Long Island City new biz update: tapas bar & health food grocer confirmed

Finally, all the new restaurants & shops are opening-how exciting!

Really, right between Manducatis and Mannetta’s? Okay, I give up. Signing a lease on a place in Brooklyn tonight (really).

How much is a haircut at P&T? I can’t find their website.

Bye #3, we won’t miss you.

Guitart & Jones is on 50th between Vernon & Jackson, not on Jackson nor on a corner.

I believe the address is 50-09 50 Ave.

There are days that I would go to Carmine’s over Manducatis. They won’t be charging $15 for a calzone that much is certain.

Because that $25 plate at Carmines feeds 2, and if I recall bread and salad are on the courtesy of the house.

Carmines is foodtastic.

Totally false about Carmine’s.

what ever happened at that meeting regarding liquor licenses on vernon?

Manducatis has the worst service I have ever experienced, and the food wasn’t all that either. Alternatives would be very welcome.

The problem with Cassino was the storefront. The place looks like a dive on the outside. If they fixed the storefront they could do as much business as any other establishment on Vernon. If they are smart when they close it down they will make the necessary renovations and reopen a new business there.

I agree, Carmines probabaly won’t happen, but it would be nice if it did.

Also, I heard the metfoods is not coming to vernon/jackson. Is that true? I am glad we’re getting another grocery store. hope they are not overpriced.

It would be nice if lic turned into another little italy. I think it’s a great evolution to the neighborhood. BUT all of these new Italian places better kill it on a culinary level. I don’t care what you say about Manducatis’ service, some of which is true, their food is Italian soul cooking. Soul food is soul food, whether it’s served on a linen tablecloth or picnic bench. And delivered to you by Roman gods or a weary waitress.

That all being said, I’m looking forward to the tapas bar. We need some variation too!

Service does count. I don’t care how good the food is, if i’m ignored or did not have a plesant experience at a resturant I won’t be back. You can get food anywhere. Part of what you are paying for when you go out to eat is the ambiance and service. Otherwise stay at home and order take out. A lot more resturants will close until people figure that out.

Agreed about Manducatis service, but since they’ve been open for so many decades, I don’t think they need to worry about service reviews. I wish it was the other way around, but sadly, it isn’t.

As I sit down to enjoy a meal what a place looks like is of the utmost importance considering I’m about to start ingesting food that was prepared there. You can always tell which places have dirty kitchens and lax standards by looking around the building and dining area especially the restrooms. If the bathroom is a mess chances are the kitchen is too. A ragtag, anything goes vibe may be fine for a bar, but I don’t know if I want those qualities in a food establishment.

This is not to say that Cassino was dirty – I’ve never eaten there and wouldn’t know. Its just to say that looks do matter.

I got a tour of Testaccio tonight. It is really really nice.

Best wishes to them.

31, actually you would be astounded to learn how bad the kitchens are in some of the best places. I’ve done contracting work in many. Found a dead rat and a lot of gross stuff under a booth seat of a fine Manhattan eatery for example. Well at least it was dead. Hope it wasn’t from the food. I’ve also had rancid food from local eateries in LIC on a handful of occasions.

The amazing thing if you check online for inspection violations is that the majority of restaurants here have average scores (higher is bad) in the teens and twenties. The only one I found with zero is San Remo Pizza which so many here put down. The other nearby zero was New Champion Wok located within in the Queensbridge Houses.

To my astonishment the highest numbers (i.e. worst inspection records) in our nabe were The Waters Edge (45) and sadly one of my faves Bella Via (43).

No one ever said nice looking resturants can’t be dirty. I just said if you can see the dirt in the public areas the dirt in the private areas is probably worse.

I don’t get it. I’ve had excellent service at both Manducatis and Rustica for years. Many friends and newcomers experience the same. In fact both places bend over backward to please. I’m surprised that many newcomers have not discovered the treasure of wines at Manducatis and the knowledge of their sommelier.

Rustica is about as welcoming a place as I’ve ever seen in LIC. I can’t imagine what more anyone would want.

It’s also fascinating how many people say “support our local restaurants” but then want to critique and pick at every little thing. I knew a young urban professional who was offended that the Meridian (space now occupied by Masso) had paper napkins.

For the record, I had lunch at Patsy’s yesterday and guess how much their calzone’s cost? That’s right, $15.

I don’t really see what the big problem is with the Rustica pricing.

Their space needs some renovations too.

I love the drawings of the dogs posted to the right. Who did that it’s great!