Maybe I'm biased because I'm Romanian, but the food at Romanian Garden has been pretty solid for some time now. Had dinner here recently with a friend (who was trying Romanian food for the first time!). She loved it. I had the stuffed cabbage; she had the stuffed peppers (2 HUGE peppers). We also shared a cold appetizer platter (think SPREADS: grilled eggplant spread, vegetable spread, bean spread....you get it). It all gets eaten with bread and that's the problem - same as I have at Italian or Mediterranean places - by the time the main dish comes out, I am almost stuffed! Since the weather has been super dope, we were able to sit outside which is always a nice treat. Our waitress was sweet, attentive and patient with us, she let us enjoy ourselves well past the meal. The only few things I'll comment on are: there were only 3 stuffed cabbage pieces vs what I truly thought were 4. I had only 2 at the restaurant and took the other 2 for leftovers the following day. When I went to have them, I realized the "4th one" was actually just cabbage with no meat, and it had been made to look like it was another piece (!!) on purpose or not, I don't know but that kind of possible "false advertisement" made me a little disappointed. You can clearly see what I mean from the photo, IMO. The bread also could have been a bit better, but IDK, maybe I'm a bread snob nowadays and since I have it rarely, I want to thoroughly enjoy it. They also add the tip automatically on your bill, while listing the breakdown of % tip for ease / convenience at the bottom for you (again - !!!) so while the tip was deserved and I ALWAYS do so, the automatic add-on still just grids my gears. STILL LOVE YOU, ROMANIAN GARDEN. Just give me my 4 stuffed cabbage pieces next time, darn it! read more

Romanian Garden - Sarmale cu carne, varza acra - Mediterranean Near Me - Sunnyside, New York

Came here with a friend to try a new restaurant for Sunnyside Restaurant Week. It was empty though early for dinner since we arrived at 6PM on a Thursday. We received the menu from a woman (who was handling everything in the dining room). For 3 courses for $35 (though it was 4 courses here), it's a good deal. The menu said that all entrees include a side though we were advised that was wrong and the dessert was crepe with jam or nutella (we weren't given an option). We ordered: Appetizer: Eggplant Spread and Meatballs - go with the eggplant spread ('m normally don't eat eggplant and it was delicious). We both ordered the chicken soup. It had carrots and chicken. Entree: Stuffed Pepper and Pork Stew. The stuffed pepper was great. I engender the pork stew had more flavor when I ate it in Romanian (you decide). Dessert: it was crepe with jam. If you get a curve, go try it. read more

See all

I ended up at Romanian Garden tonight for restaurant week--otherwise, I probably wouldn't have thought to try it. It came down to this place or another spot, and I'm actually glad I gave it a shot since I've never had Romanian food before. It was definitely different, in a good way! Now, the only downside was the service. It was kind of hit or miss. There was one waitress--who I think might also be the manager?--and she seemed to be doing literally everything: bussing tables, taking orders, bringing food, the whole deal. So maybe she was short-staffed, which I get, but she did come off a bit rude at times. When we asked questions about the food, she didn't really describe anything and just said, "Everything is good," which isn't super helpful. I mean, of course you think it's good--you work there. Still, it was cool to try something new, and I'd say it's worth checking out if you're curious about Romanian cuisine. Just go in with a little patience for the service. read more

See all

Went here in the afternoon on a rainy Saturday. The place was empty, so in regard to service, we were very well cared for. The Romanian skirt steak was very good and the white caviar was also good. I noticed a stage and everything looked very white and very clean, so I think it would make a good spot for dinner. I'd have to return to confirm. I've never had Romanian food, but I wanted to try before I took a trip to Eastern Europe later this year. I can only hope it is as delicious as this spot. read more

Should have known better when we peered into. The empty hall at 6:00 one Thursday evening. The waitress seemed perturbed as we walked in through the doors which listed their Thursday "open" hours from 11AM to 10 PM. It was our first time experiencing Romanian cuisine and I hate to think this place is as good as it gets. The stale boule bread that was brought to the table had been sliced then burn-toasted and was served with those tiny pats of butter that come in their own tiny containers. I shot one frozen micro butter puck across the room when I tried to pry it out of its little plastic coffin. The appetizer [sampler] for two cost $25 and consisted of 4 tablespoon sized dollops of different puréed things. Some thickly sliced cheeses, tomatoes, olives and smoked pork. I ordered the "Romanian Skirt Steak" cooked medium and the cabbage. My wife some kind of chicken breast that was grilled and then smothered in a white sauce with mashed potatoes. The shredded cabbage took up about 50 percent of the plate and the two thin, small well-done pieces of steak about another 25%. ($34 cash price). The remainder of the plate was hidden beneath a piece of iceberg lettuce with some other pickled cabbage sprinkled on top. Things got weird when, after boxing her leftovers, the waitress failed to bring the check. After 10 minutes I reverted to navy training and began sending the semaphore code for C-H-E-C.....she understood and shortly thereafter brought me the bill which included, I noticed, a 20%, taxed "Service Charge". This was weird because at the bottom of every page of the menu read the words "Gratuities are Cash Only". I felt like the restaurant was trying to get me to pay the check that included the tip, AND tip in cash. Very shady. Crappy food. read more

From the moment we walked in we had a warm greeting. This is a Romanian restaurant with traditional dishes and occasionally they have traditional music parties. On this occasion it was a Sunday lunch for me and my family. We ordered very classic Romanian grandma dishes like sarmale, mici, and creier pane (brain ‍). For aps I didn't get a proper pic to post here but we had eggplant salad, fasole batuta( beans) , ardei copti ( roasted red peppers ) zacuaca ( vegetarian mixed roast). Well, i missed pics from the chicken soup ( with galuste) and belly soup (Supra de Burta) that's for the conosours. The drinks of choice were Romanian beer, white wine, and Tuica ( pear liquor server hot with pepper to kill winter germs). All was amazing, very fresh, generous portions, and service was stellar. I recommend! read more

See all

I came to Romanian Garden for lunch at 1:30pm on a Saturday. We did not have a reservation but there was a lot of space available for seating (it was pretty empty at this time.) Our server came by to ask for our drink orders and to offer us water. We got two glasses of the house red wine which was very good! While we waited for our appetizers they brought out this very good white bread that was cold but had a nice crispy crust and fluffy interior. For food we ordered and shared: Salata Boeuf: boiled vegetable and chicken salad. Super good and comforting! Tasted like potato salad but with some chicken in it and it went very well over the table bread that was brought out to us. Polenta with sour cream and feta cheese: this was heavenly. Warm polenta with salty feta and cold sour cream. Truly loved this dish especially for the temperature contrasts. It was super creamy and comforting. Would recommend that anyone who comes here gets this to try! Ciorba de Fasole (Bean soup): very hearty soup with white beans. Had some nice hints of tomato, dill, and other veggies. Very filling and healthy! Did not have any meat that I could appreciate so might be a good option for vegetarians--but definitely ask to confirm. Soup of the day: the option for the day was this chicken and dumpling soup that reminded me a lot of chicken noodle soup. More on the watery side but with flavorful light broth that was very comforting. I could see myself eating this nonstop while sick. It was perfect for a cold day. It had some chicken in it as well as carrots and two small dumplings without any filling in them. Would be nice to see a little more vegetables or chicken in this one per serving since it felt like it lacked a little bit of content. Grilled Trout with cabbage side: my trout was very well cooked and tender. It fell off the bone with ease and was flavorful. The side of cabbage was also very good and satisfying! Liked how they put some lemon on the plate as well as capers for extra flavor if you want it. Romanian stew with polenta: my boyfriend ordered this and it was very hearty and filling. Basically different cuts of pork (loin, sausage) in a tomato stew served with polenta, cheese, and a sunny side up egg! Very flavorful, decadent, and rich. Definitely on the heavier side. Overall, had a great experience here. My boyfriend is Romanian and he said the food here is very decent! The space is really nice and large so this place could be perfect to host larger groups. Service was also fantastic! Many options of traditional Romanian dishes that are comforting and feel high quality. The portion sizes are very very large so it's a good bang for your buck! We took so many leftovers home. Would recommend this place for Romanian food in Queens! Definitely hope to return soon and try on of their desserts which also looked delicious. read more

See all

This restaurant knew how to make my birthday special. Romanian Garden features beautiful aesthetics. The dishes exceeded reasonable expectations. The personnel balance friendliness with professional skill. I would return without hesitation. read more

Hubby and I decided to check out the place since we've been passing by but not stopping by. This night was on a Saturday night. I think the owner greeted and seated us down. I believe his wife was working too because they looked like a couple. Maybe the son is a bartender, and the daughter is a waitress. I didn't see the grandkids working, but I'm sure someday they'll be busy here too. The ambiance is mainly European dining style, complete with singers, not a live band but live singers. They sang in Romanian! Wow! Where's my Winter Soldier Sebastian Stan when I needed him? I ordered Filet Mignon Steak Lover with vegetables. Hubby had Romanian skirt steak a gratar. I liked my filet Mignon but didn't like how the vegetables were prepared because I thought they came from canned vegetables or frozen vegetables. I may not get the vegetable on the side from here because I love fresh vegetables! The service was good, considering how busy the place was at the time. If you like live music, come here on weekends because the singer could sing all night. We didn't understand the language, but we thought it was fun. read more

See all

Romanian Garden is an amazing restaurant. Wonderful ambiance. Very friendly people. Service is top notch. And the food was great. The Romanian skinless sausage - Mititei is the best. read more

See all

Best Romanian restaurant in New York!The food is very good and hot ,service is always amazing and the ambiance is full of warmth and happiness especially when they have artists performing!This past Sunday they were so accommodating with our huge party of 15 people.On a super cold day of walking in the city,nothing warms you up like a Romanian boiled brandy (tuica fiarta ) and a nice hot bowl of Romanian soup,trust me on this!! read more

See all

5* for the best service we ever had at Romanian Garden ever Our waitress Camelia was very kind and professional Food was delicious read more

See all

The food is pretty good and considering I haven't been here in a long time, I was pleasantly surprised by the hospitality and attentive server who also spoke multiple languages - Spanish (fluently), some Italian , French, English and of course Romanian. The service used to be met with some level of discourteous attitude but not from her- she made our experience great! More of this please! While the food is relatively decent (compared to my mother's cooking), the prices are high for what it is. This is supposed to be home style cooking without any flare of high end or sophistication, so the prices really need to match. Couple of things I noticed: -We asked for the outdoor seating across the bike bath situated on the street, but we were told those are reserved; there were 5 tables empty and we sat across for over an hour while NONE were ever occupied. Clearly there was another reason for not seating us there but I'd prefer more honesty. -The bill automatically includes a 20% tip and we were a party of only 4 who barely drank (2 beers) and ate (one sampler platter and what looked like two appetizers) for a hefty (almost) $200! -The bill also included the credit card charge which was significant. Overall, if you want to try Romanian and this is a new thing for you, I'd say go ahead, just be aware. read more

Romanian Garden - Mediterranean Near Me - Sunnyside, New York

Service-0 We got tickets for an event held by this restaurant. When we arrived, we were asked to get the fix menu of $60 + drinks per person otherwise we can't be there. To mention, this information was no were mentioned. We tried to negotiate by getting drinks and food but not a fix menu. Firmed NO come from owner, not even trying to accommodate. My friends went there before, they were not surprised of this behavior but I was! I went there for the first time, come all the way from CT to be asked to leave because we were not welcome since we do not want to buy the fix menu. Very unprofessional behavior by arguing Infront of all restaurant how important for her is the $60.00 Food - never had the chanse to taste Ambiance - never experienced BUT BUY the unpleasant experience, I believe the ambiance is crap as the owner.....SHAME ON YOU Daniela or Gabriela whatever your name is read more

This is the second time I've had Romanian food and everything was good. The portions are huge and the price reasonable - perks of eating in one of the NYC Boroughs! Came here on a rainy day and the food was delicious. The Romanian red wine was good, the lamp rack with polenta was huge, flavorful and delicious. I also had the doughnuts (forgot their actual name) and it was nice not too sweet a bit tart and good. read more

See all

Ripoff!!!! For 2 mix grill we got charged 100$... instead of 46$!!!! Then the waitress pretend we did't understand!!! Ripoff!!! As 3 ppl we got charged gratuity as a table of 3 which is very ILLEGAL in NYC... we were not even aware of that!!! Never again!!!! Empty AF!!!!! read more

Most disappointing ever! One hundred dollars for three awfull dishes! Fried Perch - three stinky threads of highly battered fish. Stinky! Fish roe - way too salty Polenta - uncooked, crumbling Mash - smashed boiled potatoes, nothing else That was my last waste with Romanian Garden, and, if you want to enjoy your meal, I suggest to do the same! Stay away of dissatisfaction and disappointment! Bravo! read more

See all

Better than the other Romanian restaurant in town. Food is bland, but that might be the type of cuisine. I'm used to flavorful food.

Food 4 (Sarmale was excellent) Service 5 (Romanian that speaks Spanish) Location 3 (Seated where we didn't want) Prices 2 (Fine dining prices) *Automatic Gratuity is added *3% Credit Card Charge read more

They make the real mititei same from my childhood in Romania in the 60s. However very disappointed by the side order of vegetables, it was just a bag of frozen mixed vegetables microwaved, and not even seasoned, more like what you get in a hospital, read more

My mom was visiting the city, and she's 100% Romanian so I was excited about this place, but WOW was this a total let down. The server was painfullyyyy slow. It took 50 minutes from when we put in our appetizer order for her to swing by our table again (only after i frantically flagged her down). Seriously. We actually timed it. Because it took so long, we skipped ordering our entrees and got the check right away. Food was nothing to write home about, and my mom kept saying "this doesn't taste like the way I remembered it back in Romania." I'm leaving 2 Stars instead of 1 because the outdoor seating was cute. That's was the ONLY good part. Otherwise, avoid this place at all costs, otherwise you'll be left saying "I'm so sorry this is going so wrong" to everyone who joined you. read more

Average food, from 4 mititei now same price serve 3 . Very expensive for what they offer, probably thats way looks so busy, completely empty. Service was just okay. read more

Amazing food,the ambiance was good,music was live,just a good place to enjoy life.I felt like home for a moment. read more

See all

The best customer service experience ever and my family and I all agreed it was the best meal we had in New York and we were there for a week. Great portions, delicious food, kind staff, and the MOST AMAZING DESSERT! We will be back. read more

Went with a friend to check this place out recently. The interior is nice and spacious. We ordered Romanian skirt steak and the Grilled Rack of Lamb ($26) each. These both came with a side of our choosing, which was mashed potatoes and veggies. Although the dishes are a bit expensive, the food was amazing! The rack of lamb was nice and tender, smoky even and so juicy. My friend loved her steak and said it was juicy and tasty. We also got papanassi for dessert and it was amazing! I'll definitely be going back for a fancy treat soon! read more

My first attempt at Romanian cuisine. Lucky for me, I was with friends (of which one was Romanian) and he did all of the ordering for us! 1) Six Different Appetizers http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yk-urU0Zz41LiTS2ZBZf1Q?select=BrUYL_cUMXdPeOMXekxwRA From the picture above, at the following locations are the appetizers: 1 o'clock - Fried Aged Cheese (Cascaval Pane) - yum. LOVE CHEESE. 2 o'clock - Meatballs (Chiftelute) - liked it 4 o'clock - White Beans Mash (Fasole Batuta) - liked it 7 o'clock - Beef & Root Vegetable Salad (Boeuf Salad) - liked it middle - Caviar / Fish Egg Salad - personally not a big fan of caviar 12 o'clock - Eggplant Salad (Salata de Vinete) - MUST GET 2) Bottle of Wine - Rose Wine http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yk-urU0Zz41LiTS2ZBZf1Q?select=NGs82FTh7suzzuTfRX_pMQ 3) Stuffed Cabbage http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yk-urU0Zz41LiTS2ZBZf1Q?select=GMD_DkyQdI5lFVjmFLT0bA Liked it. Reminds me of the Stuffed Cabbage that I've gotten at Polish places. 4) Chicken Stew and Polenta - there were 2 piles of polenta on the plate. The pile of polenta in the front of the picture had an egg on it. The pile of polenta in the back of the picture had cheese on it. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yk-urU0Zz41LiTS2ZBZf1Q?select=tq2NNBnJ0WhwofKp3H9BNw My favorite dish of what we ordered. MUST GET! 5) Skinless Chicken with Pickled Cabbage http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yk-urU0Zz41LiTS2ZBZf1Q?select=swfNw9huxxA0-iC3TChYEQ Pickled Cabbage was really good. YUM! 6) Fried Doughnuts http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yk-urU0Zz41LiTS2ZBZf1Q?select=F-9dGs1dks31HUoiI7ilLA MUST GET! It's like doughnuts with a sour cream type sauce on top. 7) Apple / Cheese Strudel http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yk-urU0Zz41LiTS2ZBZf1Q?select=7MBwfeqdTIpBtdWfpASpFw Reminded me a bit of Bosnian / Polish type food. Heavy and probably full of cholesterol but homey... the Romanian friend loved the food here at this place. I wasn't able to get all of the Romanian names of the dishes... my friend ordered in Romanian.... but heck, I will definitely be returning to this place to eat again. If I can't find the description on the menu, I will be showing the waitresses pictures of what we ate! read more

See all

Romanian Garden reopened its doors on 43rd Avenue a few weeks ago with a new location and larger space after being priced out of Skillman Avenue. Now with a space that accommodates 18 tables (perfect for parties of four to six people), small bar area, and a small stage for live music, RG returns to service the Sunnyside neighborhood with its menu of eastern European cuisine loaded with cabbage, pork sausages, and potatoes. The menu remains very much the same with appetizers (in the $6-$8 range) including the highlights of mamaliga cu brinza si smintina (polenta with cheese and sour cream), salata de vinete (eggplant salad), fasole batuta (mashed beans), and salata de boeuf (beef russian salad). My personal favorite, stuffed picked cabbage leaves ($10) with a side polenta, along with other main courses like Romanian stew with egg, pork sausages, pork/chicken cutlet, and beef sweet breads can be had for $12 or less. Specialty dishes like stuffed grape leaves and roasted pork are also priced the same, and seafood/grilled meat dishes run a few bucks more. RG remains an excellent choice for both dining in and takeout. It is a welcome addition to an otherwise bland section of 43rd Ave (between 40th and 45th street) which is crowded with laundromats and supermarkets. The fact that they are now located few a blocks closer to me is definitely an added bonus. Welcome to 43rd Ave! read more

Romanian Garden - Sarmalute in Foi De Varza Acra (Stuffed Picked Cabbage Leaves with side of polenta) - Mediterranean Near Me - Sunnyside, New York

I've ordered from this restaurant before and the steak is good. But if something isn't your specialty, don't put it on your menu. Today I ordered fried calamari for 11.00 and got literally 6 pcs. And guess what it's cold, colder than a dogs nose. Complete nonsense. read more

See all

So it was very slow to start with service and we had to ask for some water. They were very accommodating, but the food was just OK. I got the sausage appetizer and they looked and tasted like little Smokies that you could buy in the store. And the roasted potatoes definitely were canned! But the rest of the meal was tasty. I was just disappointed. read more

Food was ok, loved the cold appetizer mixed plate, but they need to add more vegetarian, vegan and seafood dishes to the menu. Also the drinks menu is really short, even when they have a full bar they don't offer cocktails and mixed drinks but the wine is good and prices are fine. I didn't get to the dessert because the last call for food was my main dish, and later I couldn't order dessert. read more

See all

This place is a huge disappointment. We gave it a try for Easter and this is the last time. The food is overpriced and mediocre. Considering it was a holiday we understood the service.... All over the place. They run out of traditional Easter dishes (with the excuse that they were busy). However the quality of food was way below expectations. Tasteless and couldn't keep up with basic Romanian dishes. The basic of the basic Romanian mititei (skinless sausage) with French fries was unbelievable disappointing. Tasteless meat and overcooked French fries. We haven't been there in a couple of years and we couldn't help but notice that this place needs a big time cleaning. The walls are dirty, stains on the ceiling (and not from leaks), food residue on the walls by the table and the bathrooms in a desperate need of a good cleaning. read more

Amazing spot to enjoy great food with great friends. Staff are amazing, great service. Enjoyed the vibe.

Pretty great food. My first time trying Romanian, we loved the food and the beer. The 20% mandatory service charge surprised me, it wasn't mentioned anywhere and it isn't the same thing as the tip. I also saw them turn a group away; there's a sign up front saying they reserve the right to refuse anyone for any reason, very strange. I might grubhub from here again or something but idk read more

Went for new year. It was an amazing show and the atmosphere was amazing! I ordered the lamb and polenta... been dreaming of it ever since!!

Had the chiftelute, comprised of 8 pork meatballs, for an appetizer. They came hot and were succulent and tasty, on the saltier side. The mititei were large juicy sausages that were substantive despite the relatively spartan presentation; I chose the mamaliga as the side and they were light and tasteless, as I had expected them to come with sour cream/feta cheese. I had the papanasi for dessert. It was two fried donuts slathered in a sour cream mixture and jam with a few berries (unsure what kind of fruit) on top, giving it an interesting array of flavors. The donut was fresh and crunchy, with the dough still warm underneath it's accoutrements. The environment was quite neat and orderly, with an area near the entrance exhibiting mannequins in traditional garb. The entire floor was also festooned with pumpkins, bats (pretty apropos), and other Halloween-related items. read more

Romanian Garden - Chiftelute - Mediterranean Near Me - Sunnyside, New York

See all

OVERPRICED, actually VERY overpriced for the food they offer! Went there for lunch mind you. One beans hummus appetizer, two soups, two average main dishes and two drinks, over $140 and 20% gratuity automatically added...making it over $170. Will never go back there, stay away! read more

Food was great. The waiter was so friendly and very helpful towards my dietary restrictions. It's very traditional Romanian food and it was very good. read more

Delicious Romanian food! Nice appetizer platter so you can try it all. The stew was my favorite main course. Many others had fish. Too full at the end. Yumm. read more

See all

it was our first time trying Romanian food, and we're glad we came here! this restaurant was POPPIN people were on the dancefloor twerkin n shiet. the live music was fun, and mostly everyone spoke Romanian to the waiters so i assumed this was an authentic spot. we made reservations and were promptly seated. restaurant was beautiful and clean. a basket of bread was served upon arrival. we ordered: -the cold appetizer platter for 2 people (there were 3 of us) was great, very refreshing. -mixed grilled meat platter had a little bit of everything - we all enjoyed the grilled sausage. very tender and flavorful. my second favorite on this platter was the lamb. cooked perfectly! -stuffed peppers. OH. MY. GAWDDDDDD. get this!!!! stuffed with ground beef and covered in tomato sauce and sour cream. i LOOOOOVE sour cream. i LUUUUUVED this dish!!! -sides of mashed potato and polenta. these were just okay, needed more seasoning -meatball soup. meh. -crepes for dessert. we got the nutella crepe and the apricot crepe. both delicious!! i preferred the apricot, it was tart and fruity. overall a great experience. it was a lively restaurant. waiters were friendly. will be back!! read more

See all

I was THRILLED to find Ciorbă de Perioare on the menu here, and the Salata Boeuf was a nice accompaniment. Five stars for the food and the music, but four stars for the service and the prices. I hope to give this place five stars on my next trip to NYC. read more