Queen's Hideaway

[rich]

In spite of the name this place is really on the Brooklyn side of the border in Greenpoint. It's a tiny place (20 seats) and has a small garden area in thr back (too cold last night). The menu changes daily and deapending on market ingredients. There is no liquor license and the corkage fee is $5 a bottle.

Last night the highlight was the smoked chicken, crsipy, smoky and juciy on the inside - simply outstanding. There were four of us and five available appetizers - so we ordered one of each and just passed the plates. The smoked sausage over escarole was tasty and well prepared as was the souther-style biscuit served with butter and honey. The mussels in a saffron soup was light and flavorful.

The other entries included a perfectly cooked buttermilk and corn meal coated deep-fried flouder, a vegetarian dish of pasta rags and several seasonal vegetables. Finally there was a rolled and fried jalapeno crepe filled with sausage and veggies - very tasty and fulling. As for a bowl of the complementary boiled peanuts - quite good.

I'm not a dessert eater but had to try the homemade apple pie in cheddar crust. The crust was simply outstanding, but the apples a just a bit too much lemon and took away some of the apple flavor.

Apps are $4-6, entrees $13-15 and desserts are $5. The address is 222 Franklin St. Don't blink or you will miss it. There is no place to wait and they don't take reservations, but there is a small wine bar a block away and they will call when your table is ready.

Not a destination place, but worth the 25-minute drive from Staten Island. Call after 6pm if you want to know what's on the evening's menu - not before, they don't know and won't answer the phone.

Edited October 17, 2005 by rich (log)

[starstuff]

In spite of the name this place is really on the Brooklyn side of the border in Greenpoint.

The name is actually from the chef-owner, Liza Queen - not based on the location.

[rich]

In spite of the name this place is really on the Brooklyn side of the border in Greenpoint.

The name is actually from the chef-owner, Liza Queen - not based on the location.

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I knew her name was Liza, but never knew her last name - thanks.

Actually it works with the location as well - on the small side street on the Brooklyn-Queens border, just a stone's throw from Long Island City.

Either way - terrific food, funky, yet attractive place.

[rich]

Just to note - Queen's Hideaway fits very nicely into my year-long plan of eating only at places where the chef is female.

[starstuff]

just a stone's throw from Long Island City.

I live in LIC - I can't wait to go!

[rich]

just a stone's throw from Long Island City.

I live in LIC - I can't wait to go!

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Having lived in LIC for the first 29 years of my life, I envy you living there now. There have been some great restaurants opening on Vernon Blvd. and moving north to Astoria.

Enjoy the Hideaway - you'll have great time.