Places to Eat Around LIC

Long Island City used to be mostly a manufacturing and shipping hub (here's some history), but now it's an up-and-coming neighborhood with plenty to keep you entertained. This post will focus on a few of the dining opportunities in the area followed up with an interactive map!

Manducati's is a storied, traditional Italian joint on Jackson.

Manducati's Rustica is the small shop and more informal Italian cafe opened by the Manducati's progeny on Vernon.

My dad adores Bella Via: their thin crust pizza and nightly specials warrant the adoration.

If you want a burger, try Dominie's Hoek, which bridesmaid Kathryn tells me has an awesome one. I can attest to the fries.

For more modern Roman Cuisine, there's Testaccio, which has also been written up in the New York Times.

For Latin American comfort food, La Vuelta has never let us down, though it is on an unassuming strip between 10th and 11th streets.

Madera is a new Cuban place we haven't tried yet, but they're getting good reviews. And they have steak.

If you're craving crepes or steak frites and a mimosa, there's Cafe Henri, but if you want mussels or oysters, good cheese and strong wine, there's Domaine complete with snooty Frenchmen. Domaine's brother restaurant Tournesol has a broader menu, including escargot for the adventurous or butter inclined.

There are many more options around the Vernon/Jackson 7 stop - these are just a few of our favorites.

Closer to Astoria, we've fallen in love with the following

Philoxenia means the love of strangers and the mother-daughter team behind this Greek restaurant really do put out the welcome mat for you with simply cooked homestyle dishes.

There's a bar on 35th street and 35th avenue called Sunswick, the name of an ancient creek that used to run down the avenue, with 25 beers on tap and an above-average menu (think buffalo oysters).

Another option for coal-fired pizza, a regulated luxury in this town, is Sac's, a family-run business with great service and even better toppings. They'll deliver to any of the hotels, too! (We're not biased toward them at all.)

If you're into a small plates-wine bar vibe, there's Restaurant or Winegasm, with names equally offensive, yet the businesses themselves offer interesting wines and snacks at fair prices.

PanEuropean/American/Identity Crisis restaurants in Astoria also include Locale and Brick. Beware of the pony-tailed waiters, though the food is sometimes worth it, especially in the case of Brick's brunch. Both have outdoor seating.

The owners of Locale also own Lucas, a neighborhood steakhouse with Manhattan prices. If you're here to celebrate something, it's a great place for it, but be expected to pay Peter Luger prices for less steak yet better service. At least you can pay with a credit card.

The most iconic place to go in this area is the Bohemean Beer Garden - a project originally meant to breathe life into a Czech community hall built for community pride - offers Eastern European beers by the pitcher, huge sausages and plenty of pickles.

Across the street from the beer garden is Sparrow, a reliable, if rickety-tabled, restaurant.

If you're up north and want some pizza, there's Vesta, a friendly and modern bright spot for dinner with outdoor seating when the weather's nice.

View Places to Eat around L.I.C. in a larger map