Patty Lee with Zagat and went to Flushing to check out a new crop of restaurants. She filed the following report for NY1.
Flushing has long been known as a cheap eats mecca, but a new complex called One Fulton Square is working to bring more upscale dining options to the neighborhood.
“We know that the people here are expecting a lot in terms of authenticity, so we wanted to create a very curated collection of restaurants and bars that people can enjoy, come back every day and try something different," said Helen Lee, Executive Vice President of F&T Group.
The newest spot to open inside the multi-story development is Leaf Lounge, a rooftop bar slinging serious craft cocktails.
“All the alcohols that were chosen, all the fresh juices, all the fresh fruits, garnishes down to the sea salt, has been very carefully chosen and I think that’s what’s going to set us apart," said Todd Leong, owner of Leaf Lounge.
Do they have any signature drinks?
“Well, I think they’re all going to be signature drinks," said Leong. "I’ll give you one example we like to call the Summer Fling. This one incorporates a dry shaken egg white, so you kind of get this nice, creamy, foamy texture to the drink.”
Food comes courtesy of Chef Henry Lin, who’s bringing a taste of his native Taiwan.
“His great love and one of my great loves, is Taiwanese xiao chi, which are small plates," said Leong.
With its elevated menu and killer skyline views, Leaf is helping to usher in a new chapter of food and drink in Flushing.
“New York is so developed, there’s really nowhere else for anything new to happen, so definitely I think Queens is the future," said Leong.
I'm going to start off with the fried chicken, I can already smell all the spices coming out of it. It’s nice and crunchy, very juicy and I love the little bit of sugar and spice that makes it sweet and savory at the same time. The cocktail is light and citrusy and we love the texture of the egg white. Taiwanese food and cocktails go really well together.
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