Get over your Brooklyn envy. Locavore artisanal restaurants, passionate about their food and drink, are popping up around western Queens like fungi after a rainy spring. Not only that, but they’ve breached the final barrier to restaurant wonderfulness: service. We’ve previously lamented, usually to ourselves, the undeniable resemblance of Queens’ wait staff to extras on “Jersey Shore.” Happily, that stereotype seems to have given way to the Inner Borough’s tendency to hire savvy aspirants to the arts waiting for their big break. At least thatR Comments (2).

It is a sad day for all Queens residents with the closing of both the Gold Star Diner in Bayside and the Palace Diner in Flushing (“Gold Star Diner shuts its doors after being sold,” Bayside Times, Dec. 29, 2011-Jan. 4, 2012). Comment.

Hunan Kitchen of Grand Sichuan may not be for everyone, but if you’re not put off by intense spiciness, offal on the menu, an abundance of oil, or picking meat or fish off the bone, the food here is fantastic. Consider yourself warned. Comments (1).

Mayor Michael Bloomberg visited a new Elmhurst restaurant, Tacos Tulcingo, Tuesday to announce the success of the city’s New Business Acceleration Team, which has allowed restaurants to open 72 days earlier than before. Comment.

Offering patrons the opportunity to sample a smorgasbord of eastern Queens’ flavors in a convenient setting, Taste of Bayside will return Jan 25. Comment.

Happy New Year to everyone! We hope 2012 is one of the best-ever new years for you. Don’t make too many resolutions, as we all know that even with the best of intentions they are hard to keep after the first few weeks. Comment.