James Bond’s genius armorer, the legendary Q himself, would have trouble keeping up with the rapid-fire ingenuity and resourcefulness that Jean Gmerek and her sister-in-law Vesda demonstrate in their inventive Thai-Asian fusion menu. Rightly famous for their creative dishes, tony Forest Hills digs, and reasonable prices, Q Thai caught the eye of A-list foodie and iconic NYC broadcaster Rosanna Scotto, who kicked off her morning show career on the Fox 5 “Good Day New York” show with a live broadcast from the restaurant.
Even though the menu runs the gamut of Asian spiced whole fish dishes to stir fry to Pad Thai and drunken noodles, Rosanna and friends were drawn to the same dish that New Yorkers from Pelham to Park Ave, from Staten Island to Sunnyside have loved for years: the Q Thai Burger, one of the tastiest and most creative burgers in the city.
Look, NYC is swimming in original burgers, but just because a burger is different – or worse still has a high price tag just to have a high price tag – just because a burger is imaginative doesn’t mean it’s inspired. Just being different to be different doesn’t mean your burger tastes good or stands out in a city full of burgers. But that’s why Q Thai’s “Q Basil Burger” works – it’s well thought out and well executed. It’s almost as if Desmond Llewelyn, the late great actor, dropped into the kitchen for a quick primer before heading back to MI6.
“We were looking for something to give a burger an Asian kick,” Jean explained. “Something that stood out, but wasn’t too crazy or too dominant, such as wasabi. We went with a massaman curry sauce because it’s a blend of several Asian flavor staples. Then instead of lettuce we added basil leaves,” she finished triumphantly, flashing her trademark mega-watt smile that lights up all of Austin Street.
Okay, so the idea stands out from the crowd, a tough task in NYC. After all, while artisan burgers are a dime a dozen, Asian burgers are not. That’s a good start, but what enshrines this effort in the NYC Burger Pantheon is flawless execution. You get five or six basil leaves topping a full half pound of savory, flavorful Angus beef. The massaman curry has hints of Asian fish sauce and adds a mulled, velvety taste and texture of sophistication to the burger without overpowering the natural beef juices. A thick slice of beefsteak tomato and tart red onion come as added toppings. Even the bun, a gourmet version of the classic sesame seed variety, shows attention to detail and quality. The dish is rounded out with a green salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing and – everyone’s favorite! – sweet potato fries. Even the Fox 5 crew gushed, “it tastes like a party in your mouth!”
Yup…and everyone’s invited. But don’t just come for the food. The sizzling bar, swinging music, and friendly clientele make for a jumpin’ time. Just make sure to have a meet and greet with Jean. An avid tennis player and golfer, she’s as well known for being Queen of the Uber-hotties as she is for feeding happy, loyal Forest Hills residents for years. Q Thai is located at 108-25 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills, 718.261.6599. Stop in after playing golf at Bethpage Black, Eisenhower Park, Garden City Golf Club, or Rockaway Hunt Club. It’s convenient to Long Island, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Manhattan.
Click here for the Q Thai Bistro website, here for the Good Day NY write-up from Fox 5.
