JW’s
LaGuardia Marriott,
102-05 Ditmars Blvd.,
East Elmhurst, 533-3033

Cuisine: Continental/Steakhouse fare

Hours: 6 a.m.-2:30 p.m. from breakfast & lunch; 5-11 p.m. for dinner

Parking: hotel garage, tickets vaildated

Credit Cards: All major

Handicapped Access: yes

Finished a day of busy holiday shopping or treat yourself after the rigor of the workweek with a dining experience that lulls you into all the joys of being on the first step of an adventure without the hassle of leaving home.

But treat yourself while you can, because exciting change is in the future for JW’s, and you don’t want to miss their outstanding cuisine before they shake up the restaurant with a new Queens flare.

Armed with a fellow taster, I found a seat by the window and the planes lifting off from LaGuardia airport were the backdrop for our delightful meal. This hotel restaurant, with its dark wood paneling, recessed bookshelves surrounding cozy booths, wine bottles nestled into the walls and faux fireplace, is a combination library and wine cellar motif. The current menu offers much of a steakhouse flare, but an inside tip from Assistant Restaurant Manager Katherine Casado revealed that a new vision featuring "Queens Cuisine" and celebrating ethnic diversity is in the works for JW’s . . . . which will transform to "Steinway’s" early in the new year.

So enjoy JW’s now – or call to plan your New Year’s celebration with them – and be sure to try the Citrus Chicken ($19.95) served over linguine in a creamy and rich sauce and garnished with capers, black olives and a tomato chive relish. The chicken was tremendously flavorful and unbelievably moist . . . we fought over the last few bites.

We also tried the Mediterranean Shrimp and Scallops ($22.95) "simmered with green onions, olives, artichoke hearts and tomatoes over casarecci pasta." The scallops were large and tender, the portion very generous, and the pasta new to us and delicious.

From their assortment of soups and salads, we tasted a deep and flavorful Lobster Bisque ($5.50) and the LaGuardia Salad ($4.95) which offers a very fresh serving of house salad with diced tomatoes, cucumbers and black olives in burgundy sherry vinaigrette.

Their wine list is extensive and their margarita picture perfect as well as expertly blended.

With a little assistance from our professional and friendly server, I couldn’t resist but to finish the meal with the Death By Chocolate Truffle Cake ($5.75). And truly, we nearly died. Described as "chocolate cake layered with a rich, creamy ganache then topped with imported cocoa powder," the cake is a deceptive temptation. At first bite of its stunning presentation, it appears delicious, slight and harmless. But let your fork sink in, and truly this dessert hides an engrossing amount of chocolate that will pull you over the edge. For first class dining and a safe adventure away from your every day, JW’s is waiting.