A new restaurant in downtown Flushing is called Magna and Chef Salvatore has created a menu that far exceeded my expectations.
Tucked away on Farrington Street, a side street just one block west of Flushing Town Hall (on Linden Place) sits this new restaurant in the lobby of the Marco LaGuardia Hotel on Northern Boulevard. It is in a busy area but there is a parking lot next door and beginning at 7 p.m. there is free on-street parking.
I felt relaxed as soon as I stepped into the warm environment. A long wooden bar sits in the front of the restaurant. The tables are well spaced in the room, featuring a large photo of the hotel owner’s hometown in Sicily.
Nevertheless, as everyone knows great food must come with friendly, helpful and knowledgeable wait staff and Magna has that too. Our waiter and waitress were all of these and added to the quality of our fine dining experience.
We began our meal with appetizers chosen by the chef. You can tell a great Italian restaurant by its red sauce. All the dishes with the chef’s red sauce were magnificent.
We were impressed with the red snapper served with shavings of truffles surrounded by thinly sliced asparagus spears. Rarely do you find a dish finished with truffles and it was a great combination of flavors. We also had a crispy fried zucchini.
The main courses had many offerings of pasta, fish, meat and chicken. We ate the sesame-crusted tuna cooked rare – how I like it. Stu had a perfectly prepared flavorful veal scallopini. Both our portions were generous and artfully presented. The chef obviously comes well trained offering dishes both delicious and a treat to the eye.
The wine menu has a generous selection of wine at realistic prices, both by the bottle and glass.
Of course, no meal is complete without dessert and Magna does not disappoint. Their offerings are made on premises and I highly recommend their mouthwatering cheesecake in a strawberry sauce. What a treat – just the right creaminess.
Take advantage of the talented chef in charge of Magna’s kitchen. We are fortunate to have his talents right in our own backyard.
If you plan to attend a performance or exhibit at Flushing Town Hall, enjoy a pre-theater dinner or after theater dessert at Magna. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, due to the services they offer hotel guests, so there are many opportunities to enjoy.
Try it, you’ll love it!
