Eating In Translation

Tandoori Food & Bakery

"Two way," the awning proclaimed, "to go to stay."

Nagilah Market

The bin was labeled "cherry apple," but clearly these are cross-sections of dried star fruit, or carambola ($2.99 per pound). "Good with coffee or tea," said the proprietor. I believe that he — like the owners of Queens Bazaar Food, a twenty-minute walk to the west along 63rd Dr. — comes from Iran and keeps kosher.

Nagilah Market
63-69 108th St. (63rd Dr.-64th Ave.), Forest Hills, Queens
718-268-2626
Closed Saturday

Burma Today Food Fair

Eggs, coconut cream or coconut milk, and butter or ghee all contribute to their richness.

Queens Bazaar Food

Even pistachio lovers may find their patience tested by shurdanak.

Wafa's

My review of this restaurant and its homespun food, prepared by Lebanon-born chef-owner Wafa Chami, appears in the April 18, 2012 edition of The New York Times. For photos, see my slideshow.

Aigner Chocolates

Also available in cacao-free.

Cameo Bowling

There was a time I was fond of soggy fries and squirt-bottle ketchup, the sort one might have scarfed at the Cameo Bowling Lanes, or perhaps it was the Cameo Bowling Alley, and washed down with fountain-dispensed Coca-Cola. Reportedly this establishment stood at the southwest corner of Continental Ave. and Austin St.

There's a second layer of signage as well (click on the close-up photo for a still larger view), offering not just "candy" and "soda" but "hot meals," too. It seems to have promoted an even older business. Can any Eating In Translation reader fill in more details?

Cameo Bowling
Seen from the Manhattan-bound LIRR platform, Forest Hills, Queens

Rego Park Jewish Center

The Hungarian-born artist A. Raymond Katz (1895-1974) was well-known for his designs, in many media, in synagogues throughout the United States. This mosaic — fabricated by the V. Foscato factory of Long Island City and shown here in detail and even tighter closeup — depicts an etrog, a variety of citron that figures in the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

If you know your etrog, you also know that its function is more ceremonial than culinary. But note: Tuesday night is bingo night at this conservative synagogue. Since outside food is not permitted, a concession offers kosher foods including hot dogs, salami, and hush puppies from Ben's Best.

Rego Park Jewish Center
Mosaic designed by A. Raymond Katz, fabricated by the V. Foscato factory, 1948
97-30 Queens Blvd. (64th-65th Rds.), Rego Park, Queens
718-459-1000
www.RPJC.com

Ben's Best

Hot pastrami sandwich ($11.99).

Ben's Best
96-40 Queens Blvd. (63rd Dr.-64th Rd.), Rego Park, Queens
718-897-1700
www.BensBest.com

Pizza Palace Cafe

A sufganiyah (plural: sufganiyot) is a jelly donut, prepared in Israel and in Jewish communities abroad, especially during the Hanukkah season. The fried dough of this blueberry sufganiyah ($1.50) was exceptionally light, but the donut also recalled a childhood lamentation: Some donuts have less jelly than others.

Pizza Palace Cafe
63-60 108th St. (63rd Dr.-64th Ave.), Forest Hills, Queens
718-997-7492
www.PizzaPalaceCafe.com

Arzu

Go for the throat.

Knish Nosh

It's firm enough to cut with a knife.

Andre's

Triple treat.

La Tavernetta Europa

Hero in the making.

Wafa's

(This venue is closed.) Your best bet at this Lebanese storefront: whatever's cooking on the stovetop, just beyond the tiny display case. Here's an okra stew ($5) with garlic (plenty), cilantro, tomato, onion, olive oil (probably), and pomegranate juice; I was ready (even if the okra wasn't) when I opened the door and got a whiff.

Wafa's
96-08 72nd Ave. (near Metropolitan Ave.), Forest Hills, Queens
718-263-2757

T-Bone Diner

The neon, I liked; the burger, not so much.

Cheburechnaya

The kebabs are capable, but I go for the dough.

Sunflower International

Haphazardly arranged, even cluttered repository for sweets and savories, but not unpleasantly so; at the register, I pried a seed from a pomegranate sliced open for sampling. Most items seem to hail from Europe and the Middle East, like this plain-label red tkemali sauce (9.5 oz.; $1.39) from Georgia. In addition to the namesake wild plums, flavorings include coriander, dill, garlic, red pepper, and fenugreek; compared with green tkemali sauce, it's less sour, more tart.

Sunflower International
97-22 Queens Blvd. (south side, near 63rd Dr.), Rego Park, Queens
718-275-3800
Closed Friday evening and Saturday

Piu Bello Gelato

Many of the choices at Piu Bello dazzled at first sight; bilberry (one scoop; $3.25) had the mild-mannered looks of its cousin, the blueberry, but a little more tartness, too.

Oh, yes: Piu Bello also does the panini/wrap/soup/salad thing.

Piu Bello Gelato
70-09 Austin St., Forest Hills, Queens
718-268-4400

Bonelle Pastry Shop

A prune hamentash ($2.50) boasted rich, buttery dough, but it was on the small side, and the filling was just OK.

Bonelle Pastry Shop
108-30 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills, Queens
718-575-1792