One of the biggest hot spots in Astoria is Grand Cafe, which is responsible for changing the entire dining culture along 30th Avenue.
“The whole neighborhood has been transformed because of us,” said Nick Chasabenis, co-owner of Grand Cafe. Now, the other restaurants have begun to serve brunch and have adopted the Grand Cafe’s decorum and menu,” Chasabenis said.
The Grand Cafe features American style cuisine at reasonable prices, Chasabenis said. The restaurant has the feel of a European caf/ with an emphasis on desserts, and available outside seating makes it a top destination for many young adults in Queens.
The eatery has also become a top spot for networking and for singles to mingle, Chasabenis said. He added there are real estate brokers who meet at the restaurant to network, and he always hears stories from couples who first met each other at the Grand Cafe.
Co-owner Teddy Passelis said Grand Cafe also has a full lunch and dinner menu, but they still try to keep the dishes simple. “Sometimes when you mix and match types of ingredients it doesn’t work right,” Passelis said. “We’re down to earth.”
Passelis also said they have deals to sell some of the most popular New York desserts in the restaurant such as cheesecake from Junior’s in Brooklyn.
Their ability to sell famous New York treats and create delicious dishes has meant the restaurant is always hopping. Passelis said there is often a line out the door and they will serve over 400 brunches on a Saturday or Sunday.
The crush of customers does lead to its share of problems, Passelis said. He noted the wait staff can get overwhelmed because there are so many people. However, Passelis wanted to reassure diners they are not forgotten, just busy.
Passelis said the Astoria restaurant has been so successful they have expanded the kitchen three times.
To capitalize on the popularity of the restaurant, Passelis said he and the other owners are looking into creating a second restaurant. They are still looking at different locations throughout Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn for possible expansion.
Today, only one Grand Cafe exists and it is located at 37-01 30th Avenue in Astoria. The Grand Cafe is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 11 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. for dinner. On the weekend, the restaurant serves brunch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 718-777-7321.
