Rockaway Eatery

Reviews

• Michael W.

  star star star star star 4 June 2026

  This place looks like a real hidden gem in the spot where Chu's Express used to be.  I'm guessing the owner is from Rockaway Beach in Queens, NY.  I am also from Queens, so I'm glad I found this place.  I was hoping it was good and I wasn't disappointed.  Decided to try it for burgers to go one night.  I ordered and paid on the website.  I soon got an email telling me what time my food would be ready.  When I arrived, I told the nice young lady who I was.  She went in the back and bagged everything up and handed it to me lickity split.  The burgers and sides were boxed up in these nice cardboard containers and the burgers were wrapped in paper.  Fries don't travel well, but these were still OK.  I paid $1 extra to get hot chips with ranch.  I was amazed how they stayed so crispy, not a single soggy one.  My wife had a bean burger that she let me taste and we agreed it was excellent.  I got a Queens burger (of course) and it also was very good.  I tried the regular poutine.  I cannot remember ever eating that in Queens.  I have had it on a trip to Toronto once, but hey, it was great also.  They have a few versions with meat I want to try.  They also have bagels.  I don't know for sure if they are boiled and baked on the premises, but they are good and fresh with many varieties.  Also many different cream cheeses to go with it. I am very glad I don't have to drive 20 minutes to get to New Garden and I really dislike the customer service at Panera's, so this place really solves that bagel problem.   Both times I was in there, it wasn't very busy, so I hope business is good.  I don't want them to close and I must support my homies.  I hope to try some of the other menu items in the near future as well.  Highly recommended.

• Kelly S.

  star star star star star 31 May 2026

  Wonderful experience at Rockaway! There are so many different options. I got a Bacon, Egg + Cheese on a plain bagel and it was HUGE! The staff was friendly + the store clean! Will be back to try some of the many lunch options.

• Justin R.

  star star star star star_border 25 May 2026

  Been stalking this place on Facebook for months and finally got around to stopping by... it did not disappoint!  Staff was friendly the moment we walked in and took the time to explain the menu and the fact they serve breakfast all day. We opted for lunch and ordered a rice bowl and poutine. Both were fresh and flavorful! The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was that I want to go back and get something else to confirm it is still just as good. Lots of great options on the menu and I look forward to trying more of them in the near future!

• Zac G.

  star star star star star_border 24 May 2026

  It is a common practice for pizza places and delis in this area to advertise their Big Apple bonafides (or delusions thereof). Restaurants with Manhattan, Brooklyn, or even just New York in their name are hard to miss. Rockaway Eatery, on the other hand, takes its moniker from a peninsula in Queens. This appeal to (relative, and by the standards of the area, at least) obscurity is just one of many ways the eclectic eatery bucks the norm.
  
  Walk inside, and you may immediately find yourself wondering if you made the right decision. The interior features bright orange paint and an almost comically large wrap-around front counter. Said counter's dimensions are necessary to provide enough room to display the full extent of the menu. For the fickle and indecisive, this place is a nightmare.
  
  Everyone else, however, will likely see uncertainty fade into joy upon perusing the menu. Want bagels or a breakfast sandwich? Rockaway has them. Want a burger, salad, or wrap? Rockaway has those too. Howabout a vegetable and rice bowl featuring jerk chicken, tikki masala, or Salisbury steak? Check, check, and check. What about those same toppings....over fries with cheese curds? Yes, Rockaway Eatery offers several kinds of poutine as well. Add to that coffees, smoothies, and desserts, and one would be very hard pressed to run out of interesting things to try here.
  
  Fortunately, there is more to Rockaway then just a fun and funky menu. During our visit, staff were patient and accommodating while my wife and I figured out what we wanted, and our food came out relatively quickly. She opted for a southwest burger while I went for the Salisbury steak poutine and a lean green smoothie (because balance). The flavors all around left no room for complaint. The poutine's gravy was rich and savory while the burger came with a delicious chipotle ranch sauce. Both dishes used Rockaway's tri-blend meat, which was quality. The fries, in either their regular or gravy-slathered incarnations, were salty and crisp while the smoothie (mango, pineapple, banana, spinach, kale, and apple juice) was suitably refreshing. The only demerit goes to the burger being served somewhere between medium well and well done instead of the requested medium.
  
  Much like the similarly eclectic Toshi's Café, Rockaway Eatery isn't a cheap breakfast or lunch option. Smoothies come in a 24-ounce size only and run $5.50, poutine goes for $7.50 to $9, and burgers are $8.50 to $11.50, fries included. Also much like Toshi's, the quality relative to nearby fast food/fast casual makes the prices paid worthwhile.
  
  Having sampled only a fraction of what Rockaway Eatery has to offer, it would be difficult to gauge whether the rest of the food is as tasty as the few items we tried. With a menu that large, there are bound to be weak spots. However, the breadth of options available, coupled with friendly service, encourages several return visits.

• Megan S.

  star star star star star 10 May 2026

  I absolutely love the smoothies! I've only had one rice bowl for lunch and it was delicious. Staff is always nice when I visit. Smoothies are on point though!! I hope it stays open, businesses have struggled in that spot.