Dining Detours

Restaurants near Shea Stadium

BY PETER M. GIANOTTI
peter.gianotti@newsday.com

March 28, 2008

There are some big questions about Opening Day. Will Santana win 20? Will Reyes steal 75? Will Wright be MVP?

Will I have to eat the upper-deck hot dogs?

From the intersection of College Point Boulevard and 39th Avenue, you see Citi Field eclipsing Shea Stadium.

And drive along Roosevelt Avenue and nearby streets for a closer look, and you'll also know why they sell so many of those franks.

Eating in the vicinity of Shea Stadium really means concentrating on the Asian restaurants along Prince Street, Northern Boulevard and environs in Flushing, or going Latin or Italian in Corona.

The Mets' home opener is April 8. Start planning.

Two dependable choices for Chinese food are Ocean Jewels, just east of College Point Boulevard and that dramatic Citi-Shea vantage point. The big, shiny restaurant specializes in seafood and dim sum, those delectable dumplings, buns and other delights in Cantonese cuisine. Ocean Jewels is at 133-30 39th Ave.; 718-359- 8600.

Spicy-n-Tasty is a local landmark for invigorating food that stresses the second adjective in the name. Come here for a shot of Sichuan spiciness. You'll also get a healthy dose at Golden Szechuan, which balances the cookery with milder dishes, too. Spicy-n-Tasty is at 39-07 Prince St., 718-359-1601; Golden Szechuan, 133-47 Roosevelt Ave., 718-762-2664.

Joe's Shanghai has built its reputation on fragile, flavorful soup dumplings (dumplings that contain soup), which crowds consume in bulk at this jammed destination. Enjoying the soup dumpling is a four-step affair: dip it in the tangy sauce, take a bite, down the broth, eat the rest. The Flushing branch of Joe's Shanghai is at 136-21 37th Ave., 718-539-3838.

Take a Thai turn at Green Papaya, a very good venue to turn up the BTUs and refresh your appetite. Sample the spicy basil fried noodles, stuffed crab and curries. Green Papaya: 38-04 Prince St., 718-353-1888.

A 24/7 mainstay of Northern Boulevard is Kum Gang San, the mega-eatery that emphasizes Korean barbecue and other specialties, plus Japanese fare. Kum Gang San is situated near the Flushing YMCA at 138-28 Northern Blvd., 718-461-0909.

Deluge is the name of the New American restaurant in the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel. It's a lively alternative. The menu highlights sake-glazed pork ribs and cumin-rubbed pork loin; peppercorn steak; grilled skirt steak with chimichurri, the snappy Argentine herb sauce and a charbroiled burger. The hotel is at 135-20 39th Ave., 718-670-7400.

Carnivores can have a convention at Green Field, the Brazilian barbecue restaurant. The churrascaria is defined by a parade of skewered-meat dishes sure to brace you for extra innings with the Phillies and the obligatory greetings for the Braves. Green Field, 108-01 Northern Blvd., Corona; 718- 672-5202.

And on your way to Shea, make a side trip for the Italian-American favorites of Park Side, opposite the little park with the boccie court and near the ever-tart Lemon Ice King. Park Side stars with seafood salad, pastas, steak pizzaiola, shellfish fra diavolo, and its own gutsy style. 107-01 Corona Ave., 718- 271-9871.

Between bites, you can discuss who the Mets' No. 5 starter should be.

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