34-12 36th St., Astoria
Phone: (718) 255-1947
Status: Opens tonight.
Tonight, Queens gets a classy new dining option in The Astor Room, on the ground floor of the Kaufman Astoria Studios. Many, many years ago the space was the private commissary to the movie studio. But now, the entire super club has been restored to recall its former glory days, and will open to the public for the first time ever, tonight.
The menu features luxe American classics like oysters Rockefeller, lobster thermidor and short rib stroganoff with entrees in the $18-$34 range and apps in the $8-$12 range. The Astor Room will also be open for lunch during the week and brunch on the weekends. For cocktails, the restaurant and its adjoining Beaver Bar will serve throwback classics like the The Astor Martini and The New Yorker, priced around $9 or $10. Take a peek at the full food and drink selection here.
Nostalgia buffs should note that the space features many design details, like a marble staircase and tile walls, that are remarkably well preserved, as the dining room has never been open for public use before. Do send all early reports our way.
Further Reading: NYT, Thrillist; FitR; Zagat