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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 May 23, 2025, 01:30:26 AM »

Author Topic: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread  (Read 1024322 times)

Offline AsherO

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2540 on: April 13, 2020, 02:28:45 PM »
If I wanted a Halachic analysis, I would have spoken to my Rov.

And as an aside, you should probably speak to yours. Cars need to be cleaned very well even from crumbs, as brought in m.b. in name of chayei Odom. Even if crumbs are batul, since most people use their car during Yom Tov, there us a chance one might come to eating these crumbs, i.e. if your Pesach food gets into contact with the crumbs or if they somehow get kicked into Pesach food by a kid. If you don't clean your car well, you will end up with issues.

I was asking about company who might come to my house and clean my cars. I assume if they come they are healthy. Although in our area, most people are in one of three categories, either they already had the virus, they are currently sick with the virus, or thg they are asymptomatic with the virus. It's all over here now.

Delayed response because I just saw yours. Funny how you offer halachicly advice after rejecting mine because you didn’t ask.

I’m not going take my own advice and ask my rov, because I don’t own a car.

Hopefully you’ve become enlightened over the past few weeks. Just because “the virus is everywhere” doesn’t mean you should risk exposing yourself to potentially asymptomatic carriers.
DDF FFB (Forum From Birth)

Offline sammyp

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2541 on: April 18, 2020, 11:16:50 PM »
Does anybody understand GG's and Kol Save's strategy with working with Covid-19?

Why do they implement more restrictions than required by law? And more puzzling is their shortened store hours. Wouldn't it make more sense to be open for even more hours in order to spread out customers? Instead they open later, close earlier, (and jack up their prices). This just causes longer lines. The social-distancing on these 45 minute lines is worse than it woud be in the store with people standing less than six feet of each other for many hours.

They also stopped delivery which causes more traffic in store. Wouldn't it make more sense to increase delivery to keep everyone at home.

Seasons and even Frankels are doing much better. Keeping the laws, and keeping open regular hours to allow for more spaced out shoppers. Seasons is also restarting delivery this week.

In Brooklyn, many store are taking an opposite approach. They are either heavily increasing deliveries, or extending hours. With current traffic, it takes 35 minutes to drive to Bingo. There are no lines there because they are open crazy long hours. It's quocker to drive to Bingo and back then it is to wait on line here.

What is their strategy?!?

Offline Got a clue

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2542 on: April 18, 2020, 11:28:01 PM »
Does anybody understand GG's and Kol Save's strategy with working with Covid-19?

Why do they implement more restrictions than required by law? And more puzzling is their shortened store hours. Wouldn't it make more sense to be open for even more hours in order to spread out customers? Instead they open later, close earlier, (and jack up their prices). This just causes longer lines. The social-distancing on these 45 minute lines is worse than it woud be in the store with people standing less than six feet of each other for many hours.

They also stopped delivery which causes more traffic in store. Wouldn't it make more sense to increase delivery to keep everyone at home.

Seasons and even Frankels are doing much better. Keeping the laws, and keeping open regular hours to allow for more spaced out shoppers. Seasons is also restarting delivery this week.

In Brooklyn, many store are taking an opposite approach. They are either heavily increasing deliveries, or extending hours. With current traffic, it takes 35 minutes to drive to Bingo. There are no lines there because they are open crazy long hours. It's quocker to drive to Bingo and back then it is to wait on line here.

What is their strategy?!?

I would assume hours are due to the fact that many usual employee are out sick- Taking longer to restock shelves

Offline sammyp

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2543 on: April 18, 2020, 11:45:34 PM »
They cut hours on day one before workers might have gotten sick. When you get eventually get into Kol Save, the workers look bored and cashiers are sitting there waiting for customers. (Although Kol Save line is quicker than GG because it is managed smarter. One out-one in.)

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2544 on: April 19, 2020, 06:50:12 PM »
Ummm did you see pictures from bingo? It was absolutely packed. Gg really only had lines when you go prime time

Offline sammyp

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2545 on: April 19, 2020, 08:06:33 PM »
Ummm did you see pictures from bingo? It was absolutely packed. Gg really only had lines when you go prime time

You obviously work for GG. I have tried GG all times, right by opening, later in the morning, in the afternoon. Always a long slow line. I went to Bingo three times this season. 35 minute drive, no lines and quick checkout. With much better prices too.

Offline 12HRS

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2546 on: April 19, 2020, 08:56:50 PM »
You obviously work for GG.

He stocks their candy section

Offline ethana

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2547 on: April 19, 2020, 09:03:03 PM »
Should we have a ddo in the candy section?

Offline yitzgar

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2548 on: April 19, 2020, 09:37:46 PM »
He stocks their candy section
Smart business move

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2549 on: April 19, 2020, 10:16:37 PM »
You obviously work for GG. I have tried GG all times, right by opening, later in the morning, in the afternoon. Always a long slow line. I went to Bingo three times this season. 35 minute drive, no lines and quick checkout. With much better prices too.
is that your line for anyone who doesn't agree with your disdain for GG?
yes gg had huge lines on friday and today but mostly not. i went at 6 pm on the thursday before pesach and it was empty

Offline ushdadude

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2550 on: April 19, 2020, 10:17:29 PM »

Offline sammyp

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2551 on: April 19, 2020, 11:01:17 PM »
Mr CandyMan, we were all there dozens of times since this outbreak. There is almost always a long line. You happened to go moments before Bedikas Chometz when people were preoccupied. I was there one day when day Chol Hamoed when it was pouring rain. I was on line for 45 minutes and got into the store drenched! (Besides the price hikes) There has to be lines. Shorter hours, no deliveries...

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2552 on: April 19, 2020, 11:21:20 PM »
Mr CandyMan, we were all there dozens of times since this outbreak. There is almost always a long line. You happened to go moments before Bedikas Chometz when people were preoccupied. I was there one day when day Chol Hamoed when it was pouring rain. I was on line for 45 minutes and got into the store drenched! (Besides the price hikes) There has to be lines. Shorter hours, no deliveries...


Bedika was the following Tuesday. There should have been no reason to go chol hamoed if you planned and shopped properly. I don't have to go for another 2 weeks at least. Everyone is saying to minimize trips to the store. Not everyone is listening apparently

But I do agree the lines are ridiculous and counterproductive.
And that's Dr candy man

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2553 on: April 21, 2020, 12:37:59 PM »
I went to GG Woodmere Sunday at 6pm, 2 people to get in which took all of a minute waiting. Store was stocked besides for some produce...what am I missing here?

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2554 on: April 21, 2020, 01:19:59 PM »
I went to GG Woodmere Sunday at 6pm, 2 people to get in which took all of a minute waiting. Store was stocked besides for some produce...what am I missing here?
GG Cederhurst.

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2555 on: April 21, 2020, 02:14:49 PM »

Bedika was the following Tuesday. There should have been no reason to go chol hamoed if you planned and shopped properly. I don't have to go for another 2 weeks at least. Everyone is saying to minimize trips to the store. Not everyone is listening apparently

But I do agree the lines are ridiculous and counterproductive.
And that's Dr candy man
No line at all today, at either kol save or gg. In and out of gg in under 10 minutes

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2556 on: April 21, 2020, 08:23:26 PM »
I went to GG Woodmere Sunday at 6pm, 2 people to get in which took all of a minute waiting. Store was stocked besides for some produce...what am I missing here?


Went today. Pretty disappointed with stock. Meat was pretty bare and many shelf items were pesach products. With that shelves were still only 2/3 full.
They also only had devash milk. Never saw that before

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2557 on: April 22, 2020, 07:33:25 AM »
Devash milk is better. It's the the most common brand in Brooklyn and Upstate in the summer.

Not only are the shelves full of Pesach products, they didn't even lower the prices!

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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2558 on: April 22, 2020, 08:44:58 AM »
Devash milk is better. It's the the most common brand in Brooklyn and Upstate in the summer.

Not only are the shelves full of Pesach products, they didn't even lower the prices!
I love how this guy hates GG but all he does is shop in GG.
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Re: 5 Towns/Rockaway Master Thread
« Reply #2559 on: April 22, 2020, 10:08:17 AM »
I love how this guy hates GG but all he does is shop in GG.
There is not much of a choice. I think that's the point.