85-35 Grand Avenue Elmhurst, NY 11373
Tel: (718) 651-1996
I had the pleasure to meet with John Browne, owner of the Grandstand Restaurant & Pub on Grand Avenue in Elmhurst. Once John started his recollections about the restaurant the information literally flowed with many stories about the history of the Grandstand and how the name evoked a recollection of his homeland in Ireland. John emigrated to the United States in 1957. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1959 to 1962.
One of his first jobs in his new homeland was working in King Kullen at the age of eighteen and where he eventually rose to the rank of Manager. He purchased the Grandstand 24 years ago when it was known as the Gaslight, owned by Middle Village resident, Rudy Rudzewick, one of John’s friends. He said that to keep the identity of the Gaslight after his purchase he made sure there were artifacts reminiscent of the gaslights of yesteryear in the dining room.
John took us through memory lane of the last twenty-four years telling stories interspersed with his personal life, his wife of 50 years and his five children. He has four sons, three of them in law enforcement and the fourth is a NYC firefighter. He has one daughter who lives in Middle Village. John and his wife currently reside in Richmond Hill.
John Browne was proud to say that in 2007 in the Fighting 69th contest the Grandstand came in second for the best corn beef meal out of a field of 20 other restaurants. The Grandstand has been serving great meals now for twenty-four years and that fact doesn’t get lost when John Browne tells you about his pride and joy!
The Grandstand menu is pub style with Irish American presentations. Like all pubs, burgers rule and Shepherds Pie is right up there with other popular choices. There are many entrees ranging from the good old American steak to varied seafood choices. All entrees are served with a choice of soup or salad, vegetable and the choice of potato or rice. There is a separate children’s menu for kids 12 years and under. The Grandstand also presents a varied array of Specials for the dinner menu and they have special menus for the Holidays.
The Grandstand is able to accommodate parties of up to 40-70 people and their buffet menu includes a wide range of choices at very reasonable prices. For instance if you choose the buffet with wine, beer & soda the cost would be $29 for 3 hours and $31 for 4 hours and either choice would include bottled beer. These are particularly reasonable prices.
John Browne stated that he looks forward to the future and being able to serve the Grandstand’s great meals for many years to come. He is personable and after no more than a minute you feel like you know him for many years. What a nice guy!
Check out the Grandstand ad in the Juniper Berry. John is very proud to display his restaurant in our publication and we are pleased to have a real home grown-neighborhood good guy as one of our advertisers.
The next time you want a good meal at a reasonable price, let me recommend the Grandstand Restaurant on Grand Avenue in Elmhurst. You will totally enjoy the food and talking to John and his friendly staff. All you have to do is come in and say “hello” and John Browne will do the rest. Let me add, it never hurts to say you read about them in the Juniper Berry.
