Rèst-Âü-Ránt

I wish I could add the 5^th star to my rating– the food at least deserves it!!! It is the staff that disappointed. No acknowledgment upon entering– we assumed seats at the bar since the tables weren’t wiped down and no approached to assist. Once we were able to secure a glass of wine we were on to the menu. Tapas style but plenty large enough to share. Between my colleague and I we split the Small Cheese Plate #2– which was Devine and exactly enough for 2 people! The cranberry pecan bread was crusty on the crust but soft and airy on the middle– all three cheeses (Gorgonzola, Brie and Goat) paired well with the figs, walnuts and grapes. We also split the Pesto Shrimp (perfectly cooked and not too heavy on the basil– enough to bring out the shrimp flavor) and the special which was Tagliatelle Pasta with exquisitely cooked mussels and creamy Alfredo sauce. I’m normally not a creamy sauce fan– but this sauce was light and flavorful but not buttery or oily. It went exceptionally well with the mussels. By far the food was great– the service was mediocre– so order to go or don’t expect the staff to step up and wow you. I hope they do for sake of the food though!!!

I love every time here the fondue and the wine selection. Is small place without waitress so be patient since the cool bartender must do all. You wont be disappointed here …

Cute, cozy little corner wine spot in Astoria.
I went with 2 of my girlfriends and shared many of the tapas on the menu along with a bottle of red wine.
My favorite dish was the Egg Salad – delicious and have a distinct creamy flavor to it.
Least favorite was the Fondue pot – the fondue cheese was very little. One of the least I have experienced as a cheese fondue lover.

You can’t really go wrong with their Sunday night burger deal. $ 10 for burger, fries and beer. And it’s good beer, too. Whatever draught you want. The music and atmosphere is always friendly and warm. I don’t think it’s the greatest food in the world, but the experience is always worth it.

I had dinner at Rest-​au-​Rant a couple of years ago and the bartender was left alone to wait tables by himself, so the wait was ridiculously long for anything, but I remember the food being very good. Recently, I noticed they popped up on grub hub, so I ordered lunch.
The delivery took a little over an hour. It’s less than a mile from my job, but it can be a long bike ride through Astoria.
The mixed green salad with grilled chicken was pretty good. I especially liked the fried artichoke hearts.
The RAR burger was terrible. It came terribly under cooked. I’ve been ordering burgers for years and the rarest I’ve ever received one was «medium.» This was rare. How is that even possible with carry over cooking? The middle was still that raw red/​pink color and the texture was almost that of raw meat. Sure, maybe I should have specified that I wanted my burger medium or medium well, but those should be the default cook temps when NOT specified. If you order the burger, make sure to specify your desired cooking temp.
The fries were soggy from the burger juices, but I ordered the burger without the bun, so I’m not complaining about that. The bacon was kind of grey and very fatty, but it was only $ 1 extra. The avocado was fresh at least. I’m pretty disappointed in the burger though.
Probably will not be ordering from here again. I might try and go in there for dinner again one day, but I don’t think delivery works for this place.

Such a cute place for a late night wine and cheese and drannnk.
Came here with three other friends around midnight. Luckily for us the kitchen stayed open !
We ordered the cheese plate, fried zucchini sticks and a bottle of white wine. The cheese plate was arranged beautifully and satisfied our late night hunger. Our waiter was super nice and helpful.
Rest-​au-​rant is a tiny casual bar/​restaurant with small café-​like tables (but big enough for groups of 6). It is open till 2 which is great and is located conveniently by the N /​Q train.
Super great time, I would come again.

Pretty cool place, little off the beaten path. Got the Austrian white wine and steak skewers. Steak was a little chewy and didn’t like it that much while the chimichurri sauce was pretty good

Pretty okay place. I went here with my friend, mostly to get some fondue, grab a drink, and relax. Unfortunately, we walked into this weird, open mic, stand-​up comedy night. It was fine. I’m usually down for free comedy, but there was like no one there (probably because the comedians weren’t very good) and the audience got heckled a lot, which was kind of annoying if you hadn’t come there to watch the show. The place is super small, so if you are sitting in the part of the bar near the comedians, you can’t really talk amongst yourselves and are right on top of them and their heckling.
Food was great. The cheese fondue with bread and chorizo was awesome, even though the whole place itself was a bit pricey. Service was okay. The bartender seemed kind of pissed off when I had trouble deciding what I wanted and didn’t offer any suggestions. I probably have to come back outside of comedy night and maybe for a different meal. I would check it out, minus the comedians, because it seems like it could be a pretty okay place.

I ordered the RAR burger it was amazing. The bun was toasted to perfection. The salad was delicious. Great atmosphere.

Here’s an experiment, let’s try pasting an identical review of a really lackluster experience, but instead with an undeserved 5-​star rating, and see if the business flags it for the third time:
What a dumb name in this search-​obsessed world. Visited their R’ar Bar presence at Smorgasburg Queens and found the Bacon Jam Sticky Bun (Bacon Jam Sticky Bun) to be simply bad. Friendly guy working it, but a bad product.
Loyalty goldstar Loyalty greystar Loyalty greystar Loyalty greystar Loyalty greystar
Earn 5 stars for 25% off!

Went here last night during a free comedy show. Was recommended by a friend to check it out since the comedy shows in the past have been pretty good. I guess last night was a sleeper coz the comedians weren’t that funny.
Nonetheless, the food and service was amazing! The bartender was so courteous and patient with our beer selections, providing us with samples and suggesting which ones were best according to beers we normally drink.
The food was good too. We had a the «no commitment» platter of cheese and meats, Argentinian steak skewers and the guacamole. The guacamole was pretty spicy and I’m surprised they didn’t asked for our option of spice but overall it tasted good as soon as the fire settled into my tongue lol.

Brunch review.:
This place gets one star for the service… everything else fell short and we won’t be going back.
We read the negative reviews but had been wanting to try it out for a while so we went for Sunday brunch. It was a hot day and there was no AC… inside is decorated cute but it was dark and dingy with flies in the air.
Bloody Mary: tasted great but I’m not sure if there was any very vodka in it.
Chicken & waffles: worst I’ve ever had. The waffle was good but we couldn’t get past the chicken, which was almost definitely frozen Tyson’s chicken that they had thrown in the microwave. All three pieces had been sliced open to check whether or not they were still frozen in the middle. It was hard as a rock and completely inedible. The place should be ashamed for serving this.
Huevos rancheros: an interesting take on the dish but it just fell short. The tomatoes and onions were barely cut up at all so it was like huge chunks of them on the side of the plate — hardly «salsa». The spice in the dish was crushed red pepper flakes — I could have made it better at home myself. That aside, it tasted alright… until I found a man’s hair in it (our server had long blonde hair carefully pulled up so I’m sure it was from the lone cook in the kitchen).
I’m honestly not sure how they’re still in business. Don’t waste your time/​money when there are so many fantastic places in the area.

Cozy, intimate environment with decent draft and wine selection. Comedy Tuesdays are legit. Their lobster roll was underwhelming and frankly disappointing. The beef app was pretty tasty. Chill place to hang for locals or a casual date.

Lackluster tapas. Ambitious menu but execution falls far short.
Decent ambiance. OK service. Great music.
Good wine and local beer selection. Maybe stick to wine and cheese pairings.
We’re in no rush to return.
Also there are flies.

They’re open for breakfast and lunch now. Free wifi and chill atmosphere, as always! Buy 9 and get the 10^th one free! Good deal and delicious options. They added some amazing salads, too. Try them! Try everything!

I love this place. I think it is the 1 thing I miss most about moving out of Astoria. My cousin and I lived a few blocks away from here. First time I saw it I was on an evening run and heard music coming from the open doors. I stopped and listened for 20 minutes before walking home.
This is a very simple and rustic wine bar. It gave me the feeling of being back home on the bayou with the strands of lights across of wood roof. We would frequent this place on just about any night and there was always some sort of special going on. Typically we would get wine and usually ordered some form of food.
I must say now that I still believe the best burger I have had in the city is right here. Get it with everything on it and just enjoy as your taste buds delight in the deliciousness. As a starter I recommend getting an order of the guac. Again, some of the best I have had in the city and there is enough for two people to happily split. There is other food on the menu that is very good including the cheese plates but those are the two that I believe deserve special attention.
As for the environment it is a great place to be. On Tuesday and Thursday there is live music and comedy. This brings in a small but pleasant crowd of people that are there for a few drinks and to enjoy the show. On the remaining nights you can typically find a few groups of people and a some couples enjoying a nice night in a great spot.

It’s very hit or miss here. Some of the food is good but a lot is under seasoned, not fresh, over/​under cooked. Depending on the day you go the food will taste different as consistency is an issue.
Prices are a little off for certain dishes, not a whole lot of value for what you pay.
Cocktails are basic and use pre-​mixed juices. Not worth it.
Brunch is your best bet, but nothing great. The omelet gets you re most for your money and you get a free mimosa with any entrée.
Although, any food orders have long ticket times (30 min) no matter what day you go.
The ambience is good – it’s quaint and has a neighborhood vibe. Live music and comedy on certain nights draw a decent crowd.
Wouldn’t go back for the food, but maybe for happy hour beers.

Many a moon ago as a recent arrival to New York, I found myself living in this scary place called Queens. More specifically Astoria. Having of course done zero research I had no idea what I had signed up for. Sad scared and alone on my first night… with a group of friends… I stumbled into Rest-​Au-​Rant. This bar set the standard for me in Queens.
It’s not ever going to be pumping the latest dubstep. You’re not going to walk in here and be overwhelmed with the intensity of the music or the «Hipsternes» …but then who the heck wants that from an awesome higher end local wine bar?
Come here for the mellow jazz crooning from the speakers, the laid back bar tenders, the awesome tap beer, and most importantly the WINE.
The other thing that melted my mind is that the food is awesome. The burger is consistently epic, not in an «oh-they-cooked-it-like-I-wanted-it-and-it’s-a-bar-so –I’ll-consider-it-good» kind of way. It’s in an actual hold up against any burger in the city kind of way.
Have I had a better glass of wine in my life? Yes, I have. Have I ever been to a better restaurant? Yes, I have. Have I ever felt the same sense of nostalgia for a wine bar when I haven’t been there in a while? No, no I have not!

Imagine the coziness of riding the subway at rush hour when you’re standing in the middle of the subway car trying not to touch the middle pole that’s most likely coated in a layer of bacteria as diverse as the melting pot of America, and people are bumping into you and leaning against your body slow-​dance-​style as the elbows of the train bend around a corner and in your head you start listing the things you’d give to get out of there – then imagine that cozy feeling but replace everything else (sans coziness) with a lovely restaurant with friendly people and delicious food.
That’s Rèst-​âü-​Ránt.
Nestled on a street corner in the notably enjoyable neighborhood of Astoria, Queens, Rèst-​âü-​Ránt is as cozy as the bench seat between two commuters on the N train, except Rèst-​âü-​Ránt doesn’t smell, has pleasant décor and people are smiling.
I was visiting a friend in Astoria and we were hungry. He’s been an Astorian for a decade so my trust level in his choices for eateries was dangerously high.
«There’s a place up the block that’s really cozy and quaint,» he said. «You can get a meal for around $ 11.»
«My limit is $ 12,» I said.
He scrambled to think of another place so I interjected «just kidding,» because I WAS kidding; I’m willing to spend the Unilocal equivalent of $$ for a nice meal in a nice place with nice customer service.
It turns out my friend’s friend works at Rèst-​âü-​Ránt. He also eats there or grabs a beer after work at their bar at least once a week. The entire staff knew him. He loves the place. These were all facts he omitted when he suggested having lunch there.
I’m a designer so I notice the design of the logo and menu before I notice anything actually on the menu. Rèst-​âü-​Ránt has awesome Bauhaus-​inspired design; the menu is a work of art. The content of the menu was also a work of art. I struggled to choose just one thing. It was between the grilled cheese and chili for me, and I went with the chili. My friend got some sort of chicken dish that sent him into a bliss I have yet to experience.
«I’m just so happy,» he said with a giddy smile as he ate his chicken skewers. I didn’t say anything while I ate my bowl of chili – I was rendered speechless. The chili was delicious and the homemade tortilla chips were a welcome and delicious addition to the savory chili.
After eating, we enjoyed the warm, early spring sunlight spilling through the window beside our table and the quaint, homey ambiance of Rèst-​âü-​Ránt.
Very cozy indeed.

Quaint ambiance with a great tapas menu. Reasonably priced with my favorite dish being the charcuterie for 1, which restaurants don’t generally offer. The local beer selection illustrates why I’m proud to be an Astorian.

Have eaten here twice, and wasn’t impressed either time. The food is okay, the service is okay, the ambiance is okay. Nothing special.
The restaurant is small, with not a lot of seating available.
I had the ravioli in cream sauce once, and it was okay. Not particularly well done. The pasta was a little too al dente. I also had the fig and cheese panini– I felt the cheese was too strong and overpowering the sandwich.
I also think some of the dishes are overpriced. The menu is a little scattered.
The restaurant is fine, but I can’t recommend it.

Came for brunch today for the first time and also received a discount for shopping small business Saturday! We had the hue is rancheros and bacon jam dishes with free bellinis. Everything was excellent.
The huevos dish had a nice BBQ kick to it and the bacon jam with olive oil bread was out of this world. Wow.
Ambiance is great, homey. Service is friendly and fast. Great experience– will be back.

Oh Rest-​au-​rant, how I love thee? I lived down the street from this place for four years and went a handful of times. Now that I don’t live near here anymore, I go every chance I have.
You really don’t go here for a fine dining experience, so definitely don’t expect top-​notch service/​food, but It’s merely an awesome neighborhood joint to grab some small plates, drinks, nice conversation and the occasional live music.
Get their fondue and fried zucchini sticks. My favs and so lovely over nice wine and conversation.

I didn’t pay for a thing and I wasn’t even on a date! Boom. That doesn’t happen often. I love this little hole in the wall adorable wine and beer cutesy French bistro. I never use the words adorable and cutesy so you know it got to me. Very low key. Twinkly lights. Kind of jazzy and kicked back like I’m in the south of France and everyone else can go to hell. One of Stephy’s friends took us and her boyfriend out to dinner well over a month ago and we had the pleasure of sampling some of their bites off of the menu.
Pesto shrimp ($ 9): Marinated in an artichoke pesto and oven baked in a small clay pot with white wine sauce. My thoughts? Wine makes everything better. Great little dish.
Baby Back Ribs ($ 14): A half-​rack slathered with their house sauce which is kind of tangy and mellow. Nothing spicy involved here and served with a heaping side of their homemade coleslaw. Their slaw is as outstanding as their fall off the bone ribs. I tasted a kind of ketchup mayo kick to the dressing. Kind of a thousand island style slaw.
Jumbo Lump Crab cake ($ 16): Now this is a bit expensive I’d consider if I paid for my food. Especially since you get a singular crab cake. However, it was cooked to perfection and the crab tasted exceptionally fresh. Squeeze some lemon on and its heaven. The accompaniment of fresh greens was also refreshing.
We also splurged with trying their cheese fondue. The classic fondue with emmental cheese and gruyère with wine. ($ 26) Served with bits of toasted bread, extra add ons of beef tips ($ 8), and chicken ($ 5). The beef tips are well worth it. The cheese fondue is the best I’ve ever had. I’m not that much into fondue and most of the time I’ve had it it has either been runny or pungent as hell. Not in this case. It was thick, creamy and tasted of Gruyère cheesy heaven.
To accompany all this great food we had a bottle of the Michael Sullberg Reserve Merlot from Sonoma, California ($ 30). I’m not the biggest fan of Merlots but this was very low on acidity and tasted wonderful. Finished the evening with a round of Widow Janes. Which would explain why I was so drunk later. And complimentary chocolate truffles and a mini ricotta cheesecake. This restaurant knows how to treat its diners so impeccably well. The desert and the whiskey was a way to end nights of all nights. This is a great place to take a date if I did those things. But I am a bitter, cynical old hag. Cheers. Perhaps if I’m in the area again I will check out their also extensive beer list or possibly brunch.

I live so close to RAR, but have never been there until Friday night. We weren’t too hungry and we knew we wanted wine, so we just went with a cheese plate and the charcuterie plate to pick at. First off, the prices are great! We got a bottle of Pinot Grigio for $ 30 I think. and the small plates were $ 12 each. The portions were large and they were very tasty. Many other places, you would only get a small portion for this price. The selections of cheeses and meats were great and they even give you two options for the cheese plates.
I loved the olive tapenade that came with Cheese 1! I wish they gave us more. The breads were crusty and perfect for our meats and cheeses. It is a small little place, but they have outdoor seating as well.
Will definitely be back in for some more libations and try out their other food options. Service was slow. Not sure if the bartender was the only person working or not because we were sitting outside.