Queens Tribune

107-01 Corona Ave., Corona
(718) 271-9871
Cuisine: Italian
Hours: Noon to 11:30 p.m. Mon-Sat; noon to 10 p.m. Sun.
Parking: Valet

Nestled in a growing Latino community stands a crossroads like few others in Queens. A couple of avenues and handful of streets come together around Joseph Lisa Park. The businesses that surround the park have shrugged off the influx of the Latino community to hold onto its Italian heritage.

After all, this is the home to the Lemon Ice King, one of the best salumerias in the city and the Park Side Restaurant.

This classic location is known throughout the city for its service, its food and its atmosphere. It is one of the few places in Queens where diners are sure to rub elbows with celebrities, like this past weekend when Kevin James and Adam Sandler stopped in with a group of friends to celebrate their latest movie.

But they were not the real stars of the day – it was probably the penne in lamb sauce.

A group of us went Sunday to celebrate a birthday, and we were treated to the relaxed ambiance, given time between courses, and not rushed at all despite the constant line of people waiting to walk in on a beautiful afternoon.

We started with a variety of appetizers – from fried calamari and a Caesar salad to a hot antipasto, mussels in a red sauce and mozzarella en carrozza. While we waited for the appetizers we snacked on the variety of breads presented at the table with choices offered of olive oil or butter.

Moving on to the entrees, the food was spectacular. The fettuccine carbonara was creamy, filled with bacon, onion and flavor; the seafood and linguini fra diavolo was bold and intense; the shrimp parmesan was light with luscious, creamy cheese; and the winner of the day, the penne with ground lamb in a red sauce, was a great combination of fresh flavors – a delightful twist on a Bolognese.

The dessert selections are Park Side are extraordinary, with at least a dozen fresh cakes an pies, an airy tiramisu and Bindi’s lemon sorbet.

This is a great place to have a casual meal, to celebrate, to star gaze and to savor some of the finest Italian flavors in Queens. Enjoy!