Queen Italian Restaurant in Brooklyn

Comfortable Traditional Fine Dining Italian Restaurant in Downtown Brooklyn

January 20, 2020 / Downtown Brooklyn Neighborhood NYC / Brooklyn Restaurants NYC / Brooklyn Blvd NYC.

Over the holidays I had the opportunity to enjoy a dinner at Queen restaurant. Queen is an Italian restaurant is located at 84 Court Street between Schermerhorn and Livingston Streets about a block and a half south of Brooklyn Borough Hall in the Downtown Brooklyn neighborhood.

Fine Dining Italian Restaurant in Downtown Brooklyn

We made reservations, as the restaurant is popular, and possible even more so over the holidays. At the front of the restaurant there's a modern bar off to the right, while white clothed tables line the wall on the left. Beyond the bar the restaurant opens to a spacious seating area. We got lucky and were seated in the front at the window.

I suppose the bread served just after we were seated kind of said it all. What I mean by this is that we were in for a good old-fashioned Italian meal done right. On the bread plate there were several long thin bread sticks, a couple of pieces of focaccia which is a bread with a tomato sauce on top, sesame bread and a couple of slices of rye bread accompanied by a dipping dish of olive oil.

• CLICK here to read the rest of our report on a Brooklyn Italian Restaurant named Queen.

Queen Italian Restaurant in Brooklyn

Comfortable Traditional Fine Dining Italian Restaurant in Downtown Brooklyn

January 20, 2020 / Downtown Brooklyn Neighborhood NYC / Brooklyn Restaurants NYC / Brooklyn Blvd NYC. Continued.

History of Queen Italian Restaurant in Brooklyn NYC

Queen Italian restaurant is owned and managed by Chefs Pasquino & Vincent Vitiello, descendants of the founder of Queen, which was Chef Anthony Vitiello. The restaurant was opened in 1958 and the two sons, Pasquino & Vitiello spent their youth growing up working in various capacities at the family run restaurant.

The photo at right shows the atmosphere at Queen Italian restaurant in Downtown Brooklyn. As you can see by the photo, it is a well appointed, traditional Italian restaurant.

The table conversation began as we started on the bread, while perusing the menu. I looked out the window. It was a quiet night. Talk of family, friends, and loved ones who growing up quickly and loved ones who passed away slipped in and out of the exchanges.

Traditional Fine Dining - Queen Italian Restaurant in Brooklyn

The menu was a simple front and back page, just like they do in neighborhood restaurants in Italy. The food was on the front and the desserts and drinks were on the back. We decided to start with Frittura Mista which is a mixed fry of calamari, sea scallop, zucchini and a spicy eggplant sauce. And a couple of glasses of the house table wine. The calamari / zucchini turned out to be a crowd pleaser, and a foreshadowing of what was to come. And the house red wine, as in Italy, worked just fine.

The restaurant atmosphere is comfortable. Good for a family get together which is what I was doing, but also good for a conversational date, or a friendly business meeting. Most of the folks at the restaurant seemed to be in their thirties or above. The Queen Italian restaurant isn't a hipster outlet, but she is a comfortable, well grounded, traditional Italian palate pleaser.

The Queen restaurant owners tell us that they have an in-house bakery where they make their breads, and the specialty pasta, sausages, fish and cheese are all prepared in house.

The photo at right shows one of the desserts, the Biscotti con VinSanto, enjoyed at Queen restaurant in Brooklyn.

Main Entrees at Queen Italian Restaurant BK

For the main entrees one of our party ordered the Melanzane Al Forno which was the baked eggplant with ricotta and fontina cheese. It was reportedly heavenly.

Another party member ordered the Gamberi Alla Pugliese which is the shrimp sautéed with garlic, shallots, Pinot Grigio and seasoned crumbs. The shrimp was juicy, the ensemble flavorful and the medley had been cooked just right.

The Gamberi Alla Pugliese is shown in the photo at right. It was heavenly.

I ordered the House Lasagna, which was the special on this particular evening. My mother used to make it as one of her specialty dishes. I reckon she would have enjoyed this lasagna too. It was a soft mélange of ground beef, tomato, cheeses and fresh pasta cooked to bring together a pleasureable symphony of muted flavors.

Reasonable Prices at Queen Italian Restaurant in Brooklyn BK

The conversation continued. We started looking ahead to the New Year. What's to become of us, we wondered? Nobody really knew, but we felt comfortable that the new year should go reasonably well, knowing that the fates can be as cruel as kind.

Soon it was time for dessert. I passed on ordering one for myself but was given a sample of each ordered. The Tiramisu was billed as a "famous Roman pick-me-up" with marscapone, savioardi, chocolate and expresso. It was the sweet tooth's delight, and reportedly scrumptious.

The Biscotta con Vinsanto was a crowd pleaser too. It was billed as homemade and was accompanied by pasticcini. Vin Santo is an Italian dessert wine made in Tuscany.

The photo at right shows the tiramisu at Queen Italian restaurant in Downtown Brooklyn.

The check soon followed. The whole evening cost in the neighborhood of $200 for three people, for a delicious, hearty, Italian meal in a very comfortable, traditional, Italian fine dining restaurant in Brooklyn.

By the way it's worth noting that the table service was obth attentive and professional, which I reckon you could gather, as it's in keeping with the rest of the culinary and cultural experience of visiting Queen Italian restaurant in Brooklyn NYC.

Mille grazie and buon appetito

Brooklyn Italian Restaurants - Brooklyn NYC

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Food & Wine - Made In New York

Crain's & Taste NY Food & Beverage Trade Show

October / Specialty Food & Wine NYC / NYC Neighborhoods / Gotham Buzz NYC.

I had an opportunity to visit the Made In New York Food & Beverage Trade Show at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Chelsea last Thursday.

When I arrived, a bit late in the day, the 50 - 100 exhibitors were in full motion as I made my way along the corridors taking photos and sampling local delectables. There were pastries, candies, pasta, sauces, cheeses, wines, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages filling the aisles and all - in tandem with the theme were - Made In New York.

Before I became fully engrossed in the exhibits and exhibitors I made my way down to the KM Amphitheater where I listened to a panel discussions about 'How To Get NYS Products Into NYC Restaurants, Hotels and Bars' which was followed by a presentation about 'Wine, Beer & Spirits'.

The panel discussion featured a represenative of the Standard, Highline, Jimmy of Jimmy's No. 43, a representative of GrowNYC, a representative from BRGuest Hospitality a restaurant group, and the NYC Hospitality Alliance. They talked about passion for the product and collaborative relationships, but generally they seemed to think that the environment is favorably disposed to the inclusion of locally produced foods, wines and other beverages.

The Wine, Beer & Spirits presentation was given by Jim Trezise, President of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. He gave a presentation full of facts and figures about the evolution of the vineyards and wine industry in New York State. We'll post more about both of these presentations at a later date.

I'll also delve a bit more into the content of the exhibits and samples at a later date, and will post a full slide show showing the exhibits and exhibitors.

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Bastille Day On The Upper East Side NYC

Alliance Francais Hosts Three Block Street Party

July 14, 2014 / East Side Neighborhood NYC / NYC Restaurants / Gotham Buzz NYC.

I was feeling very revolutionary Sunday afternoon as I made my way to the Bastille Day Street Festival hosted by the Alliance Francais on 60th Street. They were hosting a [long] three block party that stretched from Central Park souteast at Fifth Avenue across Madison and Park to Lexington Avenue from 12 noon until 5 pm.

It had rained a bit that day which probably worked to the street farers' advantage as, while it was crowded, it was also very easy to move around and not so hot that one was 'glistening' throughout the afternoon.

The 60th Street blocks contain a number of fancy establishments, including the quiet, but well known, Metropolitan Club of which J. Pierrepont Morgan was once a member.

The vendors offered a variety of food, beverages, travel opportunities to places like Monaco and the French islands of Martinique, along with wine, cheeses, spices, some clothing, soaps, perfumes, jewelry and art. I think one of the things that separates this street fair from many others is that it generally stuck to the theme of all things French and hence had the effect of leaving me walk away with a little bit of feeling like I had taken a time-warp trip to Paris and back in the course of the afternoon.

Au revoir mon ami. Je voudrais voir vous bientot. A slide show with photos will follow later this summer.

Taste Asia Times Square

2nd Annual Celebration Of Asian Cuisines

June 30, 2015 / Midtown Neighborhood NYC / NYC Restaurants / Gotham Buzz.

The second annual Taste Asia Food Festival was held last Friday and Saturday in Times Square. The event is part outdoor cooking show, part street fair and part Asia buffet and it is sponsored by the Epoch Times.

I attended the event early Saturday afternoon. About every hour or two there's a cooking demonstration / competition wherein a number of the chefs from participating restaurants compete for prizes in live cooking demonstrations [see photo at right].

The competition is fierce as most of the chefs are life long curators of their ethnic cuisines and marshall their talents and trade secrets to win the prize.

The event was held in Times Square along Broadway between 42nd and 43rd streets, which given the attraction and the natural crowds, was tight. We'll have more at a later date including a few discussions with several of the restaurateurs and food vendors and a photo slide show.

Taste Of Times Square

Festive Food Event Along Restaurant Row In Theatre District Of NYC

June 2, 2014 / NYC Restaurants / Theatre District NYC / Gotham Buzz NYC.

I went to the Taste of Times Square on Monday evening. The festive food event was held on 46th Street between Broadway and 9th Avenue, and it had begun at 5 pm and was to run until 9 pm.

Needless to say, Times Square is nearly always crowded and busy, and this Monday evening was certainly no exception. The sun was out, the temperatures were in the 70's, and it was fairly dry and comfortable. I started in from Broadway, where the restaurateurs were busy serving the hungry attendees, who paid $6 per ticket which was good for one taste.

I sampled a number of delicious morsels and had a chance to talk to some of the people working the event. As near as I could tell, all of the participants were from restaurants from the immediate vicinity and the offerings ran the gamut from appetizers to full meals.

In the top photo at right you can see the Taste of Times Square between 8th and 9th Avenues along 46th Street in the Theatre District of Manhattan as the Taste of Times Square was winding down. In the photo at left, you can see a crabcake croquette from O'Lunney's Times Square Pub which was so good that I'm still thinking about it. We'll post more about this fun food event in Midtown NYC at a later date - including photo slide show of the food and restaurateurs.

NYC Farmers Markets & Street Fairs in Manhattan

July 11, 2015 / NYC Farmers Markets / NYC Street Fairs / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Many Manhattan farmers markets are open year round, but there are also a number of them that are seasonal. Some of the seasonal Manhattan farmers markets begin opening in the Spring, with the rest of them opening no later than the first couple of weeks in July. As of this writing, all Manhattan farmers markets are open.

Click here to view the schedules of many of the farmers markets in Manhattan. Manhattan street fairs are entirely seasonal, with some of them hitting the streets as early as March. Manhattan street fairs rise markedly during the spring and lighten up during the dog days of summer [July / August], returning in the fall. Click here to view a full schedule of Manhattan street fairs.

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Upper East Side French Restaurants - Café D'Alsace

Casual Dining at French Restaurant on the Upper East Side

May 7, 2018 / Upper East Side Neighborhood / Upper East Side Restaurants / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

It was a warm pleasant May afternoon as I strolled into the Café D'Alsace on the Upper East Side. We'd planned to dine elsewhere, but the outdoor seating looked so inviting that we decided for a change of plans.

Formerly Elaine's Restaurant on the Upper East Side

The Café D'Alsace is located in what was once a kind of well known Upper East Side restaurant of the 1980's and 1990's - Elaines. Café D'Alsace is located at the corner of 88th and Second Avenue, just two blocks from the 86th Street stop off the Q line and the Second Avenue stop off the 86th Street crosstown bus - so it's a fairly convenient location to meet friends.

Today I was meeting a retired graphic artist, who spends his time managing some of his and his wife's business interests and their teenage kids' busy schedules. We took a spot outside to enjoy one of the first really nice days of 2018. The waiter appeared promptly and we began perusing the menu.

Cafe D'Alsace French Restaurant on the Upper East Side Manhattan

They included a prix fixe menu, offering three courses for $29. It included their Merguez Shakshuka, which I found to be of great interest. Nonetheless I began surveying the rest of the menu, adding up a combination or two of the other entrees, before I decided to give the Merguez Shakshuka a royal try. I also received the Soup of the Day, which was potato leek, and for dessert I went with the Molten Hazelnut Chocolate Gateaux. My dining companion wasn't in a very venturesome spirit today, and he settled on the Burger D'Alsace, preceded by the Winter Salad.

The conversation turned to some of the business ventures in which the artist and his wife are involved. It seems things are going reasonably well at the moment, and based on the conversation, it seemed they were expected to continue.

I have the rest of the story written, but I need to convert it to web format and add photos which I'll do Tuesday. Stay tuned.

Oktoberfest on the East River

Zum Schneider Oktoberfest is a Fun, Colorful, Character Celebration

October 4, 2016 / Gramercy Park Neighborhood / Manhattan Dining & Culture / Gotham Buzz NYC.

I attended the third annual Zum Schneider Oktoberfest on the East River on Sunday. The Oktoberfest celebration ended having been in operation beginning the prior weekend.

I met Sylvester, Founder of the event, who I found to be quite an interesting character. He's a musician, a restaurateur and one helluva showman based on what I saw on Sunday.

Oktoberfest began in the 19th century as a wedding celebration which was so successful, that the Bavarians made the celebration an annual event.

Between 7,000 and 8,000 people attend the event during it's ten day long stay. They are treated to a series of musical performances including some with Sylvester, sing-a-longs and dances. The food was a hearty but delicious assortment of bratwurst, chicken and pork - all of which I sampled and they were well chosen pieces of meat that had been cooked by someone who knew how to handle the meats as they were flavorful and moist.

I'll have more at a later date, including photos and maybe some video.

Flatiron District: Le Coq French Restaurant

Midtown French Restaurant has become a Crowd-pleaser

July 19, 2016 / Midtown Manhattan Neighborhood / NYC Restaurants / Gotham Buzz NYC.

I took a trip into the Flatiron District just after the July 4th holiday to try out a new French restaurant that came recommended by friends. I arrived a bit late and my table had been seated in the main room in the back of the restaurant.

As I walked past the long modern bar to my left, I found myself tempted by its airy openness and ambiance as the front of the restaurant opens onto the street and the ceilings are in the neighborhood of 12 feet high. Just past the bar, along to my right there were bottles upon bottles of refrigerated champagnes. Hmm.

In the main room there were between a dozen or two tables. Some of the tables for couples were set in front of the walled booth-like benches, which were arranged next to one another. There were round tables for larger groups and families in the middle of the room, and an alcove containing a couple of tables set away from it all. The lighting was well done, with the inset lights on the ceiling radiating a quiet ambient light, supplemented by accent lighting on the ceiling that provided ample light on the table.

My party had already begun ordering, so in an attempt to be a good, but late guest, I went along, to get along.

More about Le Coq at a later date.

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Brooklyn Farmers Markets & Street Fairs

Also Staten Island Farmers Markets & Street Fairs

April 24, 2018 / Staten Island Famers Markets / Brooklyn Farmers Markets / Brooklyn Street Fairs / Staten Island St Fairs / Gotham Buzz NYC.

A few Staten Island & Brooklyn farmers markets might be open year round, but most of them are seasonal. Some of the seasonal Staten Island & Brooklyn farmers markets will begin opening in the Spring of 2018, with the rest of them opening no later than the first couple of weeks in July of 2018. Click here to view the schedules of many of the farmers markets in Brooklyn and here for the farmers markets in Staten Island.

Staten Island & Brooklyn street fairs, on the other hand, are entirely seasonal. Some of them hit the streets as early as April 2018. The number of Staten Island & Brooklyn street fairs rises during the late spring and continues through the dog days of summer [July / August], including into the late part of the Fall. By the end of November the Staten Island & Brooklyn street fairs go on hiatus, with a few returning as early as April. Click here to view a full schedule of the Brooklyn street fairs and also Staten Island street fairs.

Bastille Day On The Upper East Side NYC

Alliance Francais Hosts Three Block Street Party

July 14, 2014 / East Side Neighborhood NYC / NYC Restaurants / Gotham Buzz NYC.

I was feeling very revolutionary Sunday afternoon as I made my way to the Bastille Day Street Festival hosted by the Alliance Francais on 60th Street. They were hosting a [long] three block party that stretched from Central Park souteast at Fifth Avenue across Madison and Park to Lexington Avenue from 12 noon until 5 pm.

It had rained a bit that day which probably worked to the street farers' advantage as, while it was crowded, it was also very easy to move around and not so hot that one was 'glistening' throughout the afternoon.

The 60th Street blocks contain a number of fancy establishments, including the quiet, but well known, Metropolitan Club of which J. Pierrepont Morgan was once a member.

The vendors offered a variety of food, beverages, travel opportunities to places like Monaco and the French islands of Martinique, along with wine, cheeses, spices, some clothing, soaps, perfumes, jewelry and art. I think one of the things that separates this street fair from many others is that it generally stuck to the theme of all things French and hence had the effect of leaving me walk away with a little bit of feeling like I had taken a time-warp trip to Paris and back in the course of the afternoon.

Au revoir mon ami. Je voudrais voir vous bientot. A slide show with photos will follow later this summer.

Great Wine Stores in NYC - Morton Williams Wine & Spirits near Gramercy Park

For Food & Wine, Morton Williams Supermarkets and Morton Williams Wine & Spirits provide a modern organic, natural and standard food shopping experience and the wine store provides a nice selection of wines from around the world.  They're located at 313 East 23rd Street.

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NYC Restaurants - Cafes, Diners & Restaurants NYC

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