Known for its rich Greek influence, you’ve likely eaten your way through all of Astoria’s Greek restaurants–and if you haven’t, we suggest doing so. But you also may want to switch up the cuisine for your next dinner out, like to French, because this restaurant and wine bar Tootles & French was just named the best new restaurant in the U.S. in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, the only Queens nominee.
USA Today writes:
Known for its refined dishes and elegant ambience, Tootles & French is a wine bar and cafe located in the heart of Astoria, New York, featuring a carefully curated selection of wines. Food pairings feature charcuterie boards, small plates, and paninis, resulting in a sophisticated dining experience.
Co-owner Chad Goldsmith is a lifelong New Yorker who has called Astoria home for the last 10 years. He went to school for culinary management before opening Tootles & French in April 2023. Goldsmith told PIX 11, “Everything is either made in house, with the exception of the charcuterie that gets imported. Our bread is from a local bakery down the street. Our meat comes from local butchers. So we try to do everything within community or in house if possible.”
And that commitment to keeping things local truly shines through all their menu–which changes seasonally–whether it be their Pesto Burrata with house-made pasta, Steak Frites, or their French’s Chopped Cheese, a reimagined twist on the NYC classic.
Even their cocktails and wine are small batch or family-produced recipes! Plus, beyond your run of the mill lunch and dinner service, Tootles & French offers comedy on the weekends, live music during Sunday brunch, and a happy hour.
Goldsmith added to PIX 11 regarding supporting local businesses:
We are not in a time where small businesses are thriving. Post-pandemic, buying on the internet, buying food delivery services, going out to dine and have a cocktail isn’t what it used to be, so working together is the only way we see our success happening
To come up with the ranking, a panel of food and travel experts made the nominations, and readers then had a month to vote for the best of 20 establishments. “It’s incredible. It’s incredible,” Goldsmith said of his win, “It’s building the community…bringing in people we know and don’t know and introducing it to the world.”
Co-owner Vanessa Massas added of the win, “I don’t even know what to say. It means the world to me. This is a huge deal, especially after COVID and what the hospitality industry has been going through,” according to the Astoria Post. She added that she believes the news will provide a boost for neighboring businesses.
Find the top 10 best new restaurants in the U.S. here. Tootle’s & French’s full menu can be found on their website.
📍 36-15 Ditmars Blvd.