Bites Nearby: Pine Court Chinese Bistro

There is a wide variety of Chinese restaurants and take-out spots in northeast Queens, but Little Neck's Pine Court Chinese Bistro makes it a point to combine the ambiance of formal dining with quality food and service. 

The restaurant, which opened a little more than two years ago, features a sprawling dining room and a friendly staff that is well-versed on the eatery's menu.

Not only does Pine Court make a nice spot for a casual date for two, but its generous portion sizes also makes for an ideal family dining experience.

The extensive menu includes popular Chinese appetizers, soups, pork, beef, lamb, chicken, shrimp, fish, vegetarian, rice and noodle dishes as well as gourmet seafood and clay pot entrees.

For appetizers, guests can choose from fried shrimp balls or barbequed roast duck to authentic dim sum steamed and served with a choice of pork shiu mai, shrimp or duck fillings. 

Pine Court's classic soups include wonton, clam, squash and bamboo pith, as well as the crowed-pleasing braised beef brisket with rice noodle.

Among the most popular entrees are Peking style pork chop, fillet steak a La Oriental, pan fried rack of lamb with honey pepper sauce, a house special fried chicken with ginger and garlic, curry chicken and Cantonese style roasted duck.

For those with adventurous taste buds, the chefs at Pine Court have kicked things up a notch by taking classic Chinese ingredients and reinventing them in new and exciting ways.

Their selection of “new creations” include the Pine Court Special, which is a combination of jelly fish, squid, leeks and vegetables in a chef’s special sauce, the braised Yoshihama Abalone, which is a Japanese inspired sea snail dish, and Bay Phoon Town garlic fried frog.

If you’re in a hurry and looking for a quick lunch, stop in for one of the restaurant's 32 lunch specials, which are served with white rice and a choice of three soups. Visitors will pay only $6.50 on  Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pine Court Chinese Bistro is located at at 249-32 Horace Harding Expressway.