4 Astoria Restaurants Named Among Queens's 'Hottest New Restaurants'

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Fall may be in the air, but Astoria's dining scene is only getting hotter, according to a new list by Eater New York.

Four Astoria restaurants cracked the publication's new list of Queens's "hottest" new restaurants, updated on Thursday for the month of September.

Here's each one:

Chez Olivia (29-11 23rd Ave., between 31st and 32nd streets):

This French bistro opened this spring in the former Yard Pizzeria storefront. Its owner, Vincent Caro, also runs Bistro Eloise on 31st Avenue in Jackson Heights, as Queens Post reported at the time.

Eater reports that Caro, a native of Brittany, outfitted the restaurant with cream-colored walls and wooden floors, serving up classic dishes like boeuf bourguignon, veal stew and escargot.

Dar Yemma (25-21 Steinway St., near 25th Avenue):

Dar Yemma opened in February on the stretch of Steinway Street that has come to be known as Little Morrocco for its proliferation of North African restaurants.

Within a few months, it won a positive review from New York Times critic Pete Wells who raved about Dar Yemma's flavorful tagines.

Eater shouted out Dar Yemma's chicken pastilla, a "sweet, savory, and textured parcel of saffron-seasoned chicken and spicy eggs" wrapped in a pastry shell and topped with fried almonds. Complimentary bread, lentils and pickled vegetables are another highlight, Eater says.

Cafe Turkiye (37-05 Broadway, between 37th and 38th streets):

Patch reported in May about the impending arrival of Cafe Turkiye, a family-run Turkish eatery operated by a married couple making their first foray into restaurant ownership.

Their chef, Mujdat Gursoy, previously ran the kitchen at Beyoglu, a beloved Turkish restaurant on the Upper East Side that shuttered during the pandemic.

Eater says Cafe Turkiye's standout items are its fresh baked pastries, including "canoe-shaped pide flatbreads," borek with spinach and cheese, and pogaca cheese buns. Diners can sit inside the cafe's "cozy" interior or enjoy its outdoor backyard.

Sala Astoria (34-39 31st St., between 34th and 35th avenues):

Sala's June opening marked the latest arrival in the World Artisan Market, a burgeoning complex of globally-minded restaurants under the N-W train tracks.

As Patch reported, the Spanish restaurant combined two different storefronts to create its 4,000-square-foot space. Owner Michael Jannetta has a longstanding interest in Spanish cuisine, having previously run the Manhattan restaurant Sala One Nine that closed during the pandemic.

Eater notes that Jannetta has brought several "hits" to the new restaurant, including seafood paella and gambas al aijillo — bacon-wrapped dates. Flamenco shows are another perk.

Read the full list on Eater New York's website.

Related coverage:

• New Astoria Restaurant Earns Rave Review In New York Times
• Family-Run Turkish Restaurant Opening On Broadway In Astoria
• Sprawling Spanish Restaurant, Asian Kitchen Open In Astoria Complex