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Venturo Osteria closes, space to be taken by owner of Soleluna

March 28, 2017 By Christian Murray

Venturo Osteria & Wine, the up-scale Italian restaurant located on Queens Boulevard, has closed.

The restaurant, which opened at 44-07 Queens Boulevard in 2013,  won many accolades while it was in business, including the prestigious  ‘bib gourmand’ award by Michelin in 2015 and 2016. It also often got a shout out—much like the now-closed Salt & Fat—when Manhattan-based news outlets profiled Sunnyside.

The restaurant was owned by Giusepe Falco, Leonard Sacco and Michelle Vido, who operate Vesta and the Mexican eatery Pachanga Patterson in Astoria.

The location is going to be taken by Valerio Marchi, the popular owner of Soleluna, who plans to open a Naples-style pizzeria.

Marchi, an Italian-native and Sunnyside resident, will have two restaurants within a few blocks of one another.

Marchi opened Soleluna, an Italian restaurant at 40-01 Queens Boulevard, with his wife and two others in the summer of 2015.

 

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104 Comments

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Edward Zareh

Venturo was the best. Their branzino with crispy fried rice was the absolute best thing I’ve ever eaten (save mom’s home cooking). That place had it all; friendly customer service, innovative menu, fresh ingredients. Their new place is called Vesta (https://vestavino.com/). Can’t wait to try it. They even have the branzino!

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Orlando

Hey people from the Sunny Side post, do you try restaurants? Venturo is not any place near to what you describe. First of, it is not what I call an italian restaurant: burger, salmon, white from the new world, california, super poor selection of italian wine… I would not even say italo-american… I never got all this fuss about Venturo.

Soleluna is much better, and actually much more italian. That’s a great news, and I’ll wait to taste their Pizza but, while yay there are pizza joins, haven’t yet find a real neapolitan pizza place in the neighborhood that I like.

Congrats Soleluna!

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Get real

Yes ,thats what we need, more schools. Please, shut up! Why so the city can bus more kids here? Bad enough you cant drive a block at 2:30 because of buses waiting out front for some parent whos not outside waiting for the brat to get home. Some double parking clowns that take the whole side of the street up because fat little johnny cant walk to the corner. Shut up please

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Anonymous

People complain about the need for businesses other than bars and restaurants in the neighborhood. I’m thinking there’s quite a need for an English grammar school based on the comments above. Although the lack of self-awareness would likely stifle demand.

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Greg

The problem with the Venturo spot is the landlord. Not the business this is the third restaurant in ten years to be in this space. He wants to run your business for you and collect your rent.
The key money on this place was put of control.
And as far as making a high end pizza place here the DOB and the fire dpt will never pass a wood or coal oven and this group doesn’t have the funds to install a $50,000 deck oven to do it right.
So they will end up doing what everyone else does and put a cheap bakers pride and put a brick facade, and say we are brick oven.
This location will last 3 years at best like all the others do and I’m giving it longer because I wish them the best but watch.
This neighborhood wants good restaurants but they don’t want to pay for there products it’s a fact.
Venturo was nothing great neither was salt and fat and the hype of soleluna cracks me up. I’ve had better lasagna at Olive Garden.

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G.

Dazies is the nicest restaurant in this area hands down. Ate there when i moved here a couple of times and the food and atmosphere were really nice. Piano player, good food, nice wine selection, very nice. Everywhere else around here is kind of 2nd rate. Alot of bars, half decent restaurants but nothing outstanding. Its a Shame, this area lacks quality. Nothing really pops out at you, and i eat out almost every night due to my job. ive lived all over ny and never heard- hey you have to try this place in sunnyside. Just strange to me. Good area ,just lacking in top rate eateries.

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Vinnie

Congratulations to the Sole Luna crew. I’ve been in Sunnyside about 10 years now and when they opened in 2015 it was a glimmer of hope for us all. Their expansion is good news. It means their first venture has brought them some success. The restaurant business is one of the hardest small businesses to be in. My parents owned a Pub on LI for 35 years so I know form first hand expurence. We have had a few great additions in the past 2-3 years and this is a welcome change.

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I KNOW EVERYTHING

Gotta keep those standards up if you are going to charge those kinds of prices. I think Venturo got rid of their chef and just went of auto pilot.

All things considered the Sole Luna crowd are doing a great job. They all came out of Bottega Del Vina on 60th street by Central Park. That was a great old school place. They care and Sole Luna is specials driven so you always get cool fresh stuff. Best value for quality in the neighborhood. No wonder they are always packed.

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Eddie

I, for one, welcome the idea of a true sit down pizzeria in the neighborhood.
NY does great pizza, but the majority of it is take out, or greasy spoon quick lunch spots.
A pizza place where you can order, get a pitcher of beer and share a pie I think would be welcome.
Sorry to see Venturo go, but I welcome the new Soleluna venture.

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Part eggplant

Eddie you need to see a doctor. Onset of dementia can be slowed with the right combination of medications

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Eddie

I for one have been saying for a while now, I’d love a true pizzeria, where you can sit, get a pitcher of beer and share a pizza. NY does great pizza, but 99% of it is carry out.
Sorry to see Venturo go, but I’m anxious for the new Soleluna venture to go in.

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Bart Stone

My wife and I went to Venturo all the time. Good food, friendly staff, it’s a real bummer to hear they are closed. I thought they were doing well, there were always people there. Hopefully the folks from SoleLuna’s new idea for the place will work out. I imagine it will as we like SoleLuna a lot too. For the haters out there cheering this bad news, stay miserable 🙂

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$nickers

The Mrs. and I loved this place when it opened and after a dozen or so visits over the course of time we grew tired of the somewhat stagnant menu and subpar wait service and we moved on. Sorry to see any local business go, but let us be honest it’s closing is no real loss to the neighborhood dining scene. The article fails to mention why it closed. A lot of people seem to think it has to do rent but is there any proof of that? Maybe the owners just got tired of running the business? I have known a Restaurateur or two that have just grew tired of the long hours and wanted to focus on other endeavors…….

Regardless if you are that concerned about dining options spend the $12 on a cab and head over to Astoria or LIC where the options are plentiful or even better just hop on the 7 and have all of NYC as a possibility.

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Old timer

Where did they get “upscale” from. This place isnt upscale.
Sunnysiders hasnt seen upscale since dazies had a dress code years ago, proper attire, now a days if a restaurant told people to dress properly they would go out of business in a week. People dress like they are going to a ballpark when they go eat now. I went to eat recently and i guy had a knit hat on , his clothing looked like he took it out of a laundry bag ,and his girl looked worse, like she worked on a farm. Styles change but come on, upscale you should have to dress nice, im not saying jacket and tie, that would be too much to ask people of today ro look respectable, but wear nice dressy clothes, look upscale. Part of the reason that todays society has gone down the toilet. I went to a funeral recently and the way people dress i had to smh, what happened to respect, wear a suit at a funeral, guys looked like they were going to play ball or soccer or whatever they do today, and the women had ripped jeans, and sneakers, ect. My point is there is no upscale around here. I guess people grew out of having a sense of pride.

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Woodsider!!!

Sunnyside is finished i cant wait till the high rises start going up and rents go up get these stupid ppl out of queens

Woodside will always be better than sunnysid3

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Joe

Ziu Luig is the best Italian food in Sunnyside. Plus, you can save a bundle by bringing your own wine.

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Chris

Moron
Why the hell would a restaurant/bar do byob if they’re in business to sell liquor for a profit?
You idiot!
Call the state liquor authority and ask them about byob. Stupid!!!

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Dorothy Morehead

I agree. In February, I was on the way to Venturo with my great-niece who was taking me out for dinner. It was 6:30 on a Tuesday night and Venturo was closed so we went to Zio Luigi. It was a happy surprise. The food was delicious and service was attentive.

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RobertHP

I loved Venturo when it opened – attractive, great use of space, solid wine offerings and tasty contemporary food. We even ordered a full Thanksgiving dinner from there once.
Went several times after it opened, then increasingly less frequently until it was “gee…we should pop in there again sometime.”

Why? Inconsistent quality, inconsistent (and sometimes downright surly) service, even inconsistent hours (are they serving lunch still? Are they serving Saturday brunch or no? The gate is open and the door is unlocked but…they’re not open? Who knows?)

I wish they’d been better and I’m sad to see them go, but I can’t say I’m surprised.

Happy the Sole Luna folks are taking it over. While their menu is a little sparse and a little pricey, the food is delicious and service is top-notch. I’m sure they’ll do very well with a Neopolitan-style pizza place, and the neighborhood will benefit from a non-standard slice spot.

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Anonymous

why are you so angry man? isnt there some other discussion board you can bring down instead of this one?

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El loco

Fake El loco.

I have a solution to the comments section. Just save the comments when a store closes. It’s the same exact one all the time. And people criticize me. Yikes.

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Sinead

Whats the name of the small pizza place right next to or up the block from soleluna across the street from the 40th stop? That place has amazing pizza and its worth fighting for a spot on the two stools they have right outside…

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Anonymous

I used to like Marabella…but not for several years now. I think Sunnyside is much better.

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Anonymous

I’ll give the new pizza place a try (never bothered with Venturo’s) but I have to be honest, I still mourn for Rosario’s…..

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Davey P

I just don’t understand how a neighborhood that’s 15 minutes from midtown can feel like the suburbs in 1994. It’s really strange. There are great restaurants in Astoria, Long Island City, etc. Not here. Having said that, I like Sole Luna and I’ll welcome a quality pizza place, because most pizza here is mediocre.

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JoeScmoesPotatoes

It’s been like that for 25 years. As soon as you come out of QnsBoro Plaza, you travel through a quantum singularity. If you pay attention to the tracks in the first car front window, you can see them shimmy like looking at the horizon on a desert highway.

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abba rules

Soleluna is an awesome place, great food and the people who work there know how to make people feel welcome. And sometimes the guy tops off the meal w some limoncello on the house! This is a great young cool neighborhood place, cant wait for some great pizza!!

BTW I went to venturo once and waaayyyy too salty, never went back.

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Anonymous

My honest opinion .. went once to OVenturo for HH. Decent deal .Went with a friend who’s a regular. I told the girl it was both our birthdays .My friend who’s a regular gets a top off of wine and I don’t. Lol !. I also didn’t get a water. Friend who’s a regular did. That’s how you keep customers? . First time went with husband. Rude they had 2 tables and said they had none . They dont know how to appreciate very good business . We are young professionals. Out few times a month . Cheers to the new place . Hopefully with a great attitude!

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MILDRED

Oh no. They really should announce these things ahead of time so people could enjoy one last meal ?

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Venturo

I went to this place twice. Both times is was not that great and pretty expensive. To give an example, I remember that the filling for my ravioli was still cold from the refrigerator. Even Pio Pio does better?

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RobertHP

Yeah, this my challenge – I loved it when it opened, and several times after, but service and quality were both wildly inconsistent. I remember bringing an Astoria friend for lunch one time (you know, on the random time periods they committed to serving lunch), bragging about it, etc, only to have it disappoint hard.
I’m sad they couldn’t make a go of it, but glad the Sole Luna folks are taking over instead of some cookie cutter joint.

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george

I FULLY AGREE WITH SAMMY ..THE DEMOGRAPHICS,HIGH LEASE RATES AND WE MUST ALSO CONSIDER THE LACK OF DISPOSABLE INCOME ,PLAYS A MAJOR IMPACT ON ALL OF SUNNYSIDE..IT IS QUITE FORBODING WHEN,AS A LANDLORD MYSELF,I MUST ALWAYS GIVE A FARE SHAKE TO MY TENANTS….FORTUNATELY I CAN AFFORD TO CHARGE BELOW MARKET RENTS BUT SOME AREN’T IN MY FINANCIAL GOOD GRACES.. MAYBE THESE FELLOW LANDLORDS SHOULD CONSIDER LOWERING RENTS AND KEEP VIABLE ,LONG TERM TENANTS,INSTEAD OF CONSTANTLY FLIPPING THESE STORES FOR UNSEEMLY GAINS..IN THE LONG RUN I WOULD RATHER KEEP AN HONEST HARD WORKING TENANT,THEN BEING GREEDY…THATS A SPOT ON STATEMENT FROM TRUTH HURTS..THANKS SAMMY..AND THANK YOU.. TRUTH HURTS..GREAT THINKING GUYS..YES….

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Part Eggplant

Good. I always thought that place sucked anyway. Pretentious people and overrated food. Hope Lowery bites it next.

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Sir Walter Raleigh.

The Lowery has the best Bar food in Sunnyside really high end unlike the other dumps in the hood. really good service and the drinks are out of this world. you want crap go to the McGuinness Bar, Bar 43 or Jack’s Fire Dept. and hang with the Over the hill gang.

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Anonymous

The Lowery is not that great. The acoustics are terrible–impossible to have a conversation. Not to mention WAY overpriced–it’s more expensive than similar places in Astoria, Brooklyn and Manhattan.

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ZinSu

I like the Lowery a lot — servers and food are great — but you’re totally right about the noise level. There’s got to be a way to make it quieter.

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George

Has anyone noticed the Vitriolic COMMENTS ANONYMOUS MAKES… LETS ALL FACE IT..1971 IS OVER…AND I AGREE …10 blocks to find a decent place to eat.. DAZIES ON 39 AND 4O TH OB QUEENS BLVD IS FANTASTIC. ALL OF.US TRUE BLUE SUNNYSIDERS HAVE GONE THERE FOR 60 YEARS..WHEN IT WAS AMERICAN GLORY..THEN MAZZIES..PLEASE..ALL NEW TO SUNNYSIDE SHOULD TRY IT..SAY HELLO TO RAY..GIVE IT A SHOT…IF I MADE A HASTY TYPO…PKEASE DONOT CALL ME ILLITERATE..IRS NOT BECOMING OF ANYONE…OR PLEASE DO NOT MAKE FUN OF MY BRAIN INJURY…O.K.LETS TRY DAZIES…..I REALLY LOVE THE OPINIONS AND THIS FEEDBACK..IT’S FASINATING TO BEAR WITNESS….GOOD JOB GUYS..OH ANY INQUIRIES YOU CAN REACH ME AT HOME..718 392 38XX…Great..

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noelle

I was at the YMCA in the Sauna and heard several women (65+) discussion how horrible Dazies is…and how the quality and service is terrible. Just saying.

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No Longer Goes to the YMCA

You use the sauna’s at the Y? Not sure what the women’s locker room is like, but I wouldn’t be caught dead in the mens locker room sauna at that Y. The kind of riff raff and weird people is too much to take. While in the showers once, a chinese dude bent over and hosed his arsehole. For five minutes. Then hawkerd and spit for the next five. Made me want to take a shower after taking a shower.

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The price of capicola is too damn high

I know the truth hurts…It’s a below avg italian restaurant with high prices.

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hot-to-trot

Dude, George, there’s great clinics for meth additions all over the city. Please for the love of the people of Sunnyside, consider going.

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Truth Hurts

Wow. If that place received such accolades and still tanked, I’d assume this is a pretty hostile environment for businesses. Good luck to these guys. I wonder if it’s the rents these businesses habe to endure, a fickleness of customers or a bit of both.

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Anonymous

We aren’t a destination neighborhood, and as an old school middle class neighborhood, we are far more likely to eat at home. This is evidenced by the fact that we have 4 successful grocery stores, 3 of them in a 4 block stretch on Greenpoint. And thats not even counting the 2 huge grocery stores on Northern Blvd. Restaurants can’t succeed when nobody comes here and few of us eat out. We want to be Astoria or Greenpoint, but we are more Port Washington in character. Just a bedroom community. It will probably change because of proximity to the city, but unlike Ridgewood, we have never been a poor neighborhood with rock bottom rents.

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Anonymous

One dinner shift is not enough to make money. Too many costs involved. Having been in the industry all of my life I can say that people these days don’t really do enough market research before pouring their life savings into something that they did not plan very well for.

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Dorothy Morehead

I know that the landlord was quite reasonable with his rent because I showed the space before Venturo took it over. I would assume that the owners of Venturo as experienced restaurateurs got a ten-year lease. Also the fact that they were able to sell the business would indicate they had a favorable lease.

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Keith

This neighborhood is finished, its too expensive to run a small business here, dont waste your time or money. How many small businesses closed over the last 2years. Sunnyside is over

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Sammy

You mean like the two Korean chains? The ones with a couple of thousand other locations? Red Wing? Duane Reade? The Pio Pio chicken chain? This guy already has a business within blocks. I agree with Keith. Too expensive, and the demographic doesn’t want eclectic places, either for food and beverage or anything else for that matter. I’m surprised the baking supply shop still exists. I’ve lived in this neighborhood far too long, and have seen other nyc neighborhoods (and other cities for that matter) that evolve and progress more than sunnyside. This place is stuck in a time warp, and everybody who disliked my comment likes it that way.

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Anonymous

You know who else says things the way you said it, Trump. F$$$ out of here. This place needs change but still needs to keep its hard working roots. These hipster joints were short shelf life anyways. This neighborhood should keep its Korean, Latin, Irish and Arab cornerstones and build from there.

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And so long

I’m sure all the people that write negative comments about Sunnyside are the usual transient renters that lumber from neighborhood to neighborhood in the never ending pursuit for cheap rent. And when their current shelter gets too expensive they once again have to move on but not before they can instill as much negativity about the neighborhood as possible. Maybe just once they should stay long enough and purchase a dwelling, put down roots in a neighborhood be positive about their surroundings. Sunnyside have been voted a number of times as one of the best neighborhoods in NYC by reputable publications so when I read some of the factors as to why people speak negative about Sunnyside and the reasons why they have moved (but still read the SSP for some reason) or going to move, I say good riddance because our wonderful neighborhood is well grounded with long term residents.
Thank you

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Sammy

I’m not suggesting changing the overall character. Queens Blvd is a shitty strip mall. I could see all kinds of businesses and restaurants and bars along a mercantile corridor, leaving the residential areas mostly alone and in peace. Sections of Skillman would be another and pockets of 43rd ave. But it’s not used that way. Residents resist because they like the feeing of a middle american suburb – white picket fence and a back yard.

And I am not a transient resident. I’ve lived here longer than I wanted to. More than ten years. There is NOTHING in this neighborhood that promotes residents to spend money. They go to manhattan for all their needs, unless you are relatively poor and work in the service sector – which means lots of hispanics with low income. Those that don’t want this progress are afraid of rising rents and condo/ house prices. But that would be a good thing. At least for those that own. Gentrification sucks, but there are degrees of everything. Razing houses in a poor neighborhood and bringing in the 1% is bad. Sunnyside is not a poor neighborhood, and bringing in some money will improve the neighborhood.

And I love how people complain about hipsters. If you think you are being overrun by them, just go to williamsburg. Besides, they bring eclectic choice. Choice is good, right? If you are american, you like choice. Sunnyside doesn’t really have “choice.”

Sammy

This is a tragedy. Now there is exactly zero restaurants to go to in sunnyside.
And another pizza joint? WTF? WHY???!!!?

This neighborhood sucks. May as well be living in michigan.

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ZinSu

Sammy, have you tried Soleluna? It’s really good — better than Venturo, IMHO. I expect their pizza will be a cut above.

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Sammy

No, I have not. It’s a bit far. Venturo’s was sliding a bit, but they were head and shoulders above everyone else. The bar must be set very low for people to think this neighborhood has quality eating establishments. How can one be satisfied with irish brew pubs, rice and beans joints, and crappy chinese food/ imitation Thai food, and subway? Now more pizza. The only decent pizza was the one on greenpoint, and they closed. Dog and Duck started off right, but has fizzled into pre prepared food in bags and shitty service. Really, what the fark else is there other than wendy’s and white castle? Sidetracks? Los Verdes? All fast, greasy, drunk food. Claret doesn’t even serve dinner, from what I remember.

But I will make a point of going to Soleluna based on your recommendation, but how can one live in New York City and have to walk ten, count ’em, t-e-n freakin’ blocks for a decent restaurant?

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Anonymous

It is true. Sunnyside has barely any good food to eat. Every place is almost there but not quite yet. I moved to Middle Village last spring and I found better, more authentic food that we had in sunnyside. The options are very few here too but at least they are good options. Especially if you like Italian.

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Queenskick

Zio Luigi and SoleLuna are both amazing, and I say this as an off-the-boat Italian. But you are right that the rest of the Italian places around here are lacking. Honestly, Venturo was adorable and charming but the food was meh.

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Anonymous

Seriously? Please, go to Michigan and then let us know what you think. Soleluna is a great restaurant and looking forward to good and affordable food in the area. That “wine bar” was quite overrated and priced. Manhattan had plenty of over priced/underwhelming places if you really need it.

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ZinSu

On the one hand, I liked Venturo and am sorry to see it go. But on the other hand — HECK YEAH, Neapolitan pizza in Sunnyside! SoleLuna is a fabulous place and I wish the owners all the luck in the world. Will be there the day it opens.

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Queens Gal

I feel the same. SoleLuna is the BEST spot in town- expansion is great news and solid pizza is much needed in the area.

Venturo was good and we always enjoyed it but the last few times we went were lackluster. I am not shocked that they are closing.

Good luck to all.

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MikeM

Sunnyside has some of the best Japanese, Turkish, Thai, and Korean food in NYC. Most of the good Irish places have unfortunately closed. I liked the décor of Venturo, but the food never impressed.

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