Bayside Restaurant Stroll To Take Over Bell Blvd This Weekend

BAYSIDE, QUEENS -- Hundreds of foodies are expected to descend on Bell Boulevard this weekend to sample some of Bayside's finest cuisine, organizers said.

The Bayside Village BID will hosts its first summertime Bell Boulevard Food & Music Fest on Sunday, where 30 local restaurants will line the downtown strip to serve up samples of their diverse cuisine.

"There are a lot of restaurants on Bell Boulevard, but this gives people a chance to try something that maybe they wouldn't normally try," Bayside Village BID Executive Director Christine Silletti told Patch.

Bell Boulevard will be shut down between 38th and 43rd Avenue, and 41st Avenue between 213th Street and 214th Place, from 2 to 6 p.m. for patrons to sample a wide variety of cuisines that includes everything from French to Korean to Greek to Paraguayan foods, Silletti said.

Krave It, a pizzeria and sandwich shop best known for its crazy crusted creations, and Taverna Kyclades, the strip's newest addition, will among dozens serving up tastings at the restaurant stroll. The full list of participating eateries is available on the Bayside Village BID website.

The festival will also feature an array of live music, dancing lessons and children's activities on each block, Silletti said. Ahead of the festival at 1 p.m., children can enjoy a story time outside Turn the Page Again while adults partake in a free salsa dance lesson.

Tickets to the festival can be purchased in advance online or at Avli Kave on 38th Avenue at $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under, or at the door for $35. The ticket covers samplings of all 30 participating restaurants on the strip and other activities throughout the festival.

Participants can exchange advance reservation receipts for a tasting ticket at entrances along Bell Boulevard at 42nd or 43rd Avenues.

Silletti said while the Bayside Village BID has hosted similar events on Bell Boulevard in the past, this will be the organization's first restaurant stroll at this time of year. They've already sold hundreds of tickets, she said, and they expect to sell a couple hundred more.

The festival will happen rain or shine, and she's eager to watch Bayside's residents have their moment in the spotlight.

"I'm really proud of all our restaurants, so I'm excited to be able to watch them strut their stuff," Silletti said.

(Lead photos courtesy of Bayside Village BID)