You are reading

New Restaurant Opens in Former William Hallet Space on 30th Avenue

Via The Royal Underground NYC on Facebook

Nov. 29, 2018 By Meghan Sackman

A new establishment has taken up a spot on 30th Avenue that was once the longtime home to the recently-shuttered William Hallet.

The Royal Underground, a restaurant and bar, celebrated their soft opening at 36-10 30th Ave. over the past weekend, which comes as the prior bistro closed down in September after seven years in business.

The restaurant, however, will have its grand opening on Dec. 14, with the soft opening in the meantime meant to test, adjust and smooth out dishes and service, according to Gary Anza, co-owner and executive chef.

The Royal Underground will offer “American artisanal” dishes with an edge. Some dishes, for instance, blend Asian influences and French technique.

36-10 30th Ave. (center), prior home to William Hallet. (NYC ZoLa)

“We’re rustic,” said Anza, who previously ran the now-closed Bowery Bay on Ditmars Boulevard. “We like to take what’s being done in Manhattan and bring it down to a moderate level with more reasonable prices for the people of Queens.”

The restaurant, run in tandem with Anza’s business partner, Craig Davis, seats more than 60 patrons. About 50 people can be seated inside, with 12 more in the outside patio.

A major focus of the Royal Underground is its whiskey selection, with more than 200 bottles already adorning the walls of the restaurant.

The whiskeys have been chosen through clientele requests, and represent what customers have ordered with them through their past Bowery Bay business.

Anza and Davis are also working on an app that would provide customers with a type of whiskey-tasting “passport club.” App members who try at least 25 flavors of whiskey receive a “flight”, or small servings, of three whiskeys on the house.

Members who have tried 50 flavors will receive a free dinner, and for patrons that hit 100 flavors, the owners will gift them any bottle from their shelves and serve it every time the customer dines in.

“I think it will separate us from everyone else,” Anza said.

Anza, an Astoria resident, says the area is ready for fine-dining at comfortable prices, and looks forward to a new experience with this side of the neighborhood.

“We believe 30th Avenue is thriving,” he said. “There’s a lot of life on this street.”

The restaurant is currently operating every day from 5 p.m. until midnight, and will open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily after its grand opening. The Royal Underground will also introduce weekend brunch shortly after.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

5 Comments

Click for Comments 
Ben

“Bring it down” for the “people of Queens”? I guess I get what the owner is trying to say, but could it maybe sound a little less condescending or self-congratulating?

20
3
Reply

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

DA Katz introduces Kimi, the facility dog providing comfort to Queens crime victims

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz introduced one of the newest members of her team on Wednesday as part of her office’s public information campaign during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Kimi, a 2-year-old golden retriever/Labrador retriever, has been appointed as a facility dog to provide comfort and companionship to crime victims and witnesses. “Kimi has been an extraordinary addition to our team here at the Queens District Attorney’s Office,” Katz said. “She’s affectionate, highly trained, and has already assisted survivors and witnesses and put them at ease.”

Mets to host playoff watch parties at Citi Field

Oct. 3, 2024 By Ethan Marshall

As the New York Mets look to clinch a trip to the National League Division Series Wednesday night in Milwaukee, the team announced that beginning as early as Thursday, Oct. 3, Citi Field will be hosting watch parties of select away games during the playoffs.

Op-ed: Time to register, license, and insure motorized two-wheelers before our streets become even more dangerous

Oct. 2, 2024 By Tom Grech, Councilmember Sandra Ung and Assemblymember Sam Berger

Businesses are feeling the impact. From Astoria to Flushing, sidewalks and streets that once allowed shoppers to stroll safely have become obstacle courses where two-wheelers zip past at alarming speeds, weaving between pedestrians and cars with little regard for the rules of the road. When customers are concerned for their safety, they are less likely to visit, which hurts both business owners and the wider local economy. Haphazardly parked two-wheelers frequently block sidewalks and parking spaces in our commercial corridors, making it more difficult for customers to access our local businesses. This is especially true for seniors and individuals with mobility issues, who now have the added challenge of navigating around e-vehicles to shop at their favorite stores or eat at their favorite restaurants.