Page 25 - Queens 2024 Dining Guide

While the New York Mets may be the only official game in town, competing to be a fan favorite spot for beloved local dishes like pizza and empanadas is practically a sport across our food-obsessed borough. That’s why this year, the Queens Chamber started its “Queens’ Best” competitions, where Queens foodies can nominate and vote on their favorites in a variety of categories. The debate has been fierce!
As we delve into these success stories, let us remember that behind every plate lies a tale of courage, innovation, and the indomitable spirit of our community. With each bite, we savor not only the delectable creations but
also the triumphs that make our town's dining scene a beacon of hope and inspiration. We hope you’ll seek out these winners and try their top-ranked fare — and remember that every dish is infused with the essence of our collective success. Bon appétit!
With the communities’ votes, we have crowned two winners so far that we’re proud to share:
Queens’ Best Pizza
Queens’ Best Empanada
ROCCO'S OF ROC BEACH
115-10 Rockaway Beach Blvd | www.roccoscoalovenpizza.com
This Rockaway Beach eatery rose to the top of the list after a month-long voting process and thousands of votes cast throughout the borough. Rocco’s received a hand- delivered plaque by Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato on February 9, 2023 — National Pizza Pie Day, and won the honor of Best Pizza in Queens!
It’s very difficult to open a coal-oven Italian restaurant today due to regulations, but the folks at Rocco’s took the risk and challenge and imported their coal oven directly from Italy. They use a 48-hour dough fermentation process in a secret room so it becomes light and airy. All of their ingredients are fresh and authentic and the thin crispy pizza pie is an extreme delight.
The top-5 pizza places selected by the
public were:
Rocco’s of Roc Beach (Rockaway)
Pizza D’Amore (Rockaway)
Gaby’s Pizza (Hollis)
DEE’s Wood Fired Pizza + Kitchen (Forest Hills) Phil and Son’s (Flushing)
EMPANADAS CAFÉ
5627 Van Doren St | www.empanadascafe.com
Empanadas Café was selected as the winner after a public nominating process and vote. One bite from any
of the nearly 20 different varieties available at Empanadas Café makes it clear why they were voted number one.
The owners are intently focused on community and sustainability, so with their empanada business, they make social investments and use products and procedures
that are as sustainable as possible. Their ingredients and creativity rise to the top! Queens Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Grech and several elected officials were on hand to celebrate with the winners in May.
The top-5 eateries selected by the
public were:
Empanadas Café (Corona)
I Love Paraguay Restaurant (Sunnyside) We Love Empanadas (Jackson Heights) Que Rico Colombian Bakery (Astoria) The Empanada Spot (Jackson Heights)
WWW.QUEENSCHAMBER.ORG 25