Mighty Quinn’s BBQ is opening its first Queens location Friday at 108-22 Queens Blvd. in Forest Hills (Courtesy of Mighty Quinn’s BBQ)
Feb, 24, 2022 By Allie Griffin
A popular Manhattan barbeque restaurant will open its first Queens location in Forest Hills Friday.
Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque will open at 108-22 Queens Blvd. tomorrow offering a full menu of slow-cooked meats, along with local beer tastings to celebrate its grand opening.
The restaurant will focus on fast-casual barbeque made with all-natural meats smoked for hours. The new, 1,700-square-foot location will feature two smokers, indoor and outdoor dining areas capable of seating 60 guests and a full bar with craft beer and specialty cocktails.
The Forest Hills spot is the first of four Mighty Quinn’s BBQ that will open in the borough. Owner Michael Dolan plans to open three other franchise locations in Queens.
“I am truly excited about the prospects of expansion within Queens,” he told the Queens Post. “Forest Hills is hopefully the first of many locations in the area.”
He didn’t disclose where in Queens he plans to open the other restaurants.
Dolan, a Long Island resident who previously worked in finance for 14 years, lived two streets over from Mighty Quinn’s original brick and mortar location in the East Village when he lived in New York City. He was a frequent customer of the eatery when it opened in 2013.
Years later, after moving out of the city, Dolan decided to go from customer to franchise owner. He signed a multi-unit agreement with the brand in mid-2019.
However, the pandemic threw a curveball at Dolan, largely delaying his plans.
Nearly three years later he is finally opening up his first eatery in the Queens Boulevard building that once housed Banter Irish Kitchen.
“I am extremely excited to bring authentic BBQ to the people of Queens and particularly, Forest Hills,” Dolan said.
He noted that everyone has had a difficult time during the pandemic and could use a place like Mighty Quinn’s to unwind and spend time with others.
“It’s been a really difficult couple years for everyone,” Dolan said. “We’re all longing to get out and enjoy each other’s company. What better way than getting together at our welcoming bar, enjoying our hand-crafted cocktails while taking down craveable BBQ fresh from our wood-fired smokers.”
Dolan said he chose Forest Hills as his first location due to its sense of community, high foot traffic and a shortage of BBQ joints in the area.
A selection of menu offerings at Mighty Quinn’s (Mighty Quinn’s via Facebook)
The new eatery will have many of the typical menu items offered at the other Mighty Quinn’s locations.
The restaurant chain has six locations in Manhattan, one at Yankee Stadium— and others in Long Island, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland and even Dubai.
“We’ll have the fantastic brisket that put [Mighty Quinn’s] on the map along with ribs, chicken, pulled pork, mac ‘n cheese, sweet potato casserole, Brussel sprouts, fried chicken sandwich — basically the same menu that they have at the five locations in Manhattan,” Dolan previously told the Queens Post.
The grand opening event Friday will also feature a special beer tasting from Fifth Hammer Brewing Company, a Long Island City-based brewery.
Dolan said Thursday that Queens residents should be on the lookout for future Mighty Quinn’s opening in their area.
“I was very selective on the location of the first restaurant, but now that we have planted our flag in the borough, expect to see MQ coming to a neighborhood near you.”
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