One
Peach Of A (Georgia) Diner
GEORGIA DINER: 86-55 Queens Boulevard; 651-9000
CREDIT CARDS: American Express, Visa,
Mastercard
HOURS: Open 24 Hours, 7 days a week
HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE
Sometimes it is necessary to pay homage to the
classics. Georgia Diner is one of them, a timeless dining fixture on Queens Boulevard that
has been serving Queens residents since 1978. Named after the wife of the owner Demitrios
Kaloidis, the grand dining establishment seats 300 persons, and has undergone some
internal renovation. Under new management and with a new chef on the premises named Timmy
Bourlis, Georgia Diner's intentions are not only to satisfy your appetite, but to dine
with a healthier angle in mind. A brand new extensive menu offers a lot more vegetable and
seafood entrees, many of which are steamed or broiled. The other staple selections are
still around too; burgers, big breakfasts, sinful pastries. This time round, I had to take
five friends to get a better idea of what makes Georgia Diner such a success after all
these years.
One plus right off the bat is their large, free
parking area, located behind the diner. This is integral considering where a place this
large is situated. Upon entering, the spacious restaurant is splut up into two main dining
areas, separated by the counter, with additional window tables running parallel to the
counter. In both dining areas are window/booth tables, overlooking Queens Boulevard. The
walls are pleasantly decorated in a pale rose color, and the large leather chairs are very
comfortable. Waiters are polite and courteous, constantly offering to refill the basket of
hot, fresh baked cheese break, rolls, and glasses of water.
Whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner, special
deals are available round the clock. For example, there are ten specially-priced
combinations of breakfast available, as well as other a la carte items. The menu runs the
gamut of eggs and omelets, muffins, pancakes and waffles. Special lunch menus are prepared
daily, with a One Stop Luncheon offer for only $6.95. The lunch includes soup or juice,
rolls, pastries and a beverage. Some of the highlights from the lunch menu include Grilled
Chicken, Broccoli Quiche, along with more elaborate lunch selections like Chicken Cordon
Bleu, Veal Scaloppini Florentina, Salmon Al Pesto to classic BBQ Babyback Ribs.
Gettin's down to what was a generous dinner
(portions are huge another plus, especially when you want to bring the family and
save by sharing), we started out with some appetizers, and voted on unanamously were the
Mozzarella Sticks, which come with a tasty homemade tomato sauce. Another honorable
mention were the Steamed Clams, beautifully prepared for the eye and palette, served with
slices of cheese bread.
Considering what several of the people that I dined
with are vegetarians, there were many options for them to choose from, and all were
pleased with their selections. The Vegetable Lasagna ($8.95), Fettucini Alfredo ($7.95)
and Penne A la Vodka ($8.95), were all winners. Another honorable mention is the Seafood
Marinara ($19.95), which is a melange of lobster tail, shrimp, scallops, calamari, mussels
and clams served over linguine, topped with a marinara sauce.
A separate dessert menu is available, complete with
a wide range of international coffees, cakes and pies. The Boston Cream Cake (again
large portions) was a particular favorite, as well as the classic hot Apple Pie a la Mode.
Georgia Diner will continue to flourish to be the
diner mecca that it is for Queens residents, for generations to come. It's great for a
date, a quick stop after shopping, family night out, or just a late night coffee talk.
— Linda Sheridan |
