TJK Cafe Offers Simple Tastes, Plus Something Extra

If one had to pick the dish best exemplifying the culinary spirit of TJK Cafe in Little Neck, it would be the grilled salmon with dijon mustard — classic, simple, with a delicate twist.

Tucked off Horace Harding Expressway, this eclectic American restaurant is a hidden gem, barely visible by passing motorists. However, for those looking to slow down — and even stop —  will find one of the most original dining experiences in Little Neck.

There's much about the food at TJK Cafe that features a unique twist — starting before the first entree has been served. Once seated, diners are given a basket of breadsticks and dinner rolls filled with cranberries, raisins and nuts.

The appetizers continue on this theme of simplicity with a dash of the unexpected, including fried calamari cooked with olive oil, salt, and pepper mixed with the key ingredient: garlic.

Open for 32 years, TJK Cafe's specialties include grilled center-cut pork chops, with most meals served with salad and savory sesame dressing and side dishes such as mashed potatoes with roasted garlic.

TJK Cafe also celebrates birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions.

For dessert, the restaurant serves up specialties like the Peanut Butter Cup on Steroids, which certainly lives up to its slightly-unappetizing moniker. For diners looking to end their meal with a more subtle dessert, try Sammy's Surprise — a generous portion of a puff pastry filled with custard and seasonal fruit strips.

While on the pricey side, TJK Cafe offers no dish over $30.

TJK Café is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and reopens from 5 p.m. to 10 pm. On Saturdays, the Café is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The business is closed on Mondays.