Best Restaurants for Creative Cuisine in Long Island City

I haven't eaten Mexican food this good since I was in Mexico City. We loved the pistachio guacamole (fresh roasted pistachio and pineapple in a guacamole with a perfect spice kick). The duck mole was outstanding, layers of flavors in a rich mole that we sopped up with their homemade tortillas. The service was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. High level food in a comfortable and warm environment. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

We felt instantly transported by the whimsical pawn shop storefront that conceals the exquisite restaurant hidden behind a door at the back. The eclectic items in the shop are all for sale, adding a playful and unique element to the dining experience. Upon entering the restaurant, we were welcomed by vaulted ceilings, brass accents, and a moody, stylish bar that set the tone for the space. We were seated near the front and warmly greeted by an attentive waiter. For brunch, our party ordered a variety of dishes: my son enjoyed the decadent velvet waffles, my mother-in-law savored the Shakshuka eggs, my wife relished the ribs, and I indulged in the skirt steak and eggs. Each dish was perfectly seasoned and eagerly devoured. The ambiance added to the experience—a lively yet relaxed Sunday crowd created a pleasant hum of conversation that filled the spacious room without being overpowering. We had no trouble hearing one another and appreciated the balance of energy and comfort. Overall, the experience was delightful from start to finish, and we left already planning our next visit to this hidden gem.

Outstanding dining experience shared with out of town family who were guests for the holiday season. The River Cafe did not disappoint. The menu offered a dazzling array of options for each course and given the large selection, we were a bit concerned about their ability to deliver… we were extremely happy and quite frankly blown away by each course. The food was of the best quality, presented beautifully and tasted absolutely DELICIOUS. Our only disappointment was the water service - it seems so silly but we had to ask NUMEROUS times for water and wait and wait for our glasses to be refilled. This seems like a minor detail but a major annoyance that can be readily corrected. One other troubling detail that surprised us was the lack of toilet tissue in the Ladies Room- it appeared that no staff attended to the bathroom during our three hour meal. We raise these two points in support of The River Cafe’s commitment to excellence. A warm thanks to the Chef and their team for a wonderful meal and lovey dining experience.

The non-alcoholic pairing with the seasonal tasting menu was unexpectedly amazing. There were a couple of hits and misses, but overall, it was pretty decent. The seasonal dishes were well-balanced, low carb, delicious, and aligned seemingly with the restaurant’s garden theme. It’s evident that the chef put a lot of thought into designing these dishes. Wonderful job!

Gorgeous setting. We had river views in summer there are outside tables. A stylish restaurant with a central bar area. The food was fast and delicious and had a great vegetarian selection. About 5mins walk from York Street. Really can’t recommend this place enough.