Queens Tribune

PETE’S GRILL
39-14 Queens Blvd.
Sunnyside
(718) 937-2220
CUISINE: Mixed
HOURS: 24 hrs., 7 days a week
PARKING: Lot
CREDIT CARDS: Major
DELIVERY: Free Delivery

Pete’s Grill is the proverbial new kid on the block in Sunnyside, a bite of the borough renowned for its diverse pallet and pubs. Needless to say it’s a daunting task for this rookie eatery to create its own niche and stand out among its culinary colleagues.

But based on the dishes, décor and service, Pete’s Grill is well on its way to stardom in Sunnyside.
Pete’s, which opened last year shortly after Thanksgiving, combines novel restaurant design with the warmth and familiarity of an old-school boxcar diner. You can tell the staff takes pride in appearance as the slickly constructed interior is kept neat and practically spotless. Comfy booths hug the large windows to the right, while banks of tables and chairs bookend the old reliable counter on the left.

It’s 2 o’clock on a Tuesday when I sink into a booth near the far wall. I can see Queens’ signature 7 train above as it quickly makes its presence felt along the boulevard. Even before I take a sip or pick up a utensil, Pete’s just feels right.

My waitress for the afternoon, the lovely and attentive Margarita, delivered a crisp Sam Adams Boston Lager as I perused Pete’s menu. Much like the establishment itself, the menu is neatly designed and arranged, which makes it an easy read. I carefully leafed through and took note of specialty breakfast items like the traditional Irish Breakfast and the Brooklyn Omelette, which includes Nova Scotia lox, Bermuda red onions and sun-dried tomatoes. I also took in the 15 gourmet wraps, burgers, panini sandwiches, 10 different salads and even a list of intriguing sauté dishes.

After a couple of minutes I asked Margarita for chicken quesadillas as an appetizer and the “North Eastern” wrap for my entrée.

The four quesadillas were enormous, roughly more than half the size of a slice of pizza. They were perfectly prepared – grilled chicken, onions and peppers swimming in melted Monterrey Jack cheese sandwiched between golden brown flour tortillas. Fantastic. You can also get them with beef or shrimp.

I surrendered after two quesadillas, but had just enough room left for the “North Eastern,” which turned out to be one of the best wraps I’ve ever had.
Picture this: thinly-sliced roast beef and Spanish onions smothered in a tangy and sweet barbeque sauce and blanketed in melted American cheese. You’ll need extra napkins, but it’s definitely worth it.

The back page of the menu made me wish I weren’t so stuffed. Pete’s offers a wide variety of desserts and “Classic Fountain Favorites,” including egg cream, seven different milk shakes and sinful floats like root beer, creamsicle, and black & white.

In a veritable sea of Sunnyside hotspots, Pete’s Grill has already garnered some well-deserved attention. It seems as if the new kid may become the toast of the town in no time.
- Michael Cusenza