Dining With Front Runner: Queen’s Pizza Reigns as Chelsea Empanada Champions
Selvey Carrizosa stands with Best Empanada Challenge Trophy. Photo by Meredith Winner/Mer-Made Photography
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second column of a new feature in Front Runner New Jersey.com called “Dining with Front Runner New Jersey.” Here, we will introduce you to some of our favorite restaurants and why we believe you will like them, too. Each place, we have eaten at personally without identifying ourselves to get the true flavor and feel of the establishment. We focus on small, locally-owned eateries because we honestly believe this is where the most authentic food is made, by someone from the heart sharing it with the world. It’s like what we do with Front Runner New Jersey.com. I hope you enjoy these reviews as much we enjoy eating at these locations, and maybe one day you will join us or try one of them yourself.
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH’s Media
ATLANTIC CITY – First, congratulations to Queen’s Pizza Palace for winning the Chelsea EDC “Best Empanada Challenge” on Saturday, Oct. 5.
We at Front Runner New Jersey.com thought Queen’s had the best empanadas in town for several years running and couldn’t been they were not selected until now. The award is very well deserved.
“It felt really good to win,” Selvy Carrizosa, with the family-owned restaurant, told Front Runner New Jersey. “This was our first time winning. We put a lot of effort into it this year, reminding our customers to vote for us.
Queen’s Pizza has been around for about 12 years, started by the Solano family.
“This means a lot to my mom and dad (Naldy and Jacob Solano) because all of their hard work is paying off. Jacob Solano arrived in the United States in 1984 and his wife two years later. Their family restaurant is a neighborhood favorite in the Chelsea area, which draws customers from the Boardwalk, Ocean Club Condominiums, through to the Stockton University Atlantic City district.
The Queen’s Pizza Review
Now, don’t let the name fool you, Queen’s Pizza Palace has much more than pizza, and Dominican, Peruvian and Mexican dishes are top of the line and some of our favorites. The restaurant is a storefront at 3205 Atlantic Avenue in Atlantic City (directly across from Walgreens), it can be easy to miss by casual drivers.
But Queen’s has simply some of the best Latin food in the city at prices where they receive heavy foot traffic from the neighborhood behind the restaurant. There are so many dishes you can talk about but here are a few of our favorites.
*Empanadas: Yes, we became hooked on them during the “Best Empanada Challenge” two years ago and have been regular customers ever since. Meaty, fluffy with great green and mayo sauce, we can only go a few weeks without going back for another round.
*Mexican Pork Chops: One of the several hidden gems on the menu is this item. With two hefty pork chops, sauce, beans and rice, you will not be able to eat it in one sitting. The pork chops are tender, flavorful and mouth-watering. One important tip, if you don’t want your mouth on fire, ask for “no” spice. Even “mild” spice will have you jugging your water bottle. Now, if you like spicy food, load it up because the meal will bring the heat.
*Chef Salad: One probably would not expect a great chef salad from a pizza or Latin restaurant, but yes, Queen makes fantastic, hearty chef salad for those who want to eat healthier. The meats are plentiful and the toasted bread that comes with it is cooked to perfection. I wasn’t sure what I would get the first time I ordered it but now it’s part of something I regularly order from Queen’s.
*Hamburgers: Tried a hamburger from Queen’s several months ago and it checked all the boxes – big beefy and juicy burger, made to order, with enough fries that will leave full for the rest of the day. I found this item down Queen’s menu but it was easily the best tasting burger I’ve had in a long time.
Other items you may want to try: Okay, they have pizza in their name for a reason and Queen’s pizzas are really good. You may want to try to calzones as well. The fish tacos are very good as well.
Fair warning, there is a seating charge if you want to dine at the establishment for the heaping are worth hanging around with the festive, bright colors in the dining area.
In short, Queen’s Pizza is absolutely a must try with enough variety on the menu where you will find something you will like for an outstanding meal.
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