The Bruce Springsteen of Queens: My Secret Garden

And you can’t forget

When I hear that sweet synthesizer, I see a younger and saner Tom Cruise (Jerry McGuire) frantically running through a house of middle-aged men-bashing moms, yelling, “WHERE IS MY WIFE? I’M LOOKING FOR MY WIFE!”

I think we all tear up a little bit.

The journey to find a great Romanian restaurant in a neighborhood of predominantly pubs and Mexican take-out is not so different. The odds are against you. But this Friday night, one man took a stand. And that man, you guessed it, was The Bruce Springsteen of Queens.

Friday Night, 7:00 p.m. The intersection of 47th Street and Skillman Avenue.

Arms raised, traffic stopped in all directions, I declare to the world, “I’M LOOKING FOR THE SECRET GARDEN!”

Suddenly I hear a wind chime. As I look over, a blinding light blurs my vision. I cross the street in a trance, a moth to the flame. As I approach, a door creaks open.

A man with a thick gray push-broom moustache steps out. He speaks slowly and deliberately in a thick Romanian accent.

“Are you the Bruce Springsteen of Queens?”

“Yes.”

“We have been waiting for you.”

Romanian Garden
46-04 Skillman Ave.
Sunnyside, NY 11104
718-786-7894

Atmosphere a plenty folks. A man who looks like someone’s dad brings you to a table. A big TV in each room plays hilarious Romanian programming. This week we watched a Romanian version of “Cheaters,” the only difference being that the network associates wore ski masks when the cheater was confronted. Quite entertaining.

It’s also not uncommon on a Friday night for a dignified and balding old man to play the accordian and wink at your sweetheart.

The food — Amazing. From stuffed cabbage and polenta to pickle salad and grilled pork neck, this phenomenal food haven keeps your taste buds entertained with unique Romanian spices. A classic, user-friendly menu even includesw fried seafood, calamari and filet mignon. The Boss had the filet, and let me tell you, it was fan-freaking-tastic.

Top it off with a bottle of Sweet Pinot Noir ($12), and life literally never tasted so sweet. And it will knock you on your ass. Or as my fiance says, “That sh#@ is like moonshine!” Did you expect the Bruce Springsteen of Queens to marry a choir teacher?

All that for $42 with tip, a real Boss working man’s sensibility.

Romanian Garden . . . YOU COMPLETE ME.

Springsteen of the Week! Springsteen of the Week!

One Small Step for The Bruce Springsteen of Queens, One Giant Leap for Humanity!

In a very special Springsteen of the Week, this week’s award goes to a group of people who need no introduction, more like a family really: the friends who helped me move on Sunday. As you can see in this photo, this rough and rugged crew of badasses and nametakers around me, (from left to right) Stephanie Denise Young, Kasa Sendaula, Ned Penegui, Robert Domingo and Jennifer Chumard (my fiance), stand tall in the face of adversity.

This week they spit in it.

Rain, a broken elevator in a six floor walk-up and 102 degree heat index couldn’t stop this band of brothers from their goal: a successful move of the B.S.O.Q. one block to a shiny, new (well, built in 1928 but still awesome) castle.

There was one casualty. Bob Johnson. But let’s concentrate on the positive. 90 % lived! And I’m in my new place!

This week, America and Romania salute you, my moving crew, my ambassador of Kuan, my Springsteen of the Week!

« previous post    next post »