This restaurant is absolutely amazing. The appetizers and the main course the drinks and the…read moredessert absolutely a 10. Our serve Lawrence super attentive and the crew working with him amazing. The ambience gives that really homey feeling. It's like the neighborhood staple. Cheers to the chef and staff. Absolutely delicious. Appetizers 10 Service 8 Main course10 The octopus was absolutely cooked to perfection

This is a combo review from 2 separate dining experiences. Very popular Italian restaurant that…read moremakes their own pasta fresh. The interior feels very warm and quaint. I enjoyed most of the food except for the carbonara which was tasteless and a little too watery and the lasagna (not pictured) which came out partially burnt on top and not edible. However the sauce for the lasagna was amazing-meaty and very hearty. Really loved the steak and the branzino. The seafood pasta dish would be my go to if we eve go again for pasta. Desserts were only ok. Not the best tiramisu or panna cotta. Service was very friendly. They get pretty busy so definitely make reservations.

This is probably my third time here since moving to the area…read more I love how rustic this place feels. Service is always on point. The owner or manager always check on the tables. Food wise, how can you go wrong with great ingredients and good classic cooking? I was eating kosher for passover this time. I had the Branzino al forno. A whole grilled fish with potatoes and salad. It was incredible. Perfectly charred, meaty and delicious. The fish was so flavorful. The salad with the lemon on it was the perfect accompaniment. Will definitely get this again. I have also tried pasta here in the past. So good, you can tell its homemade. Salads are large and always good. Everyone should try this place.

Delicious meal with good service. We had a group of five with a child. We started with an arugula…read moreand beans salad (Pecorino e Fagioli) as well as baked clams. Both were well prepared. For entrees we had some specials- pappardelle al guanciale and asparagus, fettuccine with shrimp and pesto, seafood stew (cacciucco for one), gnocchi with spicy sausage (Boscaiola), and a risotto ai fruitti di mare. I ate the pappardelle and tasted the others. Next time I'm getting the gnocchi which was nice and light - the way I like my gnocchi. We ended with tartufo. It was on the small side compared to other restaurants. It was our first time trying Tuscan Hills. We will be back.

From the wait staff to the chef, this is Manhattan East. The proprietor, Mario orchestrates the…read moremenu like a classical musician. The offerings are truly Italian gourmet, the well balanced sauces and meat offering are prepared to perfection. If something goes awry, they're quick to correct it. From the appetizers to desserts you won't be disappointed!!!!! Give it a try.

Sadly, no longer a place that I would go out of my for…read more DECOR: Once upon a time, Il Poeta had unique decor... Santa Fe meets New Orleans is the way I would describe it. The walls were Southwest in Color and decorated with unique artifacts. It was very "artsy" and very Forest Hills. Now, with a recent re-do of the decor, I can best describe it as "Generic Long Island Restaurant". Gone is the uniqueness and in its place are generic white tablecloths and a conservative color scheme. SERVICE; i recognize that finding servers is difficult these days, but the service here didn't even reach diner standards. First, the wrong mixed drink was brought to the table. Then, the mixed drink that was brought as a replacement, which at least looked correct, didn't taste correct. Other reviewers have noted this issue as well, and for $17.00 it should have been exemplary! The server seemed to be limited to a dialogue of "cheese or pepper?". DISHES: We had the tuna tartar and Tagliatelli specials as well as the Apple Salad and the Penne with Asparagus "a la vodka". The tuna tartar had an "off taste". The Tagliatelli was OK. The two pasta dishes were served in round plates that looked unique but weren't appropriate for the pasta. The Apple Salad was way overly dressed and the dressing overpowered any flavor that the ingredients may have had. There were very few Apple Slices as well. Dessert was the Cream Brulee which was OK but, again served in a plate that was more appropriate for Flan. Overall, Il Poeta is worth visiting if you plan to be in area but I would no longer go out of my way to dine there.

I have eaten at plenty of place in queens and all over the area. This is by far the best. When you…read moresit down they bring you a basket of bread and bruschetta with cheese. The service is always spot on with professional experience. You have your drinks tapped off and offerings are great. I love the place and the get atmosphere and comforting environment. The seats are a little tight but they brought us an extra one for comfort. The food, it's perfect and authentic. 10 out of 10.

Went to celebrate our grandson's third birthday- he loves pasta. The food was excellent, service…read morewas great and when we ordered a tartufo and asked for a candle, they did a lovely job and sang for him. Happy memories. Oh, I got to try the osso bucco which was so good but I ate so much before it came that I had to pack most of it. Even tasted good the next day.

Cuisine: 8 Service: 8…read moreDecor: 7 Value: 8 Overall: 8 I still remember back in the early 90's when there would be long lines outside Nick's every Wednesday before they opened because everyone wanted the buy one get one free deal. This was one of the best new pizzerias in NYC, opening to great accolades from various publications. Being a poor kid in Junior High School working for a mere $3.75/hr across the street at the corner Baskin Robins (RIP) did not give me the opportunity for quite some time. Anyway, fast forward 5 years and I finally had the chance with a few friends to experience what many called the best pizza in Queens, and I was very impressed. This became my regular "fancy" pizza shop of choice. What I loved most about it was the crispy and charred thin crust. It adds so much to the overall taste and enjoyment. The sauce was deliciously tangy and the fresh mozzarella made it a level above everything else in the neighborhood. One word of warning, the pizza could get a little soggy in the center if too many toppings are ordered. I usually choose none or no more than two. Also noteworthy is their yummy calzones. My personal favorite combination is sausage and spinach. Mixed with all that oozing ricotta and dipped in some tomato sauce, that is one great bite. Lastly, I like most of their salads too. Their food has been a staple in my diet for most of my adult life. Decades go by, and out of nowhere, I hear the news that Nick's had burned down. What a loss for our community! What a loss personally! Thankfully, they are back and feeling every bit like the original. Food is as good as before, while the decor and service has always been on point. Though not my favorite pizza in NYC, or even Queens, it does hold a spot in my rotation.

An absolute gem of a spot with wonderful people working here. Great friendly service that really…read morewelcome you and makes you feel as one of the family. Been going to Nicks for years, before and after their renovation. The must get here are the large pies with any favorite topping. As the toppings are all fresh high quality ingredients. We love the sausage, meatball, mushroom, and spinach pie. Crisp chewy crust with a nice char. It's great that it isn't soggy with the spinach as other places have failed at. You can't go wrong with the pies here they are wonderful and deliscious. End the meal with a cannoli as the pistachio and filling make for a nice cannoli with a shell that reminds us of a ice cream cone. Nicks a place i'll go to again and again with wonderful folks working there.

Strong 4...Before the recent game-changing opening of the seemingly instantly James Beard nominated…read moreTourmaline a block away, this was pretty certainly the definitive best restaurant in Forest Hills, by a comfortable margin. While that may rank as a relatively mid-tier title by NYC standards, as the neighborhood restaurant average is sadly and shockingly low, especially considering its location in the literally center Queens, this is nonetheless a very special neighborhood treasure, befitting it's stalwart status at now over 30 years of age. Classic Italian American with some New American flourishes, the place stays consistent and honors its tradition while simultaneously managing to keep things fresh and staying up with the times. The pizzas are well-executed and make great use of the gorgeous wood burning oven, but for me it's almost impossible to order anything else but my go-to order, one of the house specialties the classic Cavatelli with broccoli raab and some particularly pungent hot Italian sausage. A modern day classic in the cannon, finding decent versions around the city is tougher than one might imagine, particularly in my experiences in this borough. The version here, served like the rest of the offerings in an extremely generous portion that usually yields some delicious leftovers to take home, is a strong contender for the best in the borough title. Also of particular note is the exemplary super-thin and savory chicken parm, served in the previous era in various forms including with spaghetti and broccoli, as well as with risotto, currently served smothered with a spicy vodka sauce and paired with rigatoni. I've only recently became aquatinted with the rich and unctuous dry-aged burger, served simply and unadorned save for American and sharp raw union, on a classic and proper sesame seed bun, it's a stealth under-the radar competitor for the best burger in the hood nod with previous title-holder Dirty-Pierres. The expansive, two-room space, an ideal setting for the many private events and family gatherings that regularly occur here is aptly bright and inviting with the aforementioned pizza oven serving as its centerpiece. I generally sit at the bar which offers ample opportunity to converse with the top-notch staff, just as genial and affable as you would hope to find in such a longtime neighborhood institution, as well as the fellow patrons, who are, more often then not, you guessed it, longtime local resident regulars.

Enjoyed a lively dinner on a Sunday night without reservations for the two of us. The food was good…read moreand service was friendly and attentive.

This restaurant has a lovely decor. The weekend that we visited it was quiet because a lot of folks…read morewere out of town due to the holiday. We enjoyed attentive service and delicious food , including italian pancakes and italian crepes and a portion of yummy lasagna.

Everything was absolutely amazing, food, service and the ambiance. It was a stellar experience…read more Went on a 1st date and the restaurant pick secured me the 2nd one!

Birthday vibes at Portofino's Old-school Italian charm with a cozy, timeless feel that makes it…read moreperfect for celebrating. The short rib special over pasta was, tender and pure comfort on a plate. We also had the lobster penne ravioli topped with rock shrimp, indulgent but well balanced. The baked clams and spaghetti was delicious a Finished the night with a chocolate mousse cake and ice cream, the perfect sweet ending to a really solid birthday dinner. Big thanks to the staff for singing happy birthday to me and being attentive!

First time at Portofino for my mom's last dinner (on this visit) in NYC. Being close to our home…read moreand having heard lots of praise (from my mom) for it, we decided to go there on a Friday night. It wasn't overly packed, there were a few empty tables. We got seated at a table by the door window, which is always nice. The restaurant is 100% in need of an upgrade--looked dated and a bit tired, and the bathroom had no hand-soap (!) I loved the piano player, she was very lovely. I love when people take their craft seriously. The service too was really great - the waiter was polite and friendly, went through the specials, put up with my jokes about us just ordering pizza from (next door? I don't think it's next door--but there was a pizza place right upon walking in, on the right, under the same roof). We ordered the fried calamari and the bruschetta. The calamari was good, but I wished it were a bit more well done. The bruschetta came on toasted bread, so it was hot, which was odd to me. Is that a thing? I've only had the bruschetta cold. Wish they also had slightly better bread overall. The bread for the table that the brought out in the beginning was just kind of a regular blah baguette, toasted with garlic butter. I'm a fan of the fresh bread, but plain with just garlic or oil on the side. Much better option overall. We ordered 2 dishes of the Fish (Sole) and I had the Salmon. While the salmon was a nice piece, the mustard sauce kinda didn't hit the spot. The veggies were just okay (they come on the side), but the eggplant that comes with the dish wasn't too great either. Deserts were just okay, they didn't taste very fresh, unfortunately. My tiramisu was as soggy as it could get, which made me think it definitely wasn't made fresh / too recently. With 2 glasses of wine and a virgin drink + a 20% tip, the $88 per person price tag just couldn't be justified by the quality of the food, unfortunately. In any case, my mom still raved about this experience, was just happy to share the memory of the night with us and I kept answering her and nodding, just to make sure that I was as happy as she was with the food. Probably won't be returning any time soon.

We LOVE this place, we come here every week and the staff is amazing so praises to them for their…read moregreat service The food is delicious, we love the rice, their side salads and the soup! We have also tried the spanakopita and is fantastic! The ambiance is also one of my favourites, any season of the year you can find a great spot!

My birthday 2026 celebration takes my festivities to Forest Hills, Queens, NYC for Greek, falafel…read moreand seafood with my neighbor who is also a friend. I was exuberant for the occasion of goodness to patronize, at long last. What gives you hope. There is an outdoor seating patio that occupies the entire sidewalk and half the street. The weather was gloomy cloudy, but not raining which enable my party of two to dine outdoors. Our table was uneven wobbling and shaking minimal the entire meal which reminisce "Lisa from Temecula" sketch from "Saturday Night Live," but not as violently aggressive shaking. Customer service is average attentive. Oddly, our appetizers arrived first and my wine did not. We had to request my wine which should be distributed first without request or reminder, thus the four stars. This restaurant was not entirely busy nor crowded for a Friday early afternoon. Nick's Bistro is a small cafe with a modern aesthetic appeal. I enjoy and prefer to be well-cultured expose to all international cuisines without judgment and an open mind for appreciation and global awareness. I am not knowledgeable with Greek cuisine, but I do know that Astoria is the locale for the go-to restaurants. I enter with a empty stomach. I exited fulfilled. Business cards and candy were available for grabs. Nick's Bistro is easily accessible via MTA NYC Transit buses Q53 SBS/ Q52 SBS and then Q54. Dramatic irony: this business name is also the name of my former love - not the same Nick, certainly not the same man. My foodie synopsis: Lamb gyro sandwich, $12.00 The meat was soft, but fresh and Tzatziki sauce was heavy. I do not consume lamb often, but once in a blue moon I would not exclude lamb to consume. The pita bread was the highlight which was fresh, soft and cooked with a good consistency without burning or harden. The gyro contain very pauacity minimal vegetables of lettuce, half cherry tomato and red onion. I always prefer red onion. I prefer regular tomato. This sandwich ate my fill to sustain hunger pangs the entire afternoon. Gyro sandwich is always my default Greek entrée of choice. Oddly, this entrée is price higher than listed on their website for $9.00. I do not believe their website is updated for price. Caesar salad, small $11.25 It was fresh and delightful filled with Parmesan shaved cheese. This portion is actually medium size. The croutons are thankfully not hard, but I never like croutons at all. I am always enamored with the lettuce. Ruffino, Chianti, 2019 red wine $12.00 This wine is one of my favorite reds, but it is difficult to find at most restaurants or cafés not widely offered. It was a joyous delight. It is exactly as is dry, very medium-bodied smooth finish Italian red wine from Tuscany, Italy, crafted from indigenous Sangiovese grape. It highlight bright cherry flavors and surely tasted. I was floating in very high spirits. Chicken rice soup, pint $6.95 Served luke warm but not piping hot with steam visibly emitted. It was also served with Oyster crackers. It was enjoyable and warm the heart. Greek Omelet, over easy egg whites $16.50 It was served with Greek feta cheese with vegetables yellow zucchini and pita chips. I highly despise Greek feta cheese and the same for Greek yogurt because both are extremely heavy, thick and too rich. I do not see any tomatoes. This entrée did appeared well prepared and well cooked but no runny yoke. My neighbor thoroughly enjoyed this entrée. Every time I think of omelet it bring flashbacks from past long-haul international flights major airlines of standard airplane food popularity for in-flight breakfast, often served with potatoes, sausage, or roasted vegetables. Nostalgia brew. Omelet? Flight attendant, I'll take the Continental with pastries, toast and fresh fruit please. Then followed by Bedtime Care Bear make me fall asleep again.