Source: The Grill
Dec. 5, 2017 By Tara Law
Forest Hill’s restaurant row has lost a popular Mediterranean restaurant and bar.
The Grill, located at 107-12 70th Road, closed this Sunday. The restaurant was known for serving kebabs and a various fish dishes.
Owner Oleg Kaz confirmed rumors about the restaurant’s closing in a thread on the Facebook group Forest Hills NYC.
Kaz wrote that The Grill had been crowded out by Forest Hills’ busy restaurant scene. He also said that he thinks that the Grill had been adversely affected by mean spirited reviews online.
“People should really appreciate more of local small businesses, less criticism and more positivity!” wrote Kaz.
The restaurant had generally positive reviews on social media and crowd-sourced review websites like Yelp, where it held a 4-star rating at the time of its closing. Many reviewers praised the restaurants’ ambiance and food.
However, a vocal minority criticized the restaurant’s service and the preparation of certain dishes. Several reviewers wrote that their meals had made them feel sick.
The Grill was slated for demolition–along with two adjacent restaurants–last year but the developer cancelled plans to build a 12-story mixed use building at the location.
The plans had been controversial among Forest Hills restaurateurs and residents. A Change.org petition to stop the project gained almost 2,000 signatures.
