I'm so glad I saved this on my "to go" places because I swear this is a hidden gem! Nice space on Queens Blvd. of a local Italian deli filled with so many beautiful imported items that basically fills the whole store. Great Italian sodas, teas and desserts are in the fridges. It seems that most of their foods on their menu are homemade like their fig jam, cannolis, Bomboloni's, etc. I saw a sign for Affogato and I had to try. Absolutely delicious and their ice cream tastes homemade as well. Little chocolate bits inside topped it off nicely. The gentleman was very nice at the counter. So many delicious sandwiches to choose from on their menu, at one point I couldn't decide. I went with Il Fig. Prosciutto di Parma, double creamed brie with their homemade fig jam on a fresh baked bread. It's listed under Panini, but it was not a Panini. Decent price for the size. I can't wait to try the other sandwiches, I definitely will be back! read more

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Cipollina is an absolute gold mine of Italian products right here in Forest Hills. I have to stop myself from buying everything every time I go. The owners are the real deal Italian, accents and all, and they remember your face. They carry just about every imported Italian product you could imagine: tomato sauces, seasonings, jams, pastas, cookies, chips, and all kinds of snacks. They have gluten-free versions of most items, too. The pistachio cream and lemon cream are must-buys. From the deli counter, I usually pick up fresh soppressata, provolone, mozzarella, ricotta, 'nduja, and other meats and cheeses to enjoy at home. They also stock fresh Italian bread every morning from Rose & Joe's Bakery in Astoria. Cipollina's espresso bar is excellent, too. I love their affogatos, and on weekends I can't resist the mini pistachio sfogliatelle.There's a small café-style seating area separate from the store to sit and enjoy your coffee and pastry. read more

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What a wonderful Italian specialty store! Found myself in the area dealing with jury duty and needed something good for lunch. There's like nothing in this area but fast food and junk, so I was excited to find this nearby. For what seems like a small space, they are able to fill it with anything you could think of. Pasta, sauces, pastries, snacks, cakes, coffees, sandwiches, gelato, and on and on and on. Got the La Capra sandwich with eggplant, goat cheese, arugala, peppers, and balsamic. The bread was perfect and crunchy, as were the ingredients. Fresh, tasty, and enjoyed an iced caffe latte on the side. Definitely brought me back to life. Service was fast and friendly. Picked up my favorite Italian bagged cookies as well, and will definitely be back for some pantry shopping! read more

Cipollina Gourmet - Italian Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

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Apparently, I've had this place on my bookmarks forever and I can't believe it took me this long to finally try one of their sandwiches. I'm in my sandwich phase right now so I'm on the hunt for the best sandwich in NYC. Stopping by to get a sandwich was the perfect pick me up on a days of endless waiting around (jury duty). It's only like a half mile walk (and totally worth it). I got the chance to try three of their sandwiches: truffle melt, di parma and sopressata. Every time I visited, I didn't have to wait too long despite the lunch rush. As I waited for my sandwich to be made, I browsed the goods they had for sale and it really felt like a mom and pop version of Eataly with the Italian branded goods that they had available on the shelves. There was also a nice indoor seating area with a few tables and chairs. There were always seats available when I visited on weekdays. Each sandwich is cut in half and one half is definitely enough but eating the entire sandwich is also plausible (and worth it because it's that good). Now onto the sandwiches: Truffle melt- The saltiness of the prosciutto very well with the freshness of the arugula and tomato. The truffle cheese spread was simply the cherry on top for that sandwich. The arugula was so fresh that I think I like arugula now. Di parma with roasted peppers- Another popular choice by a lot of visitors. It was good but I think I like the sandwiches with arugula more (guess I'm in my leafy greens phase). Sopressata and Fontina- I love how crisp the sliced tomatoes always are and this is coming from someone who usually omits tomatoes from their burger/sandwich orders. The bread is always toasted so it's the perfect complement to the soft fontina and sopressata in the middle. Honestly can't go wrong with any of the sandwiches, breakfast items or paninis on their menu. They also recently added a dessert fridge! Most of them come in glass jars which is so fancy for a dessert. I tried the guava mango gelato and was left with a glass flute I couldn't bring into the courthouse. The staff were super nice to help me hold onto it till I could come back to retrieve it at the end of my day. read more

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I'm not sure what it was about this place but I found this shop to be just so charming. You can tell it's super mom & pop run by a lovely Italian couple. And they're very pleasant and service was quick. There are tons of options in the actual shop portion that were interesting. I grabbed some tinned fish. Got some sandwiches, as well. Were they the best? No and I kind of knew that from the pictures.. But you could tell the cheese is fresh, the pesto was good, and the sun-dried tomato spread was nice. I expected a bit of a crisper bread from a place like this, however. The pastries were aesthetically pleasant. Was my cheese-filled croissant the best? No but it looked pretty. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here and would consider coming back to try more of their sandwiches. read more

It's a very legitimate Italian shop with a menu of delicious sandwiches. They have seating inside and out. The friendly staff took my order of baked egg, cheese, tomato and arugula on a warm croissant at the counter. I also ordered a large London Fog. They made my drink right away. I sat down at a table to wait. I didn't wait long. They called me when my order was finished. The London Fog was too hot to drink but when I finally got a sip it was very milky but lacked a strong Earl Grey flavor. The sandwich was very good. The croissant was warm and flaky. I wasn't sure what a baked egg was. It looked like scrambled eggs in a neat little square. The vegetables were fresh and vibrant in color. The tomato add an acidic taste to the sandwich . The arugula gave the sandwich a crunchy texture and it's slight bitterness complimented the tomato's sweetness. The melted cheese provided the saltiness that pulled together all the other flavors. read more

Cipollina Gourmet - Drink and baked egg, cheese, tomato, and arugula sandwich - Italian Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

Nice guy, good service, plant based milk for coffee, underutilized place, Italian music. read more

Cipollina Gourmet - Blueberry cheesecake - Italian Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

Before or after 11 they make a genuine Italian cappuccino! Food is also really good and they have a place to sit and look out the window (though the view is not that interesting). read more

The perfect panino ! Prosciutto, arugula and stracchino. Amazing. Identical to what you'd be eating in Italy. read more

Cipollina Gourmet - Prosciutto, arugula and stracchino. - Italian Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

Cipollina is a great place for solid Italian sandwiches and other goodies. I occasionally work nearby and my favorite sandwich as of yet has to be the Il Fico Panini. I mean, it's prosciutto, brie, and fig jam- what's not to love? I will be honest, they do skimp on the meat so do get extra meat. The cost of the sandwich is definitely high especially for the location but it is good stuff. I have and will be back- the freshly baked goodies are solid too. read more

Cipollina Gourmet - Il Fico Panini with extra meat - Italian Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

It's a very pretty shop. The coffee is good. The Panini are good and they have an interesting assortment of grocery type items from Italy and all of that is good of course. The only thing is I've been to Italy, and whenever I walked into any type of shop, the shopkeepers were extremely cordial and welcoming. I wish I knew what kind of club card I need to get a high good morning how are you from these folks or a thank you after I've spent $20 on breakfast.. read more

Great sandwiches! These are not the Paul Bunyan sized variety that leave you in a coma after a half sandwich. These are definitely quality over quantity with the very best imported meats and fresh cheeses layered on top of a perfectly crusty warmed panni. These bites are definitely for savoring. The shop definitely has some of the most unique imported pantry and groceries that might be hard to find in your local grocery. I've never seen so many varieties of tin canned salmon nor pesto potato chips before,.. Forest Hills definitely needed a shop like this in the neighborhood. Cipollina Gourmet isn't built for volume, this is a Mom and Pop shop that is a bit easy going and doesn't take things too seriously. If it takes just a little more time to craft that sandwich, that's just fine, because it tastes awesome. read more

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* Prosciutto Cotto, Mozzarella and Muffuletta ($12.95) * Large Iced Americano The muffuletta was REALLY good! It was served warm with a nice crunchy crust while remaining airy and soft on the inside. The olive and pickled vegetable spread was a really good touch to the savory-ness of the ham and cheese. read more

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A lil slower then you can expect. A lil disorganized here or there. But none of that matters because the authentic delicious sandwich is worth it! Very large imported selection of goods from Italy,.. including the cured meats! Parking outside is a nightmare. But, definitely worth a try! read more

Cipollina Gourmet - a sandwich and a bottle of beer - Italian Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

Update: just tried cupcake and it's deliscious!! I stumbled upon this gem when walking around the neighborhood (which I rarely do because I usually jump onto the bus or train). Food: you one stop shop for great (authentic) italian treats. This doubles as a grocery store but also baked goods shop. I have purchased ravioli and alfredo sauce (pictured) and everything tasted amazing once cooked. This time I indulged on sweet treats and they were fresh and yummy. Not very moist but frosting made up for it. I can't wait to cook all the different gnocchi i purchased. Price: some things are a bit pricy but i feel well worth it due to the authenticity of the ingredients and freshness of baked goods. Ambiance: the place doubles as a small grocery store (back) and coffee shop up front for italian cuisine. It smells great and feel like you've stepped into a little shop in Italy. Parking is pretty much metered all around and card minimum is $8 Service: the owner is very friendly and helpful if you ask for recommendations. Love this small business and will continue to support it. read more

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Great spot to sit with a cappuccino and fresh Italian sandwich or almond croissant, or pignoli cookies. Eat a sandwich here at the window, and take one to go for later. Nice people. Salute! read more

Cipollina Gourmet - Italian Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

Very nice specialty Italian market. If you are in the area and looking for something Italian foods specific give this place a try. I dropped in here yesterday after running a 5K in Forest Park and was looking for a bite to eat before getting back on the F train to Manhattan. It's close by the train entrance. Egg and fontina cheese on buttery brioche bread was delicious. Only around $5 so it was cheap. Small dining area off to the side. The place itself is clean and bright. The shelves and tables are loaded with macaroni, oils, vinegars, olives, cookies, candy, pastries, chocolate, and other items all from Italy. They have a fridge with cold drinks, no alcohol, and a freezer with gelatos. I felt the service was fine as compared to some of the complaints I have read here. read more

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Lady was rude AF!!! I ordered a breakfast sandwich with prosciutto, tomato and brie. Ordered 2 of those then by the time I got home and was looking forward to eat the sandwich, they cheated me out and use a cheap ham instead (false advertisement). You can sell "imported" items in your store and make it looks as fancy as you want to make it out to be, but if your customer service is horrendous, then none of that means anything. I won't recommend this place at all and would advise others to go elsewhere. I should've taken a photo of my sandwich but it was such a disappointment that I just trashed it. Waste of time and money. read more

People have been recommending this place to me for awhile, but I was always like ... I don't know ... an Italian market?! Well, boy am I glad I overcame my senses because Cipollina is SO much more than just a gourmet market. They are all of that and a bag of tasty sandwiches and delicious coffees too boot! Jayson and I stopped by a couple of weeks ago on our way home just to get a gander, and today I decided it was the perfect office away from my office, which has become a major necessity for productivity. I absolutely love this place. The staff is amazing. Antonio, Christine and Adelina are friendly and wonderfully welcoming. The space is perfect, whether you are just in for a quick cup of coffee or tea, or for lunch and a bite, or you're there to work on your laptop, as several of us were there to do. I managed to do all of the above. Honestly, I thought I'd stay about an hour and maybe hop over somewhere else, but it's the ideal spot for work in a peaceful and quiet cafe. I am not a coffee drinker by any means. But that may change. I had two large iced mocha lattes, which were perfect. Not too sweet, and not in need of any additional sugar. For lunch I had the Tartufotto with Fontina cheese: sliced truffle flavored ham with melted Fotina cheese and vine ripe tomatoes. I had them add some olives. It was beyond delicious. And they carry my favorite sparkling water too, San Benedetto. I'm literally going on six hours of being here, and I'll definitely be back tomorrow. BTW, I'm not a desserts person. The hubby is. But everyone who's come in this afternoon has been RAVING about the homemade bread pudding. Looks like I'll be getting some to bring home (or risk a divorce!) I've sampled and tried many (MANY) places in the area for a good haunt to be my office away from the office a couple of days a week, and all have been huge disappointments. That's no exaggeration. I almost gave up until a friend really recommended this and my husband pushed me to give this place a chance, as I had really come to accept that no place was ideally suited for what I needed. In a rare moment, I was wrong. They were right. And I'm very happy to say as much. Of course, now I'm thinking about what we need in the house from the market!!! This is by far the best hidden gem in Forest Hills. read more

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LOVE this little slice of Italy this is my moms newest go-to and her 3rd day in a row coming. She kept telling me we had to come because of how quaint and yummy it was, and so we came. We had the breakfast sandwiches (phenomenal), iced lattes (SO good), and the mango iced tea (so refreshing and not too sweet!) - all in all fresh and delicious! Also, the cherry on top is that the family who runs this is the sweetest and the most attentive - thank you Christine/Christina and Nadia for your hospitality. Walking around your market/cafe made me feel like I was back in Italy, so lovely! We will most definitely be back read more

Cipollina Gourmet - Italian Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

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Best cappuccino in Forest Hills! I stopped in today and was reminded how perfectly done the coffees are at Cipollina. They have some nicely done home baked cakes and pastries. The selection of specialty Italian fresh foods and packaged goods is extensive. Let's support our local small businesses! read more

Really nice selection of Italian products. Employees are very friendly. My family and I stopped in for some pastries and they were excellent. read more

New Italian deli and market in the area and a welcome addition! You wouldn't know they sell much prepared food with all their other packaged goods but the Truffle Melt sandwich is top notch. Quality ingredients really bring the prosciutto and umami flavor out. Pretty busy seating on a weekend morning so best to get things to go! read more

So i passed this place while on a walk from my job. Got a soda here but was very impressed by the shop, reminds me of the beautiful markets in Naples. The sandwich was amazing, prosciutto was juicy and the staff was so friendly! Def will come back read more

Cipollina Gourmet - Prosciutto egg and fontina breakfast sandwich - Italian Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

Everything about having a sandwich and cookie here is divine! The family who runs the place are absolutely amazing and so warm and lovely! It's like going to Italy in Forest Hills. I now have moved out of Forest Hills and still come back often! And also I'm vegetarian and they have fantastic vegetarian sandwiches!! read more

Cipollina Gourmet - Caprese sandwich - everything is fresh and made to order! - Italian Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

The sandwich was good in the sense of taste however it was very small and there was barely any meat inside the sandwich. For 13$ a sandwich I would expect a little bit more for my money. I probably would not go back because the sandwich isn't worth the amount they charge. read more

Wow. This place is filled with beyond delicious food. Sandwiches - so flavorful and fresh - eggplant parm was best I ever had. Husband had prosciutto de Parma with fresh mozzarella. He was blown away. I had to try their sweets. Very Very good. I will be ordering from them again very soon. read more

A great authentic Italian market, with great coffee shop attached. Best espresso in the area and great paninis variety. Their homemade Tiramisu is to die for! Friendly service, family owned. Great Italian products variety, from different pastas, condiments, pasta sauces, cookies and other pastries.i guarantee you, you will enjoy whatever you'd buy. read more

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My girlfriend and I were on vacation in NYC, and wanted a place to go for a morning coffee with pastries. We were not disappointed! As we entered, we heard the staff bantering with customers who clearly were happy regulars. Italian foodstuffs lined the back of the shop, an assortment of pastries, pastas, and other mouthwatering delicacies. Moving to the counter, we ordered Sfogliatella-- a flaky, shell-shaped pastry with an orange-flavored cheese filling-- and two coffees. Assuaging my naive skepticism, the staff patiently explained that a cheese-filled pastry could indeed be delicious and sweet. When I had my first bite, I became a believer. The cheesy filling blended into the dough perfectly, and the powdered sugar was just the right amount to enhanced the flavor. Our black coffees were bitter and flavorful, a nice complement. Friendly staff, excellent food, and great coffee. You won't be disappointed! read more

Recommend coming here to buy Italian groceries (pasta, sauces, candies). They have a small but decent selection. Good place to stop by if you live in the area. Also, not bad for a quick coffee. No longer a fan of their sandwiches. The previous owners set up a great menu of sandwiches and pastries. Unfortunately the new owners have not upheld the same quality with the recipes. This is disappointing and I hate to compare. read more

First time here!! I had a breakfast croissant sandwich that was delicious. The ingredients were fresh. Very personal and relaxing atmosphere for myself and family. Our orders were prepared in a timely fashion. Will definitely be back. read more

Very cute place. Loaded with macaroni, cookies, and chocolate all from Italy. They make fresh sandwiches mostly from prosciutto, salami, and sausage. I didn't ask, but I didn't see any other meats. Average selection of beer which includes Peroni. Small adjoining room to enjoy your sandwich or coffee or snack. No alcoholic beverages are to be consumed on the premises. Unfortunately, nothing jumped out at me as being exceptional. I'm a little sad because I wanted this to be a special place and it doesn't appear to be that special. read more

I've ordered here from before and it was ok. But this time no not really. It was very plain and lacked flavor. Not to mention one sandwich was ordered with no tomato, well they put tomato on and took it off. I'm not a fan of food waste, but people have allergies to things. Having had a product that was asked to not be on and then taking it off can cause a lot of issues for someone with food allergies. Not to mention food allergies can be very serious for some. The best thing we had ordered were the tart/cookies. Those were really good. But the sandwiches lacked flavor/meat/cheese. The tomatoes on the caprese looked so old and wilted. The bread was pretty stale. I wanted to give another chance hoping it would be better, unfortunately it wasn't. read more

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I usually avoid Queens Blvd at all costs for anything related to food, but this place I make an exception for. If only many more storefronts could learn from Cipollina, Queens Blvd would transform into a beautiful strip of taste instead of seeming like a bunch of mediocre to bad options. This place is clean, bright, and organized well for its shopping component. I love seeing authentic products from Italy here. I also love that this spot has half of its space devoted for sitting and just enjoying great coffee and sandwiches. I've come here 3 or 4 times already and the service is friendly, the ambiance is relaxing, and I especially love how much natural sunlight comes through (but it can get a bit hot as a result) because it makes the whole place so cheerful. Love this place and so happy there's a place on Queens Blvd I actually look forward to returning to. I have high hopes that the rest of the Blvd will follow suit! read more

O. M. G. The panini di Parma with peppers is amazing. I can't believe it took me so long to come here read more

Great Italian grocery store in Kew Gardens/Forrest Hills area. Plus they make delicious high quality sandwiches. This is by far my favorite place in the area and the owner is very nice and friendly. read more

Can't say enough good things about this amazing place! Wonderful women behind the counter running things. Taking orders, handling everything fast & efficiently! Food is always hot & delicious, coffee is made to perfection! Great place to browse around while waiting for the food to be prepared! Come hungry! You will not be disappointed. You will leave happy knowing you're getting quality products & helping to keep this business running! Love having this is the neighborhood! read more

After walking by for weeks, I took a chance to try their coffee and food. As everyone has mentioned, it's part cafe, part grocery store; you can browse while you're waiting for your order or sit down at their cute tables. My mom and I ordered La Capra Affamata, one of their vegetarian paninis. Made with a soft and rustic focaccia, goat cheese, roasted peppers, eggplants, and mushrooms it is then topped off with fresh arugula and balsamic vinegar. That sandwich was delicious, fresh, and perfect for a light pick-me-up. They have a variety of other paninis, but I'm looking forward to trying their apple and Brie panini next. After the sandwich, we ordered coffee with soy milk on the side. Their coffee has the perfect robust flavor with a small (hot) starting at $1.75. Soy milk here is 50 cents extra, the carafe served with the coffee is substantial for the price you pay-others places can charge up to $1.00 for soy milk! If soy milk isn't your thing (or you're allergic) they also have other non-dairy milks available. We shared a slice of their pie to pair with our coffees. The pie was not too sweet and was topped with tart and sweet blackberries, raspberries, and red currants; underneath this fruity layer lied a layer of fresh cream and a delicious, flaky crust. The place is very cozy and intimate it's perfect for working, writing, and grabbing a bite to eat. The workers there were very nice and helpful, we spent an extra hour speaking with Antonio and one of the regulars. I highly recommend it for a great cup of coffee (without breaking the bank), delicious treats (croissants, muffins, coronets, the list goes on), as well as a comfortable European atmosphere. read more

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Great amaretto latte and lots of specialty Italian items. A great staple in the community! Please support and don't ever leave! Last time I went, there was a good sized seating area. Server/cashier was nice and friendly. read more

Came here for Saturday lunch. Store looks very clean sunny and nice. Two friendly workers helped me to pick the most popular different panini's. When we unwrap them in the car, first what catch our eye was that's the meat was missing (it was like 2 skinny slices). Then after few bites it was obviously that we can taste only ciabatta (with some vegetables), which was super fresh and delicious! But the price for bread in the store is max$1-2 not like I pay $27 for two panini and coffee. Super rip off, in Queens it's unbelievable amount of good Italian delis like Sal, Kris and Charlie Tony's Beechhurst, Benateris, that are super generous so don't waste your money. And me, as a person who's been to Italy many times, I can say that the paninis looks different there, not cheap like in this store. We were disappointed in this experience and our mood was ruined because we could've picked a good place and instead got super bad luck with this. I really don't understand how they have clear 5 star here. read more