When you think of Astoria Boulevard, you probably conjure images of a crowed wide street filled with honking cars or the steady rhythm of the elevated N/W train. But top-quality fine dining? That may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Well, that’s changing, in part thanks to Dominic Mohorovic, Milan Licul, and David Sumberac, a group of owners who recently opened Rialto Ristorante just a stone’s throw away from the Astoria Blvd station. Open less than a year, Rialto Ristorante is on its way to possibly becoming the premiere destination in town for an upscale dining experience.

Image Courtesy of: Rialto Ristorante – dining room @rialtonyc via

Every now and again, a popular Manhattan restaurant will relocate to Queens or Brooklyn. These establishments give up the high price points and foot traffic of Manhattan in exchange for the chance to offer their cuisine at lower prices to a potentially more devoted set of patrons from the outer boroughs, and Astoria has been a major beneficiary of this trend in recent years.

So, another diamond lands right in the middle of Astoria Boulevard in the form of Rialto Ristorante, and a curious Queens crowd now gets the chance to sample its famous cuisine. Mohorovic spoke of some of the clientele that go with that kind of pedigree. “Barbara Walters. Franky Valli used to come in all the time. Even Bernie Madoff,” Mohorovic said. “When I saw him on TV, I was like, ‘What?’”

Image Courtesy of @jamesdelgenio via Instagram

Rialto Ristorante is a huge and gorgeous space. A small and quiet front entrance leads into a beautiful open interior with dark hardwood floors and crystal chandeliers. A cherry blossom theme adds a wow factor certain to impress anyone you’re clever enough to suggest Rialto Ristorante to. And why wouldn’t you? This is going to be the first place you call for a gathering. With their dining room space in addition to a downstairs area that’s just as large, Rialto Ristorante can host your next event just as well as it can host a romantic dinner for two. At the time of this writing, the back patio is still under construction but should be available soon.

Image Courtesy of Rialto Ristorante @rialtonyc via Instagram

The menu, which leans Venetian, is quite simply world class Italian food. It’s true to form Italian dining as well, which means a relaxed and unhurried meal with multiple courses. To get the full experience, you’ll want wine (of course), appetizers, salad or soup, a pasta option, a meat or fish, and finally, dessert paired with an after-dinner drink.

Image Courtesy of Rialto Ristorante @rialtonyc via Instagram

Start with a plate of clams. Or if you’re feeling more adventurous, order the beef carpaccio. Then enjoy a perfectly balanced Caeser salad that will prepare you for your pasta course. For that, order the gnocchi, a sometimes difficult to find and even more difficult to prepare Italian pasta dish traditionally only served on Thursdays. Then it’s time for the true main course, the protein, where a perfectly cooked steak or a whole branzino will be the star of the show. Naturally, you’ll be craving something sweet, and what could make this meal even more perfect than a well-executed  panna cotta that you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve devoured it.

Rialto Ristorante – bartender Larry Hammel @jamesdelgenio via Instagram

You won’t be bored waiting for all that food either. The staff at Rialto Ristorante go above and beyond to entertain their guests. On a busy Friday night, bartender Larry Hammel sang a rendition of “Unchained Melody” that had the entire dining room up and dancing. Hammel smiled, “I had a new wave band in the 80s and in the 90s I played covers in most of the Irish bars in the city. Now I’m a freelance singer and producer.” Hammel followed up with “Careless Whispers.” The room erupted in applause.

Mohorovic is excited about Rialto Ristorante’s future. “We’ve only been open here eight months, but it’s already like a family. There are so many young people here,” he said. “You know, Astoria? It’s incredible.”

28-11 Astoria Blvd. / phone: 718.535.7161 / rialtoristorante.com / Yelp: 5.0