Borough Vegetarian

Kitchen 79 - New Thai Favorite in Jackson Heights

Sick of the lines at Ayada and SriPraPhai?  Thankfully an amazing new Thai restaurant has opened within walking distance of those Western Queens favorites, Kitchen 79 in Jackson Heights.  

Kitchen 79 is very new - less than 6 months old - but already is one of our favorites.  My husband has had many of their meat options, and I have tried a few of their steamed tofu dishes, all of which have been fantastic.  AND for the time being, Kitchen 79 is BYO until their liquor license is approved (but their soft drinks are served in the massive mugs pictured below, which almost makes it worth abstaining).

Another highlight of Kitchen 79 is their $7.50 - $8.50 lunch special, which is served daily (even weekends!).  The lunch special gets you an appetizer and good lunch-sized portion of a main course.

(Crab Rangoon - not vegetarian, but a sample of their lunch appetizer portions)

I’ve tried both the Phad Prik Sod and the Gaeng Pha Curry which have been fantastic.

(Lunch portion of Phad Prik Sod - spicy and flavorful)

(Dinner portion of Gaeng Pha Curry)

Definitely check out Kitchen 79 when in Jackson Heights or for looking for great Thai in Queens:

Kitchen 79

37-70 79th Street (at Roosevelt Blvd.)

Jackson Heights, Queens

Easily accessible from the 7/M/R/E/F trains at the 74th Street/Jackson Heights stop

Canelle Patisserie - One of the Best Bakeries in NYC…and in Queens!

Canelle Patisserie seems like nothing special from the outside.  It’s a bakery hidden in a strip mall in a residential section of Queens.  It’s not particularly close to the subway, or particularly close to Manhattan or one of the higher income neighborhoods in eastern Queens (other standard markers of “refined destinations” in Queens).  

However, it’s easily one of the best bakeries I’ve ever been to - in New York, the United States, and yes, the world.  Each of its pastries is out-of-this-world, both in terms of presentation and quality.  I really have no complaints about Canelle - you can always get great cakes there in a pinch (no need to pre-order) and the price isn’t extravagant, a rarity in a city with insanely expensive food and baked goods. 

(Strawberry Shortcake)

We recently went to Canelle to pick up some of their individual pastries for a co-worker’s birthday.  While some of our favorites (coco-fraise, chocolate mousse) were already sold out late on a Sunday night, there were still a range of individual desserts to choose from - including the strawberry shortcake, Napoleon, and my favorite, the Creole.  It’s amazing that a bakery can produce such consistent quality, whether it’s first thing in the morning or late in the evening.  In any case, Canelle is an absolute must-visit in Queens!

(Creole)

Canelle Patisserie

75-59 31st Avenue (between 75th and 77th Street)

Jackson Heights

A “healthy” walk from the 7 train, 74th or 82nd Street stops

*Update - a second location has opened in Long Island City, 5-11 47th Avenue, accessible from the Vernon-Jackson 7 train stop or the 21st Street G train stop