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5 Towns / Far Rockaway Master Wiki
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Restaurants & Eateries – FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE LIST SEE: https://vaadhakashrus.org/establishments/
  • 550 Restaurant / FiveFifty – Upscale meat chop-house with creative plating (Central Ave.).
  • Adams Glatt – Butcher counter plus hot Israeli grill (Peninsula Blvd., Hewlett).
  • Ahuva’s Grill Express – Shawarma, laffas and salads to-go (Rockaway Tpke.).
  • Anju – Street-food–style Asian-fusion; small-plate focus (Cedarhurst Ave.).
  • Apron Masters Kitchen – Cooking-school storefront now selling prepared Shabbos meals.
  • Bagel Boys On Central – Classic NY bagel & dairy café; early-bird breakfast specials.
  • Barbacoa Burger House – Craft smash-burgers and smoked meats (Spruce St.).
  • Bean & Berry / That Pizza Joint – Dairy café with Detroit-style pies and açai bowls.
  • Berrylicious – Frozen-yogurt & crêpe bar (590 Central Ave.).
  • Blissful Events – Boutique caterer; seasonal boutique pop-ups (Far Rockaway).
  • Bogo Pizza – Buy-one-get-one pies & family combos (Rockaway Tpke.).
  • Bravo Kosher Pizza – Slice joint in Broadway Commons, Hewlett.
  • Burnside Pizza – Neighborhood pizza and salads (Inwood).
  • Café Chocolat – Dairy crêperie & chocolate café (Central Ave.).
  • Capri – Contemporary dairy Italian (Woodmere).
  • Carlos & Gabby’s – Long-running Tex-Mex grill (Washington Ave.).
  • Carving Block – Smokehouse meats, deli platters and pastrami on rye (Cedarhurst Ave.).
  • Central Perk Café – Breakfast & brunch spot with greenhouse seating (Cedarhurst Ave.).
  • Central Pizza Co. – Thin-crust & grandma pies plus pasta (Central Ave.).
  • Chap-A-Nosh – NY deli subs, burgers & the famous sesame chicken (Central Ave.).
  • Chefah Catering – Upscale off-premises caterer; lavish Shabbos packages.
  • Chickies – Crispy chicken sandwiches, fingers and salads (opened 2021).
  • Chimichurri Charcoal Chicken – Latin rotisserie & homestyle sides.
  • Doma – Upscale meat; rave steaks but some find portions small.
  • Hibana Hibachi – Tableside teppanyaki show; mains get mixed reviews.
  • Holy Schnitzel – Long-time chicken-sandwich staple; quality noted as uneven of late.
  • Off The Diet (“Famous Pita / Tanami”) – Israeli grill & shawarma on Broadway, Hewlett.
  • Sandwich Bar – Build-your-own panini & salad bowls (Rockaway Tpke.).
  • Smash House – Smash-burgers; faux-cheese Philly hailed as best value combo.

Groceries / Supermarkets / Meat Stores
  • Bingo Wholesale – Rockaway Tpke. Opened Feb 2024; huge kosher selection, liquor outlet next door.
  • Gourmet Glatt – Flagship kosher super-store; famous but pricey and challenging parking.
  • Stop & Shop – Lawrence – New, spacious branch in former K-Mart site.
  • Seasons – Central Ave. branch; solid prepared-food counter.
  • Kol Save – Budget meats and close-dated grocery deals.
  • Keneret Fresh Market – Butcher/take-out (Mehadrin 5T).

Shuls & Minyanim
  • White Shul (Kehillas Bais Yosef, FR) – Large Ashkenazi; multiple daily minyanim & learning programs.
  • Red Shul (KBYT) – Late-night Selichos & popular shiurim.
  • Shaare Emunah – Sephardic on Peninsula Blvd.; daily minyanim.
  • Hachaim V’Hashalom – 24-hour Beis HaMidrash-style minyan factory.
  • Other busy shuls: Aish Kodesh • The Shteeble • Yeshiva Darchei Torah • YFR Beis Medrash.

Hotels & Lodging
  • Five Towns Inn – Lawrence – Basic but walkable to many shuls.
  • Rockaway Hotel & Spa – Boutique option near beach; confirm eruv routes.
  • Hyatt Place Long Island/East End – About 1-hour east; bundles Aquarium tickets.
  • Standard JFK airport hotels (Hilton, Courtyard, TWA, etc.) are 10–15 min drive if you have post-Shabbos transport.

Things To Do / Attractions
  • Atlantic Beach Boardwalk – Closest ocean access; bridge toll $2 (Long Beach bridge free).
  • Long Island Aquarium – Riverhead – Full-day family outing; Hyatt guest discount available.
  • Woodmere / Hewlett Shopping Stroll – Boutiques & cafés; Target mini-store at Bay Harbour Mall.
  • Seasonal: Kapparos drive-through (Caffrey Ave.), Purim carnivals, local food festivals, etc.

Trip Reports (“TR”)

Restaurant Reviews / Ratings (from forum members)
  • Smash House – “Best value in the bunch… fake cheese outshines every other” – shiframeir
  • Hibana Hibachi – Fun show but mains “too salty” for some diners – Agoldsc1
  • Crave – Good food yet concept “made no sense”; closed Jan 2025 – Dan
  • Ondas – “Some of the best steaks I’ve ever had” – mochjas
  • Capri (Woodmere) – “Amazing and always empty – hope they stay open!” – Bookish
  • Early takes on Crave vs. Smash vs. Graze burgers – multiple mini-reviews in the main thread.



Services & Misc.
  • Precision Auto Body – Inwood – Frequently recommended for honest, quality work.
  • Cedar Plumbing – Reliable local plumber for small leak & boiler jobs.
  • Gas deals – Conoco (Peninsula & Rockaway) often cheapest with app discounts.


Help keep this wiki current! Edit this wiki in addition to replying below.


« Last edited by mevinyavin on Yesterday at 01:30:26 AM »

Author Topic: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread  (Read 1007060 times)

Offline JS69

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1460 on: October 02, 2017, 04:42:20 PM »
Anyone have experience with UBER SUV from here. Trying to figure how available they are around late afternoon time.

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1461 on: October 03, 2017, 09:15:32 AM »
Anyone know a good local bank for a HELOC?

Offline Sammy82

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1462 on: October 03, 2017, 10:18:44 AM »
Anyone know a good local bank for a HELOC?
3 years ago I used Beth Page CU. They had a 2 year special rate (I think it was locked in @ 2.24%). Still with them but I should probably consider switching.

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1463 on: October 03, 2017, 10:28:40 AM »
3 years ago I used Beth Page CU. They had a 2 year special rate (I think it was locked in @ 2.24%). Still with them but I should probably consider switching.

Thanks. Why switch?

Offline Sammy82

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1464 on: October 03, 2017, 10:32:00 AM »
Thanks. Why switch?
Because the promo period ended

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1465 on: October 03, 2017, 12:01:05 PM »
Because the promo period ended

Is there something better?

Offline Sammy82

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1466 on: October 03, 2017, 05:47:59 PM »
Is there something better?
depends what you need

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1467 on: October 03, 2017, 08:01:02 PM »
depends what you need

They were a no go. I need 90% TLV

Offline Sammy82

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1468 on: October 03, 2017, 08:20:01 PM »
They were a no go. I need 90% TLV
I'm a huge fan of credit unions for smallish loans and the likes. Right now I have my Heloc with Beth Page, my cars with Penfed, and my HSA with Alliant (I think they're based out of IL). But call around and ask questions (terms, early payoff fees, any promos, any other fees, interest only, rates, etc). U'll find a huge range.

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1469 on: October 03, 2017, 08:27:01 PM »
I'm a huge fan of credit unions for smallish loans and the likes. Right now I have my Heloc with Beth Page, my cars with Penfed, and my HSA with Alliant (I think they're based out of IL). But call around and ask questions (terms, early payoff fees, any promos, any other fees, interest only, rates, etc). U'll find a huge range.

thanks

Offline shiframeir

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1470 on: October 09, 2017, 12:16:04 AM »
Me and the fam are looking to visit the cedarhurst/woodmere neighborhood for shmini atzeres/simchas torah/shabbos and are looking for good shuls to visit for our wavelength (low-mid 30s with a few kids, prob right-wing modox in action and more central modox in thought/openmindedness).
would love a very carlebachy place and/or a more homey shtiebl-like option (i would probably also join a young israel for basics), but dont see any real options online. I think i would love something like the breslov-inspired white shul side minyan but in the cedarhurst/woodmere location. other than Aish kodesh, where should i go?

I dont like uber-yeshivish davening, or any tunes to kedusha made after 1995. I dont really like shabbos davening speeches that dont teach a real moral takeaway (i love mental tickles, but i think shul rabbis should use that short time for chizuk since most baalei baatim need real mussar/chizuk as its prob close to all they are getting). i love smiles and no shushes (i also love no talking, but if there is, it seems shushes sometimes makes things worse), and i'm fine with kids making noise until someone gives them a candy.

wow, i ended up bearing my soul for my likes and dislikes here :). any suggestions of secret minyanim i am missing much appreciated.

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1471 on: October 09, 2017, 08:31:11 AM »
Me and the fam are looking to visit the cedarhurst/woodmere neighborhood for shmini atzeres/simchas torah/shabbos and are looking for good shuls to visit for our wavelength (low-mid 30s with a few kids, prob right-wing modox in action and more central modox in thought/openmindedness).
would love a very carlebachy place and/or a more homey shtiebl-like option (i would probably also join a young israel for basics), but dont see any real options online. I think i would love something like the breslov-inspired white shul side minyan but in the cedarhurst/woodmere location. other than Aish kodesh, where should i go?

I dont like uber-yeshivish davening, or any tunes to kedusha made after 1995. I dont really like shabbos davening speeches that dont teach a real moral takeaway (i love mental tickles, but i think shul rabbis should use that short time for chizuk since most baalei baatim need real mussar/chizuk as its prob close to all they are getting). i love smiles and no shushes (i also love no talking, but if there is, it seems shushes sometimes makes things worse), and i'm fine with kids making noise until someone gives them a candy.

wow, i ended up bearing my soul for my likes and dislikes here :). any suggestions of secret minyanim i am missing much appreciated.

Rabbi Willig?

Offline chbochur

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1472 on: October 09, 2017, 11:46:35 AM »
Me and the fam are looking to visit the cedarhurst/woodmere neighborhood for shmini atzeres/simchas torah/shabbos and are looking for good shuls to visit for our wavelength (low-mid 30s with a few kids, prob right-wing modox in action and more central modox in thought/openmindedness).
would love a very carlebachy place and/or a more homey shtiebl-like option (i would probably also join a young israel for basics), but dont see any real options online. I think i would love something like the breslov-inspired white shul side minyan but in the cedarhurst/woodmere location. other than Aish kodesh, where should i go?

I dont like uber-yeshivish davening, or any tunes to kedusha made after 1995. I dont really like shabbos davening speeches that dont teach a real moral takeaway (i love mental tickles, but i think shul rabbis should use that short time for chizuk since most baalei baatim need real mussar/chizuk as its prob close to all they are getting). i love smiles and no shushes (i also love no talking, but if there is, it seems shushes sometimes makes things worse), and i'm fine with kids making noise until someone gives them a candy.

wow, i ended up bearing my soul for my likes and dislikes here :). any suggestions of secret minyanim i am missing much appreciated.
Chabad upstairs minyan

Offline shiframeir

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1473 on: October 09, 2017, 07:24:18 PM »
Rabbi Willig?
thx u mean his son? will check his place out

Chabad upstairs minyan
u mean in cedarhurst? didnt know there was a second minyan.

Offline chbochur

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1474 on: October 09, 2017, 07:29:51 PM »



 u mean in cedarhurst? didnt know there was a second minyan.

Yes, although I don't know the Yom schedule, they may only have one minyan on simchas torah. And heads up hakofos will probably be very exciting

Offline shiframeir

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1475 on: October 09, 2017, 07:31:48 PM »
Yes, although I don't know the Yom schedule, they may only have one minyan on simchas torah. And heads up hakofos will probably be very exciting
sounds good. what time does upstairs minyan start on shabbos?

Offline chbochur

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1476 on: October 09, 2017, 07:32:49 PM »
sounds good. what time does upstairs minyan start on shabbos?
10 o'clock (after chassidus)

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1477 on: October 09, 2017, 09:28:25 PM »
thx u mean his son? will check his place out


yup. on forest

Offline stooges44

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1478 on: October 17, 2017, 10:48:30 AM »
Me and the fam are looking to visit the cedarhurst/woodmere neighborhood for shmini atzeres/simchas torah/shabbos and are looking for good shuls to visit for our wavelength (low-mid 30s with a few kids, prob right-wing modox in action and more central modox in thought/openmindedness).
would love a very carlebachy place and/or a more homey shtiebl-like option (i would probably also join a young israel for basics), but dont see any real options online. I think i would love something like the breslov-inspired white shul side minyan but in the cedarhurst/woodmere location. other than Aish kodesh, where should i go?

I dont like uber-yeshivish davening, or any tunes to kedusha made after 1995. I dont really like shabbos davening speeches that dont teach a real moral takeaway (i love mental tickles, but i think shul rabbis should use that short time for chizuk since most baalei baatim need real mussar/chizuk as its prob close to all they are getting). i love smiles and no shushes (i also love no talking, but if there is, it seems shushes sometimes makes things worse), and i'm fine with kids making noise until someone gives them a candy.

wow, i ended up bearing my soul for my likes and dislikes here :). any suggestions of secret minyanim i am missing much appreciated.

Very nice summation of what I think a lot of people are looking for but don't have the guts to admit it.
If it's not free shipping it's not worth it.

Offline shiframeir

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #1479 on: October 17, 2017, 04:23:31 PM »
so i liked both minyanim, but i think practically R willig (8:30 minyan) makes much more sense for week to week with family and chabad for when i wake up really late. problem is 1) houses around r Willig are impossible to find/expensive, 2) R Willig's shul is pretty full, and it looks like it can't really expand in the near future, so no real seats for me. so i am stuck  :'(.

Funny gaffe, i showed up on friday night (short kabbalas shabbos) hoping to hear R willig, and instead a random local rosh kollel got into serious detail on the machlokes on the kiyum mitzvas pru urevu (with like 5 boys aged 8-15), and the guy even misunderstood the famous story of a woman impregnated in a bath with some zerah in it and referred to a women in a bath filled with zerah (i couldnt help but lol :)), and then a ba'al habas started complaining as to the rabbi not giving a straight answer as to whether he should say a brocha before intercourse. good times.
I had to come back on shabbos day, and R Willig spoke beautifully and focused on R Chaim Shmulevitz's piece on the ohr and choshech in each person and how Kayain could be the originator of sacrifice and at the same time give the worst fruits when he had it all. Huge points for going to Sichos Mussar for the shabbos drasha (though it was kind of a rerun for me, it implies the quality of the hashkafa of the membership will be pretty good).