The Queens…
By Adam Kramer
During the 10 years that Eddie Altine and his wife Rachel worked for others in the restaurant industry, they dreamed of one day owning their own place. That dream became a reality June 13, when they opened the doors to Prestige Restaurant.
The Queens Village eatery at 215-52 Jamaica Ave. is a bit different from the other Haitian, Jamaican and West Indian establishments that dot the avenue. It is more high-end.
“We wanted to open an upscale, cozy place where people could have a good time,” Altine said, “a restaurant that would be something different and a bit more comfortable.”
So instead of a big steam table dominating the room, paper napkins and plastic place mats, the restaurant has 12 tables outfitted with tablecloths, cloth napkins, flowers and wine glasses.
“There are nice restaurants around, but what we needed was an organized place,” he said, “a place where people pay attention to details to make customers more comfortable.”
Altine, who immigrated to the United States from Haiti 18 years ago when he was 15, said he came to America for better opportunities and a chance to improve his life.
“Opening the place has been something we have been thinking about for the past two years,” said the Queens Village resident. “We opened when we found the right area. A first we couldn’t find a location that fit our needs.”
Owning a restaurant was his goal during the time he spent working for others in their establishments, he said. Now he has attained his goal.
“I have worked for several restaurants over the past 10 years,” he said, “so the experience has helped me know what we need to do to serve the community.”
Prestige Restaurant is a real family establishment. Altine’s mother-in-law, Ms. Nellie, cooks and runs the kitchen.
“She is the best,” he said. “We used to call her the catering mom. Without her we would not have a restaurant.”
He said the business is good and its regular clientele is growing every day. The community, Altine said, has embraced the eatery and having a regular customer base has been a big plus.
“It is great food and a good place to eat,” said Janas Phanor, of Queens Village, who was eating lunch with a friend. “Many of the other restaurants in the area are not big like this place and don’t provide the service. That is why we come here.”
Some of the Haitian specialties the Prestige Restaurant serves are fried chicken, fried pork, fried goat, conch, steak Creole, beef stew, chicken and peas, rice and beans, and fried plantains.
The restaurant is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. for eating in or takeout. The eatery will also deliver food in the area.
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
