The U.S. Open, my all time favorite sports tournament is almost in town, and I can't wait. While I relish all the tennis action these exciting two weeks bring, I'm not always jazzed about the food options offered at the stadium. It's for this reason I'm providing you with a quick round-up of delicious eats you can grab prior to or after visiting the Open without fail. All of these suggestions are located close to the 7 train line, so they offer easy convenience.
Biang Noodles in Flushing - This popular noodle shop will satisfy your gametime hunger with more than a dozen different varieties of noodles, skewers, bread dishes such as sliders, dumplings and even authentic Chinese desserts. Make sure to bring cash, as Biang doesn't accept credit cards. 41-10 Main Street, Flushing. 718.888.7713
Venturo in Sunnyside - Loving Vesta's little outpost in Sunnyside, it's just a few short steps from the 7 train and couldn't make it easier to stop off and get some fresh, delicious food. In addition to dinner and wine, they serve lunch so you can hit them up during the U.S. Open day sessions. Recommended dishes include the homemade thin crust pizzas, the pasta free lasagna and of course their Baby Jesus cake for dessert. 44-07 Queens Blvd, Sunnyside. 718.406.9363
Jahn's in Jackson Heights - If you'd like to treat yourself to a celebratory old fashioned sundae, Jahn's is your pick. Boasting north of 14 different sundae varieties, you can get everything from a classic vanilla hot fudge sundae to something funky and unusual such as the Kitchen Sink Sundae which feeds up to 10 people at once. 81-04 37th Avenue, Jackson Heights. 718.651.0700
U.S. Open Tennis, my favorite sporting event is here, and the best part is that it takes place in Queens. I was happy to attend the Qualifying Tournament this past Friday, which gave me a nice preview of things to come. Excited to return to the Open next week, I've been scoping out some yummy things you can get your hands on in and outside of the tournament's grounds.
Hill Country BBQ - Excited to see this popular BBQ haven make its debut at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, you can now get your fix of brisket, turkey, sausage and other BBQ yummies. The best part for me was seeing their lovely miniature pies in pretty glass display cases, with flavors ranging from Double Cherry to Bourbon Pecan.
Tortilleria Nixtamal - Located just two stops away on the 7 train from Mets-Willets Point, Nixtamal is a great place to stop in for lunch or an early dinner before the matches. Not only is it absolutely delicious--the tamales being my favorite in Queens--the prices are wallet friendly as well, and overall it's a real steal compared to what you'll pay inside the stadium. 104-05 47th Avenue, Corona. 718.699.2434
Jahn's - If your'e in the mood for a little sweet something after a tennis win, I highly encourage you to stop in at Jahn's for a victory sundae. They have over 30 different varieties of old fashioned sundaes including fruit based sundaes, "large tummy ticklers" and even the master of all sundaes called the Kitchen Sink. Jahn's is pretty accessible to the 7 train, just 5 stops away from Mets-Willets Point. 81-04 37th Avenue, Jackson Heights. 718.651.0700
Last week, Meg, Dayna, a new friend, Dalena and I met in Jackson Heights to try out Alchemy Texas BBQ, which I'll tell you about later this week. But first thing's first - dessert! We stopped in at Jahn's for classic ice cream sundaes after the hearty BBQ grub. It was the perfect end to this lovely food outing, and I just can't stop thinking about how much I enjoyed it. For those of you who love classic ice cream desserts in a nostalgic atmosphere, Jahn's is for you.
Atmosphere:
Being a staple in the neighborhood for more than 60 years now, Jahn's is more than just a family restaurant, it's an institution. Transforming you back in time, if you appreciate the good old, you'll love the classic booth seating, ball lighting, dark wooden panel decor and just plain retro style. There's a counter up front where you pay for your bill, just like in old fashioned diners.
We loved it all and immediately felt at home , nestling into our booth and perusing the extensive back of the menu that's purely dedicated to ice cream. This is exactly the reason we came.
Ice Cream:
Having to choose between the myriad of ice cream sundae choices at Jahn's wasn't easy but we clearly managed. Besides having your classic flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, mint chip, and cookies & cream, they also have plenty of specialty sundaes that they call Tummy Ticklers. How cute! I also couldn't help noticing the mother of all sundaes, which is the Kitchen Sink - serving about 8-10 people and coming in at a whopping $51.95. Yep, you read that right!
Classic Sundae - Even though the fancy stuff looked great, I opted for something simple and timeless, which was their pistachio sundae with hot fudge and whipped cream. It was perfection in every way, as the ice cream contained chunks of actual pistachio and almond too. The ice cream to hot fudge ratio was quite perfect and the fresh whipped cream was as light as air. Even though some folks aren't so into maraschino cherries, I kind of like them and devoured mine in one quick bite. As you see, the portion was quite large, but so delicious that I managed to eat it all.
Apple Pie Sundae - Dayna went for this decadent dessert, which contained big pieces of apples on top, reminding me of pie filling. Actually, I think that's exactly what it was. Another sweet success, we all took turns at trying it and really enjoyed the saucy topping and how it paired perfectly with the rich chocolate chip ice cream.
Service and Cost:
The old fashioned service at Jahn's is part of its charm, and even though everything here is no frills, it just feels friendly and wonderful. Our waiter was helpful and really lax about leaving us to just chat after finishing our ice cream - I felt right at home.
Costs are wallet friendly and include anywhere from $3.15 to $8.95 for ice cream. Definitely not bank breaking!
3 Sweet Mmmms
Jahn's - 81-04 37th Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
718.651.0700
7 Train to 82nd Street
