Beloved Bayside Chinese Spot To Reopen On Thursday

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — After a few false start earlier this year, Baybridge Szechuan is officially poised to reopen this Thursday, July 22.

The Szechuan eatery, located at 20806 Cross Island Parkway, has been shuttered since the start of the pandemic, but former owner Joseph Chen came out of retirement last a couple of months ago with plans to reopen the restaurant.

Initially there were murmurs that Baybridge Szechuan would open in May or the start of July, but the grand reopening is now officially scheduled for Thursday, according to social media posts. Patch also confirmed this news with a Baysider who recently talked with Chen.

Baybridge Szechuan will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, and according to Chen restaurant goers can expect the menu to be "basically the same," including favorites that Bayside residents have come to know and love at the Szechuan eatery.

Already hundreds of locals on social media have 'liked' a post about the reopening, with many commenting the foods they can't wait to eat.

One said they are "anxiously awaiting" the peaking duck, while another can't wait to eat the spare ribs after coming back from vacation.

Despite selling the restaurant in 2019, Chen said that he and Carol, his wife and business partner, brokered a deal with some of their longtime staff to reopen as business partners so that the two original owners won't have to work as hard, but can still keep the restaurant running.

"I miss Bayside and miss my customers, and I'm happy that now there's a chance for me to come back and work a little less," Chen told Patch.