Times change quickly and everyone is trying to keep up. But what about the restaurants, the institutions developed in the 1900s? Where do they fit into society? How are they adapting and how have they managed to stay open? In this piece, we get up close and personal with three restaurants, testing the menu and finding out how diners in Queens are able to pivot and stay relevant, especially in today’s grab and go lifestyle. Read along on the journey to find what’s still hot and what’s not.
Court Square Diner – Long Island City est. 1946 and this was my experience..
I exit the car and I am met with high-rise buildings all around, with a glare in my eye from the glass. I spot the diner and I think it’s so cute. My sister calls it retro and something else, but I can’t hear her due to the loud bustle from the overhead train. I look to my right and an entrance to the train is conveniently placed right next to the diner. I check the trains that run here. It’s the 7 train, perfect for traveling straight here from Queens and into the city.
We walk into the restaurant and now there’s another type of noise, customers. No one dish defines the place because everyone has different desires walking into the establishment. Their menu is so extensive and you can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner anytime of the day, 24/7. They are never closed.
Originally the restaurant was just a base of a train car, just a rectangle. As time progressed and demand grew, they expanded. There are people who have seen the many changes in the area. One customer who had been going to this diner for more than 30 years made a painting of the diner when it was first built, without the railroad that had just been added. It is hung up in the newly extended part of the restaurant in the back. Over time, just like the building, the clientele changed.
“When I first came, there was only one big building in the whole neighborhood, and it was an office building,” said Allison, a waitress of 12 years. She explained that as industrialization continued, more buildings went up. “These giant skyscrapers, but they’re residential. Sometimes people tell you, I’ve been coming since the sixties.”
How did this diner stay open? Clientele. Throughout Covid-19 they were constantly supported. While that time went on, the kitchen stayed open and their orders kept them alive so that people like Allison had a job to come back to. Their constant demand keeps them serving, while also staying current. They recently added Nutella to their menu.
But now there’s a different type of regular – the tourist. They come from all over, eat there before they go to NYC to explore the city. Due to new construction, there are a lot of hotels, so some people come all five days of their vacation. They stop by for a big breakfast before they explore the city since it is so close to Manhattan.
By the end of this article you should be able to tell what my favorite cheese is. Now let’s get to the food. How good was it? I ordered pancakes, eggs, sausage, and of course, coffee.
My Platter:
The Pancakes: It’s a classic diner pancake but slightly better. Tender, fluffy and almost a vanilla flavor. Since they weren’t too sweet they made perfect for adding and topping you fancy like whipped cream.
The eggs and sausage: the eggs were extremely light and airy, fused with the cheddar cheese – just what I was looking for. The sausage was so crispy paired with some ketchup, an amazing bite. Simple is sometimes all you need.
Ham egg and cheese wrap: This was a nicely made burrito, especially due to the fact that the wrap wasn’t soggy because of all the components. The egg inside, coupled with peppers and onions was a lovely kick and the ham was grilled – adding a nice salty grilled flavor. To tie it all together – the sharp cheddar that was ooey-gooey.
The omelette: Similar to the eggs in the wrap, it was peppered with peppers (pun intended) and with onions. This was very very filling. And possibly the best most enjoyable part is that layer of cheddar inside that you get in every bite.
Home fries: This came with both burrito and the omelet. Seasoned and pan fried to crispy golden goodness – add some ketchup and it’s the perfect side.
Not much needs to be said about the coffee it was robust in flavor, hot, and smooth coupled with the perfect amount of sugar and cream its delicious
Looking for that diner feel that definitely hits the spot, and being open all hours is definitely a plus for having an extensive menu that doesn’t cause lack of flavor. I would recommend this place if you are in the area, coming back from the city or in search of a classic New York diner.
Jackson Hole – Previously known as Airline Diner – Astoria, Queens.
This has easily become one of my favorite restaurants. I’ve been to a lot of diners, and the food served here did not disappoint. If you’re hungry this is the place to bring your appetite. But wow this place is a true blast from the past. In current times most people like to post where they eat and the retro aesthetic of the restaurant definitely makes for good pictures.
Closing late at 10 PM Sunday through Thursday and 12 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s great for any time of the day. Milkshakes, breakfast, mac and cheese, even turkey burgers, anything you could want…I’m (almost) sure they have it. Walking in, you are hit with loads of nostalgia, from the Betty Boop decorations to the classic Coca-Cola bottles and jukeboxes at the booths.
Not certain of what I had a taste for, I opted for breakfast and burgers. When you first sit down, they give you house-made pickles, extremely crunchy and fresh with the right amount of tang and salt.
The size of the burger is preposterous. I ordered one of their 7oz Cheeseburgers (I think it’s more), cooked medium, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, on a brioche bun. I will admit I was a tad hangry, but when I finally sunk my teeth into the burger after taking pictures for you all…it exceeded my expectations. There was a gooey molten layer of cheddar cheese. With this burger it really makes the statement your eyes are bigger than your stomach hold true. The bun isn’t overwhelming, but the best part is that it doesn’t turn soggy; it holds this humongous burger. The onions are flawlessly grilled, still firm but have that caramelized flavor. The meat itself is extremely juicy, one of the reasons why is that they grill it for good flavor but also steam it to retain size. I noticed they don’t overly season the meat so the ground beef flavor is really there, However, since it doesn’t have a distinct flavor it’s really customizable with the fixings of your choosing.
This place may be a diner but is very versatile, and perfect for satisfying cravings.
Pro tip: Get it with chili. It adds a lot of flavor, and it’s homemade. The chili consists of ground beef, beans and a special spicy tomato sauce. It’s hot and adds so much depth to the sandwich and yes, even then buns still holds up.
Onto their waffle. Forewarning I am a pancake person, and waffles come in dead last dead last on my list for breakfast griddle items. But I must say, for all the waffle lovers out there, this gave y’all some major points.
Some waffles are pure air and have no flavor. Here’s the difference: the edges were extremely crispy but somehow also remained a very soft and dense interior. The batter has a sweet and slightly vanilla flavor which was amazing. Balancing the sweet with the complement of the freshness from the fruit I would get this again
Pro tip: Make sure you get a side of whipped cream. They make it fresh in house and is better than you could imagine.
This place is also iconic. Scenes from Goodfellas were filmed here, and the original sign is still there. This is definitely a place that is worth traveling for and patronizing.
(P.S. by now you may or may not have guessed my favorite cheese, sadly enough, since the following adventure wont have any I feel somewhat compelled to tell you now. Drum-roll please…………………CHEDDAR! Featured on all things possible, from burgers to omelettes I tried to get it.)
Fillmore’s Tavern – Flushing, Queens
The outside looks like it hasn’t changed, it’s still old but in a cool way. Finding the entrance is a bit confusing, and luckily one of the waitresses was on the look out and signaled for the correct way. It is on the side of the building with a divot in the infrastructure, with maybe 2 or 3 steps you’re inside. Once inside, it feels like a true community space. People are watching sports, talking, and enjoying themselves. Technically this is the back, so this is where the bar is. As you move through the restaurant there is a dining room. There’s good lighting from the windows and a little history lesson on the walls. It was named Fillmore’s tavern in honor of the president Millard Fillmore. US history students know he did the 1850 compromise, succeeded former President Zachary Taylor and was known for knowing nothing; just like the original owner who knew nothing about running a restaurant. But enough history, meet Adam Tortora, the current owner who is keeping this establishment alive. He grew up around the area-
“I used to come in here for cheeseburgers with my dad when I was a kid,” Tortora said. “I started bartending here when I was 22. And I’m 42 now, so I’ve been working here for 20 years.”
Throughout these years with so much innovation and change, open Sunday – Thursday 11am – 10 pm and Friday and Saturday 11am – 11pm, their local clients always stay ready to support them whether eating or working. All this hard work really shows through the food, with a good array of options.
To my pleasant surprise, fresh bread and butter appeared at the table and were served hot. Although I did not want to fill up on bread, what type of food reviewer would I be if I didn’t. A nice crunchy exterior with an extremely soft tender crumb. The softened butter was a nice touch instead of ice cold right out the fridge. After debating on what to get I settled on 3 items.
Special buffalo crispy wings: If you think these wings look good, wait till you try them. These award winning wings live up to the hype. Their special buffalo sauce is flavorful and coats the wings entirely. The first bite seals the deal. The crispy outer layer with a healthy amount of meat on the bones. I enjoyed them thoroughly. A nice place to switch up from Wingstop.
Pot roast with egg noodles: Initially I was skeptical, beef can be really tough and upsetting if your heart is set on it. My dad, who usually doesn’t say much about food beyond ‘yeah, it’s good’ or ‘it’s okay,’ said, ‘Wow, this is really good and tender.’. I was shocked it got such high praise, especially from him. So I finished eating my buffalo wings and tried it. Noodles al dente, beef, melt in your mouth, carrots the natural sweetness but really soaked up the salt and flavor of the sauce, it was kinda thick and it coated everything.
Brownie: I love dessert, funny thing leaving we forgot about a brownie that came with the Sunday special meal. I got it and it was served warm. TOO good. I get my fork and cut myself a small piece now come chocolate and crumbs is on it. I raise my fork to eat it and it is extremely chewy, slightly chewy and dense with a solid chocolate flavor.
House made sauces: I tried three different kinds, ranch, bleu cheese and raspberry vinaigrette. My personal favorite was the ranch, creamy tangy and a nice flavor of garlic and dill- really fresh. The bleu cheese wasn’t bad, it had chunks and a decent flavor. The raspberry vinaigrette was interesting, not a bad interesting though just extremely tart and gives a flavor that cuts through salad and makes you close your eyes and mouth squirm. The ranch paired extremely well with the fresh crisp salad they gave with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, cucumber and pickle.
Chicken quesadillas: Cheese, seasoned chicken, peppers onions, tomatoes and the dipping of your choosing, I opted for sour cream. It was hot and cheesy. Yes, I was comparing this to Applebees. Unlike them it was seasoned, and tender chicken it wasn’t overly salted. The peppers and onions gave some good texture while adding flavor. But the tortilla really held it together, crispy with the juices soaking into it making for a delicious bite
I didn’t try it, but I feel like it would be unjust not to mention the award winning burgers and steaks. They sounded amazing. Figuratively and literally. Although I was not in the mood for beef, you might be after a long day at school-the table in front of me was. Their steak came out sizzzzzling, and was extremely smoky and kinda filled the room. Along with smoke I smelt the burger, charbroiled and for those who love fries especially extra crispy they gotta be here for you too. Yes this same person at the table ordered the fries extra crispy and they looked just that. – a darker and crispier exterior.
I think the best items I had, and the ones I would recommend, are the wings and the quesadilla. They were very seasoned and enjoyable.
But how does this place continue to thrive and stay open? The community. Throughout the years, with so much innovation and change, their local customers continue to support them, whether by dining in or working there. With the rise of technology, they know it is important to use social media. At the same time, with inflation increasing, they are trying to keep prices steady so their regular customers are not affected as much. A strong relationship between the restaurant and its customers is necessary for longevity. Fillmore’s Tavern is a true all American restaurant, perfect for a hearty meal after school or practice. I would definitely recommend the wings or a quesadilla.
After traveling to these three places, it is clear to me why they are still open. Customers. It is the public that keeps their favorite establishments alive. With a little give and take on the restaurant’s side, and by staying current with new options like Nutella, they are able to remain relevant. Building relationships and creating a memorable experience for customers is essential. In each of these places, the atmosphere was warm, and their passion for the business truly showed through their food.
