Queens restaurant named best new spot in the U.S. in new report

QUEENS - Tootles and French in Astoria, Queens has just been crowned the best new restaurant in the entire country by USA Today. 

About Tootles and French

The Mexican-inspired wine bar and cafe opened a year and a half ago already on the National Stage. Just days ago, USA Today named them best new restaurant.

The name Tootles and French was co-owner Chad Goldsmith and his brother's nicknames growing up.

"Crazy, it's all spontaneous, it's wild," co-owner of Tootles and French Vanessa Massas said. Owners Chad Goldsmith and Vanessa Massad had no idea they were even nominated. 

"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," Goldmsmith said.

What's on the menu?

The wine bar and restaurant has an extensive wine selection and a tasty seasonal menu. 

"We have a lot of wines and spirits that are made by families, under-represented groups, people of color, LGBTQ winemakers. Everything local we can get, we do," Goldsmith said.

"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 said.   

What drives Goldsmith and Massas is community.

"We found out we were nominated two weeks after voting started, and then the entire community rallied together and regulars canvasing the neighborhood," Goldsmith said.

Bryan Pope has been a long-time customer.

"The food was bangering. Chad was the one who greeted us and sat us down. He made us feel right at home," Pope said.

Since the recognition, Massas said new customers have been coming in. 

"Now we are getting all this attention. We were a small little thing, and now we are a big, big thing," Massas said. 

Tootles and French's victory comes just in time for NYC Restaurant Week, which is returning this winter from Jan 21–Feb 9. To see the full list of participating, click here.