Restaurant near JFK
 

We have a 5+ hour layover at JFK on Saturday at dinner. Can anyone suggest a restaurant within an easy cab ride? Italian, Deli, or any other suggestions welcome. $$$ not important.

Locals consider this to be one of the best Italian restaurants in town and very popular: Don Pepe - 135-58 Lefferts Blvd phone 718 845 7587. It is about 10 minutes from JFK - a few blocks north of the Belt Pkwy on Lefferts Blvd. You can get a taxi at JFK to take you there but check with the restaurant if they can get you a car or taxi to take you back to the airport

I've heard of Don Pepe as well. You have to be careful because some surrounding areas are not safe. 5 hours is enough to even take a cab to Astoria, walk around, eat, and then grab a cab back. There's many good places to eat in Astoria.

Joe-Aren't there a few places on Cross Bay Blvd?

Chowhound has several threads on this topic - if you do a search on the "outer boroughs" board, you'll find lots of local suggestions.

Assuming your flight is on time and that you can either check your luggage through to your next destination, or you're not carrying much, I might go to Astoria for Greek food, The Parkside in corona (near Flushing Meadow) http://www.parksiderestaurant.com/

Or maybe check out excellent Thai food at Sripraphai in Woodside http://www.sripraphairestaurant.com/

Adu - Yes there are a couple of places on Cross Bay Blvd but frankly you'd be better off eating at an airport restaurant at JFK. No question - the best close place to JFK is Don Pepe. BTW - some of their portions can be huge so ask the waiter about that and just share. When taking the taxi out of JFK ask the dispatcher to give the driver a "shortie" that will give him the right to get back and pick up airport fares without waiting on line. I must say that the comment about Don Pepe being in a neighborhood that might not be "safe" is -to say the least - not accurate nor fair. Gazillions of people head for Don Pepe from all around the surrounding areas without such a thought - its actually in a very middle class neighborhood.

jroth, I apologize, I wasn't clear in my comment. Its not the Don Pepe area that I meant. I meant to say to be careful when traveling around JFK because some of the areas surrounding JFK aren't so great. When you are familiar with the areas its one thing, but I felt an out of towner should be aware that there are some neighborhoods that are a little higher crime than others.

If you choose Don Pepe's in Ozone Park you'll get a reasonably good meal at an outrageously high price. It's decent southern Italian fare, meaning it's all covered in good tomato sauce or a heavy garlic and butter sauce. The price of every thing is twice what it should be and the wine is table junk at six times the retail price. A restaurant is expected to charge twice to three times average retail for wine, but six times retail is a joke.
Think of Don Pepe's as a tourist haven with ambiance and pricing to match.

Jackstar - I haven't been to Don Pepe's recently but I do recall that - yes - on perusing the menu there are items that appear to be high priced. But - fact is - these are huge servings and esily serve two people - if not more. Ask the waiter about the size of the portion. Don Pepe is - if anything NOT a "tourist haven". If you stop 500 tourists visiting this town I venture - not one would have heard of D.P. nor be headed there. It caters to a very middle class New YOrk clientele (and these are people who do not patronize high priced or overpriced places) who go for the red sauce type menu - that's
quite well done. As far as wine prices - that's my pet beef about almost every NY restaurant - overpriced wines with limited selection on moderate priced wine.