All Aboard: Station LIC Arrives In Queens

The latest restaurant to land in Long Island City is Station LIC Eatery & Bar, a neighborhood joint serving contemporary American cuisine and signature cocktails.

Nodding to its geographical proximity to the rail yards and subway, the interior decor was inspired by a 1920s train station, and original rustic elements are combined with oversized modern art and on-theme trinkets. Tables are also flagged by a purple parking meter that pays homage to the 7 train, located just steps from the restaurant's entrance.

Fun fact: it's also the same space where Tom Cruise played a bartender in the 1988 movie Cocktail.

The Ponzi Burger, made with grass fed beef, pepper jack cheese, a potato nest, bacon, and secret sauce is the star of the show here. Essentially, each diner "pays the burger forward" to the next guest who orders it, and a blackboard by the bar is used to keep track of who paid for the last burger.

Co-owner John Bogaczyk sees that it's a great way to meet people. "The other night, one table approached another and said, 'I want to meet the person who bought my burger' and they merged their tables," he told us.

Other popular dishes include the Portuguese Baccalà (dried and salted cod) with potato, bell pepper, parsley, and chili oil, and the Cubano macaroni and cheese with roast pork, pickle, ham, Swiss, and breadcrumbs.

The beef skewers are tender, succulent, and moist, and the meatballs – made with three different meats – are served with a pleasantly sweet sauce.

Station LIC will also be serving brunch on weekends, with a menu that includes smoked salmon hash made with poached egg and dill yogurt over a bagel chip, and crème brûlée French toast made with Grand Marnier, raw sugar, and blueberry compote.