“Great food done right.” That’s the motto of Ridgewood Eats, the upscale-looking, down-to-earth eatery that’s been pleasing palates in western Queens for over five years.
Owners Spiro, John and Chris are being modest. They serve big portions of very fresh, incredibly tasty food at remarkably reasonable prices.
This bright, comfortable oasis brings together everything you could want – the kind of hours and menu variety you’d expect in a diner, with tastes and aromas you’d expect in a fine restaurant.
From early morning to late at night, you can get breakfast, lunch or dinner, including country style and specialty omelets; hefty burgers, oven pressed panini and wraps; Greek specialties; lots of salads, deli, club and specialty sandwiches.
The dinner entrees and specials are outstanding selections in pasta, chicken (and of course, the Hot Open Turkey Dinner), seafood and meats. While the passing dishes of Steak Creole, Pasta Puttanesca or Salmon Piccata smelled oh, so tempting, tonight we were all about chicken and seafood.
An endearing detail at Ridgewood Eats is that rather than serve entrees with an inedible sprig of parsley, here you find an edible orchid. It’s an unexpected touch.
We had the chicken and broccoli in white wine sauce – excellent – tender moist chicken and perfect broccoli in a beautifully herbed sauce. The spicy chicken came with zucchini, cauliflower, carrot and vinegar peppers and it is definitely spicy with good heat – that’s hotness that lets the flavor through but stays with you, for you non-chili heads.
Shrimp Scampi – seven jumbo shrimp over al dente pasta, redolent with garlic and herbs – is the way it’s supposed to be. Shrimp Primavera is aromatic heaven – sweet jumbo shrimp, yellow squash, green zucchini, red vinegar peppers, broccoli and more in velvety sauce.
Dante’s Combo ala Diablo (he’s the devilishly good chef) is fresh, small sliced calamari with chopped clams, sautéed in a spicy tomato sauce, over pasta. This is outstanding – not eye watering like some diablo dishes – powerful flavor with impressive heat “at the finish.” Bravo Dante.
The special seafood combo is Ridgewood Eats’ take on frutti de mare with a New York attitude. The calamari is small and tender, mussels large and also tender, baby clams succulent and all in a spicy marinara sauce with lots of body.
There’s a nice selection of non-alcoholic beverages here, but try their fresh lemonade – yes, lemonade – that cleans the palate and is just wonderful.
Spiro and the partners buy their outstanding desserts. “You just can’t do everything the right way in a place this size,” he said, “So we bring in the best.”
This includes cheesecakes from Junior’s in Brooklyn and cakes and pies from other bakeries that produce a first-rate “Chocolate Thunder Cake” under a silky ganache, excellent pineapple cake with coconut frosting and more.
Ridgewood Eats offers the comfort and décor of an upscale eatery with the friendly staff you’d expect at the corner store. The food really is great and they really have done it right.
Ridgewood Eats
903 Seneca Avenue
Ridgewood, NY 11385
Phone: 718-366-EATS (3287)
Fax: 718-366-1335
Open 7 days from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
All major credit cards accepted
Free delivery – Catering for all occasions
Fax service for daily soups/specials
Corporate accounts welcome
