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Penthouse 808
Sitting on Top of the World
By Doug Singer
For some Manhattanites, the suggestion of leaving the borough to go to a restaurant in places like the Bronx, Brooklyn, or god forbid Queens, is commonly greeted with a “you’ve got to be kidding” look. No, you do not need your passport to leave the island of Manhattan; in fact the trip time across the Queensboro Bridge, a free bridge for that matter, is faster than a trip from the Upper East Side to Greenwich Village. Add to that urban chic restaurants like Penthouse808 waiting on the other side, with al fresco rooftop dining and killer views of Manhattan and suddenly saddling up the yellow checkered pony is a worthwhile consideration.
City section of Queens. Take the elevator to the top floor and stroll through the elegant portico to the entrance where you are greeted by a refined environment with gorgeous wooden floors that beckon you and heighten the expectations of what’s to come. Originating as an outdoor only restaurant and party space, Penthouse808 was completely at the mercy of Mother Nature. The newly built retractable glass greenhouse quickly converts the now enclosed restaurant to an outdoor oasis. There is quite a bit of additional outdoor seating as well as a lounge area for partying under the stars.
We started off our evening with a couple of the extremely potent drinks being whipped up by the resident mixologist. The Spiced Pear Margarita (cinnamon and star anise infused Don Julio Blanco tequila, fresh pear puree and fresh lime) and the Cranberry Caipirinha (Leblon cachaça, fresh cranberry puree, lime juice and muddled lime) were extremely creative concoctions and enough to facilitate a heady buzz to get us in just the right mood for a night of decadence.
Our Pan Asian dining adventure started off with the Lemongrass Steamed Mussels (beer and lime broth with fresh herbs). Bursting with flavor, these were extremely addictive and highlighted the straightforward approach and expert use of fragrant, quality ingredients. Next we decided to delve into the sushi menu. The aptly named Ravel Roll (shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, cucumber, jalapeno and avocado in a pink soy wrap with spicy sesame aioli) was unique and emphasized the creativity that seemed to be present throughout the sushi section of the menu. Next came the Thai Chicken Flat Bread (red Thai curry sauce, mozzarella, scallions, sweet peppers, cilantro and peanuts). With chunky white meat grilled chicken breast, in a flatbread pizza style presentation, this was a meal unto itself. If the sound of that doesn’t blow your hair back, take a dive into the Marinated Grilled Skirt Steak or Portobello and Goat Cheese Flatbread.
With truly breathtaking, panoramic views of the New York City skyline and the Queensboro Bridge from its perch on the rooftop of the trendy Ravel Hotel; Penthouse808 Restaurant has quickly become the hotspot in the Long Island
Moving on we took a gander at the wine menu and before we knew it two beautiful balloon glasses inhabited by a Diseno Malbec were placed before us. I want to take a moment and mention the wait staff. Good service is sometimes hard to come by,
but this team was extremely attentive. Very well trained and always nearby and at the ready, but never giving off the feeling of hovering, made this noteworthy. You get the attention of a high end restaurant without the pressure of feeling like someone is waiting for you, enabling you to relax in peace.
It was time for the main course which came in the form of the Grilled Lemongrass-Five Spice Pork Chops (shitake and scallion fried rice and sautéed bok choy). Cooked to perfection this was quite a treat. The addition of the fried rice and bok choy created the perfect balance and left us feeling truly satisfied. To finish off our feast, at the urging of management we indulged in the Tempura Pistachio Ice Cream with Bananas Foster. They have an interesting approach to their interpretation of fried ice cream. They wrap thin slices of pound cake around the ice cream ball before dunking it in the tempura batter and dropping it in the deep fryer. The result… cakey, crispy, cold, creamy and absolutely incredible!
If you are seeking an elegant candlelit dinner, a nightclub experience of dancing to the beats of a world renowned DJ, or simply a relaxing Sunday brunch; Penthouse808 will exceed your expectations at every level. But the view, the view, the view! You feel more like you are in Manhattan from this vantage point then when you are actually there. The skyline is set atop a silver platter and the addition of the proximity to the bridge puts the cherry on the sundae--exquisite by any measure and a great reason to make the journey.
8-08 Queens Plaza South
Long Island City, Ny 11101
(718) 289-6101
www.penthouse808rooftop.com
For some Manhattanites, the suggestion of leaving the borough to go to a restaurant in places like the Bronx, Brooklyn, or god forbid Queens, is commonly greeted with a “you’ve got to be kidding” look. No, you do not need your passport to leave the island of Manhattan; in fact the trip time across the Queensboro Bridge, a free bridge for that matter, is faster than a trip from the Upper East Side to Greenwich Village. Add to that urban chic restaurants like Penthouse808 waiting on the other side, with al fresco rooftop dining and killer views of Manhattan and suddenly saddling up the yellow checkered pony is a worthwhile consideration.
City section of Queens. Take the elevator to the top floor and stroll through the elegant portico to the entrance where you are greeted by a refined environment with gorgeous wooden floors that beckon you and heighten the expectations of what’s to come. Originating as an outdoor only restaurant and party space, Penthouse808 was completely at the mercy of Mother Nature. The newly built retractable glass greenhouse quickly converts the now enclosed restaurant to an outdoor oasis. There is quite a bit of additional outdoor seating as well as a lounge area for partying under the stars.
We started off our evening with a couple of the extremely potent drinks being whipped up by the resident mixologist. The Spiced Pear Margarita (cinnamon and star anise infused Don Julio Blanco tequila, fresh pear puree and fresh lime) and the Cranberry Caipirinha (Leblon cachaça, fresh cranberry puree, lime juice and muddled lime) were extremely creative concoctions and enough to facilitate a heady buzz to get us in just the right mood for a night of decadence.
Our Pan Asian dining adventure started off with the Lemongrass Steamed Mussels (beer and lime broth with fresh herbs). Bursting with flavor, these were extremely addictive and highlighted the straightforward approach and expert use of fragrant, quality ingredients. Next we decided to delve into the sushi menu. The aptly named Ravel Roll (shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, cucumber, jalapeno and avocado in a pink soy wrap with spicy sesame aioli) was unique and emphasized the creativity that seemed to be present throughout the sushi section of the menu. Next came the Thai Chicken Flat Bread (red Thai curry sauce, mozzarella, scallions, sweet peppers, cilantro and peanuts). With chunky white meat grilled chicken breast, in a flatbread pizza style presentation, this was a meal unto itself. If the sound of that doesn’t blow your hair back, take a dive into the Marinated Grilled Skirt Steak or Portobello and Goat Cheese Flatbread.
With truly breathtaking, panoramic views of the New York City skyline and the Queensboro Bridge from its perch on the rooftop of the trendy Ravel Hotel; Penthouse808 Restaurant has quickly become the hotspot in the Long Island
Moving on we took a gander at the wine menu and before we knew it two beautiful balloon glasses inhabited by a Diseno Malbec were placed before us. I want to take a moment and mention the wait staff. Good service is sometimes hard to come by,
but this team was extremely attentive. Very well trained and always nearby and at the ready, but never giving off the feeling of hovering, made this noteworthy. You get the attention of a high end restaurant without the pressure of feeling like someone is waiting for you, enabling you to relax in peace.
It was time for the main course which came in the form of the Grilled Lemongrass-Five Spice Pork Chops (shitake and scallion fried rice and sautéed bok choy). Cooked to perfection this was quite a treat. The addition of the fried rice and bok choy created the perfect balance and left us feeling truly satisfied. To finish off our feast, at the urging of management we indulged in the Tempura Pistachio Ice Cream with Bananas Foster. They have an interesting approach to their interpretation of fried ice cream. They wrap thin slices of pound cake around the ice cream ball before dunking it in the tempura batter and dropping it in the deep fryer. The result… cakey, crispy, cold, creamy and absolutely incredible!
If you are seeking an elegant candlelit dinner, a nightclub experience of dancing to the beats of a world renowned DJ, or simply a relaxing Sunday brunch; Penthouse808 will exceed your expectations at every level. But the view, the view, the view! You feel more like you are in Manhattan from this vantage point then when you are actually there. The skyline is set atop a silver platter and the addition of the proximity to the bridge puts the cherry on the sundae--exquisite by any measure and a great reason to make the journey.
8-08 Queens Plaza South
Long Island City, Ny 11101
(718) 289-6101
www.penthouse808rooftop.com
