The Best Restaurants In Astoria, New York

This Louisiana-style venue is as intriguing to the eye as it is to the palate. Adorned with crystal candelabras, strung jelly-jar lights, and washboard tables, Sugar Freak brings the taste of the bayou to the heart of Queens, right down to its thematic assortment of cocktails. Their Cajun comfort food is not your average gumbo. The Sugar Freak special is a seemingly improbable combination of fried chicken, mac-and-cheese, pickles, and spicy mayo on a French baguette that is sure to please.

Straddling the corner of one of the busiest crossroads in Astoria, Mokja is Korean-American fusion that offers a cool and inviting interlude amid the hustle and bustle of its locale. Mokja delivers an Asian twist to American classics like its Korean beef stew, served with large chunks of beef, carrots, and sweet potatoes large enough for even the most novice chopstick-user to enjoy.

Brick Café is still one of Astoria’s most popular hotspots even after 15 years of business. The decor, flush with bumpy-brick walls, soft light, and cozy sidewalk seating, blends Brick Café’s rustic Italian cuisine with urban fanfare. Brick Café is partnered with Halsey Tavern just next store, overlooking the nightlife of 31st avenue. Its pasta plates are deliciously well proportioned and will leave you coming back again.

The Butcher Bar brings the smoky sizzle of Texas, but this is not your ordinary sawdust joint. Their butcher-block tables set the stage for succulent longhorn-style barbecue, with their signature “Meat Candy” burnt beef ends and half-baked mac-and-cheese topped with grass-fed beef chili. The Butcher Bar also features an assortment of Lone Star-inspired cocktails like the Texas Cooler, Old-Fashioned Apple Pie, and Full-Moon Rising made with spicy moonshine.

Owners Pinuccio Uras of Sardinia and Carmelo Bennuci of Sicily transform this spot on 34th Street into a realistic Italian experience. You will be hard-pressed to find spaghetti and meatballs or chicken franchese on this authentic Italian menu. From your greeting at the door with “Buonasera” to the audio Italian lessons heard in the restrooms, Vite brings a rustic Italian menu that is light and flavorful. Vite Vinosteria offers a wide array of wines served in a traditional Italian short-glass as opposed to a stem, leaving you longing for excursion to Mediterranean.

At Trattoria L’incontro, Chef Rocco Sacramone serves up traditional Italian with a new-age flare that will keep you coming back to his end of the neighborhood. His flavorful entrees are only matched by Trattoria L’incontro’s outstanding tableside service. The walls are adorned with frescos painted by local artists to create a fine-dining atmosphere with a splash of culture from the neighborhood it serves. The absolute necessity to reserve a table on Friday or Saturday nights is a testimony to its excellence.

Bareburger is a quickly growing franchise that is far from fast food, with fully organic ingredients. With multiple locations all over the greater New York City area, Bareburger is bringing a flavorful fanfare to a traditional American classic. Every Bareburger restaurant is constructed with refurbished and recycled materials, from its walls to its decor. Its Astoria location provides street-side seating along 31st Avenue and is rapidly becoming a staple to this trendy neighborhood.

Avenue Café is one the most popular and trendy locales in all of Astoria. Aside from the exciting vibe and social atmosphere of Avenue, its cuisine brings a flare of excitement to casual comfort food. The menu is delightfully light and delicious, with its wide assortment of signature crepes, omelets, and freshly prepared salads. Whether you are looking for a taste of Astoria’s nightlife or to relax and sip from their wide selection of Greek, Italian, and American coffees, Avenue Café is the place to be.

Via Trenta has a warm, inviting atmosphere, dimly lit and complemented with a cozy fireplace. Classic and traditional, Via Trenta’s cuisine is spiked with a Northern Italian fare, ranging from delicious combinations of rustic Neapolitan pizzas and freshly spun pastas that melt in your mouth. Via Trenta is one of the best-kept secrets in Astoria, but is more than welcoming.
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