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Layover: New York

by Heather Poole (RSS feed) on Jun 22nd 2009 at 9:30AM

If you ever find yourself at La Guardia or John F. Kennedy International airport with a little sit time on your hands between flights, sit tight. Traffic in New York is terrible and you don't want to miss your flight. But if you've got four hours or more to kill, how about doing what flight attendants do. Grab a cab and head on over to Forest Hills, New York, which is located right next to Kew Gardens, otherwise known as Crew Gardens, which is located in Queens - just a short fifteen minute taxi ride from La Guardia and twenty minutes from JFK.

TAXI! Tell the yellow cab driver to drop you off on Austin Street and 71st Avenue in Forest Hills (off of Queens Boulevard). That will put right smack in the middle of everything. Austin Street is where it's at in terms of restaurants and shopping. There are even a few movie theaters if you've got the time. Approximately six blocks long, Austin Street has everything you could possible want within walking distance. When you're ready to head back to the airport, give Kew Gardens Car Service a call and they'll pick you up from wherever you are.

JUST WALK AROUND: After being cooped up in a germ infested flying tube for hours on end, there's nothing better than fresh air. Forest Hills is a wonderful place to just walk around and relax. It was named best cottage community in 2007 by Cottage Living Magazine. The homes are a mixture of magnificent and charming.

GRAB A BITE TO EAT: Even if you're sitting in first class, airplane food is airplane food. Here are a list of my favorite places to grab a bite on Austin street...

5 Burro Cafe - A great place to grab a drink and eat Mexican Food, but go early because the place gets packed.
Latin Cubana Express - Short on time, grab the picadillo to go! Don't forget the plantains
Martha's Country Bakery - A nice place to relax over a cup of coffee and a carrot cupcake - mmm...heavenly!
Narita (Japanese) - A little on the pricey side, but the hibachi is totally worth it.
Nick's Pizza - is practically famous for it's thin crust pizza and vinyl booths.
Pahal Zan - A hole in the wall, but serves the most amazing Israeli falafel and kabobs.

"Or you could just tell them to go to the Jackson Hole Diner," my husband said when I told him what I was writing about. "A cab would only cost about $8 from La Guardia and that's where they'd find the biggest hamburgers they'll ever see in their lives."

Forest Hills, New York

Filed under: Food and Drink, United States, Airports, Galley Gossip

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Isabelle Jun 22nd 2009 11:51AM

Thanks for this great tip! I've never heard of it, but I think it's a nice alternative for staying at the airport or when you don't have enough time to go to NYC because of traffic! I'll definitely bookmark it for when I do travel over JFK,
Isabelle from http://www.isabellestravelguide.com

Tony S Jun 22nd 2009 6:33PM

Thanks for the tips Heather! I might be heading up through JFK at some point this fall, will keep this info in mind!

PS know of any good Italian joints nearby?

Visionary Jun 22nd 2009 6:28PM

Try Portofino Restaurant on historic Ascan Avenue at Queens Blvd across from Queens of Martyrs Cathedral.One block from Austin St. It is a family run establishment featuring Northern and Southern Italian dishes. Everything is delicious. Ask for Carmine-- the proprietor.

Heather Poole Jun 24th 2009 1:40PM

Good Italian joints you say - hmmm...

Austin Street
Delivery from Ariana's isn't bad.

In the hood:
Lillians Pizza is wonderful. Apparently Ray Ramano used to go here

Yellowstone Blvd:
Da Silvana is my fave - the in-laws always want to go here and they're from NY.

Metropolitan Ave:
Dee's
Alberto's

David Jun 22nd 2009 7:37PM

Heather you're the best. You talk about all the good stuff. Love you. Keep writing. D

frank96 Jun 23rd 2009 10:47AM

Start by walking down 71st street, right past the Forest Hills train station and Forest Hills Inn, and then take a left on any street you prefer. Let the exploring begin. I've been living in the area for more than 14 years and the beauty of this place never ceases to amaze me.
======================================================

I love this area. Multi-million dollar homes. Tons of shopping and restaurants.
The picture you posted at the bottom of your article shows the train station and the Forest Hills Inn. Bother way, for those of you who remember the mass murderer, "Son of Sam" from the seventies, he killed a couple right there in that Square. The Jade restaurant used to be Beefsteak Charlie's in the seventies. Right across the street there, the murder took place. I remember, I worked on Austin street in the late 70's and was scared to death, walking home everynight after work! I used to walk up Continental Ave, right in the middle of the street, afraid to use the sidewalk, near the bushes.

anyway, thanks for posting places to eat. I rarely eat out. The expense of living in NYC. I'm sad to say, I havent been to any of your listed favorites. Thanks to you, I'll have to change that. Martha's cupcakes sound, mmmm, mmmmm. good.

thanks, Heather!

frank96 Jun 23rd 2009 11:03AM

Bother way, EIGHT dollar cab ride? with what cab company?
Skyway is over TWENTY bucks from my place to LGA. I drive, but had car trouble a few times over the years.

frank96 Jun 23rd 2009 8:03PM

Yum! Found the bakery today on Austin street. A few doors down from Petland Discounts. I walked in and was amazed by the amount of bakery goods available. Very narrow, but plenty of tables to sit and enjoy in the back of the store. I bought TWO different cheesecakes (slices). Thoroughly enjoyed the marble cheesecake, it melted in my mouth. Saving the strawberry for tomorrow.

::::smile:::: I definitely recommend one of Heather's favorites' on Austin Street.

Heather Poole Jun 24th 2009 1:39PM

Frank - Son of Sam was in FH's? YIKES!

You'd love Pahal Zan because it's cheap and good. Order a pita sandwich ($6 I think for the chicken with hummus, pickles and hot sauce) and take it to the train station and eat it on the steps while people watching. I'll meet you there. :)

Heather Poole Jun 24th 2009 1:39PM

Frank - I read it was an $8 cab ride on line. I also think you can grab a hotel van of one of the nearby hotels located near the diner and walk. That's probably what I would do.

Isn't Martha's cute? Did you get the carrot cupcake? SOOOOO GOOD!

Amanda Jun 23rd 2009 9:59PM

I have lived in Forest Hills all of my life and everything that you could ever want or need is there. Recently, a few great restaurants have opened up, and the food is fantastic. I highly reccomend (aged) (yes, that is how it is listed), a new steakhouse. But make sure that you make a reservation! I tried to go there for lunch once, and the hostess said that they were booked until 10pm.

Also, if you have a lot of time of your hands, I would reccomend walking all the way down Ascan Avenue to Metropolitan Avenue, where Edie's Sweet Shop is located. It's an old-fashioned soda fountain with amazing ambience. The place is family owned and they make all of their ingredients in the shop. I always loved going there for an ice cream sundae when I was a kid!

Heather Poole Jun 24th 2009 1:38PM

Amanda - I've been meaning to try Aged! As far as Eddie's sweet shop goes on Ascan Ave and metropolitan, that is a bit of a walk - 15-20 minutes maybe. It was the ice cream parlor featured in the movie Brighton Beach Memoirs.

Amanda Jun 24th 2009 2:50PM

Heather, aged was fantastic. The filet mignon was, in my opinion, better than Peter Lugar's. But as for Edie's, its always worth it if you have a long layover. If you are still in the mood for ice cream, but don't want to do the walk, Piu Bello, across the street from B & N, has great gelato!