Bailey Legull wrote:
>
>
> Hey, I go to Astoria all the time, but rarely eat there. Just too hard
> to tell which places are good and which aren't. I get spanikopita at a
> place by the 30th Street N-train stop, and the world's best feta from
> the Greek market a couple blocks away.
>
> So, which is the best place to eat? I LOVE places like Mamoun's in
> NYC, with takeout falafel, but cozy little places with tables are good
> too.


Sorry, can't help you there. As is probably evident, I'm just a casual
diner when it comes to Arab cuisine (indeed, some have objected to the
broadly-applied "Arab" label). The great thing about most of them is
that they're like typical Korean restauranteurs, open until three or
four in the morning.

Kabab Cafe on Steinway Street and 25th Avenue is highly rated.
Expensive, though, considering the locale (~$25 entrees -- and they're
not "hungry man" portions, either). But the guy's got talent! Even
his desserts are great and creative. His brother owns the other joint
three or four doors up the block! They're the guys featured in the
book "Crossing the Boulevard" about Queens, the most diverse place on
the whole planet (it's true -- I don't mean ethnic enclaves but really
mixed-up; I've got Croats, Russians, Bulgarians, Italians, Irish,
Chinese, Koreans, Pakis, a Sikh, and of course all kinds of hispanics
in my building alone).

But, oh, they're not one of those open until three in the morning. Too
Zagat-rated for that, I guess! (Actually, it's 'cause the brothers
cook everything themselves and need a break some time!)