Topic Wiki

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 May 23, 2025, 01:30:26 AM »

Author Topic: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread  (Read 1026853 times)

Offline MeToo

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2300 on: August 16, 2019, 10:55:26 AM »
Google shows me Cong Beth Gavriel- Valley Stream Jewish Center

Formerly known as  Gates of Zion/ Valley Stream Jewish Center.

Old ballroom was pretty dated and not that large either.  I wonder what they did to it. 

Offline DTM

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2301 on: August 16, 2019, 12:46:41 PM »
Formerly known as  Gates of Zion/ Valley Stream Jewish Center.

Old ballroom was pretty dated and not that large either.  I wonder what they did to it.

- an Orthodox bucharian shul bought this former Conservative Synagogue

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2302 on: August 16, 2019, 01:04:44 PM »
- an Orthodox bucharian shul bought this former Conservative Synagogue
I hope they don't run into the same issues as the mansion. If they outright bought it and the conservative congregation doesn't use it at all, they shouldn't.

Offline JS69

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2303 on: August 16, 2019, 01:34:09 PM »
I hope they don't run into the same issues as the mansion. If they outright bought it and the conservative congregation doesn't use it at all, they shouldn't.

What issues does the Mansion have?

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2304 on: August 16, 2019, 02:28:11 PM »
What issues does the Mansion have?


A lot of people won't use it because the sanctuary is still used

Offline justaregularguy

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2305 on: August 18, 2019, 08:12:45 PM »
new bakery on central ave. across the street from prime bistro its a classic dating type place. very nice looking place. expensive but good stuff. its called cakes and crumbs bakery.
nothings impossible- the word itself says Im possible

Offline MeToo

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2306 on: August 19, 2019, 08:58:26 AM »
I hope they don't run into the same issues as the mansion. If they outright bought it and the conservative congregation doesn't use it at all, they shouldn't.

They outright bought it,  as far as I understand from the tenants who were renting before the sale.


Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2307 on: August 19, 2019, 09:13:19 AM »
new bakery on central ave. across the street from prime bistro its a classic dating type place. very nice looking place. expensive but good stuff. its called cakes and crumbs bakery.
Open or opening? Didn't notice anything this morning

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2308 on: August 19, 2019, 09:15:19 AM »
They outright bought it,  as far as I understand from the tenants who were renting before the sale.


The fact that the sanctuary is still used may be an issue I don't really know. I do know that many local rabbanim don't allow it

Offline grodnoking

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2309 on: August 19, 2019, 09:15:34 AM »
Open or opening? Didn't notice anything this morning
Open
I'm not who you think I am.

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2310 on: August 19, 2019, 09:21:24 AM »

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2311 on: August 20, 2019, 11:15:33 AM »
new bakery on central ave. across the street from prime bistro its a classic dating type place. very nice looking place. expensive but good stuff. its called cakes and crumbs bakery.
Which storefront?
where waffelino was.
went this morning. everything looked amazing. got the cheesecake. $10 a slice. was very very good but I don't like cheesecake enough to buy it often
entire store is dairy CY for now. opening a pareve kitchen soon.

Offline springles

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2312 on: August 20, 2019, 08:06:49 PM »
where waffelino was.
went this morning. everything looked amazing. got the cheesecake. $10 a slice. was very very good but I don't like cheesecake enough to buy it often
entire store is dairy CY for now. opening a pareve kitchen soon.
is it a regular bakery?

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2313 on: August 20, 2019, 08:16:09 PM »
is it a regular bakery?
He said they do breakfast as well. Beautiful sit down area

Offline justaregularguy

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2314 on: August 22, 2019, 11:10:53 PM »
is it a regular bakery?
its a high end petite place. perfect for five towns..
nothings impossible- the word itself says Im possible

Offline Sammy82

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2315 on: August 24, 2019, 11:01:48 PM »
Looking for a good local photographer to take pictures before shabbos in a few months (son's BM).

Offline justaregularguy

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2316 on: August 25, 2019, 12:21:27 AM »
Looking for a good local photographer to take pictures before shabbos in a few months (son's BM).
https://www.naftolig.com/ hes very good
nothings impossible- the word itself says Im possible

Offline Sammy82

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2317 on: August 25, 2019, 08:56:29 AM »
https://www.naftolig.com/ hes very good
Thanks.
Any idea what a 1 hour session costs? And does he give you actual prints or digital? And does he offer an album?

Offline justaregularguy

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2318 on: August 25, 2019, 12:38:00 PM »
Thanks.
Any idea what a 1 hour session costs? And does he give you actual prints or digital? And does he offer an album?
dont have answers to any of those questions sry. im sure he'll be happy to ans you though :)
nothings impossible- the word itself says Im possible

Offline bj501

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2319 on: August 26, 2019, 06:09:38 PM »
Can use some help. we are looking to rent a kosher home in 5 towns for first days of sukkos. All our kids are up in ny and its our only chance to visit. Would like home from about oct 10 until oct 16 or 17. Appreciate any leads.