The best restaurants in Ridgewood, Queens

Pretty Porcelain’s brushed with dainty design details across its furniture, fixtures and color scheme to create a shabby-chic kind of space that makes you want to wear a flowing, white nightgown and carry a candlestick. What started as an Austrian restaurant went on to host chef Kate Telfeyan’s “Vaguely Asian” pop-up series, and she has since rewritten the menu as co-owner to great success. It is also now only open for dinner, which includes dandan lasagna with tingling black sesame sauce, nori-fried pork chops, kimchi-brined chicken and steamed whole branzino.  

Family-owned Cachapas y Mas has been serving Venezuelan street food finance since 2008. Its present menu includes a trio of empanadas, arepa varieties, patacones and pepitos to take away or stay in the cozy counter service spot. 

Rolo’s is a relative Ridgewood newcomer, a quartet of Gramercy Tavern alums having opened in January of last year. The cute corner spot is casual and neighborhood-y, but extra-special all around, evidenced by its popularity. Reservations are advisable but the bar and some tables are available for pop-ins.) A solid assortment of sandwiches, salads and baked goods are sold on weekdays, weekend brunch checks expected boxes and wood-fired chicken, pasta and burgers are among the dinner menu options. 

This brand new, lightly Nancy-Meyers aesthetic wine bar just opened in June. Its inaugural menu includes snacks like nuts, olives and salmon roe with crème fraîche and potato chips, charcuterie plates and sweets like madeleines and house-made chocolate bars.   

Every bakery should have a cafe component where you can sit and eat a whole darn wedding cake, but not every one does. Long-running Rudy’s, which first opened in 1934, sure does, and you can pair your cake with a spot of coffee, or order more traditionally single-serving items like cookies, cupcakes, croissants, doughnuts and cannoli among other sweet treats.

Plan to grab and go pupusas from this tiny shop with lots of options. Its long list of savory selections include queso, chicharrones and veggie varieties. You can also catch occasional taco, esquites and large plate specials.

Another fab, family spot, Cafe Moca is charming, inviting and a particularly quaint place to sit with a book or a pal. Settle in with coffee, tea and espresso drinks and sip with a dish from the lengthy all-day breakfast (overnight oats, BECs, scrambles) and lunch (chopped cheese, turkey clubs, tuna melts) menus. 

A triple-threat for brunch, dinner and drinks, Julia’s all day cafe is eclectically stylish, like if the titular Friends friends had better taste. Breakfast sandwiches, frittatas and lox start the day, followed by salads and sandwiches, plus some special items on weekends. 

Dare to be scared at Flying Fox Tavern, which is frightfully appointed with neon bats, coffin-printed wallpaper, horror movie posters and creepy tableaus. One of NYC’s best themed restaurants, it also hosts events like goth prom, discounts drinks during its take on happy hour (“witching”) and serves a new-American menu.

Nepalese cuisine is served in this rusticly wood and brick-lined space and in its large, covered outdoor dining area. Plates of hot Masala wings, momo varieties and choila top tables across configurations. 

Slices fly alongside a wide variety of round and Siccilian pies, red sauce classics and daily specials at neighborhood favorite Rosa's. Pizza toppings like rigatoni, ziti and ravioli are truly studies in carbohydrate commitment. Pop in to peruse the wares behind glass cases up front or settle into the serviceable seating area for a little longer. 

Make an assertion in your own name and you’ll have to live up to it forevermore. Super Pollo Latin American restaurant rotisserie chicken is clucking good, particularly when paired with the locally-beloved green sauce. Roasted pork, empanadas and plantains are also on the menu.