In a surprising twist that has rippled through the culinary world, Astoria's very own Tootles & French finds itself crowned as the nation's best new restaurant by USA Today. The Mexican-inspired wine bar and café, which has been serving up a fusion of flavors for just over a year, appears to have captured the hearts and taste buds of a nation. A recent announcement by FOX 5 New York reveals how the establishment was taken by surprise with their win, considering the tough competition from across the United States.
"Crazy, it's all spontaneous, it's wild," co-owner Vanessa Massas expressed her disbelief in a statement obtained by FOX 5 New York. The owners, including Chad Goldsmith, seemed to have had no prior inkling of their nomination, which made the win all the more exhilarating, "Honestly, we started cracking up. We thought it was so funny, we didn't see it coming. We couldn’t process that it was real," Goldsmith said. The restaurant boasts an extensive selection of wines and seasonal dishes, emphasizing produce sourced from local, under-represented groups and LGBTQ winemakers.
Another layer to the story, as reported by the New York Post, is the restaurant's deep roots in Astoria. Touted as "by Astorians for Astorians," the establishment's commitment to the local community played a significant role in its ascent. The success story could not have come at a better time, especially when considering the hardships faced by the hospitality industry following the COVID-19 pandemic. "Are you kidding me?" said Vanessa Massas, co-owner of Tootles & French, in a statement of sheer joy and disbelief, "I don’t even know what to say. It means the world to me. This is a huge deal, especially after COVID and what the hospitality industry has been going through," she said.
The menu at Tootles & French attempts to reflect the diversity of its community, marrying Mexican flair with New York Americana. "The chef Jose Luis, really puts his Mexican flare on New York kind of American classics. We're doing like a chop cheese, but he's doing his influences with spices," Massas told FOX 5 New York. This landmark victory aligns with the upcoming NYC Restaurant Week, a period when the local food scene is thrust into the limelight, inviting gourmands to explore the flavors of The Big Apple. The glowing accolade, accompanied by neighborhood support, underscores a message of resilience and solidarity – much-needed postulates for an industry looking to bounce back from global setbacks. Customers, old and new, are flocking to the restaurant, wishing to sample the offerings that earned Tootles & French the USA Today top honor.
Bryan Pope, a loyal patron of Tootles & French, sings the establishment's praises, "The food was bangering. Chad was the one who greeted us and sat us down. He made us feel right at home," he recounted in a statement to FOX 5 New York. Such personal testimonies not only illustrate a restaurant's stature but also tie in the fabric of community-centric hospitality that Tootles & French embodies. With the combination of top-notch food, premier wines, and an inviting atmosphere, it's no wonder this Queens hotspot now enjoys the spotlight on a national stage.
