Do not confine your dining experiences to over-priced Manhattan restaurants with inattentive service and no neighborhood atmosphere. Queens is the most diverse of the five boroughs that make up New York City and boasts a wide variety of streets and neighborhoods that focus on a particular type of cuisine, from Indian to Italian. There are even a couple of restaurants that cater to Finnish customers.
Grand Cafe is a unique cafe and lounge in Astoria. The picturesque ambience includes bamboo chairs, palm trees, and mood lighting reminiscent of the Mediterranean. During the warm weather months, there is beautiful outdoor seating. Grand Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as a delicious desert menu. The chicken Caesar wrap ($8) is delicious and the Nutela crepes ($6.50) are fantastic for dessert. You will be well-treated by the staff and visiting Grand Cafe is a great introduction to a vibrant neighborhood.
-- Lisa Sikic