when you think of New York these images probably come to mind but there's more to the Big Apple
than just skyscrapers today we'll explore Bayside the neighborhood in Queens that has it all from
food to views and more we'll be led by someone born and raised here could this be one of New
York's best neighborhoods let's find out so if you didn't know Bayside is in northeastern
Queens we are right near the border of Nassau County we've got Matt Matt what makes Bayside so
special it's just a beautiful place to explore a small town feel in a big city neighborhood
we're on the heart of Bell Boulevard right now and I think this is the most famous street in
Bayside what's it all about this is a lot of people's first experience to nightlife
that grew up in this neighborhood the heart of a lot of really good restaurants and pubs
although they're becoming unfortunately fewer and far between but definitely a
great place if you want to grab a cocktail or grab dinner or have a special night out
a block away you got Suburban Tudor homes and you walk here and you've got like every
kind of restaurant imaginable well I'll point out a little history they do the
uh St Patrick's Day Parade every year on Bell so that's why you'll see these all down below
so a nice little local spot if you want to grab a snack and a coffee and you were telling me and
I've heard that they have the best macaroons on Earth here they melt in your mouth I wanted to
get uh one cookies and cream macaroon one lavender macaroon may we order espresso with you as well
that's it
um I don't know if you could see on the top there that frothy top and that's the
sign of a good Barista and that's the sign of a good espresso all right let's try this
a little black wow just straight up straight up black I won't lie if I'm having it after
dinner there may be a hint of sambuca in there that's a good idea also you
mentioned to me how good the macaroons are here and others have told me about
this spot so I got a cookies and cream my favorite flavor for a lot of things in life
there you go it's delicious like pairing this with the espresso perfect oh yeah that's relaxing units
take five minutes of your busy day sit down enjoy this that's that's the idea that's the
whole idea of the espresso they do it proper hair French Workshop Artisan Bakery foreign
that's it right here you know Matt I like to think all good stories start in a White Castle
parking lot most people end their night here to be honest Bell is known for its restaurants and bars
formerly 24 hours but they're still open pretty late this is where you finished your evening to
coat The Hangover I I get you I spend many a night in a White Castle in New Jersey as well that's
awesome so another beautiful aspect of Bayside is you really don't feel like you're in New York
City this is classic Bayside architecture you see a lot of this in a lot of the pockets of Northeast
Queens yeah you got the the Tudor Revival style one of my favorites very common in Forest Hills
has that uh British feel to it so you have a lot of different mix of like of suburban Meat City I
know we talked about that already but it's cool I I could see why families especially probably
would like it here you get a beautiful variety of trees and just beautiful street-line streets it is
crazy like comparing the city to Bayside and not just base at a lot of different neighborhoods in
Queens and Brooklyn even the Bronx that feel nothing like Manhattan [Music] when I grew up
there was at least five diners in the neighborhood this is the only one that is still open they've
all shuddered but this is still one of the best in the city family owned family run they've been here
give or take about half century and I'm honored that they're still here and still part of the
Bayside neighborhood I've never seen a Greek fast food spot like this it actually reminds me of a
rolling roaster in Brooklyn it's very similar in the fact the old school facade family owned
been around forever this is where I want to go if I want Greek fast food we just walked on Northern
Boulevard saw tons of Korean restaurants but big Greek Community too right originally mostly Greek
my neighbor they have a Greek flag flying we just walked past a massive Greek Church they have the
Greek flag flying at another restaurant so it is a very heavy Greek community and some of my good
friends and good neighbors in the area are all Greek the Koreans are maintaining the heritage
of the neighborhood and bringing in their own culture it's really a great mix of cultures and
a great mix of food you smell the Souvlaki you smell everything as soon as you walk in that's
the smell of family heritage and love some of the best meat you're gonna get in the neighborhood it
looks like a regular fast food spot but they're playing Greek music Greek Flags everywhere I
love the pride how are you good how are you good good I just want to try your your famous lamb and
beef gyro let's get two of them yeah we've been supported by that Community for over 41 years to
rule in this business we were smart Gyros you know what I mean for little kids I'm second generation
we have third generation working here we've been blessed to be supported by the community and being
alive for 41 years we do our part and everybody else does their part you know look at this thank
you sir thank you my friends this is a Site for Sore Eyes I used to eat this almost every day
when I was in Greece for a month mouth-watering also the first place I ever had a year from when
I was a child and to this day it's still the best in the area the bar was set super high since you
were a kid for euros it's amazing man you've been to Greece yes sir have you ever had a Euro this
big in Greece no absolutely not this is how it's done here all right I'm glad I came hungry today
been the cameraman if it ain't messy it ain't good oh I mean you've got the lamb
and the beef combined before it even goes on this skewer but it's like really like Rich
flavorful taste the tzatziki sauce this is something else this is worth coming
in here for for the hospitality alone and then we're talking about the food
definitely one of the best heroes I've had since I've been in Greece and I don't
I don't seek out Greek food enough I think that's one of the advantages of living in this part of
Queens there's so many Greek places but for fast food experience oh this definitely needs to be
on your radar uh it's generally my lunch and my dinner to be totally honest with you one goes a
long way they take ample care to take care of their customers [Music] one more Greek stop
you insisted on Mediterranean tastes why another local spot one great gift shop two great little
greek tastes that you wouldn't get anywhere else but it's another old school neighborhood spot
that's devoted themselves to the Greek culture this business is uh primarily serving the Greek
Community 95 of our products are Greek products as you can see and the cheeses are responsible for
an estimated 35 to 40 percent of our sales store now where people come here for the cheeses these
are the kinds of things you're not going to find at your average supermarket in New York you do
not uh this is a destination it continues to be a destination because people can buy everything from
here this is our feta that matures in a barrel in a wooden barrel people just love it hey cheers
um that's so good people come here from Long Island from Astoria to buy this
this is my type of place he said 99 of the items imported from Greece Greek
lettering you have to look at the English translations with stickers here oh and gray
side levels the frappe cappuccino love it I I was addicted to frappe
cappuccino there it is your cappuccino yes it creates an addiction it does it's a dude
you're in this you could not Escape no you cannot we're only two blocks from my house right now
so it's very easy for me to come here and pick up artisanal product if I live two blocks from
here I would be here about as often as you as well okay I'm a little jealous not gonna lie a
little jealous what a store now that is definitely a store you've got to check out in Bayside [Music]
I think when you Google Bayside this picture always pops up and this is absolutely beautiful
view of the Throgs Neck Bridge here right next to the historic Fort Totten views for
days this is basically going right into the Long Island Sound and then if you were to go up and
around that way you'd be heading right towards Manhattan you should stop by any bodeg or Deli
and bring your sandwich here have a little picnic absolutely that's a nice view man I could totally
see that happening if I lived here we are on the northernmost part of of Bayside what you're
looking at Under the Bridge that's you're looking at the Bronx Fort Totten is one of the most unique
Parks I have to say New York City and of course Bayside because it used to be an active army base
right that is correct and actually part of U.S Army Reserve still does turn out here so I am
a former New York City power metal retired City Power medic and also on these grounds are fdny's
ems Academy any EMT or paramedic or in training for the FDNY is getting trained on these grounds
and uh perhaps one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Northeastern queens and maybe one of the
only castles in Queens is right there so this was originally Fort totten's Officers Club nicknamed
The Castle because it's a rare example of Gothic Revival architecture still active now it houses
the Bayside historical society and it's a really cool venue if you want to have your wedding in
Queens this is probably one of the least known parks in the city but in my humble opinion it's
also one of the nicest Waterfront views as you can see ah soccer fields family friendly
and also the beautiful old military buildings yes the architecture is definitely a draw here
this is with the commanding officer lives this is where I want to live [Music]
kabe's bar car I don't know if I've ever quite covered a dive bar like this John this is my
home base my friend it's the quintessential local dive bar great pool table great jukebox and great
people it's all locals all right so let's have a drink to cap off this wondrous day I would love
one I would love one John you know we we walk in here and it seemed like we do every single
person I love that like local character here it is it's neighborhood folks it's in a residential
neighborhood a moral family Everybody's Got Each Other's backs in here so you spent just a
few nights of your life in here once or twice I've been here once or twice well I'm Marty McCabe and
I've been here for 28 years started in 1995. it's been a bar since 1965. it was the Mayo house for
many years and when I took over in 1995 it became McCabe's bar car why I named it barcar is because
we're right next to the railroad the Urbandale train stop and it's a good New York institution
a New York Gin Mill all right so this is very uh Rudy zest here three hot dogs Sundays and Mondays
[ __ ] time perfectly beer there you go it's a good neighborhood very cool neighborhood
yes sir never been before I'm a fan if you liked exploring Bayside you should also check
out Green Point Brooklyn one of New York's coolest neighborhoods watch that video next