Strawberry Says He Wants to Give Back to Queens

Mets legend Darryl Strawberry said he chose Douglaston over Manhattan as the locale for his restaurant to thank Queens residents for supporting him during his years of playing in the borough.

Now, the former slugger is mulling over ways to give back to the community, such as coordinating charity events with Strawberry's Bar and Grill, located at 42-15 235th St., and working with local schools.

"I wanted to be back in the area where I played for four years," Strawberry said of his eatery, which opened in August. "So, this is for Mets fans. Queens is my home more than any other place."

Eytan Sugarman, who co-owns Strawberry's and operates the Upper West Side's Southern Hospitality restaurant, had originally proposed that Strawberry choose a Manhattan site for the eatery.

Strawberry said he plans for the to have a charity component through which he will raise money for children with autism or youngsters who lost their parents during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.

He also hopes to get involved with local schools or Little League teams.

In the meantime, Strawberry makes his way to Queens five times per month from his home in Missouri to visit his business.

Last Thursday, The Straw was greeted by patrons as he made his way through the restaurant. Staff members came out to give him hugs and he cracked jokes with them, wishing one of them a "happy birthday."

He said he is hoping to get the word out to Mets fans and lure them to Strawberry's.

"A lot of people in the local area don't know about us," he said. "We opened at the end of last season when the Mets weren't playing well. I think we can drive more fans here. But people love it.  They think it's a fun place. I get compliments all the time."

The menu at Strawberry's contains a variety of burgers, sandwiches and wings as well as a full bar. But it also offers unique items such as the 1986 burger, which is topped with feta cheese, Tzasiki sauce, red onions, tomato and cucumber.

Strawberry plans for the menu to change from season to season.  He said there is one particular item that he orders during every visit.

"I never come in here without having a shake," he said.

The site has 16 high definition televisions, which regularly screen Mets games, Monday Night Football and a variety of other sporting events.

The restaurant's walls are adorned with memorabilia from the Mets, Yankees, Rangers, Knicks, Giants, Jets and the old Brooklyn Dodgers.

Strawberry's autographed jerseys of numbers 18 and 39, which he wore respectively for the Mets and Yankees, are among the collection.

But Strawberry said his favorite item in the eatery is his old locker from Shea Stadium.

"I can remember standing in front of it and being asked questions for eight years," he said. "There are a lot of memories for me at Shea Stadium."