Anna's Place…Makes You Feel Like Family

Going to Anna’s Place is like going to your favorite aunt’s house for a home cooked meal. While New York seems to change minute by minute, you can always count on Anna’s Place for great food and the warm feeling that you are family here. After all, the lovely Anna Walsh has been a part of this Rego Park neighborhood for 30 years, and she still greets all her customers with a warm smile and, if you’re lucky like me, a hug.

The charming décor features new carpeting and private booths for quiet dining with paintings of Irish country scenes on the walls. Best of all, a spacious dining room in the rear can accommodate up to 50 people for any family party or business function. The service could not be friendlier or more courteous.

At an inviting bar near the entrance guests can enjoy their favorite cocktails and conversation, and the barman pours a frothy, good pint of Guinness, according to my dining companion. While we sipped our drinks, we munched Anna’s light, crispy potato skins, filled with bits of real bacon and cheddar cheese. Other appetizers such as crisp and garlicky baked stuffed clams and jumbo shrimp cocktail will also whet your appetite for the tasty entrees. Each day, the chef prepares homemade soups, such as French onion, served with bubbling cheese, clam chowder or potato leek, to name a few.

Anna’s legendary soup and salad bar comes with every entrée. Among the homemade salads are pickled beets, three bean salad, two kinds of potato salad and fresh greens. There’s a tureen of hot, homemade soup for the taking.

The regular menu at Anna’s Place features fresh fish and seafood, prime meats, chicken and pasta. I always look at the nightly specials first where favorites such as roast Long Island duckling with black cherry sauce, Yankee pot roast with potato pancakes ($15), veal osso bucco with roasted vegetables or tender Cornish hens with wild rice stuffing can often be found.

Some years ago, Anna’s Place was a German restaurant and some of the Bavarian dishes that brought diners here are still on the menu. Wiener schnitzel is a pounded, lightly fried tender veal cutlet that melts in your mouth. Jaeger schnitzel is served with a creamy mushroom sauce. Smoked pork chops and roast loin of pork served with homemade red cabbage and potatoes are still popular items.

Anna’s Place serves prime meats in various cuts. The sliced steak is served with mushrooms and the New York shell steak is cooked to your liking. Try something different with the blackened sirloin or the Irish whiskey steak, served in a pool of creamy sauce with frizzled onions on top. Oversized pork chops can be ordered breaded or broiled to order.

Fresh salmon fillet is prepared with an Asian-inspired orange and ginger sauce and fresh tilapia is stuffed with crabmeat for a light and tasty dinner. Authentic fish and chips will even please the kids or you can enjoy an order while at the bar. Linguine with shrimp and seafood is another popular dish.

Anna’s Place is open for lunch as well, featuring hearty beef brisket sandwiches, hot open roast beef sandwiches and their famous juicy burgers, topped with cheese, bacon, onions or mushrooms. Pub classics such as shepherd’s pie and, of course, fish and chips are great here.

On Sunday a pleasant brunch is served from noon to 3 p.m. For just $12.95 you’ll get a brunch cocktail, entrée and coffee. Choose among fluffy omelets of your own design, eggs benedict, thick cut French toast, steak and eggs and more.

A meal at Anna’s Place is always a treat. The service is very friendly and you’ll be treated like family. Stop in seven days a week for lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch or drinks at the bar and bring your family and friends. For a home cooked meal reminiscent of dinner at your favorite aunt’s house, visit Anna’s Place on Queens Boulevard in Rego Park, near lots of shopping and the subway for your convenience.