You are reading

Italian/American restaurant opens on 34th Avenue

CJSSept. 12, 2014 By Michael Florio

A couple with deep Astoria roots opened a bar/restaurant on 34th Avenue earlier this month.

CJ’s Restaurant & Pub, located at 43-04 34th Ave, combines the qualities of a conventional local bar with a restaurant offering American and Italian cuisine. The establishment is fairly large, with room for about 100 bar/restaurant goers.

The menu includes traditional America fare—such as burgers, Buffalo wings, mac and cheese, and fries. Additionally, it offers Italian favorites, such as fried ravioli, fried calamari, baked ziti, penne vodka with spinach, pulled pork sliders, meatball parmesan sliders and shrimp scampi.

The bar area, which is long and narrow and separate from the dining area, is best described as “your neighborhood bar,” said co-owner Sandra Murphy. The bar has one television, although there are plans to add two more.

Murphy said her Italian/American restaurant fills a void on 34th Avenue.

“There is definitely a need for Italian-American food in this part of town,” she said.

Murphy grew up on 41st Street in Astoria, the same street as her husband Joseph Parrino, the co-owner. The couple now lives in Woodside – although their parents both still live in the neighborhood.

The pair originally had their sights set on opening a restaurant on 30th Ave but the rent was too high for their liking.

The 34th Avenue location was their second choice. Previously, it was a Greek bar.

cjsbar
email the author: news@queenspost.com

One Comment

Click for Comments 

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Silvercup Studios partners with local schools to foster next-generation filmmakers in Queens

Long before it was one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in the nation, Long Island City was an industrial town along the polluted East River, where generations recall the only good smell emanated from the Gordon Baking Company producing the Silvercup brand of bread.

After it was shuttered in a bitter labor dispute in the mid-70s, nearby factory owner Harry Suna of Kew Gardens purchased the property at 42-25 21 St. in 1980, and his architect sons Stuart and Alan began drawing up the plans to repurpose the property into Silvercup Studios, which launched in 1983 and rapidly became one of New York City’s largest film and production facilities, with nearly a half million square feet of studio space and 19 sound stages.

Op-ed: Astoria is doing just fine, the thriving restaurant scene

Feb. 10, 2025 By Neil Herdan

There is no doubt these are very challenging times for Astoria businesses. The cost of many essentials, such as spare parts and food products, has increased. Conversely, labor costs, labor shortages, energy bills, and property insurance have skyrocketed. Some businesses, such as Retro on Broadway, lost their leases. Others, including Chez Olivia and Trattoria L’incontro, decided to move out of Astoria altogether. A few longtime owners decided to retire.