion restaurants at Vernon/Jackson; Ihawan and BANY Ten57 on the way, and Lucky Mojo’s operating on 51st Ave. Holding the Thai fort down, and not fused with any other kind of cuisine, is Tuk Tuk, a transplant from Smith St in Brooklyn. Tuk Tuk’s been on Vernon for a while and the food has been reliable from day one. I’m a Thai food fan, and Tuk Tuk offers all the standards, plus some interesting specials. Carnivores and herbivores can eat together in harmony - tons of options for everyone. They’re affordable in my book; entrees run from $8 to $16, and portions are generous.

The ambiance is chill and minimal; the service is very friendly and unobtrusive, and they definitely make an effort to get to know their regulars. Delivery is lovely - usually very timely and the food’s nice and hot. Tuk Tuk is definitely a staple in my diet, though sometimes that’s been because there are no other Asian restaurants. Doesn’t matter though - Tuk Tuk’s an established neighborhood fav, and we hope they stick around for a good while.

Cafe Henri - 1010 50th Ave 718.383.9315

Cafe Henri was already here when I got here. I knew moving to LIC over 4 years ago that the hood was transitioning and that for a couple of years I’d have to deal with sparse amenities. However I needed to know that there was at least one decent eatery that I could count on. Turns out there was more than one (though not many) and Cafe Henri was definitely at the top of the list.

A clone of the popular West Village spot, Cafe Henri might technically be a bistro, but it’s absolutely a cafe. And most definitely a creperie. I know crepes are not everyone’s thing, but their menu is quite diverse and has evolved in the last few years. There’s your expected pastries and coffee drinks, an excellent selection of sweet and savory crepes, french sandwiches and croque’s, salads, breakfast staples like eggs benedict (made 3 ways), and some bistro entrees like coq a vin and steak frites. It’s the kind of place where anyone is bound to find something that they would want to eat.

And best of all »

Bricktown Bagels - 51-06 Vernon Blvd, 718.361.2428

As you all know, we in LIC are still waiting for a grocery store. (Note to self: Call Rockrose…is the proposed Amish Market coming anytime soon?) In the meantime, Hunters Point has been delivered its first bagel cafe, Bricktown Bagels. Presently, there are a few delicatessens on Vernon that sell bagels, but those aren’t really bagels a self-respecting NYC neighborhood can be proud of.

Bricktown Bagels, which opened this past fall to a warm reception, is a bona fide NYC bagel shop, offering a spacious interior, comfy couches for lounging, nice tables, and free Wi-Fi. Add to that mix, an abundance of sandwiches, pastries, deli nibblers, and sliced meat. All the bagels are boiled and baked in the old school NYC tradition right on site, and the freshness is extremely self-evident. Bricktown offers the standard options of bagels, including bialys (of course) and whole wheat versions of popular bagel types.

More bagel scoop »

Blend, 47-04 Vernon Blvd @ 47th Ave, LIC 718.729.2800

Aah. Another restaurant. Even from the few short posts, it must be obvious how excited I get for new food in the hood. Blend popped up a few months ago on Vernon Blvd between 47th Rd and 47th Ave, nestled between longtime hood favorites Lounge 47 & Communitea. In fact, the first time I stumbled upon Blend, their opening night, I gossiped with the owners of Lounge 47 about the new kid on the block. Judging by the crowd on the first night, they seem to have hit a solid 2-run base hit.
Word on the street »

On 51st Ave btwn Vernon & 5th st, there’s what I like to call “The Cursed BBQ Place”. It’s no longer a BBQ place, and every restaurant I’ve seen in that spot has failed miserably (including the BBQ place). I will say I was not sad to see the neon lights of Smokey’s BBQ go dim… and was actually excited at the prospect of a new restaurant that’s not BBQ pop up in its place. As we all were. Hunters Point needs all the restaurants it can get until that glorious day when we get a full-fledged grocery store.

Turns out the new restaurant, Lucky Mojos, is sort of a BBQ place in disguise: Tex-Mex and Sushi. Yeah, sounds like a strange combo, and from the word on the street (the ACTUAL street), the union is not necessarily a marriage made in heaven. Lucky Mojos, I truly had high hopes for you…but that damn curse is a force to be reckoned with. (Aren’t they all?) Smokey’s BBQ brought a carnivorous, drunken crew to the hood, but Lucky’s touts itself as a family oriented place - which is GREAT. I’ll give them that much. 1 point for LM. But that’s all they get. »