The Little Neck Inn and I coexisted in the northeastern Queens neighborhood for about 4 or 5 years (I arrived in 2007) and yet, I never got in. One by one, neighborhood staples have disappeared since I arrived, such as the Scobee Diner, the OTB, and the Subway sandwich joint a few doors away. Rumor has it that the Stop & Shop will go. Patrick’s Pub left before I arrived. The awning sign here says it had opened in 1908, so that’s a lot of history.
The place stayed open during Hurricane Irene in August 2011, the practice run as it turned out for Hurricane Sandy the following year. Since I never did darken its door, I’ll transcribe a few reviews from Yelp.com…
This place has the best burgers… my gf and I go there to watch football games but sometimes the games are just an excuse to devour them burgers~~~ the bartender, a big guy with a husky voice and a lovely lady (forgot their names) they are the friendliest people who sometimes forget the put some drink orders on the tab on purpose =)… so you end up drinking alot for little money…they hook you up!
During football season, i dont know why, a group of people barbeque at the back of the bar and give you free food….a shit load of food for free!
Gone but not forgotten. Great bar…to drink, see a fight, be in a fight or get lucky (and by lucky I mean not get in a fight). If you have $100k I would recommend opening this place up again.
…Depressing bar, lame crowd, old and seems dirty.
These days just one bar remains along Northern Boulevard east of Alley Pond Park: the Good Company Tavern, at Northern and 254th Street. Most of the action has shifted to Bell Boulevard in Bayside.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop, and as always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
4/2/21
2 comments
I lived in LN-D from 1972-78; my parents were there until 2003. As I was in my prime drinking years back then, the LNI was frequented. The best tradition was on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. they had free Turkey sandwiches with all the fixings (stuffing, cranberry sauce). It was the night when all of the college kids came home. Great fun. It was also a tradition to head to the LNI after the Memorial Day Parade (as pictured in your photo. Sorry you didn’t get a chance to hang out at Patrick’s Pub, it was best.
Neighborhood bars in general are becoming less common. A 2015 survey by Nielsen Company found a 17% drop nationwide from 2004 to 2014, and there’s no reason to believe that’s changed since then. For survey purposes the company defined a neighborhood bar as one with a regular customer base, no dress code, and no obvious theme.
https://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/2019/08/06/plough-stars-neighborhood-bars/