Any Colombian bars, clubs in Queens?

richardshari says on Jan 1, 2009, 05:41:

There was a place called Extravaganza, off of Northern Blvd, IF, i'm not mistaken.

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me gusta bailar says on Jan 2, 2009, 11:01:

"Natives", if it is still open. 82-22 Northern Blvd in Jackson Heights. There is also alot of stuff in the surrounding area. They used to have live music, events etc...a lot of Colombian bars, restaurants & clubs are on Northern Blvd in Jackson Heights. 37th Ave in JH is also a strip for restaurants/bars. You can also find Colombian places in Corona, East Elmhurst, and even in Astoria along Steinway. Most places are not MAJOR clubs, but little neighborhood hangouts w/ music. Good luck! : )

Gringita con el corazon de Colombianita

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rhydewithdis (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 2, 2009, 11:32:

me gusta bailar says on Jan 2, 2009, 12:11:

Also, one of my sources says Sarabanda used to be very good. It's at 32-10 37th Ave. in Astoria. Rhydewithdis is correct--almost everything is assimilated in Queens. Just stay away from Chinese restaurants advertising bandeja paisa! lol

Gringita con el corazon de Colombianita

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Monpirri says on Jan 2, 2009, 15:01:

Well, I found some info about clubs or restaurants in Queens or surrounding areas.
Me gusta bailar, the list below compliments your recommendation, Natives.

Cafecito Bogota
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Greenpoint
1015 Manhattan Ave
(between Green St & Huron St)
Brooklyn, NY 11222
(718) 569-0077
cafecitobogota.com


Chibcha Restaurant
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Queens/Elmhurst
7905 Roosevelt Avenue
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
(718) 429-9033

"Remember that long, unedited shot at the beginning of Goodfellas, where Ray Liotta walks through this night club, and everybody knows him, and the booths are filled with grinning fat cats and their brightly-colored tarts who laugh and drink, and this whole, deep, amazing underworld just opens-up its bosom to him, and you are awash in cigarette smoke, and the air is filled with bright brass, and you feel sultry all the way down to your bones? Chibcha is just like that on a Saturday night, except the fat cats are Colombian and the tarts are twice as good-looking and five times easier than anything that ever decorated Joe Pesci's arm.

This is a date-night sort of place. Dress up. Go at NIGHT on a WEEKEND. Chibcha serves food almost all day, but during the day it's just another one of several really good Colombian restaurants within a few blocks (chiefly, Tierras Colombianas). What you want to do is show up about 9:00 PM on Friday or Saturday and order a bunch of food and spend 2 hours eating it and drinking till the show starts at 11PM. Over the years Chibcha has drawn some of the most recognizable Latin music acts, including Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, and Enrique Iglesias. Did I mention it's good to dress up."

Tierras Colombianas
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Queens/Long Island City
3301 Broadway
Long Island City, NY 11106
(718) 956-3012

Lexy M.
New York, NY
9/19/2008
Tierras Colombianas, my go to Colombian spot!

"When I'm in the mood for good traditional Colombian food I hop on the N or W train to Astoria! Yummy! Come here with a BIG appetite though because they do no mess around! Colombians eat and they eat good! (lol)

Very large plates and some many big enough to share. My favorite and traditional dish to get is the "Mountain Plate" it comes with everything! Steak, beans & rice, egg, corn cake, sweet plantains, fried pork, avocado & salad! I pair this hungry man plate with a sweet colombian style orange soda (a favorite of mine).

If your in Astoria and feeling like your in a Latin or Colombian mood, this is the spot! ;o)"


Native Restaurant
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Queens/Jackson Heights
8222 Northern Blvd
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
(718) 335-0780

Rafa H.
Washington, DC
12/9/2008
"Whenever I go to NY for business or vacation I always go to Natives, either for dinner (weekdays) or breakfast (Saturdays), and sometimes both! It's the best Colombian restaurant I have been to so far in the West coast and I've not yet been dissapointed with food or service. Plus, prices are fair. In the morning, I normally have Desayuno Especial (special breakfast), or Chocolate with either Arepa de Choclo (sort of sweet corn bread) and melted cheese, Pandebonos, or Arepa with Chorizo and Colombian coffee!! For lunch, I go for either Ajiaco, Viudo de Pescado, or Bandeja Paisa, or a combination of the soup of the day (Sancocho de Cola, Sopa de Cuchuco and Sancocho de Pescado are my favorites) plus one of their main entrees (Sobrebarriga and Pollo Sudado are usually very good). When I leave room for dessert I go for Arroz con Leche y Pasas or Flan de Leche."

Monica C.
New York, NY
7/22/2008
"Right before I took off to college (back in the day), I decided it was time for my wholesome American friends to experience a little taste of Colombia. Mind you, prior to this, my dad lived a couple blocks from Natives and I would accompany him and his friends for dinner- 4 hour dinners that involved the passing around of lots of food and watching his friends get progressively more and more drunk. I remember lots of wooden benches and huge platters of food. (No longer. Natives underwent some serious renovations. Half of it is a restaurant, now with cushy booths, and the other half has a little stage where musicians play. I believe El Gran Combo was there once. I digress....)

Taking my friends here was a great idea. Their portions are large and tasty. The juices (although made from concentrate as you cannot find all the fruits here) were delicious. They had lots of options, yet managed to stick to typical Colombian platters. Needless to say, the majority of people that come by here know the food, but the waiter was patient and helped my friends chose dishes. Service was fast, not super friendly, but once we started eating we forgot all about it.

Plus its full of Colombians. You can't beat that."

Tierras Colombianas -
82-18 Roosevelt Ave. - Queens (Jackson Heights)

A Taste of Colombia Rolls Through New York’s Streets
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/nyregion/02chiva.html?ex=1362200400&...


Empanada Mama, 763 Ninth Avenue; (212) 698-9008; www.empmamanyc.com.
El Tequilazo, 43 West 46th Street; (212) 768-0770.
Bogota Latin Bistro, 141 Fifth Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn; (718) 230-3805; www.bogotabistro.com.

Pollos Mario, 83-02 37th Avenue; (718) 457-8800; and 86-13 Roosevelt Avenue; (718) 205-7777; both in Jackson Heights, Queens.

La Fonda Antioqueña, 32-25 Steinway Street, Astoria, Queens; (718) 726-9857.

El Basurero, 32-17 Steinway Street, Astoria, Queens; (718) 545-7077.

Natives, 82-22 Northern Boulevard, Jackson Heights, Queens; (718) 335-0780.

Xtasis, 82-12 Northern Boulevard; (718) 651-8712.

El Palacio de los Cholados, 83-18 Northern Boulevard; no phone.

Mama’s Empanadas, 85-05 Northern Boulevard, (718) 505-9937, and other locations.

D’Antigua, 84-16 Northern Boulevard; (718) 779-0128; www.myspace.com/dantigua.

Extravaganza, 33-15 Broadway (near Northern Boulevard); (718) 565-6454.

Vallenato on the River, July 3 from 8 p.m. to midnight, leaves from Pier 40 in Manhattan; $25 in advance, $30 at the door; www.lafarrany.com.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/travel/15weekend.html

Do you want to know more about Colombians places in Elmhurst or Queens?
Contact: Centro Civico Colombiano:
90-37 Corona Avenue, Elmhurst, NY, 11373
Telefonos : 1718-699-4833 Fax : 1718-271-2598
Email: centrocivicicocolombiano at yahoo.com

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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me gusta bailar says on Jan 2, 2009, 15:25:

Monpirri, that list just made my stomach growl with hunger!

Gringita con el corazon de Colombianita

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Monpirri says on Jan 2, 2009, 16:04:

MeGustaBailar, I hear you.
As you can see, we need to be resourceful in finding the info.

Lion-O, "I live in Queens and there is nothing really that is exclusively Colombian anymore since Colombian's in Queens have essentially assimilated in with the Dominicans, Ecuadorians, Boriquas, etc."

The only ones who assimilate are the voltiarepas! lol

The Richardshari, you were also correct with Extravaganza.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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bufalo says on Jan 2, 2009, 19:19:

Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, everything is assimilated and there really is no "colombian" place like previously mentioned. I live right behind "Basurero" that is on Steinway Street, just off of Broadway in Astoria. Some nice decorations, but not really Colombian - regular burgers you can buy anywhere and NOTHING like the pizza one buys in Colombia.
I think there's a colombian club further down Steinway and if not mistaken Extravaganza is on Broadway between Northern and Roosevelt.


Too bad "Arepas Pues" is gone (now condos like everything else) because that IMO was good Colombian food - could also be because everytime I went I was completely bombed with my Colombian friends.

When my wife and I want colombian food.......

.... we stay home.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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Papi de Alejo says on Jan 2, 2009, 19:27:

Bufalo, if you are near to the Ronkonkoma Line of the LIRR, there is a really nice restaurant in Brentwood called Mi Territa. I've been there several times and Swinn88 lives near there and has been there as well. Much as we try, we never seem to be able to get the logistics right so that we can be there at the same time.

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly...

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me gusta bailar says on Jan 2, 2009, 19:47:

Ahhh I have been to Mi Territa as well! Wow, off the beaten path, but they have good food too. And there is a Colombian bakery in the same strip! It used to be you had to be in the city to find Colombian food, but even Farmingdale has a Colombian Restaurant now. Granted, the very best ones are still in Queens. Good to see all the NYers coming outta the woodwork for this topic : )

Gringita con el corazon de Colombianita

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Papi de Alejo says on Jan 2, 2009, 19:52:

Hey if I want to go to Mi Territa, I have to travel all the way from Albany. So it has to be good. But it always is.

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly...

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bufalo says on Jan 2, 2009, 20:07:

Thanks for the info Papi, Swinn88 and I were going to try to meet up in Medellin, and it didn't pan out either...

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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Monpirri says on Jan 2, 2009, 20:14:

Bufalo, I guess you know better than the comments posted by the visitors on each of the places listed posted.
Do you know if Chibcha restaurant still a Colombian spot?
Do you know if they still meet at Club de Leones??
Do you keep in contact with CCC for further details about their activities in the area?

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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bufalo says on Jan 2, 2009, 21:04:

Crap, I just finshed responding and then unplugged my system accidentally. Hopefully I remember all the info I had the first time.

Centor Civico Colombiano:

93-07 Corona Avenue, 718) 699-4833
- I had a flyer with their stuff but lost it. On saturdays they do give cultural dance classes to the kiddies 6 (our duaghter will go when there's time), they also give English classes and immigration advice - all really inexpensive. This past Christmas they had all 9 nights of Novenas complete with buñuelos and natilla, started at 7 PM sharp. We unfortunately only made it once and got their late. A good colombian bakery nearby.

I don't hang around the people that I used to that go or went to Chibcha so I really don't know. However, that is old-school stuff here. Been around for a while, I'd imagine it's still "colombian"

No clue about Club de Leones.

I believe Extravaganza, Basurero and Ritmos (colombian club next door) are all owned by the same person, or run by the same group, or something like that. I've never been to Ritmos, just pass it constantly, but to me it reminds me of the older bars in Colombia. Dark, loud music - a place to sit around a table getting blasted after a few bottles. Basurero seems to be more of a place for yuppies to go to when they want to "get some colombian".

I did hear that there is a place for colombian burgers/pizza right nearby Natives, but haven't looked for it yet. If it exists, I'll move next door.

Oh and I spotted the gringo version of colombian food - "Sancocho in a Bag"...

... of course in the frozen food section.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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adrimm (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 2, 2009, 23:05:

Monpirri says on Jan 3, 2009, 05:40:

Queens Journal; For Local Colombians, An Atypical Lions Club
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7D61E3AF932A35757C...
Does anyone here know if Colombians still meet at Lions Club?

"Vallenato on the River, July 3 from 8 p.m. to midnight, leaves from Pier 40 in Manhattan; $25 in advance, $30 at the door; www.lafarrany.com."
The New York Times.
Vallenato on the River? Sounds like a lot of fun! Has anyone from NY done this vallenato tour?

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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me gusta bailar says on Jan 3, 2009, 07:35:

The last I heard, Chibcha was owned by Dominicans. That was about 2 yrs ago. It may have changed hands for all I know. Their website doesn't seem to be working so they may not even be open. : ( The burger place by Natives is Xtasis. It was pretty good. The Colombian burgers were huge & of course had pineapple, chips, etc. but I'm more of a purist with my burgers...meat, bun, cheese & ketchup is enough for me!

Also from that long list from Monpirri: I have been to La Fonda Antioqueña, Pollos Mario, Extravaganza, El Palacio de los Cholados, Mamas Empanadas, plus a few others not on the list...if you want a review, lol!

I loved the link to the NYT articles about the chiva party buses. I always used to see them, but never went. Anyone here with a chiva experience they'd like to share?

Gringita con el corazon de Colombianita

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Monpirri says on Jan 3, 2009, 08:06:

Thanks MeGustaBailar for your input!
That's too bad that they sold Chibcha restaurant, well maybe you and I open club one day, lol.
I guess you should be a Travelguide writer since you have visited quite a number of Colombian spots ;>)

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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me gusta bailar says on Jan 3, 2009, 09:41:

Ok Monpirri, sounds like a plan! I dream of one day opening a little Latin American coffee shop that sells the best drinks and sweets from SA...maté, cafecito, aquapanela, chocolate...etc. I have been collecting SA decor since I was a teenager. I have big cargo bags from Bolivia, plates, bottles, etc from Peru, a few things from Colombia & Panama. Of course, I would play all kinds of Spanish music as well, so you could get the full cultural experience. One day... : )
I'd love to be a travel writer. The only thing is...I have not travelled recently. All of my big trips were about 10 yrs ago. I'd love to scrape enough money together to make it to Colombia this year. We'll see!

Gringita con el corazon de Colombianita

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Monpirri says on Jan 3, 2009, 10:31:

It sounds like a great idea! Count me in.
You can still be travelguide writer. Have you noticed that you knew more about all those spots that you visited vs. the comments posted here? The same thing happens with other moderators or travel writers, many are in limbo.

I look forward to drink the best drinks at your LA coffe shop: chicha or maté or aguapanela. :>)

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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bufalo says on Jan 3, 2009, 18:15:

Thanks for the update megustabailar, I did forget to mention Pollos Mario. There is also Pollos Marion. I believe that is the one on 69th street and roosevelt, I seem to have thought (been a while) that that place was better than Mario, but more lo-key. I have a Pollo Mario down the block, I guess once I get to how much a chicken costs here, I'll try it. I've been used to paying a few pesos for them in Armenia.

You (or anyone else) can definitely be a writer. OK, you may you're always thinking about it. Here's an idea - do it. I'm sure, like all of us, you probably spend some BS time in your day (TV, shopping, READING THIS, web surfing, etc.). Sit down and write something. Yes, it will probably suck eggs - that's OK. The next time it will probably suck a bit less, but you'll be doing it.

UP! just checked your post and here's the BS a lot of people come up with when they want to do something, lose weight, repatch a relationship, etc.:

"...I'd love to be a travel writer. The only thing is..." (note the three "..." aren't mine, but yours)

I'm sure by this time next week we can read something by you and will be glad to do so...


... even if it sucks eggs.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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bufalo says on Jan 3, 2009, 18:19:

random things I forgot:

Yes, Basurero is an interesting looking place, but doesn't give me a colombian "feel". They advertise beer from Barcelona, which is what first caught my eye since I lived there and miss it so much. The poster's pic was right where we used to live, sighhhhhh.

Me gusta bailar - your webpage isn't up.

The colombian bakery one block south from steinway on broadway absolutely SUCKS. Like I said, when the wife and I want Colombian, we stay home.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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me gusta bailar says on Jan 4, 2009, 13:48:

Monpirri & Bufalo: Thanks for the encouragement. I'm not afraid of the writing part. It's that I just don't feel qualified to write about Colombia as I have not yet visited. Mexico and Spain I have been to, but so many years have past, the specifics escape me. Even it I did remember, I'd be reluctant to give a recommendation for a place that may have changed or no longer exists. It's been over a decade. As soon as I start traveling again, I will write about it. Until then, I'll stick to posts that aren't specifically travel related.
Thanks for the heads up re: my website. The link is functional now. : )

Gringita con el corazon de Colombianita

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Monpirri says on Jan 4, 2009, 14:46:

MGB, you can still be a Travelguide writer of Colombian spots in your area or places that you have visited outside your city. I believe many here would benefit from someone who really knows his or her stuff about Colombia either in Colombia or in the US.
Check this out, I did know of all those places listed by the NYT, http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/travel/15weekend.html, since I do not live in the metropolitan area, but you on the other hand, have visited several of those places and you even knew with certainty that one spot was sold to another ethnic group.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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me gusta bailar says on Jan 4, 2009, 18:36:

: ) I will see what crazy, but relevant posts I can think up.

Gringita con el corazon de Colombianita

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Monpirri says on Jan 5, 2009, 09:04:

:>)

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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rhydewithdis (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 5, 2009, 09:19:

rhydewithdis (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 30, 2009, 10:21:

La_Huella says on Mar 30, 2009, 13:25:

Chibcha and Extravaganza are both now CLOSED, just like 99% of the nightclubs in NYC. You can forget about an actual Colombian club in NYC these days.

If you're in NYC and want a good party, do what I did, take the A train to Howard Beach, get on the AirTrain, and get on a goddamn plane to Colombia!

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