Bars And Restaurants - Astoria Scene

30th Avenue in Astoria is a bustling thoroughfare lined-up with some of the best local bars, cafes and restaurants, each one with something different to recommend. It's the local equivalent of Manhattan's famed Restaurant Row on the West Side.

But Astoria can also boast hidden gems of cafes and restaurants that are a little off the beaten path but well worth discovering. Sometimes the best and most interesting places are not always in the most obvious places. Take a short walk over to 35th Avenue and you will see a growing restaurant and cafe scene taking shape.

Rest-Au-Rant - ASTORIA

Rest-Au-Rant, known also as R'A'R' Bar, is the creation of home cook turned chef Tina Stipanovic. 

A long-time resident of Astoria, hailing originally from Croatia, Tina's menu reflects the cultural diversity of Astoria. The horseshoe-shaped bar is the heart and soul of Rest-Au-Rant, promoting friendly, face-to-face conversation.
　
A sculptor and artist, Tina designed and helped to build much of the venue's unique decor. When you're here you really are like family, and regulars refer to Tina's place as R'A'R Bar. Every Tuesday there are free comedy shows, and Thursdays, tune in for some live music. Performers include JD Patch, Matt Turk and Gary Schreiner. New artists are being spotlighted all the time, so there are always new sounds to discover.
　
R'A'R Bar offers a dazzling selection of gin, vodka, rum, tequila and wine cocktails. These mixologists are spot-on with their blends and pours.

The Triestino gives you a delicious mix of Amaro, Prosecco and lemon juice, while the Bicicleta has Campari, Selbach Riesling and club soda.
　
Their Mojito will knock your socks off, delivering the goods with Bacardi Limon, fresh lime, a touch of brown sugar, mint leaf and soda. Tina and her talented sous chefs have whipped up one of the most creative menus in the neighborhood.
　
Their brunch classic dish is called the Nested Egg. It's a succulent blend of bacon, creamy sauteed mushrooms and shallots, topped with eggs. And it's all baked inside the hearty confines of a brioche bun dish. Make those drab, boring Mondays a lot merrier with R'A'R Bar's all-night happy hour, with some delicious slider specials. A glass of red or white, along with a zesty cheese board and warm pita, is just the right "note" to accompany the acoustic music you will be treated to every Thursday evening.

There's something happening every night at R'A'R Bar. Pick up the phone, give them a call at (718) 729-9009 and don't miss out.

ASTOR ROOM - ASTORIA

Upon entering the glamorous art deco environs of the Astor Room, you feel as though you have stepped back in time to the golden age of movies. Located in the basement level of the celebrated Kaufman Astoria Studios, the Astor Room once hosted cinema royalty in the roaring twenties, as Paramount Pictures' commissary.

Rudolph Valentino, W.C. Fields, the Marx Brothers and Gloria Swanson are just a few of the stars who dined here. It's only fitting that the Astor Room celebrates this unique show-business legacy since Queens is once again reclaiming its status as "Hollywood East."

View the Deal

More TV shows and motion pictures than ever before are filming at Kaufman Astoria, so don't be surprised if you spot one of your favorite actors enjoying a discreet dinner at the Astor Room. But, really, star-gazing is far down the list of reasons why you should spend some quality time at the Astor Room.
　
Their menu is carefully crafted and features something for every culinary taste. Small bites include fresh oysters and seasoned calamari. Heartier fare consists of the Astor Burger and, quite possibly, the best Beef Stroganoff in the city.

The Beaver Bar, just off the main dining room, offers a full range of cocktails. W.C. Fields would have loved to have these talented bartenders mix a few drinks for him. A couple of real crowd-pleasers come to mind. The Mary Pickford is a cocktail blending Cruzan Silver Rum and Maraschino Liquor with grenadine and fresh pineapple juice. The New Yorker is a simple but beguiling mix of bourbon claret, lemon juice and syrup. If live music is your thing, fear not. There are always some very entertaining special events on the Astor Room's marquee.

　
Martina DaSilva and Friends, a traditional jazz trio, perform Friday and Saturday evenings at the Beaver Bar. On Sundays, don't forget to catch the Astor's Jazz Brunch. The musical magic is courtesy of Dandy Wellington and his Orchestra, as they perform some lively, Prohibition era sounds.

If you have friends or family in from out of town, take them to the Jazz Brunch. They are sure to come out smiling and toes-tapping, long after the last song has finished. Located at 34-12 36th Street, the Astor Room's phone number is (718) 255-1947.

The Astor Room will make you feel glamorous and comfortable, take you away from the modern times we live in, and escape to the leisure and fun of the Jazz Age.