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Restaurant scene hot in LIC

By Bill Parry

At a recent fund-raising event celebrating her 20th year of government service, Borough President Melinda Katz called Long Island City a model for every other community in the state.

“LIC is growing and showing the city and the state what it’s like when a community works together to get better,” she said. “There are elements that work towards making their community a great success story. We’d love to repeat their method of success everywhere in the borough.”

For an example of that spirit of cooperation, take a look at the restaurant scene, where dozens of owners have united in an association called LIC Eateries.

When Rebecca Trent, owner of The Creek and the Cave at 10-93 Jackson Ave. started the organization last fall, she wanted to create a united front in dealing with the city Department of Health and guide the media perception.

“Everyone writes that we’re the next Brooklyn, but we’re not,” she said. “We’re Queens and we want to be Queens because we love Queens.”

LIC Eateries began monthly meetings to commiserate when there are slow weeks and to work together to foster more business as a community.

“It’s really a no-brainer,” Trent said.

Gianna Cerbone-Teoli, owner of Manducatis Rustica at 46-33 Vernon Blvd., where the Katz event was held, said, “We need to work together and help each other out and that will help us forge our own identity, an LIC identity. It helps that I actually like these people. A lot of businesses don’t support each other.”

Trent agreed, saying, “I hang out with these people, they’re my friends. We’re tightly knit and that’s highly unusual for a neighborhood in New York City.”

The growing population in LIC means these owner don’t necessarily have to compete against each other.

“We’ve got enough customers to go around and we’ll have even more as the word spreads,” Trent said.

Josh Bowen, the owner of John Brown Smokehouse at 10-43 44th Drive thinks the united front is paying off.

“The restaurant scene is exploding right now. People are starting to come here just for the food,” he said. “There’s a lot of interesting places that are getting serious foody cred — everyone is super proud.”

There’s still a segment of the population that hasn’t embraced the LIC restaurant scene, according to Jeff Blath, the owner of Alobar at 46-42 Vernon Blvd.

“A lot of our new residents haven’t discovered what’s right here because they do their dining in Manhattan,” he said. “They don’t realize what a great place it is to hang out. As people begin to realize it, the scene will only get stronger.”

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 718-260-4538.