Bonfire Grill
While it may be a little early to give this place a real review, I have a few quick impressions from a visit there last night with my wife.
The space is decent looking by Forest Hills standards, but not exactly that attractive. The bar area is a little more appealing than the bland, oddly colored, dining room. The cheap tables and chairs don't do much for the space either.
Service wasn't great, but that's typical this early. Our waitress took quite some time to take our order (it appeared she was also cleaning and setting tables). She never brought the water I asked for, never asked if I wanted a second glass of wine and she brought out our main course before we were finished with our appetizers. That last one is a big one for me, but certainly not fatal for a just opened and obviously not ambitious restaurant.
From the limited menu I tried the calamari appetizer. This was lightly fried and came with a cocktail like sauce which I didn't care for. The calamari themselves were alright, slightly rubbery and no added crunch from the light batter and frying. I also had the burger. This was nothing special. Typical burger like you would get at any number of places. The fries were tragic for me. Soggy and greasy.
My wife had the ceasar salad which she said was decent and a some goat cheese tapas. This was some toasted bread with a little bit of goat cheese (too little my wife said) and some artichoke and tomato mixture.
We'll see what happens as they get up to speed and have their full menu available, but I'm not that optimistic. Honestly, we typically cook every night and only go out on the weekends, which means usually a trip into Manhattan or maybe Jackson Heights. While some good options in the hood would be great, I'm not so desperate that I'll be excited about something that doesn't really warrant it. There seems to be a lot of excitement on the blogs about this place, and that's OK. I just don't think it fills any real need for me.
Labels: Bonfire Grill, Forest Hills
posted by DaveS @ 2:38 PM
14 Comments:
I can't say that I'm all that surprised. There were too many warning signs - a menu constituted like a TGI Fridays, with lots misspellings and miscategorizations. The place just doesn't FEEL right.
We're like you - we cook most nights and save our nights out for places that are truly worth going to, which of course end up being in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
I suppose I'll try the bar, but it already looks like its going to be really crowded - its a tight space.
THIS BLOG IS STILL ALIVE!!!!
barely
I didn't try the food or dining area, but the bar kept good company. Some places just seem to great an atmosphere of congeniality. THe bartenders were fun and the beer menu (on tap) was more diverse than most places in the area, plus for an extra dollar you can increase from 16 oz. to 23oz., Not bad.
This restaurant seemed promising in the last stages of its construction, but I lost heart when I saw the tacky tables and chairs. I did a doubletake and shook my head. They almost got it right. Maybe that's what makes it so maddening. They were within an inch and then they just took the wrong turn out to Rego Park.
I never even saw the TGI inspired menu.
I just went this past Friday. I'll be headed back to make sure I was right, but I think that AFHL wasn't too far off the mark. I disagree about the interior though. I liked the decor, though it felt small. Service was spotty but they were nice. The food was good, but not great. The menu was comfortable, but uninspired.
Hello! I just found this blog and I'm glad I did. I'm an FH resident for two years now and I enjoy getting other neighbor's takes on things. I was actually going to meet some friends at Bonfire - do you guys suggest I not and say I did? I'm trying to think of where else.....we're about done with Portofino, though we all love it, we wanted to try a different flavor. Hmmm.......
Wow....you guys are really harsh....My wife and I have been there several times since it has opened...We didnt think the place looked cheap or unattractive...
our food was great....our waitress was very sweet and helped my wife with her food and wine selection....and the beer prices are very VERY low for forest hills ($5 20oz guinness pint).
Are you sure you guys went to the same restaurant we did???
We have lived in forest hills for 15 yrs now and i think this is one of the nicest restaurants to come here.I guess you people would rather have another bank or phone store???Bravo to Bonfire and to any of the owners or staff of this restaurant....Keep doing a great job.....these bloggers are either clueless or suffering from some grand illusion that they are qualified restaurant critics....
ignor these fools
I went to Bonfire the first week they opened and since I live in the neighborhood I was very much looking forward to it. It was such a disappointment. The dining room was so unorganized and the tables were too close together. There was some sort of smoke problem whereby the smoke from the grill was blowing into the dining room. My GF and I ordered appetizers and 2 entrees which came out at the same time. There was barely enough room on the table for the food and they didnt even offer to take the entrees back until we were done with the appetizers. They should have at least offered us a free dessert or drink for the inconvenience. Then when I tasted my entree, the stuffed flounder, it was so bland. It was like they bought pre-made frozen stuffed flounder from costco or something. The stuffing in the flounder was so watery and tasteless. It was horrible. I think the entree was over $25, what a ripoff. I don't need to go out and be served pre-made frozen food. I go to a restaurant so that I can eat food that's actually been prepared by someone. In fact, I was walking by the other day and they were getting a food supply delivery and they had boxes of stuff on the sidewalk. I noticed one of the boxes was for premade vegetarian spring rolls. I honestly don't have any respect for a restaurant that serves pre-made frozen food and then tries to charge you good money for it. How pathetic. I'm not saying all there food is pre-made and frozen, I just know that some of it is and it's wrong. So if you wanna go there and waste your money go ahead but I'm not returning. They already suckered me once.
The dining area is way too small and there's about 5" apart between each table.
Food was just a step up from TGIF and the service is slightly better than JR.
i think the guy defending this restaurant (john brady)is one of the 5 or so poor bastards who was dumb enough to invest in this place just to get himself the title of 'owner'(or partial owner actually). just because some irish guy who used to bartend at cottage decides to open a slightly more modern looking irish dump doesn't mean it'll work. i actually feel bad for all the poor bastards who ivested in michael's dumb startup idea. as full as the bar may seem sometimes, i don't give this place much more than a year until these guys are tired of waiting for their return on stupid investment. there. someone had to say it.
Dear anonymous
I would normally avoid responding to blogs...I prefer to interact with the public in person than write on a site.....I would like to address the Anonyomos blogger who says that john brady must be me or another investor....
I just want to point out that you ended your blog with someome had to say it.....
well.....
you didnt leave a name so in my opinion you didnt say anything....
If you want to be brash and accussatory stand up for what you believe in....by signing anonomously your words have no value......
you could be anybody.....a prankster or proffesional critic who knows??
who cares???
I just like to address cowards when ever I get the chance....
Well just as I thought....
being anonymous is a coward's greatest tool.....
I put my name on every thing I state......
when you grow a back bone feel free to answer this blog....
we work real hard to serving our guests at Bonfire...And quality and hospitality is major priority
you didnt sign your name because there was no truth to what you say.
The Bonfire Grill and Myself very existance seems to annoy you
I wonder what your motive to slander me or the restaurant is.....Hmmmmmm
my wife went with her girlfriends and they liked the place good luck to the owners
jealousy is a funny thing
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