The Bruce Springteen of Queens: Tunnel of Love

Fat man sitting on a little stool
Takes the money from my hand while his eyes take a walk all over you
Hands me the ticket smiles and whispers good luck

Cuddle up angel cuddle up my little dove
We’ll ride down baby into this tunnel of love

In the heart of Queens, snuggled in between an old Irish pub and an antique “free detergent on Tuesday” laundromat, there is a tunnel of love . I have seen the light and it is glorious.

Quaint
46-10 Skillman Ave
Sunnyside, Queens 11104
(917) 779-9220

This joint takes the title of “4 star service with 1 1/2 star prices.” As the son of blue collar life and the Queens satellite icon of of the idol of blue collar America, it feels really good when every person in a restaurant treats you like royalty. And let me tell you, they do.

They do everything short of call you “Mr. Springsteen.” Your waiter tiptoes to your table like a butler, not wanting to trample on your night, just a supporting player to ensure your enjoyment. You get the feeling that you own the place. The atmosphere is soothing, with gentle music chiming to fill what used to be uncomfortable silences. Now you just look into your into your significant other’s eyes and say without words Welcome to the Tunnel of Love .

I don’t feel like I even need to talk about the food. The shell steak ($22): phenomenal. The tilapia ($16): jaw-dropping. The burger ($10): is there anything these guys can’t do. And don’t forget their spectacular brunch starting at 8 bucks!

All this beneath the monastic glow of candlelight. Say it with me: Quaint.

Now go and be happy. The Boss says so.

Springsteen of the Week! Springsteen of the Week!

Jeff Leblanc

The man, the myth, the legend. Jeff Leblanc is the product of crazy experiment by God that went very well: a family of 4 boys.

A mechanical engineer to the world. A bad-ass to Queens. His beer of choice? Guinness. The Coors Light of Ireland. His language of choice?

“I let my action do the the talkin’. Gimme another Bacardi and coke . . . DO-IT.”

This week our Springsteen of the Week battled his way into Queens with a integrity in his pocket and ambition in his eyes. Let’s just say he left his mark. Not like that skid mark on your old underwear. But like that beautiful heart with a snake tattoo on the hot stripper in that first strip club you snuck into at 17. Quaint was no match for pure Americana.

I’ll sum it up with these poetics from Badlands :

Poor men wanna be rich, rich men wanna be kings,
And a king ain’t satisfied till he rules everything.

Here’s to you, King Leblanc, my Springsteen of the Week!

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