Nearly one hundred people ventured to The Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale on Tuesday to taste what the borough of Queens has to dish out during the 2017 Dine in Queens kickoff event.
Several restaurants from across Queens were on hand to give out free samples of their signature dishes to hungry visitors of Atlas Park, located at 8000 Cooper Ave., enticing them to come to their place of business during this year’s Dine in Queens event.
The annual three-week event, formerly known as Queens Restaurant Week, involves more than 100 restaurants from all around the borough offering discounts as a way for residents to go out and try out new restaurants, or return to a personal favorite eatery.
Representatives from Outback Steakhouse, Shiro of Japan, Restaurant Depot, the Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC), Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel and Matiz Latin Cuisine were giving out freebies to everyone who stopped by their tables.
The area’s elected officials also came out to Atlas Park to get some food and see which restaurants will be participating in this year’s Dine in Queens event.
“If you really want to see 10 countries, if you really want to eat from 10 countries, you can do it in 20 minutes here in Queens,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “We want to make sure that folks come here for Dine in Queens, but they also come back so that we can really have the true tourism and make sure that folks from around the world know what Queens has to offer. You haven’t visited New York City until you’ve come to Queens.”
State Senator Joseph Addabbo was happy to see so many restaurants taking part in the annual event.
“Our local restaurants are such a big, important part of our economic base for our borough, but they also employ local people,” he said, noting that many local restaurants also hire local workers to bolster Queens even further.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, whose district office is located in Atlas Park, came out to see the people enjoying their free food and talk about everything Glendale has to offer.
“It’s not only a great place to dine, but also to shop here at Atlas Park,” she said of Glendale. “We’re making movies and TV shows next door at Broadway Stages. So, Queens is certainly on the map, and we’re very, very proud of its diversity and the many, many cultures. And of course, our restaurants where you can taste the fine food from all over the world.”
The 2017 Dine in Queens officially begins on Oct. 16 and will last until Nov. 2. During that time, participating restaurants will offer customers a three-course prix-fixe dinner for $28 and lunch for $14, with some offering different deals.
To see a full list of participating venues, visit itsinqueens.com.
